Dr.G: the Korean brand created by a dermatologist

In Korea, you can’t walk past an Olive Young shelf without spotting a white and green jar marked “R.E.D BLEMISH”. It’s the soothing cream from Dr.G, a Korean brand born from the work of a dermatologist, which in twenty years has become a very common sight in Korean bathrooms.

So what exactly is Dr.G? An affordable dermo-cosmetic brand, with products designed for sensitive skin that turns red quickly or tends to break out. In this guide, we tell you its story, explain its key ingredients (cica, snail, bakuchiol…), show you how to find your way through its many lines and above all where to start depending on your skin.

The story of Dr.G, a Korean brand born in 2003

It all starts with Dr. Ahn Gun-young, a Korean dermatologist. In 2003, in Seoul, he created the Dr.G brand within his company, Gowoonsesang Cosmetics (고운세상코스메틱). The Korean name literally means “a beautiful world”. The founder sums up the brand’s mission like this: making skin healthy and radiant through research.

The product that made Dr.G take off is the Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream, a soothing cica cream. It became the brand’s mainstay: by early 2026, it had passed 32 million units sold, and it won the best cream award at the Olive Young Awards (the big Korean beauty chain) seven years in a row. Over the years, the formula has been reworked several times.

For several years, Gowoonsesang Cosmetics belonged to the Swiss group Migros. Then, on December 23, 2024, the French group L’Oréal announced the acquisition of the company, and therefore of Dr.G, which joins its consumer products division. L’Oréal presents Dr.G as a skincare brand that is effective, science-based and affordable, suitable even for the most sensitive skin.

As of mid-October 2026, Dr.G remains a brand based in Seoul, with a very wide catalog: soothing care, anti-aging, sunscreens, masks and scalp care.

The Dr.G philosophy: a dermatologist’s view of skincare

On its packaging, Dr.G signs off with “My Skin Mentor Dr.G”: the brand sees itself as a guide that helps you choose the right product for your skin, rather than as a trend brand. In the bottle, that comes down to three simple ideas:

• One line = one need: Red Blemish for redness, Bakuchiol Porejet for pores, Black Snail for comfort and firmness, Hydra Aqua for hydration… you know right away where to look.
• Actives dermatologists know: centella asiatica, ceramides, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, retinol, bakuchiol.
• Affordable prices: it’s a mass-market dermo-cosmetic brand, sold in Korea at Olive Young and in major retailers, not a luxury brand.

Dr.G’s key ingredients

Dr.G builds each of its lines around one main active. Here are the ones to know before you choose.

Centella asiatica (cica)

This is the signature ingredient of the Red Blemish line. Centella asiatica, nicknamed “cica”, is a plant appreciated in cosmetics for its soothing effect. Dr.G doesn’t just use the extract: its cream combines several compounds from the plant (madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, asiatic acid). You’ll find it in the Red Blemish Clear Soothing cream, the Hyal Cica serum and the Red Blemish toner.

Snail mucin

A great K-beauty classic, snail secretion filtrate is used for its moisturizing, comforting feel. At Dr.G, it’s at the heart of the Black Snail line (midnight blue jar, gold lid) and the Royal Black Snail version: the Black Snail Cream, the Black Snail ampoule and the Royal Black Snail First Essence.

Bakuchiol

Bakuchiol is a compound taken mainly from the seeds of a plant, Psoralea corylifolia, used in Ayurvedic medicine. It doesn’t have the same structure as retinol, but it’s often presented as a gentler alternative to retinol, better tolerated by sensitive skin. Dr.G made it the base of its Bakuchiol Porejet line, dedicated to visible pores and skin texture, with the Bakuchiol Porejet serum.

Retinol and peptides

For the first signs of aging, Dr.G offers the Black Snail Retinol Collagen serum and the RTX Into line, “shot” serums based on peptides, hyaluronic acid or vitamins, like the RTX Into Serum PeptiShot.

Panthenol, hyaluronic acid and ceramides

These are the ingredients for hydration and skin barrier comfort. Panthenol (provitamin B5) soothes and softens, hyaluronic acid holds water, and ceramides help the skin keep its hydration. You’ll find them in the Panthenol Booster serum and the Dermoisture Barrier.D balm.

Vitamin C and niacinamide

For radiance and a more even complexion, Dr.G combines these two actives in its Vitamin C Booster serum, from the same “Booster” family as the panthenol serum and the Leti Booster firming serum.

The Dr.G lines to know

Which Dr.G for your skin?

Pick your need: we give you our favorite product, plus two others to round it out.

A complete Dr.G routine, morning and night

In the morning

1. CleanseThe gentle Mildly Acidic cleansing gel, or just lukewarm water if your skin is very dry.
2. ToneThe Red Blemish Clear Soothing toner, patted in with your hands.
3. SerumThe Hyal Cica serum if your skin turns red, or the Vitamin C Booster for radiance.
4. MoisturizeThe Red Blemish Clear Soothing cream, to soothe and hydrate.
5. ProtectThe Green Mild Up Sun+ sunscreen or the Pore Blur Up Sun, every day, even when it’s cloudy.

In the evening

1. Remove makeupThe Green Deep Pore balm on dry skin, massaged for one minute, then emulsified with a little water.
2. CleanseThe Red Blemish Cica foam, for really clean skin.
3. ToneThe Red Blemish toner, or a Double Soft Pad two to three evenings a week.
4. SerumThe Bakuchiol Porejet serum, or the retinol serum two to three evenings a week.
5. NourishThe Black Snail Cream if your skin is dry, or the Red Blemish cream if it’s combination.

Our tips for using Dr.G well

• Use the cleansing balm on dry skin with dry hands: massage, add a little water so it turns milky, then rinse well.
• One new product at a time, and test it first on a small area (your neck or behind your ear), especially if your skin is sensitive.
• Retinol is for nighttime only, two evenings a week at first, then increase if your skin tolerates it. Avoid combining it with the exfoliating pads on the same evening.
• Sunscreen is a must as soon as you use retinol, bakuchiol, acids or vitamin C.
• The Red Blemish cream also works as a mask: a thicker layer in the evening, left on for 10 minutes, then simply remove the excess with a tissue.
• Exfoliating once or twice a week is enough: the Double Soft Pads are enough, no need to add more.

Love Dr.G? Try these too

FAQ about Dr.G

Read also

Jihyun, team Ma Petite Corée