Is this heavy or lightweight?

It is formulated as a finishing moisturizer step; if your skin runs oily, a thinner layer is usually enough rather than the full recommended amount. If your skin reacts in a way that feels off, stop use and give your skin a few days to settle before trying it again.

When should I apply it?

As the last step of the routine, after serum or essence, rather than before lighter products have absorbed. If your skin reacts in a way that feels off, stop use and give your skin a few days to settle before trying it again.

Can I use it in the morning and at night?

Yes, most people use the same cream both morning and night, though a lighter layer in the morning under makeup is common. If your skin reacts in a way that feels off, stop use and give your skin a few days to settle before trying it again.

Will it feel greasy under makeup?

Give it a few minutes to absorb before applying makeup rather than going straight on top of a fresh application. If your skin reacts in a way that feels off, stop use and give your skin a few days to settle before trying it again.

How much should I use?

A pea to almond sized amount covers the face and neck for most people; more does not moisturize any faster. If your skin reacts in a way that feels off, stop use and give your skin a few days to settle before trying it again.

TONYMOLY

GIMIYA Whitening Cream 30ml

Name: TONYMOLY GIMIYA Whitening Cream 30ml
Brand: TONYMOLY
SKU: 6877148607
Price: 27.5 USD
Availability: InStock

TONYMOLY GIMIYA Whitening Cream 30ml is a cream led by arbutin on its own ingredient panel, sourced as the Korean-market formula.

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$27.50

30 ml

$91.67 per 100 ml

Korean-market formula
Ships from California or direct from Korea
Korean barcode and batch code intact

Suited to: Normal skinDry skinCombination skin

Helps with: The last, sealing step of a routineDaily moisture maintenanceFitting one more step into an existing routine

One-time purchase

$27.50

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$24.75

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How it works

Arbutin leads the ingredient panel on this cream. Arbutin is the naturally occurring form of the same compound, from bearberry and related plants, used for the look of uneven tone. The alpha isomer is the more stable of the two. On this panel it sits alongside niacinamide, bisabolol and centella asiatica extract. 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.

Inside the formula

Ingredients declared

No fragrance

on the list

How to use

Apply it as the final leave on step, after toner, essence and serum have all gone on.
Warm a small amount between the fingertips and press it over the face and down the neck.
Use a thinner layer in the morning under makeup and a fuller one at night when nothing goes on top.
Do not put a serum on over the top, since nothing thinner will pass through a cream once it is down.

1 of 2

66 of 68 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.
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.
dipropylene glycol humectant: Dipropylene Glycol is a glycol used as a solvent and a light humectant. Its main job is keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid rather than adding hydration of its own.
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.
phenyl trimethicone silicone: Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicone with a higher refractive index than most, so it adds visible gloss as well as slip. It is common in glow and lip textures.
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.
arbutin active: Arbutin is the naturally occurring form of the same compound, from bearberry and related plants, used for the look of uneven tone. The alpha isomer is the more stable of the two.
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.
butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter emollient: Shea Butter is the fat pressed from the shea nut, rich in oleic and stearic acids and unsaponifiable plant sterols. It is a heavy emollient and partial occlusive, which is why it sits in balms and night creams rather than in essences.
polyglyceryl-2 stearate emulsifier: Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate is a plant-derived emulsifier used to stabilise creams with a light finish.
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.
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.

54 more explained

bisabolol active: Bisabolol is the main active fraction of chamomile oil, usually supplied from candeia wood. It is used for the look of redness in formulas for reactive skin, and it helps other ingredients absorb.
stearyl alcohol fatty alcohol: Stearyl Alcohol is a solid fatty alcohol used to thicken and stabilise creams. Like the other fatty alcohols it is an emollient, not a solvent.
cetearyl olivate emulsifier: Cetearyl Olivate is the water-loving half of the olive-derived emulsifier pair. With sorbitan olivate it builds emulsions whose lipid profile is close to skin's own.
sorbitan olivate emulsifier: Sorbitan Olivate is an olive-derived emulsifier, the oil-loving half of the pair sold as Olivem. It holds oil into water and leaves a light, non-waxy feel.
vinyl dimethicone silicone: Vinyl Dimethicone is a silicone used as a building block of the crosspolymer gels that give a formula its soft, blurring feel.
cetyl alcohol fatty alcohol: Cetyl Alcohol is a waxy fatty alcohol from coconut or palm, unrelated to drying ethanol. It thickens creams, stabilises the emulsion and leaves skin feeling softer.
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 polyacrylate thickener: Sodium Polyacrylate is a polymer that absorbs many times its weight in water. It thickens a formula and holds water in a gel against the skin.
cetyl ethylhexanoate emollient: Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is a synthetic ester used as a dry-feeling emollient. It spreads easily, leaves a silky rather than oily finish, and helps disperse pigments and UV filters evenly.
ethylhexyl stearate emollient: Ethylhexyl Stearate is an ester emollient with a slightly richer feel than the palmitate. It softens skin and helps a formula spread evenly.
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.
hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer thickener: This is the thickener behind most gel-cream textures. It builds a soft, bouncy gel that collapses to a light fluid as it is rubbed in.
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.
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.
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.
neopentyl glycol diheptanoate emollient: Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate is a light ester emollient chosen for a dry, powdery finish. It also disperses pigment evenly.
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.
polyglyceryl-4 oleate emulsifier: Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate is a plant-derived emulsifier used in cleansing oils so they rinse cleanly.
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.
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.
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.
hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine emulsifier: Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine is the stabilised form of the main lecithin phospholipid. It builds the liposome shells that hold an active together in a formula.
portulaca oleracea extract plant extract: Portulaca Oleracea is purslane. Its extract is unusually high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants for a plant, and Korean formulas use it for the look of reddened, reactive skin.
pyrus communis (pear) fruit extract plant extract: Pear Fruit Extract carries fruit sugars and mild fruit acids. It is used as a hydrating extract with a very light smoothing effect on the surface.
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.
chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract plant extract: Chamomile Flower Extract is one of the oldest ingredients in skincare, carrying bisabolol and chamazulene. It is used for the look of redness in formulas for reactive skin.
polyglyceryl-10 myristate emulsifier: Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate is a mild sugar-derived emulsifier used to keep oil dispersed in a watery formula.
vitex agnus-castus extract plant extract: Chaste tree extract, carrying flavonoids and iridoids. It is used as a conditioning plant extract.
trideceth-6 emulsifier: Trideceth-6 is a solubiliser used to dissolve fragrance and oil-soluble ingredients into a watery formula so it stays clear.
anthemis nobilis flower oil fragrance component: Anthemis Nobilis is Roman chamomile. The flower oil is an essential oil, so it scents a formula as well as conditioning it, and essential oils are the class most likely to bother reactive skin.
rosa damascena flower water plant extract: Rosa Damascena Flower Water is the water left from distilling rose petals. It is used in place of plain water as a base and carries the scent and trace compounds of the distillation.
stearic acid fatty acid: Stearic Acid is a saturated fatty acid from plant fats, and one of the three lipid classes skin's own barrier is built from. In a formula it thickens, stabilises the emulsion and can be turned into a soap-style cleanser by adding a base.
thuja occidentalis leaf oil fragrance: Northern white cedar leaf oil, a sharp coniferous essential oil used at very low levels for scent.
melia azadirachta leaf extract plant extract: Melia Azadirachta is neem. Its leaf and flower extracts are long-standing Ayurvedic ingredients, and Korean formulas use them in products aimed at the look of congested, blemish-prone skin.
thioctic acid antioxidant: Thioctic Acid is alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant that dissolves in both water and oil, which is unusual. It is yellow and carries a faint sulfur smell.
iris florentina root extract plant extract: Iris Florentina Root Extract, or orris root, is a long-standing perfumery and skincare ingredient. It is used as a conditioning extract with a soft, powdery scent.
curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract plant extract: Turmeric Root Extract carries curcuminoids, well studied plant antioxidants. It is used for the look of dullness and uneven tone, and it tints a formula faintly yellow.
carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil emollient: Safflower seed oil, among the highest-linoleic plant oils. High-linoleic oils feel lighter and absorb faster than high-oleic ones.
oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil emollient: Evening primrose oil, the main plant source of gamma-linolenic acid. It absorbs fast and oxidises fast, so formulas pair it with an antioxidant.
cucumis melo (melon) fruit extract plant extract: Melon Fruit Extract carries fruit sugars and a natural antioxidant enzyme system. It is used as a light hydrating extract.
hedera helix (ivy) leaf/stem extract plant extract: Ivy Leaf and Stem Extract carries saponins, plant compounds that foam slightly in water. It is used in body and eye formulas for the look of puffiness.
arctium lappa root extract plant extract: Burdock root extract, the ueong eaten in Korea. It carries inulin and polyphenols and is used as a conditioning extract.
phellinus linteus extract plant extract: Sanghuang, a hard bracket mushroom used in Korean and Chinese herbal tradition. Its extract carries water-holding polysaccharides.
prunus persica (peach) fruit extract plant extract: Peach Fruit Extract carries fruit sugars, vitamins and mild fruit acids. It is used as a hydrating extract.
citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower extract plant extract: Bitter orange blossom extract, the neroli plant. It is used as a conditioning extract and contributes a floral scent.
vanilla planifolia fruit extract plant extract: Vanilla bean extract. It carries vanillin, the compound its scent comes from, along with polyphenols, so it contributes fragrance as well as extract.
polyquaternium-51 film former: Polyquaternium-51 is a polymer, sometimes sold as Lipidure, built on the same phosphorylcholine structure as a cell membrane. It holds water in a film on the surface and gives a distinctive soft, dry finish.
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.
alpha-arbutin active: Alpha-Arbutin is a plant-derived compound, related to the sugar-bound form found in bearberry, used for the look of dark spots and uneven tone. It is stable in water and works at skin-friendly pH.
tranexamic acid active: Tranexamic Acid is a synthetic amino acid derivative used for the look of stubborn discolouration and post-blemish marks. It is water soluble, stable and comfortable next to niacinamide, which is how it is usually paired.
ocimum sanctum leaf extract plant extract: Ocimum Sanctum is holy basil, or tulsi. Its leaf extract carries plant antioxidants and is used in formulas built for the look of stressed, reactive skin.
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.
corallina officinalis extract plant extract: Corallina Officinalis is coral seaweed, which holds calcium and magnesium in its structure. Its extract is used as a mineral-rich conditioning ingredient.
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.

Key benefits

Arbutin named on this product's own ingredient panel, near the top of it
niacinamide on the same panel, the formula's active
bisabolol on the same panel, the formula's active
30 ml to a unit
Korean GS1 barcode matched against a Korea sourcing supplier's record for this item

Worth knowing

Oily or acne-prone skin may prefer a thinner layer rather than the full amount, especially in warmer months.
Introduce any new product gradually rather than adding several new steps to a routine at once, so any reaction is easy to trace back to the right cause.

Complete the routine

This itemTONYMOLY GIMIYA Whitening Cream 30ml$27.50
Seal the routine in as the last stepTONYMOLY BIO EX Homme All In One Fluid 130ml$32.50
Cleanse first, so the next step meets bare skinTONYMOLY Intense Care Gold 24k Snail Cleansing Oil Gel 190ml$27.50

Total for 3 items$87.50

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TONYMOLY GIMIYA Whitening Cream 30ml

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TONYMOLY, Korean-market original

A 30ml cream from the GIMIYA Whitening line, for the final leave on step, stocked in the Original Korean Formula.

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 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