Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Korean face exfoliators different from Western ones?
One of the biggest differences between Korean skin-care routines and Western ones comes down to how they’re used—and how they feel on skin. Rather than positioning exfoliation as an intense, once-a-week treatment, Korean formulas are designed to fit into your everyday routine. “In K-beauty, exfoliation is often built into gentler, more flexible formats like toner pads, peeling gels, and exfoliating toners,” says Dr. Sheu. “That makes exfoliation feel approachable and easy for people to use consistently.” The result is a more gradual, skin-barrier-friendly approach that prioritizes regular use and subtle smoothing over the kind of immediate, sometimes harsh results you might get from stronger Western peels or scrubs.
If Korean face exfoliators tend to be gentler than their Western counterparts, do they still deliver results?
“Gentler does not automatically mean ineffective,” says Dr. Sheu. In fact, many Korean exfoliators are designed to be more tolerable and easier to use consistently, which can translate into better long-term results for a lot of people. Instead of chasing that immediate tingle or visible peeling, these formulas work more subtly over time. As Dr. Sheu puts it, contrary to popular belief, “a product does not need to sting or visibly peel your skin to be doing something useful.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best Korean face exfoliators, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
