Pantry to Product is our series on the Korean kitchen ingredients behind K-beauty's favorite formulas. Next up: ginseng.
Few ingredients say "Korea" quite like ginseng. Called insam in Korean, the pale, many-rooted plant has been grown, gifted and traded on the peninsula for centuries, and the name "Korean ginseng" is still known around the world. It's also one of the signature botanicals of Korean skincare.
Ginseng in the Korean kitchen
- A slow-grown root. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a shade-loving plant that takes years to mature, and roots are usually harvested after about four to six years in the ground. Towns like Geumsan in South Chungcheong Province and Punggi in North Gyeongsang Province are famous for it, and Geumsan hosts a well-known ginseng festival each year.
- Fresh, white and red. Fresh ginseng is called susam. Peeled and dried, it becomes white ginseng (baeksam). Steamed and then dried, it turns a deep amber color and becomes red ginseng (hongsam), which is sold as teas, extracts and candies in shops across Korea.
- Samgyetang on the hottest days. On boknal, the three hottest days of the Korean summer, many families and restaurants serve samgyetang: a small whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, garlic, jujubes and a ginseng root, simmered into a mild broth. The custom follows the old saying iyeol chiyeol, "fight heat with heat."
- Tea, honey and more. Ginseng also turns up as insamcha (ginseng tea), sliced fresh ginseng with honey, and in market stalls where whole roots are sold in jars and gift boxes, a popular present for holidays like Chuseok.
From summer soup bowls to holiday gift sets, ginseng has long stood for care and generosity in Korea. Skincare formulas borrow that same idea and put it into stable, tested textures.
Ginseng in your skincare
On an ingredient list, ginseng usually appears as Panax ginseng root extract, ginseng root water, ginseng seed oil or ginseng berry extract. In skincare, it's mainly loved for:
- A refreshed, less tired look. Ginseng is a go-to in formulas made for skin that looks dull or tired, helping it look more awake and radiant.
- Antioxidant care. Ginseng contains plant compounds called ginsenosides, which is why it's often chosen for formulas designed to help protect skin from everyday environmental stressors.
- Nourishment and softness. Ginseng root water and ginseng seed oil help skin feel nourished, smooth and supple, especially when paired with ceramides, squalane or hyaluronic acid.
- A smoother, firmer-looking finish. Ginseng is often teamed with ingredients like retinal, niacinamide or adenosine in formulas designed to help skin look smoother and firmer over time.
As with any ingredient, results vary from person to person. Ginseng works best as part of a steady routine with daily sunscreen, for every skin tone.
Why we don't recommend DIY ginseng on your face
Rubbing on a homemade ginseng tea "toner" or a paste of grated root can sound like a nice idea, but kitchen ginseng isn't made for skin. Home infusions have no preservatives, can spoil quickly, and the strength varies from root to root, which can leave skin feeling irritated. Skincare made with ginseng is formulated to be stable, gentle and consistent from bottle to bottle. Keep the ginseng in your samgyetang, and let your serum do the skin work.
Our ginseng picks
BoJ Ginseng Cleansing Oil
BoJ Revive Serum: Ginseng
BoJ Revive Eye Serum
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream
- Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil: a lightweight cleansing oil with ginseng seed oil that melts makeup, sunscreen and excess oil, then rinses clean without a greasy feel. Suits every skin type.
- Beauty of Joseon Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin: a light, hydrating serum with ginseng root water and snail mucin for skin that looks dull or tired. Gentle enough for morning and night.
- Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal: a gentle eye serum with ginseng root extract and a low level of retinal, designed to help the eye area look smoother and more refreshed. A nice first step into retinoids.
- Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream: a rich but not greasy moisturizer with ginseng root water, rice bran water and squalane for soft, glowing-looking skin.
How to fit ginseng into your routine
- Morning: gentle cleanse, then the Revive Serum, Dynasty Cream, and broad-spectrum sunscreen as the last step.
- Night: start with the Ginseng Cleansing Oil on dry skin, follow with a gentle water-based cleanser, then the Revive Serum. On eye serum nights, tap a rice-grain amount of the Revive Eye Serum around the orbital bone, then seal everything in with Dynasty Cream.
- Ease into retinal: use the eye serum at night only, a few nights a week to start, and build up as your skin is comfortable. Wear sunscreen every morning while you use it. If you're pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor before using retinoids.
- Tailor it to your skin: for oily skin, the Revive Serum under a light gel moisturizer may be all you need. For dry skin, use a slightly fuller layer of Dynasty Cream at night.
New to a product? Patch test first on a small area, such as behind the ear or along the jaw, for a few days, and add one new step at a time. Not sure where to start? Find your routine in about a minute, or read our guides to double cleansing, eye care and starting retinol without the irritation.
The bottom line
Ginseng has been treasured in Korea for centuries, from summer bowls of samgyetang to holiday gift boxes. Enjoy it at the table, and get its nourishing, refreshing care from formulas made for your skin.
Want ginseng in your routine? Shop Beauty of Joseon, or take our 5-question skin quiz for a full routine.