October's Most Popular K-Beauty: The 5 Products Everyone Was Buying This Month

Every October, our skin goes through a little identity crisis. The mornings get crisp, the heat comes on, and the routine that worked all summer suddenly feels either too heavy or not nearly enough. So it makes sense that October is when a lot of us go shopping for skincare. This year, plenty of people did that shopping during the big early-October online sales, and Korean beauty brands had a very good few days.

We looked at what sold, what got clicked and what kept popping up in sale roundups this month, then matched it against what KPTOWN carries. The result is a short list of five products, four skincare picks and one cushion foundation. Below, we will walk through why these took off, who each one is best for, and how to fit them into a routine without overdoing it.

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Why October was such a big month for K-beauty

Beauty was the most-purchased category during one of the biggest US online sales events of early October. According to an analysis by Market Defense reported by the trade publication Happi, four Korean brands (medicube, Biodance, Anua and Dr. Althea) together took 12.8% of beauty sales during that event. That is a big slice for four brands in a category crowded with drugstore and luxury names.

The same analysis named medicube's Zero Pore Pad as the most-clicked beauty product of the sale, and called out Anua's PDRN cream and Dr. Althea's 345 Relief Cream by name. Biodance's collagen mask, meanwhile, showed up in nearly every K-beauty deal roundup we read this month.

Timing helps explain it, too. October is when people start stocking up for colder months and holiday gifting, and a sale is a low-risk moment to finally try a brand you have been curious about.

The 3 trends behind this month's list

1. Pore care went mainstream

Toner pads have quietly become one of the most popular ways to exfoliate. They are pre-soaked, they take about ten seconds to use, and there is no measuring or mixing. For anyone who wants smoother texture and fewer clogged pores without a complicated acid routine, pads feel easy and low-commitment.

2. PDRN is everywhere

PDRN (short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, often listed as sodium DNA) started as an in-clinic treatment in Korea and has moved onto store shelves fast. You will now find it in creams, serums, mists and even lip balms. To keep expectations realistic: most of the research on PDRN has looked at injections, not creams, so a PDRN moisturizer is best thought of as a good hydrating moisturizer first.

3. Comfort over everything

As the weather turns, people want products that feel calming rather than active. That is why soothing creams like Dr. Althea's 345 and hydrating overnight masks did so well this month. Even the makeup pick on this list is a cushion, the comfiest way to wear foundation when your skin is feeling a little drier.

How to add a new product without upsetting your skin

It is tempting to put a whole haul on your face the night it arrives. Try not to. If something does not agree with you, you will have no idea which product caused it. Instead, add one new product at a time and give it about a week before adding the next.

If you have sensitive skin, a patch test helps: apply a little of the product to the side of your neck or along your jaw for a few days first. And if you are adding an exfoliating pad, start slow (two or three times a week) and do not use it on the same night as a retinoid or another strong acid.

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October's 5 Most Popular K-Beauty Products

These are listed in routine order, not by rank. You do not need all five. If you only pick one, choose the product that matches your biggest skin concern right now: pads for texture and pores, the mask or the Anua cream for dryness, or the Dr. Althea cream for redness and irritation.

All prices and sizes below were checked on KPTOWN's product pages at the time of writing. Claims we could not independently confirm are attributed to the brand or retailer.

1 · medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0

Most-clicked beauty product of October's big fall sale

If there was one K-beauty product everyone was curious about this month, it was this one. These dual-sided toner pads have a textured side for exfoliating and a smooth side for a final swipe. The formula combines AHA, BHA and PHA exfoliants, along with soothing ingredients like panthenol, allantoin and centella asiatica extract.

The brand says regular use helps pores look smaller, keeps oil in check and smooths rough texture. They are best suited to oily, combination and congestion-prone skin. If your skin is dry or sensitive, start with once or twice a week.

2 · Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask

The overnight mask everyone kept recommending

You may have seen this one on social media: a gel mask that people sleep in and peel off in the morning to reveal bouncy, dewy skin. Biodance was one of the four Korean brands leading beauty sales during October's big fall sale, and this mask landed in almost every K-beauty sale roundup we read.

KPTOWN's page describes it as a hydrogel mask made with probiotics (galactomyces ferment filtrate), low molecular hyaluronic acid and low molecular collagen. The page also notes that the mask turns more transparent as the ingredients absorb, which is a fun way to know it is working. Topical collagen will not rebuild the collagen in your skin, but as a hydrating mask it gives a lovely plump, glowy look for the next day.

3 · Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisture Cream

The PDRN moisturizer of the moment

Anua became famous for its heartleaf toner and cleansing oil, and this cream is the brand's big PDRN hit. It was named as a standout of October's big fall sale, and it is easy to see the appeal: it comes in a squeezable tube with a precision tip. We describe it as a "water-glow" finish that leaves skin looking fresh rather than greasy.

The headline ingredients are PDRN and hyaluronic acid, and the page lists it for dehydration, dullness and loss of bounce. As we mentioned above, PDRN in a cream is not the same as an in-clinic treatment, so think of this as a hydrating, glow-boosting moisturizer.

4 · Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream

The calming cream for skin that is having a week

This cream was one of the Korean products named as a standout during October's sale, and it is a great example of the "comfort first" trend. It is a lightweight gel cream aimed at redness, irritation, dryness and leftover marks from breakouts. It is good especially if you are acne prone.

The ingredient list on KPTOWN's page reads like a greatest-hits of soothing ingredients: niacinamide, panthenol, centella asiatica, madecassoside, ceramide NP, beta-glucan and resveratrol, plus sodium DNA (yes, a little PDRN here too). No fragrance appears in that list. It makes a great partner for the medicube pads, since it helps calm skin on nights you exfoliate.

5 · TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion

The cushion foundation that keeps winning awards

If you are going to try one piece of Korean makeup, this is an easy place to start. The red compact is instantly recognizable, it picked up a mid-year 2026 K-beauty makeup award, and it popped up again in this month's K-beauty sale coverage. The line is also known for offering more shades than many Korean cushions, which has helped it catch on in the US.

KPTOWN's page describes buildable coverage from light to full, a semi-dewy finish and a transfer-resistant formula that stays comfortable through the day. Pat it on with the puff instead of swiping, and add a second layer only where you need it.

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Compare All 5

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FAQ

What were the most popular K-beauty products in October 2026?

During one of the biggest US online sales events of early October, medicube, Biodance, Anua and Dr. Althea together took 12.8% of beauty sales, according to Market Defense data reported by Happi. medicube's Zero Pore Pad was the most-clicked beauty product of the event. All five are available at KPTOWN. Our top five for the month are medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0, the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask, Anua's PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisture Cream, the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream and the TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion.

Can I use the medicube Zero Pore Pads every day?

We recommend using them two or three times a week, or as often as your skin tolerates. Because they contain AHA and BHA, using them daily can lead to irritation for many people, especially in drier weather. Start slow, avoid using them on the same night as a retinoid, and wear sunscreen in the morning.

Does a collagen mask actually add collagen to your skin?

Not really. Collagen applied to the skin works mainly as a hydrating ingredient rather than replacing your skin's own collagen. That is still why masks like Biodance's are popular: they hold a lot of moisture against the skin, so your face looks plumper and dewier the next morning.

What is PDRN, and does it work in a cream?

PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide, often listed as sodium DNA) is an ingredient that became popular through in-clinic skin treatments in Korea. Most of the research so far has studied injections rather than creams, so it is best to choose a PDRN cream because you like it as a moisturizer, not because you expect clinic-level results.

Is the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream good for acne-prone skin?

We list it as non-comedogenic tested and describes it as a lightweight cream for post-acne care, redness and irritation. Its ingredient list includes soothing ingredients like niacinamide, panthenol and centella asiatica. As with any new product, patch test first, and see a dermatologist for persistent or painful acne.

How do I apply a cushion foundation like TIRTIR's?

Press the puff into the cushion, then pat (do not swipe) the product onto the center of your face and work outward. Start with a thin layer and build coverage only where you need it, like around the nose or on redness. Let your moisturizer sink in for a minute or two first so the cushion goes on smoothly.