Ingredient Encyclopedia
Korean Skincare Ingredients, Explained
Every Korean skincare routine at Allùre Shop rests on a short list of active ingredients that keep coming back for a reason. Here we explain what each one is: how it works, which skin type it suits, what it pairs with, and which Korean skincare products in our catalog contain it. Read about it before choosing your next serum.
Why this page exists
"Glass skin" is a visible, well-defined skin finish
The Korean beauty term "glass skin" describes an even, well-hydrated surface that reflects light evenly instead of scattering it across dry patches, enlarged pores, or uneven tone. This look comes from a well-supported skin barrier: ingredients that help retain water, calm visible irritation, and support the skin's natural lipid layer over weeks of consistent use, not from a single one-time application.
Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica, and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate are four active ingredients that contribute strongly to this look and form the basis of this encyclopedia. Each section below explains what the ingredient is, how it works, and which products in our catalog contain it, so you can build a routine around function rather than marketing language.
Start here
The ingredients behind most K-beauty routines
Hyaluronic Acid
A humectant also produced naturally by the skin, available in several molecular weights to hydrate at different levels at the same time.
Centella Asiatica
A botanical extract rich in madecassoside and triterpenes, used to calm redness and support the skin barrier.
Niacinamide
A water-soluble form of Vitamin B3 that strengthens the barrier, evens the appearance of tone and regulates oil, making it one of the most universally useful staples in Korean skincare.
Vitamin C
An antioxidant vitamin the body cannot produce on its own and an essential component in the skin's natural collagen-building process.
Full encyclopedia
45 ingredients
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
A laboratory-designed peptide often called "Botox in a bottle" because it mimics, in a much gentler way, how injections reduce the appearance of expression lines.
Glycolic Acid
A small-molecule AHA that removes dead skin cells, smooths texture and evens the appearance of skin tone when used in a controlled way.
Hyaluronic Acid
A humectant also produced naturally by the skin, available in several molecular weights to hydrate at different levels at the same time.
Lactic Acid
An AHA traditionally derived from milk, with a larger molecule than glycolic acid, offering gentler exfoliation while also hydrating.
Salicylic Acid
An oil-soluble BHA that penetrates into the pore itself, making it a standard exfoliant for oily and acne-prone skin.
Adenosine
A nucleoside used by cells for energy transfer and recognized in Korea as a functional anti-wrinkle ingredient at a specific tested concentration.
Allantoin
A gentle soothing and skin-renewing ingredient tolerated by almost everyone and found in many Korean skincare formulas.
Aloe Vera
The gel of a succulent plant used on skin for thousands of years and valued today for fast, lightweight hydration and a documented soothing effect.
Colloidal Gold
Microscopic gold particles dispersed through a formula, used for antioxidant support, soothing and a brighter-looking complexion.
Arbutin
A tyrosinase-inhibiting brightening ingredient derived from bearberry and formulated as a gentler alternative to hydroquinone.
Arginine
An amino acid that supports the skin's natural regulation of moisture and pH, working quietly in the background of many hydrating formulas.
Azulene
A soothing ingredient from the azulene family, known for antioxidant activity and for helping reduce the appearance of redness.
Bakuchiol
A plant-derived ingredient that supports skin tone, texture and evenness, with a profile that is generally gentler than retinol.
Beta-Glucan
A polysaccharide usually derived from oats or yeast that soothes irritation and supports the skin barrier without the stickiness of heavier humectants.
Betaine
An osmolyte originally derived from sugar beet that supports water balance in skin cells during stress without adding oiliness or stickiness.
Centella Asiatica
A botanical extract rich in madecassoside and triterpenes, used to calm redness and support the skin barrier.
Ceramides
Lipids that physically hold the skin barrier together. Replenishing them is one of the most scientifically supported ways to restore a compromised barrier.
EGF
A biotechnology-produced signaling protein used in serums to support the appearance of renewal, tone and texture.
Calendula Extract
A flower extract rich in flavonoids and triterpenes, used to calm redness and support skin comfort.
Chamomile Extract
A flower extract from the daisy family, where the blue-toned compound azulene is one of the most visible signs of its soothing role in cosmetics.
Honey Extract
A natural humectant with mild antibacterial activity and a documented history in wound care, strongest in raw or Manuka forms.
Purslane Extract
An extract from an omega-3-rich succulent, increasingly used in Korean skincare as a soothing, barrier-supporting alternative to Centella.
Pomegranate Extract
A fruit extract with a high concentration of polyphenols, especially punicalagins, used for antioxidant support and to promote a brighter-looking tone.
Grape Seed Extract
An extract rich in proanthocyanidins, used for antioxidant support and to help preserve the appearance of skin tone and firmness.
Plant Stem Cell Extract
An extract from plant cell cultures, rich in polyphenols and antioxidant compounds that support the skin's defenses.
Deodeok Root Extract
A Korean extract rich in saponins and polyphenols, used for antioxidant support and soothing the skin.
Licorice Root Extract
A brightening botanical extract in which glabridin inhibits pigment production through the same enzyme targeted by Vitamin C and arbutin.
Salmon Roe Extract
A marine-derived extract containing peptides, lipids and conditioning compounds for hydration and improved skin comfort.
Green Tea Extract
A leaf extract rich in polyphenols, with antioxidant activity driven largely by EGCG, one of the most studied botanical compounds in skincare.
Mineral SPF Filters
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, inorganic filters that protect skin by absorbing, reflecting and scattering UV radiation.
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
A ferment filtrate rich in amino acids, minerals and hydrating compounds that improve skin softness and radiance.
Shea Butter
A fatty-acid-rich butter pressed from the nuts of the African shea tree, valued for deep softening in creams and balms.
Glutathione
A tripeptide antioxidant naturally produced in every cell, used topically to support radiance alongside Vitamin C and Niacinamide.
Collagen
Hydrolyzed collagen that forms a hydrating film, smooths the surface and gives dehydration lines an immediate plumped appearance.
Mushroom Extract Complex
A category of mushroom extracts such as Chaga, Reishi and Sparassis Crispa, valued for polysaccharide-based hydration and antioxidant activity.
Snail Mucin
A secretion filtrate rich in glycoproteins and hydrating compounds that smooths texture and supports the barrier.
Niacinamide
A water-soluble form of Vitamin B3 that strengthens the barrier, evens the appearance of tone and regulates oil, making it one of the most universally useful staples in Korean skincare.
Panax Ginseng
The root at the center of traditional Korean medicine for centuries, valued in skincare for the antioxidant activity of ginsenosides and support for skin tone.
Panthenol
Provitamin B5 that hydrates, soothes and supports recovery of the skin barrier.
Peptides
Short chains of amino acids designed to signal specific cellular behaviors, such as collagen production, repair and firmness, rather than simply hydrating or acting as antioxidants.
Retinyl Palmitate
A gentle vitamin A ester used to support gradual renewal, smoother texture and improved skin tone.
Squalane
A stable, mostly plant-derived form of squalene, the lipid the skin naturally produces to keep its surface soft and supple.
Trehalose
A humectant sugar that retains moisture and supports skin comfort in drying conditions.
Vitamin C
An antioxidant vitamin the body cannot produce on its own and an essential component in the skin's natural collagen-building process.
Vitamin E
A fat-soluble antioxidant that works within the lipid layer and is often combined with vitamin C to extend its effectiveness.
Ready to choose products by active ingredient?
Browse our full catalog of Korean skincare products, or start with our K-beauty guide to build your routine.