HANYUL, Amorepacific’s Korean brand: mugwort, yuja and red rice
Where HANYUL comes from, what makes its ingredients so Korean, its signature products and which one to choose for your skin: the complete guide.
- HANYUL (한율 in Korean) is a Korean skincare brand launched in 2007 by the Amorepacific group (Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Innisfree…).
- Its idea: ingredients grown in Korea, harvested throughout the four seasons.
- Its three key ingredients: mugwort to soothe, yuja for radiance and fermented red rice to nourish.
- Its flagship product: the Yuja Sleeping Mask, an overnight mask with the Korean citrus fruit.
Contents
In Europe, Sulwhasoo and Laneige are well known. HANYUL, their little sister at Amorepacific, is much more low-key… yet in Korea, its yellow yuja jars and green mugwort products are bathroom classics. What makes it special: every line starts from an ingredient grown in Korea, harvested in the right season.
In this guide, we explain where HANYUL comes from, why it focuses on mugwort, yuja and red rice, how to find your way through its lines, and above all where to start depending on your skin.
HANYUL, a Korean brand born in 2007: its story
HANYUL was launched in October 2007 by Amorepacific, the largest Korean cosmetics group. At the time, it was a hanbang brand, meaning cosmetics inspired by traditional Korean medicine. The difference from Sulwhasoo, the group’s other hanbang brand: HANYUL was designed to be more accessible, sold in specialty shops and supermarkets rather than department stores.
The big turning point came in March 2014: HANYUL reinvented itself as a “Korean naturalism” brand. Fewer complicated medicinal plants, more everyday Korean ingredients (mugwort, rice, yuja) and grandmother’s remedies brought up to date. 2014 is also when the Red Rice line, with red rice, was born.
Since then, the brand has built a solid place for itself in Korea. In May 2025, it reached a milestone: HANYUL arrived in the United States at Sephora, online and in more than 300 stores. For this launch, Amorepacific chose three signature products: the yuja overnight mask, the mugwort gel cream and the red rice products.
One recent update: on September 30, 2026, HANYUL refreshed its mugwort range with a Ssukpanthen Intensive Repair line (쑥판텐), which combines mugwort leaf water with dexpanthenol: a capsule cream and a serum, to soothe and care for the skin barrier. As of mid-October 2026, it has been launched in Korea.
The HANYUL philosophy: balance and the Korean seasons
HANYUL describes itself as a brand built on balance and nature. Its common thread is the four seasons of Korea: each key ingredient is harvested when it is at its richest. In practice, that means three simple ideas:
- Ingredients of Korean origin: the brand highlights raw materials grown and traced on Korean farms.
- Tradition and science: Korean folk remedies (mugwort to calm, rice to soften) are reworked with modern formulas.
- Balanced skin: rather than very strong actives, HANYUL focuses on gentle products for everyday use.
Our best-selling HANYUL product over the last three months, with yuja, the Korean citrus fruit rich in vitamin C. You apply it in the evening as the last step, you sleep, and your skin wakes up softer and more radiant.
29,90 €VIEW PRODUCTHANYUL’s key ingredients
At HANYUL, each line is named after its ingredient. Knowing them means knowing right away which product is made for you.
Mugwort (ssuk), harvested in spring
Mugwort, or ssuk in Korean, is a plant that has always been used in Korea, in cooking as well as in skincare. HANYUL uses the young leaves, picked in spring, and the brand says they come from Ganghwa Island, west of Seoul. It is appreciated for its soothing effect on sensitive or stressed skin. You’ll find it in the Pure Artemisia Calming Water Cream, a very fresh gel cream, and in the moisturizing Young Artemisia Extract line.
Yuja, picked in early winter
Yuja (the Korean cousin of yuzu) is a small fragrant citrus fruit, very rich in vitamin C. HANYUL harvests it in early winter, when it is at its best. It is the radiance ingredient: you’ll find it in the Yuja Sleeping Mask and the Yuja Vitamin C Brightening Serum, for a more radiant complexion.
Red rice, fermented for 360 hours
Rice is a traditional beauty ingredient in Korea. For its Red Rice line, HANYUL uses Yeoju rice, grown in Korea, which it ferments twice, for 360 hours in total. The brand adds its plant-based ceramides derived from rice, to help the skin hold on to its water and stay supple. The key product of the line: the Red Rice Moisture Firming Cream.
The HANYUL lines to know
| Line | What for |
|---|---|
| Pure Artemisia | Soothing sensitive skin that reddens easily |
| Young Artemisia Extract | Light everyday hydration |
| Yuja / Moonlight Yuja | Radiance, dull complexion |
| Red Rice | Dry skin, suppleness and comfort |
| Bodunhaengip and Buddle | Visible pores, skin texture |
| Baekhwago | Rich care, complexion and firmness |
| Nature in Life and Lip Balm | Hands and lips |
Which HANYUL for your skin?
Pick your need: we give you our favorite product, plus two others to complete it.
Sensitive skin that reddens easily
Go for the mugwort of the Pure Artemisia line: a gentle toner to prep the skin, a light fluid, then the gel cream to soothe.
Dehydrated skin that feels tight
The Young Artemisia Extract line, in thin layers: pads in the morning, a serum, then a light cream that leaves no greasy film.
Dry skin lacking suppleness
The fermented red rice of the Red Rice line to nourish, and a richer cream if your skin asks for more.
Dull complexion, lacking radiance
Yuja in the morning: a vitamin C serum, pads on the cheekbones, and a yuja cleansing foam. Always followed by sunscreen.
Visible pores, shiny skin
A pore serum in the evening and pads once or twice a day to smooth skin texture.
A complete HANYUL routine, morning and evening
Morning
- CleanseThe Moonlight Yuja foam or the Extreme Cream Cleansing Foam if your skin is dry, then rinse with lukewarm water.
- ToneThe Pure Artemisia toner, patted in with your hands, or a Young Artemisia pad.
- SerumThe yuja serum if you want radiance, or the Young Artemisia serum if your skin is thirsty.
- MoisturizeThe Pure Artemisia Calming Water Cream, light under makeup.
- ProtectYour sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy: it’s the step that protects all the others.
Evening
- Remove makeupThe Young Artemisia oil or the Young Artemisia balm, on dry skin, then emulsify with a little water.
- CleanseYour morning foam, for a Korean-style double cleanse.
- ToneThe same toner as in the morning.
- MoisturizeThe Red Rice cream if your skin is dry, the Young Artemisia cream if it’s combination.
- Overnight maskThe Yuja Sleeping Mask as the last layer, two or three evenings a week, or instead of your cream.
Our tips for using HANYUL well
- The Yuja Sleeping Mask is the last step: a generous layer in the evening on your face and neck, no rinsing. In the morning, a simple cleanse is enough.
- Yuja in the morning is smart: vitamin C products fit nicely into your morning routine, under sunscreen.
- Just one line to start: choose the one that meets your main need (Pure Artemisia, Yuja or Red Rice) rather than mixing everything from the start.
- Pads, gently: sweep them without rubbing, following your skin texture, and close the jar tightly so they don’t dry out.
- Double cleanse in the evening: an oil or balm for makeup and SPF, then a foam.
- One new product at a time, tested first on a small area (behind the ear or on the neck), to find out what really suits your skin.
HANYUL products are cosmetics: they help hydrate, soothe and add radiance, but they don’t replace medical advice. If your skin reacts (lasting redness, itching, unusual breakouts) or if you have a persistent skin problem, ask a dermatologist for advice.
Our trick: in summer, keep your Pure Artemisia toner and your pads in the fridge. Placed cool on your cheeks after a day in the sun or on a packed subway, it’s the little moment of calm we often treat ourselves to at the office in Seoul.
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Frequently asked questions about HANYUL
Is HANYUL a Korean brand?
Yes. HANYUL was launched in 2007 in South Korea by the Korean group Amorepacific, which also owns Sulwhasoo, Laneige and Innisfree.
Is HANYUL a hanbang brand?
At the beginning, yes: it was a cosmetics brand inspired by traditional Korean medicine. Since 2014, it presents itself instead as a Korean naturalism brand, built around simple ingredients like mugwort, rice and yuja.
Which HANYUL product should you try first?
The Yuja Sleeping Mask, its yuja overnight mask. The Yuja line is at the heart of the brand, and the mugwort gel cream is also a classic in Korea.
How do you use the Yuja Sleeping Mask?
In the evening, as the last step, on your face and neck. You leave it on all night, no rinsing: it can also replace your night cream.
Which HANYUL line should you choose for sensitive skin?
The Pure Artemisia line, with mugwort: the toner, the fluid and above all the Pure Artemisia Calming Water Cream, a fresh, soothing gel cream.
What is the difference between Pure Artemisia and Young Artemisia Extract?
Both use mugwort. Pure Artemisia brings together the soothing products, for skin that reddens easily. Young Artemisia Extract brings together the moisturizing products, for skin that feels tight.
Is HANYUL sold outside Korea?
Yes. Since May 2025, HANYUL has been sold in the United States at Sephora. In France, you can find it at Ma Petite Corée, shipped from Seoul.
Are the HANYUL products from Ma Petite Corée authentic?
Yes, everything we sell is official and ships directly from our office in Seoul.
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Jihyun, team Ma Petite Corée