There isn't one number one moisturiser in Korea, because each chart counts something different. On sales, Aestura's Atobarrier 365 Cream won the cream category at the 2025 Olive Young Awards. On user reviews, Wellage Real Hyaluronic Soothing Cream leads Hwahae's hydration ranking as of October 2026. Whether either one suits your skin in Australia is a separate question.
Which moisturiser is number one in Korea right now?
It depends on who's counting. Three kinds of chart get quoted most, and they don't agree with each other.
By sales: the Olive Young Awards
Olive Young is a Korean health and beauty retailer, and its yearly awards are built from what people bought. According to The Monodist's rundown of the 2025 awards, the results came from more than 180 million purchase records collected between July 2024 and June 2025.
In the cream category, Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream came first. Dr.G's R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream was second and S.Nature Aqua Squalane Moisturizing Cream third.
By user reviews: Hwahae
Hwahae is a Korean app where shoppers rate products. Its English ranking of hydration face moisturisers says it draws on reviews from more than 10 million users.
When we checked on 2 October 2026, Wellage Real Hyaluronic Soothing Cream was first and S.Nature Aqua Squalane Moisturizing Cream second. Torriden's two Dive-In hyaluronic acid creams sat third and fifth, with Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream between them. That order shifts, so check the live page before you quote it.
By editors: magazine round-ups
Allure's list of Korean moisturisers names Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream best overall, then splits the rest by skin type. Its oily skin pick is Torriden's Dive-In cream and its dry skin pick is Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream. Editor picks are opinions. They're useful, but they aren't a count.
Why the charts don't agree
A sales chart shows what a lot of people bought, and probably bought again. A review ranking shows what people liked enough to rate. An editor's list shows what impressed the magazine's testers. Those are three different questions, so you get three different winners.
Two names do turn up twice. Aestura's cream is first on sales and first with Allure's editors. S.Nature's squalane cream is third on sales and second on reviews. If you want the closest thing to a consensus, it's those two.
What the top-ranked creams have in common
Read the product names and a pattern shows. Five of Hwahae's top ten have hyaluronic acid in the name, and squalane and ceramide appear in the rest of the lists. Going by the names and the category, these are everyday hydrating creams, not heavy balms.
That fits how these ingredients work. Hyaluronic acid holds water in the top layer of skin, which our hyaluronic acid hydration guide explains. Squalane and ceramides sit over the top and slow that water leaving, as covered in our guides to squalane and how ceramides support the skin barrier.
A caveat: we haven't tested every cream on these charts. This is a summary of the rankings, not a review.
What is the number one moisturiser in Korea for your skin type?
A chart is built for the average buyer, and you probably aren't one. Hwahae's own notes say hydration moisturisers suit all skin types, especially dry, dehydrated or combination skin, and that oily skin should choose lightweight, gel-based formulas.
For dry skin
Pick from the cream end of the list and look for ceramides or squalane under the humectant. Allure's dry skin pick is a hyaluronic cream, which tells you water comes first even here. Our guide to Korean moisturisers for dry skin goes through the label in detail.
For oily skin
Gel textures win. Torriden's Dive-In cream is Allure's oily skin pick and sits in Hwahae's top five, so it's the one name both sources back. See our oily skin guide for what to avoid on the ingredient list.
For combination skin
A gel-cream across the whole face, with a little extra on the cheeks, usually beats buying two products. The combination skin guide covers when a second cream is worth it.
If what you're after is a Korean face cream for glowing skin, the same lists apply. That glow is mostly what well-hydrated skin looks like, which is probably why hyaluronic acid creams crowd the top.
Does Korea's number one suit Australian weather?
Not automatically. A Korean chart tells you what sells in Korea, to people living in Korean weather. Yours is different, and it changes through the year.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Sydney averages put 3pm humidity at 62 per cent in January and 49 per cent in August. A cream that feels right on a dry winter afternoon with the heater on can feel heavy in a sticky January. Further north the air is wetter for longer, and our piece on Korean skincare in humid weather covers that side.
Whatever cream you choose, it goes under sunscreen every morning. No moisturiser ranking changes that in Australia.
How to choose without chasing the chart
Korean rankings make a good shortlist and a poor final answer. Start with the names that appear on more than one chart, then check three things yourself.
- Texture: gel for oily skin, gel-cream for combination, cream for dry.
- Ingredients: glycerin or hyaluronic acid in the first few lines, with ceramides or squalane further down.
- Seller: an Australian stockist or a store you can verify, so you know the jar is fresh and genuine.
If you'd like a feel for the texture most of these lists reward, a light hydrating water cream is that style. Then give any new moisturiser two to four weeks before you judge it.
Further reading: What Actually Makes a Korean Moisturiser Work in Australia
FAQ
What is the best Korean hydrating moisturizer?
On Hwahae's hydration ranking, Wellage Real Hyaluronic Soothing Cream was first when we checked on 2 October 2026, with S.Nature Aqua Squalane Moisturizing Cream and Torriden's Dive-In cream right behind it. The list moves, so look at the live ranking before you buy.
What is the best Korean moisturizer?
There's no single answer, but Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream has the strongest case. It came first in the cream category at the 2025 Olive Young Awards and it's Allure's best overall pick. Whether it's best for you depends on your skin type and where you live.
What is the best Korean face moisturizer?
For most faces, a hydrating cream with hyaluronic acid or squalane near the top of the ingredient list, which is what the Korean charts are full of. Go for a gel texture if your skin is oily and a thicker cream if it's dry.
What is the #1 Korean skincare brand in Korea?
We couldn't find one chart that settles it. Aestura won the cream category at the 2025 Olive Young Awards, but other categories went to other brands, so the answer changes with the product you're asking about.
