If there’s one common denominator among Korean skin-care products, be they cleansers or toners, it’s that they prioritize the skin barrier. With this context, the best Korean exfoliators may seem a little counterintuitive—after all, face exfoliants can sometimes do more harm than good, relying on strong active ingredients (or high concentrations) and inadvertently leaving skin dry or irritated. Vogue’s Favorite Korean Exfoliants Best Chemical Exfoliant: Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme 7% PHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner, $24 Best Physical Exfoliant: Dr.G Brightening Peeling Gel, $18 Best Peel Pads: Medicube Zero Pore Pads, $19 Best for Oily Skin: Some by Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner, $22 Best for Dry Skin: Mixsoon Bean Essence, $35 Best for Mature Skin: Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask, $18 Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner, $15 Best for Sensitive Skin: Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder, $20 But that’s the beauty of the Korean approach to resurfacing skin.
With that in mind, consider these worth adding to your regimen. Best Chemical Exfoliant: Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme 7% PHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner Why We Love It: Among gentle exfoliants, it’s hard to beat Innisfree’s Green Tea Derived Enzyme Toner, which eschews the usual alpha and beta hydroxy acids for polyhydroxy acid, or PHA. PHA has a larger molecular size, which encourages it to exfoliate dead skin cells more slowly.
In this formula, it’s paired with green tea and hyaluronic acid to “to hydrate, exfoliate, and soothe the skin,” says Dr. Claire Chang, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York, NY, who says that for this reason, it’s ideal for all, including those with dry or sensitive skin. For that reason, we consider it among the best face exfoliants, full stop—Korean or otherwise.
Editor’s Experience: “I can always count on this Innisfree toner to get my skin baby soft and smooth after just one use. I love that I can use it without the fear of irritation. Pairing the PHA and enzyms with hyaluronic acid and green tea was smart on their part, to keep the formula balanced.” —Kiana Murden, senior beauty shopping writer Love It Leave It Suitable for even very sensitive skin Exfoliating effects tend to be subtle Actively hydrates skin Best Toner Pads: Medicube Zero Pore Pads Why We Love It: Medicube Zero Pore Pads has a lot going for it: Namely, Dr.
Chang likes that the exfoliating pads are both easy to use and gentle on skin, thanks to the combination of “low-dose AHA and BHA to refine pores and smooth texture,” she says. The alpha hydroxy acids are courtesy of both lactic acid (arguably the gentlest AHA out there) and fruit extracts, while white willow bark serves as a natural source of BHA. They’re also dual-sided, so you can use the textured side for additional physical exfoliation or a soft, smooth side for hydration.
Editor’s Experience: I haven’t used these in a few months, and I can certainly tell in my daily complexion. I find the Zero Pore Pads particularly effective for morning use, ahead of my vitamin C; that way, I’m not relying on just nighttime for exfoliation. And because they’re gentle, I don’t have to worry about irritation throughout the day. —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor Love It Leave It Can improve the appearance of pores The remaining serum has a slightly sticky feel Skin looks and feels smoother quickly Best for Mature Skin: Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask Why We Love It: This wash-off mask gives you the best of both worlds, pairing gentle exfoliation from rice hull powder with a nourishing base of honey.
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