Skincare ingredient lists can be overwhelming, so here's a quick reference for what the most common ones actually do, with links to a deeper read on each where we have one.
The glossary
- Centella asiatica (cica): calms irritation and supports the skin barrier, suits almost every skin type. Read more.
- Niacinamide: brightens, refines the look of pores, and calms redness with low irritation risk. Read more.
- Vitamin C: a stronger antioxidant for dark spots and dullness, faster-acting than niacinamide but more likely to tingle. Read more.
- Hyaluronic acid: draws moisture into skin, suits every skin type, works best layered with other hydrators.
- Snail mucin: hydrates, calms and smooths texture, especially useful for skin recovering from breakouts. Read more.
- Retinol and bakuchiol: smooth texture and support collagen; retinol is stronger and faster, bakuchiol is gentler. Read more.
- Salicylic acid (BHA): clears clogged pores from the inside out, best for oily and acne-prone skin. Browse salicylic acid products.
- Tranexamic acid: fades the look of dark spots and uneven tone, often gentler than vitamin C. Browse tranexamic acid products.
- Peptides: support firmness and collagen production gradually, with essentially no irritation risk. Read more.
How to use this list
Match the ingredient to your main concern rather than collecting all of them at once. Most routines work well with two or three targeted actives rather than layering everything on this list into a single routine.
Browse all Korean skincare to shop by ingredient.