NUMBUZIN: the Korean brand of numbered skincare, from No.1 to No.9

A big “1” on a turquoise bottle, a red “3” on a pink jar, a “5+” on a black dropper: you can spot numbuzin products from a distance. This Korean brand had a simple idea: replace complicated names with numbers.

In this guide, we explain where NUMBUZIN comes from, what each number means, what’s inside its main products and above all which number to choose for your skin. We finish with a complete routine, morning and evening.

The story of numbuzin, a Korean brand born in 2019

Behind NUMBUZIN is BENOW (비나우), a young Korean beauty company founded in 2018 in Seoul. The very next year, in 2019, it launched its first skincare brand: NUMBUZIN. The name plays on the English word number: the brand’s whole concept fits in that pun.

The brand arrived at Olive Young, the big Korean beauty chain, in 2021. Its numbered series quickly found their audience there, and NUMBUZIN became one of the brands driving BENOW’s growth. The company then launched other brands, including fwee, a makeup brand whose flagship product is a blush, the Pudding Pot.

Today, BENOW’s brands, NUMBUZIN included, are present in 16 countries (United States, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam…). In mid-October 2026, its US website highlights a new No.0 line for blemish-prone skin, alongside its No.9 line with NAD+ and PDRN.

The NUMBUZIN philosophy: what’s your number?

NUMBUZIN talks about “numbered cosmetics” (숫자 화장품): you start from your skin need and pick the number that matches it. No need to remember every product name or know every ingredient: you know that “1” soothes and hydrates, and that “5” brings radiance. Hence its slogan, “What’s your number?”.

This system has three advantages:

• It’s easy to remember: one number and one color per need, turquoise for 1, pink for 2 and 3, yellow for 5, purple for 9.
• It’s easy to combine: you can take the No.1 toner and the No.5 serum, depending on what your skin needs in the morning or evening.
• Each number has its full range: cleanser, toner, pads, serum, cream and masks, so you can build a complete routine around one need.

The key ingredients of NUMBUZIN

Each number is built around one or two key ingredients. Here are the ones to know.

Panthenol (vitamin B5), the base of No.1

Panthenol, or pantothenic acid, is an ingredient known to soothe and hydrate. It’s the key ingredient of the No.1 line, with the Pantothenic Active Soothing cream and the Active-Up serum, two products for skin that easily feels tight or turns red.

PDRN and collagen, for bounce (No.2)

PDRN is an ingredient often derived from salmon DNA (plant-based versions also exist). The pink No.2 line pairs it with rose and collagen in the Rose PDRN Collagen Plumping serum, for skin that looks bouncier and more luminous.

The “pores and texture” products of No.3

The No.3 line takes care of skin texture: visible pores, rough skin, an uneven-looking complexion. You’ll find pads, a “first step” toner and the Pore Reset ampoule, a small yellow tube to apply on pore-prone areas.

Glutathione and vitamin C, for radiance (No.5)

The yellow No.5 line brings together glutathione and vitamin C, two actives widely used in Korea for a brighter, more even-looking complexion. The Glutathione C Trace ampoule is the most concentrated product in the line.

NMN, NAD+ and PDRN, the new generation (No.9)

The purple No.9 line is one of the brand’s recent lines: it focuses on firmness and radiance, with ingredients like NMN, NAD+ and PDRN. The No.9 NMN PDRN toner is the easiest way to discover it.

The NUMBUZIN numbers to know

Which NUMBUZIN for your skin?

We sorted by need: for each one, our favorite product in large, plus two others to complete it. Good news: with NUMBUZIN, each need almost always matches a number.

A complete NUMBUZIN routine, morning and evening

In the morning

1. CleanseA little No.2 Deep Clean foam if your skin is oily; otherwise lukewarm water is enough.
2. ToneThe No.1 toner to soothe, or the No.5 toner for radiance.
3. SerumA few drops of the No.5 ampoule, or the No.2 Rose PDRN serum.
4. MoisturizeThe No.1 panthenol cream, in a thin layer.
5. ProtectAn SPF50+ sunscreen, applied generously and reapplied during the day.

In the evening

1. Remove makeupThe No.1 Clean-Fast oil on dry skin, then emulsify with a little water.
2. CleanseThe No.2 foam, for clean skin without tightness.
3. ToneThe No.9 toner, or a No.3 pad on pore-prone areas.
4. SerumThe No.2 2X serum, or a light touch of the No.3 ampoule on your nose and cheeks.
5. NourishThe No.1 cream, and a sheet mask once or twice a week.

Our tips for using NUMBUZIN well

• Choose your number first: start from your main need (hydration, pores, radiance, bounce), then add a second number if needed.
• One new product at a time: wait one to two weeks before adding another, and test it first on a small area, for example behind your ear.
• Radiance in the morning, but with SPF: the No.5 products with glutathione and vitamin C work well in the morning, always followed by sunscreen.
• Don’t layer too many actives: exfoliating pads, vitamin C and pore products together can be too much for sensitive skin. Alternate them from one evening to the next instead.
• A mask means 15 to 20 minutes: no longer, so it doesn’t dry on your skin. Then pat in the leftover essence.

Love NUMBUZIN? Try these too

Frequently asked questions about numbuzin

Also worth reading

Jihyun, team Ma Petite Corée