The Korean skin-care industry is always the first to know about the next biggest beauty innovations, and those innovations are normally the first on the market, so it's no surprise that K-beauty trends go viral so often (looking at you, snail mucin and salmon sperm). If you're not a beauty editor, enthusiast or glued to TikTok, you'd be forgiven for thinking K-beauty is just a Gen-Z fad. But really, so many of Korean skin care's future-forward formulas focus on deeply nourishing skin and preventing signs of aging. Dig even just a little bit into the world of K-beauty and you'll find powerful wrinkle-reducers, skin plumpers and skin-smoothing ingredients. Read on to see our very favorite Korean skin-care products for mature skin.
1 / 10
Best Eye Cream
When you're looking to smooth fine lines around the delicate under-eye area, look no further. Tired, aging eyes meet their match thanks to bakuchiol, a beloved retinol alternative, antioxidant-rich fermented black rice and bamboo shot extracts, madecassoside and skin tone-refining niacinamide in this ultra-nourishing, fast-absorbing cream.
BUY ON SOKO GLAM - $17
BUY ON AMAZON - $10
2 / 10
Best Retinol Serum
Despite being stacked with a complex of four retinoids, Iope's Retinol Super Bounce Serum is gentle on skin thanks to encapsulated, time-released retinol as well as granactive retinoid to reduce the risk of irritation. Moreover, its formula also includes shea butter, cypress leaf, lactobacillus ferment lysate and squalane to strengthen the skin barrier as it reduces wrinkles and improves tautness to sagging skin.
BUY ON AMAZON - $50
BUY ON SOKO GLAM - $50
3 / 10
Best Multi-Tasker
What can replace your toner, vitamin C serum and retinol steps? This cult-classic, antioxidant-infused essence by SK-II. The formula helps reduce wrinkles, discoloration and sun-induced dark spots, thanks to its signature ingredient PITERA, a vitamin C and retinol alternative, in one step.
BUY ON DERMSTORE - $99
BUY ON SEPHORA - $99
4 / 10
Best Facial in a Bottle
Hanacure's legendary mask was designed to emulate the same results of a professional facial: insanely smooth, soft, toned, lifted, firm, glass-like skin. (Drew Barrymore and January Jones are big fans.) It's formulated with the brand's trademarked CO2 Octolift and botanical extracts like lotus leaf extract and green tea leaf extract.
BUY ON AMAZON - $37
BUY ON NEIMAN MARCUS - $37
5 / 10
Best Cleansing Oil
This pick isn't just the best cleansing oil for mature skin, it's this year's NewBeauty Awards winner for Best Cleansing Oil, full stop. With 14 nourishing plant oils, it's a gentle yet effective hydrating cleanser that dissolves stubborn makeup (yes, even waterproof) masterfully. It tops the list especially for aging over the many, many K-beauty oil cleansers because of how easily it glides, not pulls, on skin.
BUY ON AMAZON - $29
BUY ON ULTA - $29
6 / 10
Best Face Cream
Sulwhasoo's classic cream got a major upgrade in March. Described as “blending nature’s wisdom with cutting-edge science,” each jar now boasts a potent blend of six peptides fortified with the titular ginseng, vitamin C and traditional Korean herbal extracts. According to the brand, after six weeks, 100 percent of users saw improvements in fine lines, skin smoothness, visible lifting and skin barrier strength.
BUY ON SULWHASOO - $260
BUY ON AMAZON - $260
7 / 10
Best Hydrating SPF
Aging skin craves hydration and this SPF fits the bill in more ways than one. In addition to outstanding broad-spectrum sun protection (the number-one must-have for youthful skin), this formula has ceramides, hyaluronic acid and provitamin B5 for a plump and glowy finish.
BUY ON AMAZON - $36
BUY ON SEPHORA - $36
8 / 10
Best Glass Skin
No K-beauty list would be complete without COSRX's mega-viral snail mucin essence; users swear it's a one-way ticket to glass skin. Use it for a dose of mega hydration (thanks to the titular 96 percent snail mucin), brighter skin and faded dark spots and/or post-blemish marks.
BUY ON AMAZON - $17
BUY ON DERMSTORE - $25
9 / 10
Best Serum for Dryness
A good HA serum gives skin a visible plump instantly, and this one from Aestura delivers in leaps and bounds. Made with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and niacinamide, it also helps skin retain moisture, calms inflammation and strengthens your skin barrier over time.
BUY ON AMAZON - $34
BUY ON SEPHORA - $34
10 / 10
Best Wrinkle Serum
This uniquely-textured foaming serum uses exosomes, 10 kinds of peptides, and growth factors to promote collagen, firm and lift sagging skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles for smoother skin overall.
BUY NOW - $35
