APLB
AHA BHA PHA Glutathione Cica Ampoule Serum 50ml
APLB AHA BHA PHA Glutathione Cica Ampoule Serum is a 50ml ampoule with Asiaticoside, used after toner and before moisturizer, morning and evening.
No reviews yet50 ml
$105.00 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Congested skinUneven textureDehydrated skinSensitive skin
- Helps with
- Shoppers looking for Asiaticoside in an ampouleRoutines that want Asiaticoside and Niacinamide in one stepFilling the ampoule step with a Korean-market formulaAnyone who wants the Asiaticoside ampoule 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 AHA BHA PHA Glutathione Cica Ampoule Serum is a 50ml ampoule, used after toner and before moisturizer, morning and evening. The active it is built around is Asiaticoside, named twenty-seventh on its own ingredient list. The same list carries Niacinamide, Allantoin and Adenosine, so the active is not the only thing on it worth naming. How much of the Asiaticoside stays on the skin, and for how long, is decided by the ampoule format rather than by the list alone. This is the Original Korean Formula, the ampoule APLB sells in Korea, Asiaticoside and all.
Key benefits
- Asiaticoside, the active this ampoule is built around
- Niacinamide, Allantoin, Adenosine and Madecassic Acid on the same list, actives
- Asiatic Acid and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate further down the same list
- Gluconolactone and Salicylic Acid further down the same list
- Asiaticoside named twenty-seventh on the manufacturer list printed on this page
- Sourced for the Korean market, not a US-shelf reformulation of this ampoule
How to use
- Apply after toner and before moisturizer. Pat or smooth it over a cleansed face and let it absorb before the next step, AM and PM.
Where does this ampoule go in my routine?
After toner and before moisturizer, morning and evening. Anything thinner than an ampoule 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 Asiaticoside and not three changes at once.
Is this the Korean-market ampoule or a US version?
The Korean-market one, Asiaticoside and all. We match this ampoule to its Korean barcode before it reaches the shelf, which is the check that tells you which market release you are holding.
Does this ampoule contain fragrance?
Yes. The ingredient list names Fragrance. It sits on the panel printed on this page, so you can read the position for yourself before you buy. If fragrance components are something you avoid, this ampoule is not the one.
What else is on the list besides Asiaticoside?
Niacinamide, Allantoin and Adenosine. The order they are printed in on this ampoule's panel is the order on the box, so you can see where Asiaticoside sits relative to them. Further down the same panel: Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate.
Not on the ingredient list below: denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (41): Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Trideceth-10, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Glutathione, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Squalane, Beta-Glucan, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance
Ingredient list read from inkeedecoder.com on 10 September 2026.
40 of 41 explained
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Diethoxyethyl Succinate solvent
- Diethoxyethyl Succinate is a solvent that helps water-resistant actives spread and sink in evenly. It also leaves a light, silky feel.
- Cyclohexasiloxane silicone
- Cyclohexasiloxane is a volatile silicone used for a light, fast-spreading feel that leaves nothing behind.
- Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate thickener
- Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer thickener that holds a gel stable even with a lot of salt or acid in the formula.
- Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer film former
- This is a polymer that forms a moisture-holding film on the surface, usually supplied with glycerin and propylene glycol as a hydrating complex.
- 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.
- Gluconolactone exfoliant
- Gluconolactone is a PHA, the gentlest exfoliant class. Its molecule is too large to penetrate quickly, so it smooths the surface without the sting of an AHA, and it is a humectant at the same time.
- Trideceth-10 emulsifier
- An ethoxylated fatty alcohol used as an emulsifier and solubiliser. It dissolves small amounts of oil or fragrance into a watery formula without clouding it.
28 more explained
- Sodium Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid, and it is what most products labelled hyaluronic actually contain. The salt dissolves more readily and the molecule is smaller, so it sits in the outer layer of skin rather than only on top of it.
- 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.
- Citric Acid pH adjuster
- Citric Acid is used in tiny amounts to bring a formula to the pH its actives need, not as an exfoliant at that level. It is an AHA, so at much higher concentrations it can also exfoliate.
- Lactobionic Acid exfoliant
- Lactobionic Acid is a polyhydroxy acid, the gentlest of the acid families because the molecule is large and slow to travel. It is also a strong humectant.
- Sodium Citrate pH adjuster
- Sodium Citrate is the salt of citric acid, used as a buffer: it holds a formula at a steady pH rather than pushing it in one direction. It is also a mild chelator.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fucus Vesiculosus Extract plant extract
- Bladderwrack extract, a brown seaweed named for the air bladders that float it. It carries fucoidan and alginates and is used as a hydrating marine extract.
- Prunella Vulgaris Extract plant extract
- Selfheal extract, a mint-family herb long used in East Asian practice. It carries rosmarinic acid and is used as a conditioning antioxidant extract.
- Glutathione antioxidant
- Glutathione is a small peptide the body uses as one of its main antioxidants. In skincare it is used as an antioxidant and for the look of dullness; it is unstable in water, so formulas that carry it are usually built around protecting it.
- Centella Asiatica Extract plant extract
- Centella Asiatica is the plant behind the whole cica category, sold as gotu kola or Madagascar centella. Its extract is the anchor of Korean formulas built for easily reddened skin, and its work is done by four triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid.
- Madecassic Acid active
- Madecassic Acid is the fourth centella triterpene. A list that names all four is telling you the extract was standardised rather than simply pressed, which is the difference between a cica claim and a cica formula.
- Asiaticoside active
- Asiaticoside is one of the four active triterpenes isolated from centella and the most studied of them. Korean formulas name it separately when they want to show which fraction of the plant they standardised.
- Asiatic Acid active
- Asiatic Acid is the third of centella's four triterpenes and the aglycone form, meaning it has no attached sugar. It is oil soluble, so it turns up in cica creams and balms more than in watery layers.
- Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract plant extract
- Witch hazel leaf extract, taken from the leaf rather than the bark. Like the bark it carries tannins and gives an astringent feel.
- Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract plant extract
- Lotus flower extract, from the same sacred lotus as the leaf. It carries flavonoids and sugars and is used as a conditioning, hydrating extract.
- Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract plant extract
- Eggplant Fruit Extract carries nasunin, the antioxidant pigment in aubergine skin. It is used as an antioxidant plant extract.
- Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract plant extract
- Tea Tree Leaf Extract is the water-based extract rather than the essential oil, so it is far milder and much less aromatic. It is used in formulas for blemish-prone skin.
- Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract protein
- A collagen-bearing extract with the protein already cut into fragments, so it dissolves and spreads. At that size it works as a humectant rather than as a source of new collagen.
- Squalane emollient
- Squalane is the stable, saturated version of squalene, a lipid human skin already makes. It is a light emollient that absorbs quickly, does not oxidise, and is one of the few oils widely considered safe for blemish-prone skin. Most cosmetic squalane is now from sugarcane or olive rather than shark.
- Beta-Glucan polysaccharide
- Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide from oats or yeast. It holds a large amount of water, forms a soothing film, and is one of the ingredients formulators reach for in products aimed at reactive skin.
- Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract plant extract
- Sea Buckthorn Fruit Extract is high in vitamin C and carotenoids, which give it a strong orange colour. It is used as an antioxidant extract.
- Ascorbic Acid antioxidant
- Ascorbic Acid is pure vitamin C, the most researched form and also the least stable: it needs a low pH and airtight packaging to stay active. It is an antioxidant used for the look of dullness and uneven tone.
- 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.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate active
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is a water-soluble salt derived from licorice root. It is the licorice fraction Korean formulas use for the look of redness, and it is far more stable in water than the whole extract.
- 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.
- Fragrance fragrance
- Fragrance, or Parfum, is a single declaration standing for a whole scent blend, which can be dozens of materials. Regulators allow it as a trade secret, so a list showing only this word does not say what the scent is made of. It is the most common trigger named by people with reactive skin.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809639038512
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 50 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica, Collagen, Glutathione, Licorice Root, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sea Buckthorn, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tea Tree, Vitamin C
- 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.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
Worth knowing
- Patch test this ampoule on a small area and wait a day before using it more widely, especially with Asiaticoside on the list.
- This list names Fragrance, so skip it if fragrance components are something you avoid.
- Citric Acid and Gluconolactone on this list makes this ampoule an exfoliating step, so do not stack it with another one on the same night.
Complete the routine
- This itemAPLB AHA BHA PHA Glutathione Cica Ampoule Serum 50ml$52.50
- Seal the routine in as the last stepAPLB Lactic Acid Retinol Facial Cream 55ml$32.50
- The treatment step of this routineAPLB Glutathione Niacinamide Ampoule Serum 40ml$25.00
Total for 3 items$110.00
Reviews
No reviews yet. Tell us how much you love the product!
Write a reviewWrite a review
APLB AHA BHA PHA Glutathione Cica Ampoule Serum 50ml
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
We’re on gram!
Creators trying on authentic Korean skincare routines and products from us.
Rating a shelf of Dr. Althea products one by one.
Jasmine Loo · YouTube
Two hydrating serums side by side, IUNIK and Dr. Althea.
Kristin · YouTube
A walk through the Dr. Althea serum lineup and who each one suits.
auraofmahmuda · YouTube
A blunt first take on the Dr. Althea range.
Lexi Chang · YouTube
A first look at the viral 345 Relief Cream before buying.
Shelley Nayak · YouTube
A first try of the Dr. Althea serum on camera.
Hannah Ziad · YouTube
APLB, Korean-market original
The Original Korean Formula ampoule from APLB, 50ml formulated with Asiaticoside 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
Ask an AI assistant about this product
Ask an AI assistant about this product
Opens ChatGPT, Perplexity or Claude in a new tab with the question prefilled. Claude asks you to sign in first.