Ingredient glossary

aka Snail secretion filtrate

Korea's cult hydrator — a glycoprotein-rich filtrate that plumps, soothes, and helps skin recover.

aka Sodium hyaluronate

The water magnet — pulls moisture into the upper skin layers for instant plump.

The mortar between your skin cells — restores the barrier when it's been compromised.

aka Pro-vitamin B5

Quiet workhorse — hydrates, soothes, and speeds the skin's recovery from almost anything.

An oat-derived humectant that hydrates deeper than hyaluronic acid and soothes at the same time.

aka PGA

A fermented humectant that holds many times more water than hyaluronic acid — and locks it in with a thin, breathable film.

aka Vitamin B3

The all-rounder — evens tone, calms redness, and tightens the look of pores without irritation.

aka L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside

The morning antioxidant — brightens, evens tone, and buffers daily UV and pollution damage.

A targeted fader for stubborn pigmentation, melasma, and post-acne marks that won't budge.

aka Alpha-arbutin

A gentler cousin of hydroquinone — fades pigmentation slowly and steadily, without irritation.

aka Cica, tiger grass

The K-Beauty soothing standard — calms redness, speeds barrier recovery, and quiets reactive skin.

The single most-active compound in centella, isolated — for serious calming without irritation.

aka Artemisia

An old Korean medicinal herb now baked into ampoules — deeply calming for stressed, sensitive skin.

Bee-made resin — soothes, hydrates, and helps acne-prone skin heal without drying it out.

aka Retinaldehyde, retinol

The fastest-acting OTC retinoid — smooths lines, evens tone, and unclogs pores with less irritation than retinol.

aka Salicylic acid

An oil-soluble exfoliant that gets inside pores — for blackheads, congestion, and texture that won't smooth out.

aka Polydeoxyribonucleotides, polynucleotides, salmon DNA

Salmon-derived DNA fragments — Korea's buzziest regenerative, with much stronger evidence as an injectable than as a topical.

aka GHK-Cu, copper tripeptide-1

A signaling peptide bound to copper — supports collagen, elastin, and barrier repair, with real caveats about what to pair it with.

Tiny cell-to-cell messengers — buzzy in Korean clinics, mostly marketing in over-the-counter serums.

A plant-derived alternative to retinol — gentler, pregnancy-friendly, and slower-acting.