IOPE, Amorepacific’s Korean brand: retinol, Super Vital and the first cushion

You’ve probably used a cushion before, that little compact with a sponge soaked in foundation. What few people know is where it comes from: the IOPE cushion, released in Korea in 2008, is the very first in history. But IOPE isn’t just makeup. In Korea, it’s above all the brand of retinol and advanced anti-aging care, the kind you choose when the first fine lines show up.

In this guide, we explain where IOPE comes from, how it invented the cushion, what its key ingredients really do (retinol, PDRN, vitamin C), how to find your way through its ranges and, above all, where to start depending on your skin.

IOPE, a Korean brand born in 1996: its story

IOPE was launched in 1996 by Amorepacific, the Korean cosmetics giant. From the start, it focused on research: according to Amorepacific, it was one of the first to stabilize retinol in a cosmetic. Retinol is a very fragile active that breaks down quickly in light and air, so making it stable in a cream was a real technical challenge. This know-how is what shaped IOPE’s identity in anti-aging in Korea.

In 2006, the brand launched its Super Vital range, which became its cornerstone. It is now in its sixth generation, released in October 2024. In between, in 2008, IOPE created the object that would give rise to a whole new category: the Air Cushion.

The most recent big step: in March 2026, IOPE officially arrived in the United States at Sephora, online and then in stores across the country. For this launch, Amorepacific bet on its most advanced skincare: the XMD Stem III range with PDRN, the retinol serums and the Vitamin C Expert range.

The story of the IOPE Air Cushion: the 2008 invention that changed makeup

The story of its invention is a surprising one. In the mid-2000s, Amorepacific’s researchers were looking for a way to make sunscreen easier to carry and apply than a tube. The idea came to them… from a parking stamp: an ink pad that marks tickets without ever leaking.

So they came up with a sponge soaked in skincare, inside a compact, that you pat on with a puff. To find the right foam, they ran more than 3,600 tests (material, thickness, density, pore size). The result: the IOPE Air Cushion came out in 2008. It was the birth of a whole category. Several generations followed, and in 2016, Amorepacific announced it had sold more than 100 million cushions worldwide, across all its brands.

Today, almost every major makeup brand has its own cushion. At Ma Petite Corée, we mainly offer IOPE skincare, rather than its makeup.

The IOPE philosophy: skin science first

IOPE presents itself as a “clinical-grade” skincare brand: formulas based on dermatological research, with results measured in tests on volunteers. In practice, that comes down to three simple ideas:

• Familiar, dosed actives: retinol, PDRN, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid… the name of the active and its concentration are often written right on the bottle.
• In-house research: thirty years of work on retinol, and ingredients developed by Amorepacific, like the Senomune in the sixth generation of Super Vital.
• One product per need: each range answers a specific question (wrinkles, firmness, radiance, hydration), which makes choosing fairly simple.

IOPE’s key ingredients

At IOPE, the active is often in the product name. Knowing them means you immediately know what to pick.

Retinol, the original active

Retinol is a form of vitamin A and one of the most studied anti-aging actives. It helps smooth the appearance of wrinkles and refine skin texture. It has been IOPE’s DNA since 1996. To start, the Retinol Expert 0.1% cream is the entry point; the 0.3% version is more concentrated, for skin that’s already used to it.

PDRN, the key ingredient of the XMD range

PDRN is an ingredient that, in Korea, is also used in salon treatments. IOPE put it at the heart of its XMD Stem III range: the bottle of the XMD Stem3 Clinic Recovery Serum displays 92.3% PDRN H.A. Liposome. It helps skin stay hydrated, supple and radiant. You’ll also find it in the PDRN Caffeine Shot, paired with caffeine.

Vitamin C, for radiance

An antioxidant, vitamin C helps bring radiance and even out skin tone. IOPE’s Vitamin C Expert range shows its concentration in the name: the 25% ampoule for every day, the Mask Concentrate 40% for an occasional radiance boost.

The actives in Super Vital

The Super Vital range is the brand’s great classic, designed for mature skin. Its sixth generation relies on Senomune, an anti-aging ingredient developed by Amorepacific. The Super Vital Cream also combines niacinamide, peptides and adenosine, in a rich, enveloping texture.

The IOPE ranges to know

Which IOPE for your skin?

Pick your need: we give you our favorite product, plus two more to complete it.

A complete IOPE routine, morning and evening

In the morning

1. CleanseA gentle cleanser, or just lukewarm water if your skin is dry.
2. PrepThe Bio Conditioning Essence or the Hydro Lift Softener, patted in with your hands.
3. Targeted careThe vitamin C ampoule for radiance, or the XMD serum if your skin is tired.
4. HydrateThe Hyaluronic Cream, light under makeup.
5. ProtectThe UV Shield Sun Ampoule SPF 50+: essential if you use retinol or vitamin C.

In the evening

1. Remove makeupThe Cleansing Oil-in-Gel, on dry skin, then emulsify with a little water.
2. CleanseYour usual cleanser, for a Korean-style double cleanse.
3. PrepThe same essence or softener as in the morning.
4. Targeted careThe Retinol Super Bounce Serum two or three evenings a week to start, the XMD serum on the other evenings.
5. NourishThe Super Vital Cream if your skin is dry or mature, the XMD cream if it’s tired.

Our tips for using IOPE well

• Retinol, always in the evening: it’s sensitive to light. Start two or three evenings a week, then increase depending on how your skin tolerates it.
• Avoid the eye and lip area with retinol, unless the product is made for it.
• Don’t mix everything on the same evening: retinol one evening, vitamin C in the morning, and no exfoliant on the same evening as retinol.
• Sunscreen every morning, even on gray days: it’s what protects the work of your anti-aging products.
• Super Vital Cream as a night mask: a thicker layer in the evening when your skin needs comfort.
• One new product at a time, tested first on a small area (behind the ear or on the neck), so you know what really suits your skin.

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Jihyun, team Ma Petite Corée