A licensed esthetician in Seoul shares her winter routine: AESTURA Atobarrier 365, then ILLIYOON MD on top, plus which Korean barrier cream to pick for your skin and season.
Author: Karen Kim
I'm Karen Kim, a licensed esthetician (Korean national skin care license) living in Seoul. Before Glosi Korea I worked in beauty marketing for years, including trade shows where I helped international customers choose Korean skincare. I test products myself at Olive Young, tell you what I'd buy and what I'd skip, and no brand pays me for reviews. I have combination skin, and pores are my biggest worry.
Best Korean Sunscreens for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin (2026)
Sunscreen making you greasy or breaking you out? These Korean sunscreens stay light, calm, and shine-free on oily, acne-prone skin. Matte and cica picks inside.
8 Best Korean Lightweight Sunscreens for Everyday Wear (2026)
The best sunscreen is the one you actually wear every day. These 8 lightweight Korean sunscreens feel like nothing, so daily SPF finally sticks.
I’m an Esthetician in Seoul. I Tested 9 Korean Toner Pads and Would Only Buy 3
A Seoul esthetician tests 9 Korean toner pads at Olive Young: Goodal, Biodance, Mediheal, Torriden, numbuzin, medicube and more. Wipe or mask, and which 3 are worth buying.
I Tested 7 Korean Niacinamide Serums at Olive Young. This Is the One I Keep Repurchasing
I tested COSRX Niacinamide 15, Anua 10 + TXA 4 and Anua Peach 70 side by side at Olive Young. Which one to buy for pores, dark spots or dry skin, plus how I use mine with retinol.
Best Korean Mineral Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin (2026)
Sunscreen stings or breaks you out? These Korean mineral sunscreens use gentle zinc oxide with little to no white cast. Picks for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Korean Tone-Up Sunscreen: An Honest Guide to Pink vs Purple vs Beige (+ My 2 Best Picks)
What Korean tone-up sunscreen actually does, what pink, purple and beige are for, and the two I wear on my face instead of makeup.
Vitamin C Serum: Morning or Night? A Seoul Esthetician’s Answer (2026)
Short answer: morning, under sunscreen. When to apply vitamin C, the exact order I use, what to do if it stings, and how to store it.
Best Korean Tinted Sunscreens for Mature Skin (2026)
Want SPF, glow, and light coverage in one step? These Korean tinted sunscreens even out mature skin without settling into fine lines. Picks by finish.
Best Korean Sunscreen at Olive Young (2026): What a Seoul Local Actually Uses
I tried the most popular sunscreens at Olive Young with the testers, next to the price tags. Here’s what I use every day, who each one suits, and what they cost in Korea in October 2026.