Dr. Melaxin
Facephalt Tightening Cream$50.58Glycolic Acid Cream 50ml
Birch juice is the first entry, ahead of water, with Glycolic Acid fifth, Niacinamide ninth and Salicylic Acid further down. A 50 ml cream that exfoliates at the moisturiser step. Korean-market formula.
No reviews yet50 ml
$50.00 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Congested skinUneven textureDry skinCompromised barrier
- Helps with
- Shoppers looking for Glycolic Acid in a creamRoutines that want Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide in one stepFilling the cream step with a Korean-market formulaAnyone who wants the Glycolic Acid cream sold on Korean shelves
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
We accept
You’re $100.00 away from free US shipping.
- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Tracked delivery to your door
How it works
The Glycolic Acid Cream is a 50ml cream, used as the last skincare step, morning and evening, over serum. The exfoliant it is built around is Glycolic Acid, named fifth on its own ingredient list. The same list carries Niacinamide, Allantoin and Adenosine, so the exfoliant is not the only thing on it worth naming. How much of the Glycolic Acid stays on the skin, and for how long, is decided by the cream format rather than by the list alone. This is the Original Korean Formula, the cream A'PIEU sells in Korea, Glycolic Acid and all.
Key benefits
- Glycolic Acid, the exfoliant this cream is built around
- Niacinamide, Allantoin and Adenosine on the same list, actives
- Salicylic Acid on the same list, an exfoliant
- Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract and Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract further down the same list
- Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract and Arnica Montana Flower Extract further down the same list
- Glycolic Acid named fifth on the manufacturer list printed on this page
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
Where does this cream go in my routine?
As the last skincare step, morning and evening, over serum. Anything thinner than a cream goes on before it, and anything richer goes on after. If you are adding it to a routine you already like, give it a week on its own first, so what you see is the Glycolic Acid and not three changes at once.
Is this the Korean-market cream or a US version?
The Korean-market one, Glycolic Acid and all. We match this cream to its Korean barcode before it reaches the shelf, which is the check that tells you which market release you are holding.
What else is on the list besides Glycolic Acid?
Niacinamide, Allantoin and Adenosine. The order they are printed in on this cream's panel is the order on the box, so you can see where Glycolic Acid sits relative to them. Further down the same panel: Salicylic Acid, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract and Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract.
Not on the ingredient list below: fragrance or parfum, denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (44): Betula Alba Juice, Water, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Beeswax, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-240/HDI Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, PEG-2M, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Sucrose Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Adenosine, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract
Ingredient list read from jolse.com on 10 September 2026.
43 of 44 explained
- Betula Alba Juice plant extract
- Birch juice is sap tapped from the white birch in spring. It is mostly water with sugars, minerals and amino acids, and Korean formulas use it in place of water as the base.
- Water solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Propanediol humectant
- Propanediol is a plant-derived glycol used in place of propylene glycol. It hydrates, carries actives into solution, and gives a lighter, less sticky slip than glycerin at the same strength.
- Tromethamine pH adjuster
- Tromethamine neutralises acidic thickeners such as carbomer so they gel, and holds a formula near skin-friendly pH. It is used at a fraction of a percent.
- Glycolic Acid exfoliant
- Glycolic Acid is the smallest AHA, which is why it is also the most penetrating and the most likely to sting. It loosens the bonds between dead surface cells and is used for the look of dullness and rough texture.
- Cetearyl Alcohol fatty alcohol
- Cetearyl Alcohol is a waxy solid, not the drying kind of alcohol. It is a blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols used to thicken a cream and keep oil and water from separating, and it softens skin as it does so.
- Glycereth-26 humectant
- Glycereth-26 is a modified glycerin that hydrates with far less stickiness than glycerin itself. It is a common way to load water into a formula that has to stay light.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Glycerin humectant
- Glycerin is the most used humectant in skincare. It draws water into the outer layer of skin and holds it there, and it is one of the very few ingredients whose hydrating effect is settled science rather than marketing. Higher amounts feel tacky, which is why it is usually blended.
- Cyclopentasiloxane silicone
- Cyclopentasiloxane is a volatile silicone: it spreads a formula thin and smooth then evaporates, leaving no residue. It is the silicone behind a dry, powdery primer finish.
31 more explained
- Beeswax occlusive
- Beeswax is the wax bees build comb from. In a formula it thickens the oil phase and forms a breathable, water-resisting film, which is what makes a balm hold its shape.
- Dimethicone silicone
- Dimethicone is the most used cosmetic silicone. It forms a breathable film that smooths the surface, slows water leaving skin, and gives the slip that makes a primer or cream feel silky. It is inert and does not penetrate.
- Polysorbate 60 emulsifier
- Polysorbate 60 is a water-loving emulsifier used with a fatty co-emulsifier to build stable lotions and creams.
- Cyclohexasiloxane silicone
- Cyclohexasiloxane is a volatile silicone used for a light, fast-spreading feel that leaves nothing behind.
- Sorbitan Stearate emulsifier
- Sorbitan Stearate is a mild emulsifier and thickener used to hold oil and water together in creams.
- PEG-240/HDI Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether thickener
- A polyethylene glycol copolymer used to thicken water based formulas that contain surfactants. It builds body without the tack a gum gives.
- Glyceryl Stearate emulsifier
- Glyceryl Stearate is glycerin joined to stearic acid, and one of the most used emulsifiers in skincare. It holds oil and water together and thickens the result, and it softens skin at the same time.
- Panthenol humectant
- Panthenol is pro-vitamin B5: skin converts it to pantothenic acid. It is a humectant that holds water and leaves skin feeling soft and less tight, and it is one of the ingredients formulators reach for when a formula also contains something harsh.
- Salicylic Acid exfoliant
- Salicylic Acid is a BHA, and the only common exfoliant that is oil soluble, so it can work inside a pore rather than only on the surface. It loosens the dead cells that block pores and is used for the look of congested, oily skin.
- Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract plant extract
- Artemisia Princeps is Korean mugwort, one of the country's oldest skincare and bathing plants. Its leaf extract is used for the look of reddened, reactive skin, and it is the ingredient behind the mugwort category.
- Xanthan Gum thickener
- Xanthan Gum is a polysaccharide made by fermenting sugar. It thickens a watery formula into a gel and holds the whole thing in suspension so nothing separates. Too much of it and a serum turns stringy, which is why it appears in fractions of a percent.
- Hydroxyacetophenone preservative booster
- Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that also strengthens a preservative system, so a formula needs less traditional preservative. Korean formulas pair it with 1,2-hexanediol constantly.
- Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer thickener
- This is a pre-neutralised polymer thickener that gels on contact with water and stabilises an emulsion without heat.
- PEG-100 Stearate emulsifier
- PEG-100 Stearate is a water-loving emulsifier almost always paired with glyceryl stearate. Together they form the standard cream base of the last fifty years.
- Isohexadecane emollient
- Isohexadecane is a branched hydrocarbon emollient that spreads easily and leaves a dry finish. It is often paired with a thickener to build a gel-cream.
- Hydrogenated Lecithin emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin is lecithin with its unsaturated bonds filled in, which makes it far more stable. It emulsifies and is the standard shell for the liposomes that carry actives into the outer layer of skin.
- Allantoin active
- Allantoin is a comfrey-derived compound used to condition skin and soften the outer layer so it feels smoother. It is one of the standard additions to a formula built for easily irritated skin.
- Sucrose Distearate emulsifier
- Sucrose Distearate is a sugar-based emulsifier that is mild and gives a light, silky feel. It also conditions skin.
- Polysorbate 80 emulsifier
- Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier and solubiliser used to keep oils, fragrance and oil-soluble actives dissolved in water.
- Adenosine active
- Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
- Sorbitan Oleate emulsifier
- Sorbitan Oleate is an emulsifier for water-in-oil formulas. It keeps a rich cream or a cleansing oil from separating.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Pantolactone humectant
- Pantolactone is a panthenol relative used as a conditioning humectant. It softens the outer layer of skin and helps a formula feel comfortable.
- Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract ferment
- Pumpkin fermented with lactobacillus and then extracted. Fermentation frees the fruit's sugars and enzymes, and the result is used as a conditioning ferment.
- Phenoxyethanol preservative
- Phenoxyethanol is the most widely used cosmetic preservative outside the paraben family. It keeps a water-containing formula from growing bacteria and mould, and is capped at one percent in most markets, so it always sits low on a list.
- Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Pineapple fruit extract, carrying fruit acids and sugars. Where the enzyme fraction matters a formula declares bromelain separately.
- Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract plant extract
- Lady's mantle extract, a tannin-rich rose-family herb. It gives an astringent feel and is used as a conditioning extract.
- Arnica Montana Flower Extract plant extract
- Arnica flower extract, a long-standing plant ingredient for the look of bruised, marked skin. It carries sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids.
- Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Kiwi fruit extract, high in vitamin C and fruit acids. It is used as a conditioning antioxidant extract.
- Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Apple fruit extract, carrying malic acid, sugars and polyphenols. It is used as a conditioning extract with a mild acid character.
- Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract plant extract
- Wintergreen leaf extract. The plant naturally carries methyl salicylate, which is where its sharp minty scent comes from.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809530056738
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 50 ml
- Category
- Moisturizer
- Actives
- Adenosine, Allantoin, Birch Sap, Glycolic Acid, Mugwort, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
How to use
- Use this cream AM and/or PM, as the last skincare step, after serum. Pat or smooth it on rather than rubbing, and give it a moment to settle before layering the next step.
Worth knowing
- Patch test this cream on a small area and wait a day before using it more widely, especially with Glycolic Acid on the list.
- Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid on this list makes this cream an exfoliating step, so do not stack it with another one on the same night.
Complete the routine
- This itemA'PIEU Glycolic Acid Cream 50ml$25.00

- The last step of the morning, over everything elseA'pieu Pure Block Sun Cream Waterproof Sun Cream SPF50/PA+++ 50ml$12.50

- Cleanse first, so the next step meets bare skinA'pieu Deep Clean Bubble Foam 200ml$10.00

Total for 3 items$47.50
Reviews
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A'pieu Glycolic Acid Cream 50ml
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
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A'PIEU, Korean-market original
The Original Korean Formula cream from A'PIEU, 50ml formulated with Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide, shipped from California or direct from Korea.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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