5 Must-Buy K-Beauty Products at Olive Young: A Beginner’s Shopping Guide
Introduction: What Should You Actually Buy at Olive Young?
Walking into Olive Young for the first time can be both exciting and slightly overwhelming. One shelf is filled with calming toners, another is covered in colourful cushion foundations, and almost every product seems to have an award sticker or a “BEST” label.
So, what should you actually put in your basket?
Instead of choosing five random viral products, I selected five items that can work together as a simple Korean skincare routine. The list includes a cleansing oil, toner, exfoliating pad, hydrating serum, and sunscreen. Each product has a clear purpose, well-known ingredients, and a texture that helps explain why Korean skincare has become so popular worldwide.
Of course, no skincare product suits everyone. Your skin type, allergies, current routine, and climate should always be considered. However, if you are visiting Olive Young and do not know where to begin, these five products provide a very practical starting point.
1. ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil
A good skincare routine begins by removing what should not stay on your face overnight. The ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil is designed to dissolve sunscreen, makeup, excess sebum, and daily impurities before your regular water-based cleanser.
Its formula contains a blend of plant-derived oils, including soybean, hazelnut, grape-seed, olive, jojoba, sunflower-seed, argan-kernel, and rice-bran oils. Jojoba oil helps the skin retain moisture, while argan oil provides a nourishing feel. Squalane also helps reduce the tight, uncomfortable feeling that can sometimes follow cleansing. The brand’s official ingredient list and directions explain that the oil turns milky when mixed with water, allowing it to rinse away more easily.
Apply it to a dry face with dry hands and gently massage, especially around the nose and chin. Add a little water, continue massaging until the oil becomes milky, and then rinse thoroughly. Follow with a gentle facial cleanser if you are double cleansing.
The most satisfying part is watching heavy makeup and sunscreen melt away without aggressive rubbing. However, because the formula contains fragrant plant oils, people who are sensitive to essential oils should check the full ingredient list before purchasing.
Best for: People who regularly wear makeup or water-resistant sunscreen and want an effective first-cleansing step.
2. ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
If your skin often feels hot, stressed, or uncomfortable after cleansing, the ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner may be a useful next step.
Heartleaf, also called Houttuynia cordata, is a botanical ingredient widely used in Korean skincare for soothing sensitive-feeling skin. The toner is built around 77% heartleaf extract and has a light, watery consistency that can be applied without making the skin feel heavy. ANUA describes the toner as suitable for skin that needs gentle soothing and hydration. ANUA’s official product information also highlights heartleaf and hyaluronic acid as its key ingredients.
The formula includes betaine to support hydration and ingredients such as centella asiatica extract to provide additional soothing care. Rather than dramatically changing the skin overnight, this toner is about creating a calm and comfortable base for the rest of your routine.
Pour a small amount into your hands and gently pat it over your face. If your skin feels especially dry, you can apply two or three thin layers instead of using one heavy layer.
This is also a good example of what makes Korean toners different from old-fashioned, alcohol-heavy toners. It is intended to add hydration and comfort after cleansing rather than leaving the face feeling squeaky or tight.
Best for: Normal, combination, oily, or sensitive-feeling skin that needs lightweight hydration and calming care.
3. Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
The Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is one of the most interesting products to pick up if rough texture, excess oil, or clogged-looking pores are among your concerns.
Each container holds pre-soaked dual-textured pads. The embossed side can be used gently on areas where texture and excess sebum are more noticeable, while the smoother side helps spread the remaining essence across the skin.
The formula uses exfoliating ingredients to help remove dead surface cells and support smoother-looking skin. It also contains Medicube’s Anti-Sebum P complex, which includes evening primrose, kudzu root, pine leaf, and elm-root extracts. Olive Young describes this patented botanical complex as an ingredient designed to support sebum and pore care. Olive Young’s Medicube product information lists the complex and its featured extracts.
Although the name says “Zero Pore,” no skincare product can permanently erase pores. Pores are a normal part of healthy skin. What exfoliating products can do is help clear away dead skin and excess oil so pores appear cleaner and the skin feels smoother.
Start slowly—perhaps once or twice a week—especially if you have sensitive skin or already use retinol, vitamin C, or other exfoliating acids. Do not scrub hard, and avoid using the pads on irritated or damaged skin. Sunscreen is especially important when exfoliating products are part of your routine.
Best for: Combination or oily skin with visible texture, excess sebum, or congested-looking pores.
4. Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
After exfoliation comes hydration, and this is where the Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum shines.
The blue serum has a lightweight, watery texture that absorbs quickly without feeling like a thick layer sitting on top of the skin. Its key feature is Torriden’s 5D Hyaluronic Acid complex, which combines five forms of hyaluronic acid with different molecular sizes. These humectants attract and hold water, helping the skin feel hydrated, soft, and plump.
The serum also contains panthenol, which supports moisture retention and helps soothe the skin, as well as allantoin for additional calming care. Ceramide NP, beta-glucan, betaine, and madecassoside are included to support hydration and the skin barrier. Torriden’s official product page provides the complete ingredient list and identifies 5D Hyaluronic Acid, panthenol, and allantoin as the principal ingredients.
Apply it after toner while your skin is still slightly damp, then seal in that hydration with a moisturiser. Hyaluronic acid works best as part of a complete routine; applying it and skipping moisturiser may not feel sufficient, especially in a dry climate.
This serum is a sensible purchase because it can fit easily into many routines. It does not ask you to become a skincare expert—it simply adds a comfortable layer of hydration.
Best for: Dehydrated, normal, combination, or dry skin that needs lightweight moisture without a greasy finish.
5. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++
If you purchase only one skincare product, make it a sunscreen that you genuinely enjoy wearing every day.
The Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++ became internationally popular because it feels much more like a light moisturiser than a traditional heavy sunscreen. It spreads easily, absorbs quickly, and leaves a natural glow without the thick white cast associated with many older formulas.
Its skincare ingredients include 30% rice extract and fermented grain extracts. Rice extract contains naturally occurring amino acids and other skin-conditioning components that help the formula feel moisturising. The fermented ingredients are included to support a soothed, hydrated finish. Niacinamide, green-tea extract, ginseng-root extract, and vitamin E also appear in the formula. Beauty of Joseon’s official product information describes its rice and fermented-grain complex, while Olive Young confirms that the product is available through its global store.
Apply a generous, even layer as the final step of your morning skincare routine. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied, especially after swimming, sweating, towelling, or spending extended time outdoors. In Australia, sunscreen should also be used together with protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and shade.
One important detail for Australian shoppers: check that any sunscreen you purchase is appropriate for how and where you plan to use it, and follow Australian sun-protection guidance. For long periods under the strong Australian sun, choose a suitable broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that meets local requirements.
Best for: Daily casual wear, especially for normal-to-dry skin and anyone who dislikes heavy or sticky sunscreen textures.
Conclusion: Five Products, One Simple Routine
The best Olive Young shopping basket is not necessarily the biggest one. Buying fifteen trending products at once can make it difficult to know which product is helping your skin—or which one is causing irritation.
These five products create a much simpler routine:
- Remove makeup and sunscreen with the ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil.
- Calm and lightly hydrate with the ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner.
- Use the Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 occasionally for exfoliation and texture care.
- Add moisture with the Torriden DIVE-IN Serum.
- Finish your morning routine with Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun.
You do not need to introduce all five products on the same day. Begin with the basics, add one new item at a time, and observe how your skin responds. Patch testing is always a good idea, particularly if your skin is sensitive.
That is the real fun of Olive Young. It is not simply a store filled with attractive bottles and viral products. It is a place where you can build a Korean skincare routine step by step—and perhaps discover one product that makes you look forward to doing your skincare every day.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. When shopping at Olive Young Global, you can use my reward code STAR7788.
🇰🇷 Today’s Korean😊
What is this product good for?
“이 제품은 어디에 좋은가요?”
I jepumeun eodie joeungayo?
