K-SECRET SEOUL 1988 Cream for dry sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Lactobacillus Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate
RetinalAverage
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate hydration and anti-aging benefits for your dry and sensitive skin, as niacinamide and retinal work to hydrate and smooth texture, while macadamia ternifolia seed oil and glycerin provide emollient and humectant actions.
- The product offers general skincare benefits that you would notice, but they are mostly supportive for your dry or flaky skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like allantoin and cholesterol.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users consistently praise this cream as an excellent entry-level retinal product that effectively smooths skin texture and hydrates without the irritation typically associated with retinoids. While it is highly rated for its gentle formula and non-greasy finish, some users note that it requires consistent long-term use to see significant changes in deep wrinkles or hyperpigmentation.
Highlights
Gentle & Non-Irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “did not irritate my sensitive skin at all”
- “perfect for those new to retinol”
- “no redness or peeling experienced”
Elegant Texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs fairly quickly”
- “non-sticky finish”
- “lightweight but nourishing”
Hydrating Formula Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels moisturized but not weighed down”
- “good moisturizing formula”
- “hydrates and soothes”
Improves Skin Texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks smoother”
- “helped with texture around nose”
- “woke up with glowing skin”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “not a miracle worker overnight”
- “took months to see changes”
- “don't expect instant results”
Bulky packaging Rarely Noted
- “packaging is clunky”
- “larger than it needs to be”
- “hard to tell how much is left”
Mild scent Rarely Noted
- “has a slight raw scent”
- “smells a bit like vitamins”
- “no added fragrance but has a scent”
Sources: lovi.care, stylekorean.com, iherb.com, youtube.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does K-SECRET SEOUL 1988 Cream work for dry sensitive skin?
This cream works moderately well for your dry sensitive skin, offering basic hydration and smoothing, though other products fit your skin better. To truly thrive, dry skin needs products with deep moisturizers and barrier-supporting ingredients that provide intensive hydration and nourishment without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide and retinal help smooth texture while glycerin and macadamia seed oil provide hydration and moisture for your dry skin. To fit dry and sensitive skin best, a moisturizing treatment needs soothing ingredients that deliver deep hydration and nourishment while supporting the skin barrier without causing irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
What does Lactobacillus Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate do for dry sensitive skin?
Lactobacillus Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate helps keep dry sensitive skin calm and moisturized. Ingredients like this ferment filtrate support the skin barrier, which may reduce redness and dryness over time.
Scientific Reports, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. It has a very safe profile with soothing ingredients like allantoin and cholesterol, making it unlikely to irritate dry skin. However, for dry or flaky skin, a product of this type needs richer oils and deeper hydrators to keep skin soft and smooth.
Can I use this cream with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this cream with AHA, but because it contains retinal, apply your AHA on alternating nights or use it in the morning to prevent irritation on dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and heavy plant oils to fully comfort and deeply soften flaky skin.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment in the evening as part of your routine for dry sensitive skin. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and texture while maintaining a safe profile for delicate skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, as its safety profile is very good and it lacks heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. However, because it contains retinal, it may occasionally cause mild initial purging or flaking as your skin adjusts to cellular renewal.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, as it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like allantoin and cholesterol. To properly care for dry and sensitive skin, this type of product needs rich moisturizing oils and deep humectants to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999
Ingredients
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Lactobacillus Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Soybean Extract Ferment, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Saccharomyces Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sorbitan Oleate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Phytosteryl Behenyl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Retinal, Silica, Aluminum Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, 3-0-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bakuchiol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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