ICE-COOLING WATER DROP SERUM 30ml
Ice-Cooling Water Drop Serum, TIRTIR's cooling hydration serum layering Retinal, Centella Asiatica and a peptide stack. It is part of TIRTIR's Korean-market.
No reviews yet30 ml
$191.67 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Skin looking to add a targeted treatment step to an existing routineDehydrated or tired-looking skin needing a hydration boostSkin new to the specific active this serum is built around
- Helps with
- Skin that wants a cooling, hydrating serum with Retinal includedA nighttime step introducing a low-strength retinoid graduallyLayering peptides and Centella Asiatica into an existing routine
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
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How it works
Glacier water anchors the base of this serum for the cooling sensation on application, carrying Niacinamide, Adenosine and Centella Asiatica Extract for tone and calming. The formula also names Retinal directly, alongside Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramide NP for hydration and barrier support, plus a peptide group of Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4. It is meant to follow toner and precede a moisturizer, applied to skin that is still slightly damp so the actives have a receptive surface to absorb into. This particular listing is the 30ml size TIRTIR sells for the line, packaged and formulated for the Korean market rather than a separate US release.
Key benefits
- Glacier water base for an immediate cooling sensation
- Retinal named directly on the ingredient list
- Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramide NP for hydration
- A four-peptide group including Copper Tripeptide-1
- Sold as TIRTIR's authentic Korean-market formula, the same version sold through Korean retail rather than a US-reformulated substitute
How to use
- Apply a few drops to clean skin after toner, patting it in for the cooling sensation to take effect. Because the formula contains Retinal, introduce it gradually at night to start and always follow with daytime sun protection.
Does this contain Retinal, and is that the same as Retinol?
Retinal is named directly on the ingredient list. It sits in the same retinoid family as Retinol but converts to retinoic acid in fewer steps, so it is generally introduced the same cautious way any retinoid is.
Can I use this every night right away?
Start a few nights a week and build up gradually, the same introduction pace recommended for any retinoid-containing product, and watch how skin responds before increasing frequency. This is general guidance rather than a fixed rule, so adjust it based on how your own skin or the product itself responds.
Do I need sunscreen the next morning?
Yes. Any retinoid, including Retinal, increases sun sensitivity, so daytime sun protection is a required pairing whenever this serum is in the routine. This is general guidance rather than a fixed rule, so adjust it based on how your own skin or the product itself responds.
Is this the same formula sold in Korea, or a version made for the US market?
This is TIRTIR's Korean-market formula, sourced and shipped with its original Korean-market packaging and batch coding rather than a separate US-reformulated version. Korean Pharmacy stocks the exact SKU sold through Korean retail rather than a substitute built for US shelves, which is the point of buying from a specialist rather than a general beauty retailer.
How should I store this to keep it in good condition?
Keep the cap or compact closed between uses and store it away from direct sunlight and heat, the same way you would any cosmetic. A cool, dry spot such as a drawer or cabinet keeps the texture and finish consistent for longer than leaving it exposed on a warm windowsill or in a hot car.
Not on the ingredient list below: fragrance or parfum, essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (79): Aqua/Water/Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Tripropylene Glycol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Butylene Glycol, Agar, Carbomer, Gellan Gum, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, C18-21 Alkane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Parfum/Fragrance, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lysolecithin, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Betaine, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Fructooligosaccharides, Propanediol, Malachite Extract, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Cholesterol, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Retinal, Albatrellus Confluens (Mushroom) Extract, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Green 6, Sodium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phenylpropanol, Tocopherol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Leaf Extract, Water(Glacier Water), Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Alcohol, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9
Ingredient list read from tirtir.global on 10 September 2026.
72 of 79 explained
- Aqua/Water/Eau 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.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emollient
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the light fraction of coconut oil, with the heavy parts removed. It is the workhorse emollient of modern formulas: it softens skin, dissolves oil-soluble actives and absorbs without the greasy weight of a whole plant oil.
- 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.
- 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.
- Methylpropanediol humectant
- Methylpropanediol is a small glycol used to hydrate and to help water-soluble actives penetrate the outer layer of skin more evenly. It leaves almost no tack, which suits watery textures.
- 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.
- Tripropylene Glycol solvent
- Tripropylene Glycol is a glycol used mainly as a solvent, keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid.
- C12-14 Alketh-12 emulsifier
- C12-14 Alketh-12 is a solubiliser used to keep oils and fragrance dissolved in a water-based formula.
- Octyldodeceth-16 emulsifier
- An ethoxylated branched fatty alcohol. It emulsifies and also gives a formula a soft, cushioned slip.
- Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide active
- A synthetic cooling agent that gives the cool feeling of menthol without the mint smell. It is used where a formula wants the sensation but not the scent.
- 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.
- Agar thickener
- Agar is a seaweed polysaccharide that sets into a firm gel. It is the gelling agent behind jelly masks and thick sleeping packs.
60 more explained
- Carbomer thickener
- Carbomer is a synthetic polymer that only gels once a base neutralises it, which is why arginine or tromethamine sits nearby on the list. It gives the clear, non-stringy gel texture a xanthan formula cannot reach.
- Gellan Gum thickener
- Gellan Gum is a fermentation-derived polysaccharide that sets a clear, brittle gel at very low levels. It is used to suspend particles without thickening the liquid much.
- 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.
- Ethylhexylglycerin preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin softens skin and boosts a preservative system, which is why it is nearly always sitting beside phenoxyethanol or 1,2-hexanediol. It also cuts down the odour bacteria produce, so it turns up in deodorising products.
- C18-21 Alkane emollient
- A saturated hydrocarbon emollient in the same family as squalane, usually made from plant sugar or plant oil. It gives a dry, silicone like slip without a greasy finish.
- 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.
- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate ferment
- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate is a lactic-culture ferment with the bacterial cells broken open, so their contents are in the formula too. It is used as a conditioning ferment in barrier-focused products.
- Hydrolyzed Sponge active
- Hydrolyzed Sponge is processed freshwater sponge, which carries fine silica spicules. In a formula it works as a mild physical exfoliant.
- 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.
- 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.
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate emulsifier
- Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a sugar-derived emulsifier and solubiliser, mild enough to be a standard choice in Korean essences. It dissolves small amounts of oil into water without any tightening feel.
- 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.
- Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Fig Fruit Extract carries fruit sugars, mild acids and a protein-digesting enzyme. It is used as a hydrating extract with a light smoothing effect.
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate chelator
- A readily biodegradable chelator used in place of EDTA. It ties up trace metal ions in the water so they cannot spoil the formula.
- Betaine humectant
- Betaine is a sugar-beet-derived humectant that cells use to hold water. In a formula it hydrates and takes the edge off cleansers and acids, which is why it often appears alongside them.
- Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate ferment
- Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate is a brewers yeast ferment filtered clear. It supplies amino acids, B vitamins and sugars, and it is one of the ferments the Korean essence category was built on.
- Fructooligosaccharides humectant
- Fructooligosaccharides are short fructose chains used as humectants and as food for the skin's own resident microbes.
- 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.
- Malachite Extract mineral
- Malachite is a green copper carbonate mineral. Its extract is used in a formula as a source of trace copper.
- Ceramide NP barrier lipid
- Ceramide NP is the most used cosmetic ceramide, the same class of lipid that makes up roughly half the mortar between cells in the outer layer of skin. Added to a cream it slots into that structure, which is why ceramide formulas feel less leaky rather than merely greasy.
- 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.
- Arginine amino acid
- Arginine is an amino acid that does two jobs here: it holds water in the outer layer of skin, and it neutralises acidic gelling agents, which is why it often stands in for a synthetic pH adjuster.
- Glyceryl Glucoside humectant
- Glyceryl Glucoside is glycerin bound to glucose, from the resurrection plant. It is a humectant that holds water in the outer layer of skin.
- Cholesterol barrier lipid
- Cholesterol is the third of the three lipids the outer layer of skin is built from, with ceramides and fatty acids. Formulas that carry all three are following the ratio skin itself holds.
- Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate barrier lipid
- An amino-acid-based lipid built on plant sterols. It structures the oil phase of a cream and echoes the lipid mix that already sits between skin cells.
- Retinal active
- Retinal is retinaldehyde, a vitamin A derivative one chemical step closer to retinoic acid than retinol is. It is yellow-orange and unstable in light, so products carrying it are usually opaque.
- Albatrellus Confluens (Mushroom) Extract plant extract
- Extract of a bracket mushroom. Like other fungal extracts it carries beta glucan polysaccharides, which hold water and leave a smooth film.
- Benzyl Glycol preservative booster
- Benzyl Glycol is a solvent that also makes a formula less hospitable to microbes, so it appears in preservative blends built without parabens.
- Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans humectant
- Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans are short fragments of the sugar chains that sit between cells in skin, hyaluronic acid among them. They act as humectants and give a cushioned feel.
- 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.
- Sodium Chloride thickener
- Sodium Chloride is salt. In a cleanser it thickens the liquid; in a mask or essence it balances the mineral content of the water phase. It has no active role.
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid humectant
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid cut into much shorter fragments. The smaller the fragment, the further into the outer layer it can settle, which is why serums stack several sizes together instead of using one.
- Phenylpropanol solvent
- Phenylpropanol is an aromatic alcohol with a faint hyacinth smell. It works as a solvent and strengthens a preservative system, so it appears in formulas built without parabens.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract plant extract
- Witch hazel extract, the classic astringent plant. Its tannins bind to surface proteins, which is the tightening feel a toner built on it gives.
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is hyaluronic acid linked into a mesh. It holds water in a soft gel on the surface rather than sinking in, and it releases that water slowly through the day.
- Levulinic Acid preservative
- Levulinic Acid is a plant-derived acid used with its sodium salt as a natural preservative system. It also adjusts pH.
- Sodium Levulinate preservative
- The sodium salt of levulinic acid, and the other half of a plant-derived preservative pair. It is used in formulas built without traditional preservatives.
- Houttuynia Cordata Extract plant extract
- Houttuynia Cordata is heartleaf, and it is one of the two or three anchor plants of Korean calming skincare. Its extract carries quercitrin and other flavonoids and is used for the look of redness and blemish-prone skin.
- Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract plant extract
- Roman chamomile flower extract. It carries flavonoids and is one of the classic plant ingredients in formulas aimed at the look of reddened skin.
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate humectant
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate carries a positive charge, and skin carries a slight negative one, so it is attracted to the surface and stays through rinsing. It is the hyaluronic used where a formula gets washed off.
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 peptide
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of expression lines, particularly around the eyes. It is the peptide sold under the name Argireline and is water soluble and stable.
- Alcohol solvent
- Alcohol here means ethanol. It dissolves ingredients water cannot, evaporates fast so a formula sets quickly and does not feel heavy, and thins texture. In quantity it can leave dry or reactive skin feeling tight, which is why many Korean formulas avoid it and some deliberately use it for a fast, weightless finish.
- Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract plant extract
- Diospyros Kaki is the persimmon tree. Its leaf extract carries tannins and vitamin C and is used as an antioxidant extract.
- Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract plant extract
- Grape Fruit Extract carries polyphenols and fruit acids. It is used as an antioxidant plant extract.
- Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract plant extract
- Safflower Flower Extract is a traditional East Asian dye and skincare plant. It is used as a conditioning antioxidant extract and can tint a formula.
- Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract plant extract
- Polygonum Cuspidatum is Japanese knotweed, the main commercial source of resveratrol. Its root extract is used as an antioxidant plant extract.
- Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract plant extract
- Coffee Seed Extract carries caffeine and chlorogenic acid. It is used as an antioxidant extract and, in eye and body formulas, for the look of puffiness.
- Lecithin emulsifier
- Lecithin is a soy or sunflower-derived phospholipid, the same class of molecule cell membranes are built from. It emulsifies oil into water and is the basis of the liposomes formulators use to carry actives.
- Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract plant extract
- Camellia Sinensis is the tea plant. Green tea leaf extract carries catechins, among the most studied plant antioxidants, and is used for the look of redness and oily shine.
- Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract plant extract
- Chestnut Shell Extract carries tannins and is used as an antioxidant plant extract, most often in formulas aimed at visible pores.
- Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract plant extract
- Zanthoxylum Piperitum is Korean pepper. Its fruit extract is used as a conditioning plant extract and is often paired with pulsatilla and usnea in Korean formulas.
- Hyaluronic Acid humectant
- Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar chain the body already makes, and one gram of it can hold several litres of water. In a formula it is a humectant that pulls water to the surface of skin and holds it in a film, which is what makes skin look plumper while it is there.
- Caprylyl Glycol preservative booster
- Caprylyl Glycol is a glycol that conditions skin and, more importantly, strengthens a preservative system so less of the traditional preservative is needed. It appears in most modern formulas built without parabens.
- Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate peptide
- This is a two-amino-acid peptide, sold as Syn-Ake, used for the look of expression lines. Its structure was modelled on a component of snake venom, though nothing of the venom itself is in it.
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid modified to be part oil-loving, so it clings to skin instead of rinsing away. Formulators call it the one that stays put.
- Tripeptide-1 peptide
- Tripeptide-1 is the copper-free version of the classic three-amino-acid peptide. It is used for the look of firmness in formulas that avoid copper's blue tint.
- Copper Tripeptide-1 peptide
- Copper Tripeptide-1 is three amino acids bound to a copper ion, and the classic firming peptide in cosmetic chemistry. It is blue in solution, which is often why a serum carrying it is tinted, and it is used for the look of firmness and fine lines.
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 peptide
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 is the five-amino-acid peptide originally sold as Matrixyl. It is used for the look of fine lines and is one of the longest-standing cosmetic peptides.
- Hexapeptide-9 peptide
- Hexapeptide-9 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of firmness and elasticity. It is water soluble and appears in peptide blends rather than alone.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8800288643706
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 30 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Centella Asiatica, Ceramide NP, Green Tea, Heartleaf (Houttuynia Cordata), Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Peptides, Sodium Hyaluronate
- 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
- Introduce any new active serum gradually, a few nights a week at first, rather than daily right away.
- Follow an exfoliating or retinoid-containing serum with daytime sun protection the next morning as a separate step.
Complete the routine
- This itemTIRTIR ICE-COOLING WATER DROP SERUM 30ml$57.50
- Cleanse first, so the next step meets bare skinTIRTIR Milk Creamy Foam Cleanser 90g$42.50
- Seal the routine in as the last stepTIRTIR Match Calming Cream 50ml$75.00
Total for 3 items$175.00
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TIRTIR ICE-COOLING WATER DROP SERUM 30ml
How it felt, how your skin took it, what you layer it with. Straight answers help the next person choose.
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TIRTIR, Korean-market original
Cooling on contact, Retinal underneath.
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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