In this post, we will discuss the best Korean exfoliators for dry and sensitive skin.

We choose each exfoliator based on how many times people have used and recommended it. These exfoliators also moisturize the skin without irritating or damaging it. They contain AHAs, BHAs, and ingredients that moisturize the skin and are free from fragrance, alcohol, PEGs, silicones, and essential oils.

Most of these exfoliators are peeling gels so they will be gentle on the skin.

Note: you can use these exfoliators once or twice a week depending on the amount of irritation you feel.

This is the best Korean exfoliator for dry and sensitive skin out there and is highly recommended. It uses a combination of glycolic acid (4%) and lactic acid (4%) that work together to exfoliate dead flaky skin, revealing a smoother and brighter complexion. It also contains centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid making it great for all skin types, even ultra-sensitive skin.

Pros:

• It contains ingredients that can exfoliate, soothe, and moisturize the skin at the same time without damaging and irritating the skin barrier.

• It helps to unclog pores and brighten dull skin.

• It is dermatologically tested to be low-irritant.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Licorice Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Matricaria Flower Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lavender Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Asiaticoside, Dextrin, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose.

Benton PHA Peeling Toner is another Korean exfoliator that should be suitable for dry and sensitive skin. It contains lactobionic acid (3%) and has a natural moisturizing factor (maintains moisture in skin for long-lasting hydrated skin even after peeling).

Pros:

• It is a gentle exfoliator that helps to smoothen and hydrate your skin.

• It soothes and moisturizes the skin with cornflower floral water and other hydrating agents.

• It keeps the skin’s pH level balanced.

• It does not contain volatile alcohol, PEGs, or silicones.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Aqua (Water), Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid (3%), Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Propanediol, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Gluconate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate.

This is a gentle, low-irritant Korean exfoliator containing 5% mandelic acid that is suitable for people with dry and sensitive skin.

Pros:

• This exfoliator is just like the ISNTREE – chestnut 8% AHA product we talked about above.

• It contains 5% mandelic acid which is gentle and non-irritating for dry and sensitive skin.

• It contains panthenol, centella asiatica extract, and beta-glucan that supply moisture to the skin after peeling and also help regulate sebum production.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Mandelic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Licorice Root Extract, Sweet Almond Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sorbitol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Natto Gum, Carbomer.

This is a mild exfoliant that effectively removes dead skin cells for smooth, supple skin.

Pros:

• It shows 7 significant skin improvements in 7 days i.e. dead skin cell removal, skin soothing, skin clearness, hydrating power, sebum regulation, brightening, and skin texture refinement.

• It contains PHAs that gently remove dead skin cells without irritating sensitive skin while Allantoin also helps to soothe skin.

• It has a Natural Moisturizing Factor complex that helps maintain moisture in the skin for long-lasting hydrated skin even after peeling.

• No residue will be produced from the product.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Arginine, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Beta-Glucan, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Fructose, Urea, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Trehalose, Glucose.

This exfoliator contains rice bran water, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It gently exfoliates the skin while brightening and softening the skin.

Pros:

• It is suitable for all skin types including ultra-dry and sensitive skin.

• It uses rice bran water to exfoliate the skin and should be gentle.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Rice Bran Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Jojoba Esters, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Algin, Sucrose Cocoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

This is a peeling gel that should be suitable for dry and sensitive skin types.

Pros:

• It uses papaya fruit extract and citric acid that gently removes impurities from the skin’s surface, visibly reduces pores sizes, and leaves the skin feeling soft without any irritating and stinging feeling.

• It is extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis root and licorice which contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.

• It provides rapid moisturizing with hyaluronic acid.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Quaternium-60, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Papaya Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tea Tree Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Betaine Salicylate, Octyldodecanol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (matricaria) Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA.

This is a 10% PHA gel-water peel that gently exfoliates the skin and clears the pores. With the extracts from 5 different fruits and vegetables, this peel soothes and clears the skin from the first use.

Pros:

• It contains 10% of gluconolactone that gently exfoliates the skin without irritating the skin barrier.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone (10%), Glycerin, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Acrylic Acid/MA Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexulglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol.

This is a peeling gel we highly recommend for dry and sensitive skin types because it contains 10 kinds of hyaluronic acid compounds!

Pros:

• It offers gentle and mild exfoliation.

• It is formulated with 10 types of hyaluronic acids to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and control the skin’s oil and sebum production. 

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Glycerin, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Orange Peel Oil, Lavender Oil, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Propanediol, Octanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Lime Fruit Extract, Orange Fruit Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Apple Fruit Extract, Grape Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate.

This is another exfoliant we highly recommend for dry and sensitive skin.

Pros:

• It contains ingredients that help with skin barrier recovery + calming hydration + skin protecting + dead skin peeling.

• It helps clear clogged pores.

• It is free of fragrance, alcohol, preservatives, and essential oils.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Lactobionic Acid, Gluconolactone, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Octyldodecanol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Allantoin, Betaine, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Diglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamot Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA.

This is a peeling gel that is formulated with Apple, Lemon & Orange Extract, which deeply cleans pores, gently exfoliates, and removes dead skin cells.

We couldn’t find information on the ingredients.

• Cosrx AHA whitehead power liquid  

• COSRX BHA blackhead power liquid

• Creme Shop Gold peeling gel

• Dr. Jart’s milk peel

• Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel

• Garden of Wisdom’s 5% lactic acid

• HANSKIN – Real Complexion Hyaluron Exfoliating AHA Treatment

• ISNTREE – Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid

• Isntree Clear Skin PHA Sleeping Mask

• Stratia Soft Touch AHA

• Purito ABP Triple Synergy Liquid

• Pyunkang Yul Sleeping Mask

• Secret Key peeling gel

ISNTREE 8% clear essence and Benton PHA peeling are some products we would recommend. Wishtrend and NEOGEN are some other options.

If AHAs and BHAs irritate your skin, then products like CNP Peeling Booster, Axis-Y 10% Peel, and Missha Peeling Gel should be suitable for you.