The Beauty of Joseon serum range includes four formulas, each designed for a specific need. Glow, Deep Glow, Revive, or Calming: the right choice depends on your skin type, not a trend. Here's how to quickly find the right one for you.
Beauty of Joseon offers four serums with distinct active ingredients: Glow (propolis + niacinamide) for imperfections, Deep Glow (rice + arbutin) for dark spots, Revive (ginseng + snail mucin) for tired skin, and Calming (green tea + panthenol) for reactive skin. Each targets a different concern with a minimalist and clean formulation.
The Korean brand is based on traditional Korean pharmacopoeia: ingredients used for centuries, reformulated with contemporary K-Beauty standards. Their serums share light textures, sulfate and paraben-free formulas, and rapid absorption suitable for multi-step routines.
Looking for Beauty of Joseon serums directly? Four formulas available in stock in France, delivered within 48 to 72 hours. (view the Beauty of Joseon collection)
The Glow Serum: for combination to oily skin 🟡
The Glow serum combines propolis and niacinamide in a formula designed for oily skin and imperfections. Propolis is a residue produced by bees, known for its antibacterial and healing properties. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) regulates sebum production and evens out skin tone by reducing pore visibility.
Concrete result: less shine midday, less frequent imperfections after 3 to 4 weeks of regular use. The texture is slightly golden, absorbing in a few seconds without a greasy film. This serum is also suitable for normal skin looking to prevent occasional small blemishes.
What it doesn't do: it doesn't fade existing dark spots (that's the role of Deep Glow) and doesn't have a pronounced anti-aging action.
The Deep Glow Serum: for dull skin with dark spots 🟤
The Deep Glow serum combines fermented rice water and arbutin, a natural derivative of hydroquinone that inhibits melanin production without irritating the skin. Fermented rice water is a traditional Korean active ingredient, rich in B vitamins and amino acids, which improves skin radiance and texture.
This serum targets post-acne marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), light sun spots, and uneven skin tone. Results on evenness are visible after 6 to 8 weeks of morning and evening application. It is not photosensitizing, but combining it with an SPF in the morning remains essential to not counteract the anti-spot action.
According to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 1% arbutin significantly reduces melanin index after 12 weeks of use (Source: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, link to be added manually).
The Revive Serum: for tired skin and first signs of aging 🟠
The Revive serum combines ginseng and snail mucin, two iconic K-Beauty ingredients. Red ginseng has been used for centuries in Korean medicine to stimulate circulation and cellular regeneration. Snail mucin is rich in glycoproteins, hyaluronic acid, and allantoin, giving it moisturizing, healing, and plumping properties.
This serum is for skin lacking tone, with first fine lines, or skin recovering poorly from fatigue or skin stress. Its texture is slightly thicker than other serums in the range, making it particularly suitable for evening routine use.
Specialist's tip: many apply it before cream in the morning, but snail mucin can make foundation less even on some skin types. Prioritize evening use or test for a few days before incorporating into your morning routine.
The Calming Serum: for sensitive and reactive skin 🟢
The Calming serum is the gentlest formula in the range. It is based on green tea and panthenol (provitamin B5). Green tea is a powerful antioxidant with documented anti-inflammatory properties. Panthenol strengthens the skin barrier and accelerates the healing of micro-irritations.
This serum is suitable for reactive skin, skin that reddens easily, or reacts to seasonal changes. It can be used in conjunction with other more potent active ingredients (retinol, acids) to buffer irritation. Its texture is very fluid and hydrating, with no fragrance.
Centella asiatica, often mentioned in K-Beauty soothing skincare, is not the main active ingredient here. If you are looking for a centella product for very sensitive or post-acne skin, check out our guide on Anua, a brand specializing in this ingredient.
Comparison of the 4 Beauty of Joseon serums: the summary table 📊
| Serum | Key Actives | Who it's for | Visible results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glow | Propolis + Niacinamide | Combination to oily skin, imperfections | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Deep Glow | Fermented Rice + Arbutin | Dark spots, dull complexion, uneven texture | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Revive | Ginseng + Snail Mucin | Tired skin, first signs of aging | 2 to 3 months |
| Calming | Green Tea + Panthenol | Sensitive and reactive skin | Rapid relief (1 to 2 weeks) |
How to integrate a Beauty of Joseon serum into your routine? 🧴
Serums are always applied after cleansing and toner, before moisturizer. A few drops are enough: 3 to 4 to cover the entire face. Gently pat with your fingertips rather than rubbing to promote absorption.
If you use several serums in the same routine, apply the thinnest first, then the thickest. Calming and Glow have very light textures and should be applied first. Revive, slightly richer, comes next. Allow 30 to 60 seconds for absorption between each serum.
Specialist's tip: many people layer two Beauty of Joseon serums hoping to combine the benefits, but this dilutes the action of each and overloads the skin. Choose a single serum adapted to your main concern and wait 6 weeks before evaluating the results.
To learn more about K-Beauty routines by skin type, our complete review of Beauty of Joseon covers the entire range, from SPF to creams.
What is the difference between Glow Serum and Deep Glow Serum? 🔍
This is the most frequent question about the range, and the confusion is legitimate: both work on radiance and complexion uniformity, but their mechanisms are different.
The Glow Serum acts on active imperfections (blemishes, excess sebum) and regulates melanin production via niacinamide. Its action is both preventive and corrective on recent small spots.
The Deep Glow Serum targets existing dark spots thanks to arbutin, which blocks the tyrosinase enzyme responsible for melanin production. It is more powerful on chronic hyperpigmentation, but its action is slower.
If you have both problems (active imperfections + dark spots), start with the Glow Serum, then switch to Deep Glow once imperfections are under control. Using them at the same time is possible but rarely necessary at first.
What to remember when choosing your Beauty of Joseon serum ✅
The Beauty of Joseon serum range is well-constructed because each formula has a clear target. The pitfall is buying based on a trend rather than on your skin.
Three criteria to keep in mind. First, your main concern: imperfections, dark spots, fatigue, or sensitivity. Next, your skin type: Revive is rich, so it's less suitable for very oily skin. Finally, your current routine: if you already use acids or retinol, Calming as a buffer will be more useful than an additional serum with the same active ingredient.
Don't know your skin type yet? The free Holy Skin diagnostic gives you a personalized recommendation in less than a minute. And to explore the entire range, find all Beauty of Joseon serums available in stock in France on holyskin.fr.
