If you’re looking for one of the best Korean face exfoliators, you’ll quickly notice they don’t look—or feel—like the scrubs and peels you might be used to. In true K-beauty fashion, it’s less about aggressive resurfacing and more about a barrier-friendly approach that prioritizes steady results over instant intensity. “K-beauty not only uses gentle exfoliating categories like polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) and enzyme exfoliants, but the formats are also where it feels more distinctive,” says Sarah Sheu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Maple Valley, Washington. “You see a lot more toner pads, peeling gels, exfoliating essences, and powder cleansers. Those formats can make exfoliation easier to personalize depending on someone’s skin type and tolerance…”