Korean exfoliator is a must-have in any skincare routine, and I’ve got ten recommendations that your skin will love.
Korean skincare and beauty products are some of my faves because they’re full of natural ingredients that work wonders on your skin.
Korean exfoliators in particular are super effective because they’re powerful enough to remove dead skin cells without irritating your skin.
There are two main categories of exfoliators you’ll see on the market—physical and chemical.
Physical exfoliators, like scrubs and peels, rely on the texture of physical ingredients to remove dirt from the skin.
Chemical exfoliators, meanwhile, contain ingredients like glycolic acid that penetrate the skin to improve texture and encourage skin cell turnover.
These are my favorite physical and chemical Korean exfoliator products I recommend everyone try!
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Shop my Korean exfoliator faves below:
Ten Best Korean Exfoliator Products
#1 – Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel
The first Korean exfoliator I recommend trying is the Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel.
This Peeling Gel contains ingredients like papaya and licorice that gently remove skin impurities without irritating.
As a bonus, this Peeling Gel contains hyaluronic acid which is known for its hydrating and anti-aging effects.
Trust me, your skin is going to be so happy after you use the Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel!
A 100ml bottle of Peeling Gel retails for $14.
#2 – Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off
One of the best physical Korean exfoliators is Skinfood’s Black Sugar Mask Wash Off.
This gentle exfoliating mask is packed with natural ingredients like black sugar, macadamia seed oil, and shea butter.
The Black Sugar Mask is one of my faves because it gently scrubs away dead skin and provides tons of hydration to leave your skin feeling soft.
You can get a 3.5oz container of the Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off for just $11 which is an amazing steal.
#3 – Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
If you’re looking for a Korean chemical exfoliator that works magic on your skin, Some by Mi’s AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner is the product to beat.
With alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), beta hydroxy acid (BHA), and polyhydroxy acid (PHA), this toner is a powerful serum that helps diminish the appearance of skin impurities like blemishes, wrinkles, and dry skin texture.
You can pick up a 1.7oz container of the Some by Mi Miracle Toner for $20.
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#4 – Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel
For anyone with especially sensitive skin, Dr. G’s Brightening Peeling Gel is the perfect Korean exfoliator.
One of the key ingredients in this Peeling Gel is cellulose, which helps keep your skin super hydrated and healthy. Other ingredients like hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C also brighten and refresh dull skin.
You’ll be able to see almost instant results after incorporating this Dr. G Peeling Gel into your skincare routine.
You can get a 4.2oz bottle of the Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel for $28.
#5 – Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine
One of my favorite Korean exfoliator products for beautiful results and ultimate convenience is the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine.
Yes, you read that right—these gauze-peeling pads contain wine! The textured cotton pads are soaked in a serum of red wine and resveratrol that evens skin complexion by gently exfoliating away impurities and excess sebum.
These Bio-Peel exfoliating pads also contain lactic acid which helps shed dead skin cells to promote smooth skin texture.
I can get behind any skincare product that includes red wine, so these peel gauze pads are one of my top picks.
You can get a 30-count container of the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine pads for $27.
#6 – Isntree Clear Skin BHA Toner
Isntree’s Clear Skin BHA Toner is one of the most popular and well-reviewed Korean exfoliators on the market.
This chemical exfoliator works well on normal to oily skin thanks to the key ingredient betaine salicylate, an exfoliating combination of beet and salicylic acid.
This BHA skin toner also combines seaweed with other natural ingredients that remove blackheads, soothe irritation, and hydrate.
The Isntree Clear Skin BHA Toner costs $20 for a 6.76oz bottle.
Shop the best Korean exfoliator products below!
#7 – Rokkiss Tea Tree Peeling Gel
The Rokkiss Tea Tree Peeling Gel is a great Korean exfoliator for acne-prone, oily, and dry skin.
This Peeling Gel uses hyaluronic acid and tea tree to gently remove dead skin cells, leaving skin soft and clean.
The Rokkiss Peeling Gel also contains naturally-occurring cellulose from ingredients like eucalyptus leaves which increases skin hydration.
This Peeling Gel is a great all-around Korean exfoliator for any skin type.
A 4.05oz bottle of the Rokkiss Peeling Gel retails for $10.
#8 – TonyMoly Floria Brightening Peeling Gel
Another top Korean exfoliator is the TonyMoly Floria Brightening Peeling Gel.
This exfoliating gel has natural ingredients like lotus flower water, pearl powder, and plum extract that instantly refresh and brighten skin.
The TonyMoly Peeling Gel is a great option for sensitive skin types because it not only scrubs away dirt and dry skin but also penetrates the skin to hydrate and nourish from within.
This Peeling Gel is available in a set with the Floria Brightening Foam Cleanser for $24 on Amazon.
#9 – MOTHER MADE Exfoliating Aqua Vegan Peel Gel with Green Tea
The next Korean exfoliator I recommend is the MOTHER MADE Exfoliating Aqua Vegan Peel Gel with Green Tea.
This Peel Gel is perfect for all skin types thanks to ingredients like cellulose, willow bark extract, and lavender oil that gently exfoliate dead skin and remove excess sebum.
Even those with sensitive skin can use this Peel Gel to reveal bright, smooth skin without worrying about irritation.
This MOTHER MADE Peel Gel is an amazing product, especially for anyone just starting in the world of Korean exfoliators. As a bonus, this Vegan Peel Gel is free of animal products.
A 3.38oz bottle of the Exfoliating Aqua Vegan Peel Gel retails for $25.
#10 – COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
The CORSX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is the last Korean exfoliator I recommend.
The Blackhead Power Liquid pairs BHA with natural ingredients like willow bark water to clear clogged pores, even skin texture, and diminish impurities.
I especially like how lightweight this serum is, so the exfoliation is effective without being harsh or irritating.
For a 3.38oz of the CORSX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, you can expect to pay $24.
Incorporating a Korean exfoliator into my skincare routine has made a huge difference in the health and appearance of my skin, so I hope you love these products as much as I do!
Be sure to share your Korean exfoliator recommendations in the comments below or on my Insta (@wtfab).
Shop my picks for the best Korean exfoliators by clicking below:
Want more product recs and reviews? Check out my skincare posts here.
I’m From Skincare Products to Try
FAQs
The two main categories of Korean exfoliator products are physical and chemical. Physical exfoliators use textured ingredients to scrub away dead skin while chemical exfoliators penetrate the skin to refresh and nourish skin cells from within.
Yes, many Korean exfoliators clean and hydrate the skin which is beneficial for oily, dry, and acne-prone skin types.
Some of the top Korean exfoliator products are:
– Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel
– Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off
– Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.