Product types

A rinse-off step for removing dirt, excess oil and everyday residue. Choose a cleanser for the way your skin feels after rinsing, not simply how much foam it makes. A cleanser does not need to leave skin tight to have done its job.

An oil-based rinse-off cleanser. Follow its instructions: many are massaged onto dry skin, then mixed with water to emulsify before rinsing. Beauty of Joseon's Ginseng Cleansing Oil is one example. This category is a cleansing format, not a treatment for oily skin.

A leave-on skincare format often used for a hydrating layer. COSRX Snail 96 is an example with snail secretion filtrate and other supporting ingredients. Essence is a product label, not a standard promise about concentration or results: read the ingredients and instructions.

A gel, lotion, cream or ointment used to add moisture and limit water loss. Richer is not automatically better for every person: texture and skin needs matter. Moisturising still has a place when skin is oily. A simple moisturiser can be the useful centre of a routine.

A leave-on product format that can focus on hydration, tone or another skincare goal. Serums vary widely: the name does not guarantee a higher concentration or better results than a cream. Compare the actual ingredients, directions and texture rather than choosing by category alone.

The sun-protection step. Choose broad-spectrum protection with SPF 30 or higher and use it alongside shade and protective clothing. Follow the product's application instructions and reapply. A hydrating serum is not a sunscreen unless the finished product is labelled and tested for sun protection.

A leave-on liquid used after cleansing. A toner may focus on hydration or contain exfoliating ingredients, so the category name alone does not describe its job. The COSRX propolis toner in this catalogue is a hydrating example; check each formula's directions.