Every serum in Korea: “No. 1!” 🏆
Me, squinting at the tiny footnote: “No. 1… where? When? In what category? Who asked?”
Quick answer: If you mean the 2025 Olive Young Awards, the No. 1 essence/serum is Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum. If you mean “No. 1 in sales today,” that changes daily, so you need a dated ranking from a named store. Two different claims, and neither one decides what suits your skin.
I checked the official 2025 Olive Young Awards archive and Olive Young US’s Torriden promotion when I last reviewed this on 6 October 2026, and both listed Torriden DIVE-IN as essence/serum category 1st.
Rosé and Sulwhasoo: the luxury side of Korea’s serum obsession
Not every Korean serum story is a budget bottle with a blue cap. Here’s BLACKPINK’s Rosé in Sulwhasoo’s own series, because K-beauty has range:
“No. 1” depends on the source
The badge is big. The footnote is where the truth lives.
| Claim you might see | What can support it | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| “No. 1 serum at the 2025 Olive Young Awards” | The official 2025 archive lists Torriden DIVE-IN first in essence/serum. | The bestselling serum at every Korean retailer today. |
| “No. 1 on Olive Young’s live ranking” | A dated capture of the relevant ranking, including the category and selected filters. | A permanent annual winner or the best formula for every skin type. |
| “No. 1 Korean serum” on a product page | The source, category and date in that particular claim’s footnote. | A single, universal ranking across the whole country. |
A shelf photo shows me the product range at that store. It does not prove a nationwide sales position, so I’m not going to pretend it does.
Where does Anua PDRN fit in?
Anua PDRN is the serum everyone in Seoul is talking about this year. That doesn’t make it the 2025 award winner.
Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum is a different product, not a second winner of Torriden’s 2025 award. Leaderboards change daily, so check Olive Young’s live ranking yourself and note the category and date.
Torriden vs Anua PDRN: compare the purchase, not the hype
Plot twist: the bottles aren’t even the same size.
| Buying detail | Torriden DIVE-IN Serum | Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence used in this guide | Official 2025 essence/serum award result; brand and retailer listings. | Product identification from the linked listing; no current No. 1 ranking asserted. |
| Size linked here | 50ml / 1.69 fl. oz. | 30ml / approximately 1.01 fl. oz. |
| What a similar bottle price can hide | A 50ml bottle contains more product than a 30ml bottle. | A lower bottle price is not necessarily a lower cost per ml. |
| US shopping route | Torriden US product page; Olive Young US options; Amazon 50ml listing (affiliate) | Amazon 30ml listing (affiliate) |
| Hands-on verdict | Not tested for this guide. | Not tested for this guide. |
Torriden is 50ml, Anua PDRN is 30ml. Easy trick: delivered cost ÷ ml × 10 = cost per 10ml. If both cost $30 delivered (just an example, not a quote), Torriden is $6 per 10ml and Anua is $10. Girl math, but legit math.
This isn’t a skin test, and I’m not crowning a winner I didn’t test. Read the full ingredient label and think about your own sensitivities first.
Where to buy them in the US
Specific product pages only, no mystery search links. Unnie has standards.
- Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum (50ml) (the 2025 award winner): Amazon · iHerb (10% off with code PNF305) · Stylevana (10% off with SV15SEOULBD, or 15% off $59+ when logged in) · Sephora
- Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum (30ml): Amazon
- Torriden DIVE-IN Hyaluronic Acid Mask (10 sheets) (if you want the sheet-mask version): Amazon
Discounts depend on your cart and each store’s current terms. On Amazon, check “Sold by” and “Ships from” before you pay. For single vs duo pricing, see my Torriden Dive-In US price comparison.
Math giving you a headache? Plug your cart into my door-charge calculator and let it do the crying for you.
Quick questions
Is Torriden the best serum for everyone? No. The evidence supports one award result, not universal suitability.
Did Anua PDRN win the 2025 essence/serum award? No. Torriden DIVE-IN is first in that category in the official archive.
Where are the other winners? My 2025 Olive Young Awards guide lists all seven skincare category winners.
Not a personal skin test or test order. Amazon prices and stock aren’t copied here, so open the product page for the current offer. Award sources last reviewed: 6 October 2026. Rewritten: 7 November 2026.
