25 Best Korean Skincare Products for Glass Skin, Tested and Reviewed

Snail mucin is beloved for its power to deeply hydrate the skin (it sounds gross, but it works) and it’s great for slugging the skin without clogging pores.

• Product type: Essence
• Size: 3.38 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Snail mucin

One Cosmo editor says: “This essence has def been a worthwhile addition to my skincare routine. It’s relatively affordable and can be easily incorporated into any existing regimen if you’re looking to add some ~vitality~ to your face and soothe damaged skin. The product is incredibly gentle and not a huge investment, so you can use it generously and daily too.”—IMAN BALAGAM, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY WRITER

Chances are you’ve seen this glass skin-inducing mask on your social media feed at some point (it also has more than 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon). You simply put it on your face before bed, and you’ll wake up with drenched and glossy skin thanks to the loads of collagen and hyaluronic acid.

• Product type: Facial mask
• Size: 4 count
• Key ingredients: Vegan collagen, hyaluronic acid

One Cosmo editor says: “I could go on forever about how much I love this viral mask that you leave on overnight for glowy skin. It’s already cut in two pieces to help it fit perfectly over your face (which I loved sm). Then, just go to sleep. That’s it. In the morning, you’ll notice the mask has absorbed and is completely clear, leaving you with the smoothest skin ever.”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

Don’t get me wrong, all the hydrating serums and masks are great for achieving glass skin, but this device will crank them up to the next level. This booster does exactly what it sounds like—it boosts your formulas so they penetrate into the skin even deeper and increases ingredient effectivity.

• Product type: Device
• Size: N/A
• Key features: Increases absorption

One Cosmo editor says: “As someone who loves glowy skin, this device has been a gamechanger in my routine. I have the pro version with six different modes, but I really only use the boosting one. After five minutes, my skin looks glowier, and I find that my face stays hydrated for much longer. It also gives my face an added sculpted look.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

This soothing sunscreen is loaded with rice water and hyaluronic acid to nourish the skin while simultaneously protecting it from the harshest of rays. The texture is also fantastic—really light and fast-absobring but still sufficiently hydrating too.

• Product type: Sunscreen
• Size: 1.69 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Rice extract, hyaluronic acid

One Cosmo editor says: “When I visited Seoul, it was my goal to pick up all the cool Korean sunscreens. Of everything I tested, this was the best for my oily skin. It’s probably one of the lightest SPFs I’ve ever tried. It doesn’t even feel like sunscreen; just a serum.” — BG

Alix Earle’s derm recommended these toner pads, and now they’re quite literally all over TikTok. (But team Cosmo has loved them for years.) They’re filled with two types of exfoliants—AHAs to help smooth the top layer of the skin and BHAs to go deep into pores to help clean out clogged oil or dirt.

• Product type: Toner pads
• Size: 5.46 fl oz
• Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, allantoin, hyaluronic acid

One Cosmo editor says: “I picked these up after suffering a gnarly travel breakout upon my arrival in Asia, and by the time I left, my skin was back to its usual state with all of my zits healing. I really love swiping these all over my face in the mornings (followed with sunscreen, ofc). I legit feel like my skin starts to look better as the day goes on—it’s kinda magic.”—BG

Single-ingredient essences are ideal for layering and make it super easy to customize your skincare routine. This one is made solely with a powerful galactomyces ferment, which targets hyperpigmentation and helps restore skin elasticity for a smooth, bouncy finish. Pair it with other essences, or use it as a skin booster in your existing routine.

• Product type: Essence
• Size: 3.5 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Galactomyces ferment

One Cosmo editor says: “If you really want glass skin, the best way to do so is by loading up on products with a single skin-loving ingredient. Mixoon makes amazing essences with one ingredient, so you can layer a bunch on and have them work in tandem for your specific skin type. I personally love this one alongside the Bfida Ferment one to improve my overall skin barrier health.”—JH

If you’re looking to banish dark circles and fine lines, this eye cream is packed with a collagen-peptide and a retinol complex, and tons of hyaluronic acid to address signs of aging.

• Product type: Eye cream
• Size: 1 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Retinol, collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid

One Cosmo editor says: “My under-eye circles stay purple no matter how much sleep I get. But this cream has done the seemingly impossible and made my dark circles less noticeable. I used to never be able to skip concealer, and for the last month I’ve hardly needed it. I will be restocking on this as soon as I’m out.”—JH

A hydrating sunscreen that also doesn’t make you break out? Sounds like heaven. It also sounds like this Hydro Sun Barrier Cream from beloved K-beauty brand The Face Shop. It’s got SPF 45 and it’s loaded with tons of hydrating and soothing ingredients.

• Product type: SPF Moisturizer
• Size: 1.69 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, panthenol
  
  One Cosmo editor says: “With oily skin, I rarely want to moisturize and apply sunscreen. It’s just too much. But this hydrating SPF is the perfect combo. It sinks into my skin, leaving behind a slightly glowy sheen that doesn’t make me shiny or feel heavy (nor does it make my acne-prone skin break out either).”—BG

Milky toners are a pillar of K-beauty skincare routines, and this one is loaded up with rice extracts to soften and brighten the skin. This lightweight toner is ideal for anyone with dryness, because it’s filled with moisture-rich ingredients that won’t dehydrate the skin. You can press it directly onto the face, or swipe it with a cotton pad like a traditional toner.

• Product type: Toner
• Size: 5 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Rice extracts

One Cosmo editor says: “I have such dry skin, so I always had a tough time finding a toner that didn’t leave my skin feeling tight, but this is more like a toner-hydrating serum combo. It sweeps my pores and balances my skin, while also hydrating it. I love it for days where my skin needs a bit of added moisture before my other serums and skincare steps.” —JH

Another TikTok favorite, because virality is basically synonymous with K-beauty at this point. You simply squeeze out some of this collagen-filled gel, lather it on your face, and it turns into a peel-off mask overnight. It truly creates the glassiest finish that you won’t even wanna put makeup on top of.

• Product type: Gel mask
• Size: 2.53 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Collagen extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid

One Cosmo editor says: “As much as I loooooveeee the idea of wearing my collagen sheet masks overnight, I am a side sleeper so they fall right off. This peel-off mask, though, does basically the same thing without the frustration. My face looks so freaking smooth and buttery by morning. I do it before every big event.”—BG

This lip balm from Laneige doubles as a hydrating lip balm and a glowy tint. It comes in a bunch of different shades and flavors, so you’re sure to find one that will make your lip color pop for hours on end.

• Product type: Lip balm
• Size: .35 oz
• Key ingredients: Shea butter, blueberry

One Cosmo editor says: “I have one of these on my bedside table, one on my desk, one in my work bag—okay, you get the point. I always have one of these hydrating lip balms at my disposal because it’s the only tinted lip color I actually trust for both long-lasting hydration and a glossy pigment.”—JH

Okay let me give you the rundown on spicules if you’re unfamiliar. This serum is filled with teeny tiny particles found inside marine sponges that microscopically punctures the skin to create near-invisible channels that increase ingredient absorption. Hence why these are also referred to microneedling in a bottle. You might feel a little tingling, but that means it’s working!

While creating a deeper penatration and absorption for your skincare, this formula is also filled with cica and hyaluronic acid to replenish the skin’s moisture.

• Product type: Toner pads
• Size: 1.69 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Cica, hyaluronic acid

One Cosmo editor says: “When I went to Seoul, I stocked up on this ‘liquid microneedling’ serum I’d seen all over TikTok. When I spread the serum across my face, it actually feels prickly, but that dissipates over a few hours. I usually swipe this on, then opt for an active ingredient like my go-to exfoliating serum. Using it once a week seriously has helped smooth the hell outta my skin, just as getting microneedling in office does for me.”—BG

This mask is jam-packed with hydrating ingredients to help pull water into your skin to make it look plump and glass-like, while collagen helps your face look glowy and feel bouncy. Simply throw it on for a few hours (or even wear it overnight) and once it turns white, you’ll know all the ingredients have been absorbed. It’s so good that it won a 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Award for best sheet mask.

• Product type: Facial mask
• Size: 4 count
• Key ingredients: Heartleaf, collagen

One Cosmo editor says: “It’s true—K-Beauty brands just do sheet masks better. Case in point: Anua’s collagen mask, which isn’t just the neatest/least drippy sheet mask I’ve ever used, it’s the most plumping too. I leave it for an hour while I catch up on emails, and when I take it off? My face feels baby freaking soft.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR

Aestura is one of the hottest K-beauty brands right now—and we Cosmo editors are v grateful that it’s finally landed on shelves in Sephora. This ultra-hydrating cream is so rich and cushiony, it can even double as an overnight mask.

• Product type: Moisturizer
• Size: 2.7 fl oz.
• Key ingredients: Ceramides, squalane

One Cosmo editor says: “I love the concept of slugging so much, but basically every slugging product on the market is a nightmare for my acne-prone skin. Instead of a ointment-y formula, I started using this ultra-rich cream from Aestura. It’s fantastic for sensitive skin (doesn’t break me out or irritate me at all), but it also moisturizes the eff outta my skin. I even will put it on my elbows, knees, and any dry patches on my body too since it’s that hydrating.”—BG

When you think of SPF sticks you might associate them with a chalky, greasy, and white finish. But not this one from cult-favorite K-beauty brand Round Lab. The velvety finish looks natural and soft—perfect for sweaty summertime, and goes on totally clear.

• Product type: Sunscreen stick
• Size: .6 oz
• Key ingredients: N/A

One Cosmo editor says: “I’m a huuuge SPF stick fan for reapplying to my nose, cheeks, shoulders, and chest at the beach without getting sand everywhere (or just quickly at a music festival, on a walk, at the park, etc.). I’ve been using this stick for the last eight months, and it’s my go-to.”—BG

Glow Recipe is one of the internet’s favorite skincare brands, but the pretty packaging isn’t all that the shelf-worthy products have to offer. The fruity formulas are actually great for cleansing, hydrating, and treating the skin all while giving the eponymous glow. This toner won a Cosmo Readers’ Choice Award winner two years in a row, and our editors love the skin-sweeping formula as well.

• Product type: Toner
• Size: 5 oz
• Key ingredients: Watermelon extract, willow bark extract

One Cosmo editor says: “This toner is v gentle on my skin and is great for wiping the day off my face. I love using it at night after taking off my makeup when I feel like my pores need some extra love. It also isn’t overly drying which my skin appreciates.”—JH

This incredibly moisturizing (yet still lightweight feeling!) lotion is loaded with ceramides, which are key to maintaining a healthy skin barrier. It’s also hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and doesn’t contain any potentially triggering ingredients that sensitive skin may dislike.

• Product type: Lotion
• Size: 2.3 or 12 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E, glycerin, fatty acids

One Cosmo editor says: “Seriously, since finding this, I haven’t found another body lotion that quite compares—it’s hypoallergenic, meaning it’s fragrance-free and doesn’t contain any potentially triggering ingredients that sensitive skin may dislike.”—SIENA GAGLIANO, FORMER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

This rich mask has more hydrating ingredients than I can possibly count (but shea butter, glycerin, and squalane to name a few). It helps combat dryness all while improving the overall skin barrier.

• Product type: Mask
• Size: 4 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Shea Butter, glycerin, squalane

One Cosmo editor says: “The thick yet oddly soft and plush texture is perfect and sinks into skin beautifully to reveal a plump, radiant complexion by morning. I brought this on a girls’ weekend, let everyone try it once, and then they all purchased it the next morning. If that’s not the ultimate sign of approval, then IDK what is!” —MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR

This spot treatment is ideal for stubborn breakouts or painful pimples. It tackles congested pores with a blend of AHA, BHA, and PHA to exfoliate and clear the skin. It’s infused with soothing ingredients like tea tree and centella asiatica, so it also calms irritation while promoting smoother skin.

• Product type: Spot treatment
• Size: 1 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree, centella asiatica

One Cosmo editor says: “I’m finally on the outs of a months-long battle with my hormonal acne. But when I was in the depths of it, I used this constantly. It was the perfect spot treatment for an angry, inflamed zit. It’s basically a rich ointment loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients to help calm down a breakout. So it won’t dry out my skin or leave me with a crusty patch. Instead, it helps slowly flatten my pimple in a few days.”—BG

This next pick is for anyone with sensitive, dry, or combo skin looking for a moisturizer that is gentle and hydrating without the feeling of heaviness or greasiness. It’s filled with super-hydrator, glycerin, and a series of three wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing ingredients (shout out to panthenol, madecassoside, and green tea extract).

• Product type: Face moisturizer
• Size: 2.02 fl oz
• Key ingredients: Panthenol, vitamin E, madecassoside, glycerin

One Cosmo editor says: “I recently began using prescription-grade tretinoin, and I attribute my lack of retinol side effects (i.e., minimal dryness, peeling, irritation) to this barrier-supporting face moisturizer. —SIENA GAGLIANO, FORMER ASSOCIATE EDITOR