Guide to Trending Korean Beauty Treatments and Why They Work

No one does “glass skin” quite like K-pop stars. And no, it’s not just filters or plastic surgery. That poreless, dewy glow comes from next-level skincare far beyond your average facial. 

South Korea is now the global hotspot for beauty tourism. It’s known for high-tech clinics and brands that innovate skincare products just about daily. Facials, light therapy, microneedling⏤you name it. The industry is constantly pushing boundaries.;

Let’s take a look at some of the most buzzworthy (and slightly wild) Korean skincare treatments making waves, both in Seoul and beyond.

Weird and Wonderful Ingredients

Many Korean beauty treatments are known for their gentle, minimalist formulations, but don’t let this fool you. Some of the most effective products rely on ingredients that sound more like a science experiment than something you should put on your face! 

We’ll explore some of these below.

Bee Venom

Don’t let the “venom” part scare you. This unorthodox ingredient has earned its place in luxury skincare and is often touted as nature’s Botox. 

It has peptides, enzymes, and other compounds that, when applied topically, mimic tiny injuries that trigger the skin’s inflammatory response. This encourages fibroblast activity (collagen and elastin production), increases blood flow, and speeds up skin renewal.

Snail Mucin

Yes, it’s an odd ingredient. But snail secretion filtrate is now quite common in Korean skincare treatments, and science backs it up. Commonly known as snail mucin, it contains naturally occurring glycolic acid, zinc, allantoin, and copper peptides. These smooth, soothe, and heal skin. 

It also has achacin, an antimicrobial compound. This makes it a multitasking star in Korean beauty treatments, helping with sensitivity, aging, and acne-prone skin. 

Salmon Sperm

Thought snails were strange? Enter salmon sperm, specifically the DNA fragments derived from it called Polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRNs).

PDRNs were originally used in medicine to treat burns and diabetic ulcers. Now, they’re trending in anti-aging skincare, thanks to their ability to repair and renew skin and reduce inflammation. Even celebs like Kylie Jenner have joined the hype. 

Don’t worry, vegan versions exist. They’re made from fermented Korean ginseng or yeast instead of fish. 

Facials

Facials in Korean beauty treatments go far beyond the basic cleanse and face mask. In the K-beauty world, they are high-tech and results-driven. It’s not uncommon for beauty clinics to advise a comprehensive treatment plan involving multiple treatments. 

Some of the most sought-after include: 

1. Hydra Therapy (Aqua Peel)

This is a popular Korean skincare treatment because it addresses multiple skin concerns at once. Aqua Peels use water pressure to gently exfoliate, clear pores, and infuse skin with beneficial ingredients. 

Think vitamin C for brightening, centella asiatica for soothing, peptides for firming, and low-molecular hyaluronic acid for deep hydration.

It’s a great solution for dullness, dehydration, or clogged pores. 

2. Microneedling

Also very popular in the West, this Korean beauty treatment is a non-surgical skin rejuvenation technique that uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries to the skin. This triggers the skin’s inflammatory response, which stimulates collagen production. 

K-beauty versions offer upgrades like radio frequency (RF) microneedling for deeper tightening and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which uses your blood’s growth factors to stimulate maximum cell regeneration. 

There are even at-home microneedling serums like the VT Reedle Shot Essence that mimic the effects without the needles, though some say it stings! 

3. Rejuran Healer

Remember the salmon sperm? It’s so effective, it’s in many Korean beauty treatments. In this case, it’s injected into the skin. These types of injectable treatments are known as skin boosters.  

Most boosters use hyaluronic acid, but Rejuran Healer infuses a serum with PDRNs. This is even more effective than topical application, reducing wrinkles and giving the skin a healthy, even-toned glow. 

Estheticians advise three or four initial treatments over a few weeks, then maintenance every six to 12 months. 

Light-Based and Ultrasound Treatments

Though technically considered facials, these high-tech, skin-renewing procedures deserve their own spotlight in the world of Korean beauty treatments. 

Laser Toning 

A favorite in Korean dermatology clinics, laser toning uses non-ablative lasers to deliver concentrated beams of light into the skin’s deeper layers. 

Unlike ablative lasers (like CO2), which exfoliate the outer layer of the skin, non-ablative lasers work beneath the surface, heating the underlying tissue without visible damage. 

This makes it ideal for sensitive skin or anyone wanting to even out skin tone and boost collagen for a brighter, smoother complexion. 

It’s a gentle but effective Korean skincare treatment, and one of its biggest perks is its minimal to zero downtime. There is no flaking or peeling after the procedure; just a gradual, healthy glow.

LED Light Therapy 

LED therapy uses targeted wavelengths—collagen-boosting red light and acne-fighting blue light—to activate photobiomodulation, stimulating cellular repair and regeneration.

This popular Korean beauty treatment also reduces redness, inflammation, and overall skin fatigue, which usually shows up as dryness, texture, and a dull complexion. 

Clinics use professional-grade LED equipment like domes or full-body beds, which are significantly more powerful than at-home devices. 

That said, at-home LED masks have gained major traction in recent years. While less intense, they’re still a great option for consistent, easy skin maintenance at home. 

Ultherapy 

In many parts of Asia, a slim, V-shaped face with a sharp jawline is the gold standard of beauty. Ultherapy delivers that sculpted look without surgery, making it one of the most sought-after Korean beauty treatments today.

An Ultherapy device sends focused ultrasound energy deep into the skin, stimulating collagen production and gently lifting sagging areas over time. It’s also used to reduce unwanted face and neck fat (goodbye double chins!). 

This procedure is especially popular for face, jawline, and neck contouring, and is even FDA-approved for brow lifting and tightening loose skin. Results appear gradually over months. 

Explore These Trends at Home With EYURS 

While some Korean skincare treatments require a trip to a dermatologist’s office, good skincare starts at home with the right routine and products. 

Many innovations from professional treatments, like low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid and PDRNs, are now available in high-quality K-beauty products for everyday use.

Take Medicube’s PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, for example. It has the same PDRNs as in-clinic boosters like Rejuran Healer. Or, try serums packed with peptides, snail mucin, or bee venom to hydrate, heal, and brighten your skin. 

EYURS brings you authentic, innovative K-beauty skincare so you can build a routine that feels like a professional treatment and actually works. All at prices you'll love. Enjoy free shipping on orders over $40!