Korean words used on skincare labels
Many shelf tags and product labels use Korean. These words can help you identify the product category and intended use.
Words describing skin types
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 지성 | oily |
| 건성 | dry |
| 복합성 | combination |
| 중성 | normal |
| 민감성 | sensitive |
| 여드름성 피부 | acne-prone |
| 속건조 | skin that feels dehydrated, sometimes despite surface oiliness |
| 아토피 / 아토피성 | atopic |
Words for hydration, oil and skin concerns
| Korean | Meaning and use |
|---|---|
| 수분 | This means water or hydration. 수분크림 describes a moisturising cream. |
| 유분 | This refers to oil. 유분 컨트롤 describes a claim to control oiliness. |
| 피지 | This means sebum, the oil produced by skin. |
| 각질 | This refers to the outer layer of dead skin cells. 각질 제거 means exfoliation. |
| 모공 | This means pores. Products may use it in claims about pore appearance. |
| 탄력 | This refers to skin firmness or elasticity. |
| 진정 | This means calming or soothing in skincare descriptions. |
| 보습 | This means moisturising. |
| 미백 | This means brightening or whitening and can identify a regulated cosmetic function. |
| 주름 개선 | This means wrinkle improvement and can identify a regulated cosmetic function. |
| 홍조 | This means facial redness. |
| 색소침착 | This refers to pigmentation. |
| 트러블 | Skincare marketing uses this word for breakouts or other skin problems; it is not a diagnosis. |
| 피부장벽 | This means the skin barrier. |
Words on the front of a pack
| Korean | What it means |
|---|---|
| 저자극 | This means “low irritation”; it does not guarantee that you will not react. |
| 무향 / 무향료 | These describe the product’s scent or fragrance formulation. Check the ingredient list if avoiding fragrance is important to you. |
| 무알콜 | This means “alcohol-free”; check the formula if you need to avoid a particular ingredient. |
| 논코메도제닉 | This means “non-comedogenic”, a claim about the likelihood of clogging pores. It does not guarantee that the product suits your skin. |
| 피부과 테스트 완료 | This means “dermatologist tested”. It does not say how it was tested. |
| 무기자차 | This is shorthand for a mineral-filter sunscreen. |
| 유기자차 | This is shorthand for a sunscreen using organic UV filters. |
| 기능성화장품 | This identifies Korea’s regulated functional-cosmetic category. |
Product names describe formats, not a compulsory routine. Toner (토너 or 스킨), essence (에센스), serum (세럼), ampoule (앰플), lotion (로션), emulsion (에멀전) and cream (크림) can have overlapping ingredients and purposes. Check each product’s directions rather than assuming you need every step. Sun cream (선크림) means sunscreen; cleansing oil (클렌징 오일) and cleansing foam (클렌징 폼) are cleanser types.
Read product claims alongside the ingredients and directions
Cosmetic claims are subject to labelling and advertising rules. 기능성화장품 identifies Korea’s regulated functional-cosmetic category. Ask for clarification if a product’s claimed status is unclear. “K-beauty ingredient glossary” explains relevant terms and ingredients.
The Cosmetics Act prohibits misleading presentation of a cosmetic as a medicine. A product’s packaging does not replace medical advice about a skin condition.
Claims such as “low irritation”, “dermatologist tested” and “non-comedogenic” do not tell you the complete test method or guarantee that a product suits your skin. Check the formula and instructions, especially if you have reacted to an ingredient before.
Read the cautions on the back
Korea’s notice on cosmetic cautions and allergens requires particular warnings for specified products and ingredients. Read the actual label rather than using a general product category as a complete safety guide.
Warnings may address irritation, eye contact, sun exposure, use on children or a health condition. If an instruction is unclear, ask a pharmacist or another appropriate professional before using the product. Stop using a product if its instructions require you to do so after a reaction.
향료 means fragrance. The ingredient list may name individual fragrance constituents such as limonene or linalool as well. Read the complete list and ask about any ingredient you need to avoid; a front-label fragrance claim does not replace that check.
Ask about the services in the shop
Some cosmetics shops provide testers (테스터). Ask before trying a product and follow the shop’s instructions. You can decline assistance by saying 괜찮아요, 그냥 볼게요 (it's fine, I'm just looking).
Olive Young (올리브영) describes several in-store services; check availability and supported languages at the branch:
- Skin Scan (스킨스캔) measures skin characteristics such as oiliness, pores and pigmentation. Ask staff how to view the results and whether you need the Olive Young app.
- AI kiosks at some larger branches answer product questions and help customers find items. Staff may also offer a QR code for a multilingual interpretation service.
- Advanced Derma (어드밴스드 더마) is a skincare range developed with Korean pharmaceutical companies. Ask staff which products suit your needs and read each product’s directions and cautions.
Treat a Skin Scan result as a starting point, not a diagnosis. It is a retail device attached to a product recommendation, rather than a clinical examination. If something on your skin worries you, that is a doctor's question.
Some shops offer custom-blended cosmetics (맞춤형화장품). A shop may mix or decant a product to order only if it has notified the regulator and employs a state-examined compounding manager (맞춤형화장품조제관리사).
A practical way through a Korean shelf
- Read the tag for the type word — oily (지성), dry (건성), combination (복합성), sensitive (민감성) — as the brand's own positioning.
- Turn the pack over and read its cautions and directions. Ask for help translating any instruction you do not understand.
- Look for the functional-cosmetic mark (기능성화장품). Ask for clarification if a claimed functional status is unclear.
- On a sunscreen, read SPF and PA together — “K-beauty ingredient glossary” explains what the numbers legally mean.
- Do not treat a brief shop test as proof that a product will suit you. The American Academy of Dermatology explains how to test a new skincare product before wider use.
- Choose the products you need rather than assuming a whole set is necessary. Check whether the product can be purchased or delivered to your home country later — “Olive Young Global vs in-store pricing”.
