Korean skincare trends move quickly, and what’s popular inside Korea isn’t always the same as what’s trending overseas. At Daeskin, we’ve done the research into where locals shop, how they check rankings, and which products consistently rise to the top.

If you’re curious about what’s really hot in Korea right now, here are the platforms and categories worth watching.

1. Olive Young (Korea Site & App)

Olive Young is Korea’s number one beauty retailer; think of it as Sephora meets your local pharmacy. The Korean site rankings are a live snapshot of what people are actually buying week to week.

• Why it matters: The Olive Young Korea rankings often differ from the global Olive Young site, so browsing here shows you trends before they hit the international stage.
  

• What’s trending: Lightweight sunscreens from Round Lab, SKIN1004, and d’Alba, plus barrier creams like AESTURA Atobarrier 365 and hydrating serums from Torriden.
  

Tip: Use Google Chrome auto-translate when browsing the Korean site to explore the bestseller lists.

2. Hwahae App (화해)

Hwahae is Korea’s biggest beauty review app, with millions of users logging real reviews by skin type and concern.

• Why it matters: It’s considered one of the most reliable ways to see what products consumers genuinely rate highly.
  

• What’s trending: Sunscreens and soothing moisturisers dominate, along with hydration essences like Haruharu Black Rice and Dr Ceuracle Kombucha Tea Essence.
  

3. Glowpick & Powder Room

Both Glowpick and Powder Room are homegrown Korean review platforms that release yearly award lists, similar to “Best of Beauty” awards.

• Why it matters: These awards reflect consensus favourites across skincare, makeup, and haircare.
  

• What’s trending: Expect to see household names like AESTURA, Illiyoon, Torriden, and Round Lab consistently ranking.
  

What’s Popular Right Now (Across Platforms)

From our research, three categories stand out:

• Sunscreens: Round Lab Birch Juice, SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum, d’Alba Waterfull Essence Sun Cream
  

• Barrier Creams: AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream, Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cream
  

• Hydration Toners & Essences: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Toner, Dr Ceuracle Kombucha Tea Essence, I’m From Rice Toner
  

These aren’t just trends, they’re the staples locals keep repurchasing.

Final Take

If you want to know what skincare is truly popular in South Korea, skip the influencer noise and head straight to the source:

1. Olive Young Korea site & app for weekly bestsellers
   
2. Hwahae app for skin-type–based reviews
   
3. Glowpick & Powder Room for award-winning products

At Daeskin, we keep a close eye on these platforms to curate what’s loved in Korea, so you can shop with confidence knowing you’re getting what locals actually use and trust.