Physiogel DMT Facial Cream Review: Is the US Version the Same Cream?
Physiogel DMT Facial Cream (피지오겔 DMT 페이셜 보습장벽 크림) is a plain, rich face moisturizer built on oils, shea butter and squalane. Two Korean YouTubers recommend it as a rich moisturizer, in videos with no sponsorship mark. The US listing shows the same recipe plus two buffer salts, so it is close to the same cream.
I counted which creams came up across channels in Korean beauty videos from the last 30 days, using the 179 that carried no sponsorship mark. Only two channels picked this exact cream, so treat it as a small sample. Both videos went up in the past two weeks. Swan’s description says some shopping links earn commissions.
Why did two Korean creators pick it?
| Creator | Video | Why they picked it | Skin context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 스완 SWAN (514K subscribers) | Cream tier list, 22:43 | Grade A: good value for the large size | Says many men may find it heavy |
| 피부는 희쌤 (Hee-ssaem) (22K subscribers) | Moisturizer roundup, 13:15 | Very short ingredient list | Dry or easily irritated skin |
Swan gives it an A, his “worth paying for” grade, one step below the S he gives Aestura’s cream this year. His worry is weight: shea butter and rich oils can feel stuffy for many men.
Hee-ssaem (“ssaem” is a friendly word for teacher) files it under dry-skin creams and likes how minimal the list is. For very dry skin she points to Physiogel’s Red Soothing AI line instead.
Their reasons don’t clash. One praises the short list, the other warns about the rich feel, and the label explains both. If you want a light gel cream, skip this one.
Is it really a ceramide cream?
The Korean label has only 13 names. Water, a light oil (caprylic/capric triglyceride) and glycerin come first, then pentylene glycol. Coconut oil, a lecithin emulsifier and shea butter follow. Squalane sits mid-list, with four thickeners around it.
Ceramide NP is the very last name. Last on a list usually means a small amount. So this is a lipid-and-butter cream with a touch of ceramide, not a ceramide cream. For the ceramide-first kind, my ceramide guide is the place to start.
- Not on the list: fragrance, ethanol and essential oils.
- Main bulk: three oils or butters (coconut oil, shea butter, the triglyceride) plus squalane, with glycerin for water.
- Functional status: the Olive Young notice says it isn’t registered as a functional cosmetic with Korea’s MFDS.
Nothing else on this short list stands out as a trouble spot. If coconut or shea bothers your skin, skip it.
Does the barrier repair claim hold up?
Amazon’s page promises 72-hour hydration and skin barrier repair. A label can’t confirm either one. What it does show is a formula that fits the idea: glycerin for water, oils and squalane to hold it in. Judge it as a good basic cream.
Is the US version the same cream?
| Version | Ingredients | Last names on the list | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Young Korea and Olive Young Global | 13 | Sodium Carbomer, Ceramide NP | 150 ml |
| Amazon US, Daily Moisture Therapy Hydrating Facial Cream | 15 | Ceramide NP, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate | 5 fl oz (about 148 ml) |
Same recipe, plus two buffer salts at the end of the US list. Everything else matches, in the same order. I can’t tell whether the Korean notice leaves the salts out or the US formula adds them. Amazon’s own page warns that makers can change ingredient lists, so check the label on the one you receive.
Amazon sells it under a longer name, Daily Moisture Therapy Hydrating Facial Cream. Search for that.
Is Physiogel DMT Facial Cream cheaper in Korea?
| Where | What you get | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Young Korea | 150 ml cream | 22,900 won (about US$17.15), 15,267 won per 100 ml | 4.8 from about 17,900 reviews |
| Olive Young Korea | 150 ml cream + 50 ml toner set | 22,900 won, out of stock when I checked | 4.8 from about 23,500 reviews |
| Olive Young Global | 150 ml cream + 50 ml toner set | US$26.51 (list US$55.00) | 5.0 from 1,274 reviews |
| Amazon US | 5 fl oz cream, sold by Physiogel, shipped by Amazon | Check the current price on Amazon → | On Amazon |
| Where it’s official | Olive Young Global, and Physiogel’s own store on Amazon | I found no Physiogel listing at Sephora US |
Prices are as of November 2, 2026, converted at the ECB rate of 1,335.27 won per dollar from October 30. The Global set costs about 55% more than Korea’s matching set. Korea’s set was out of stock, but the cream alone costs the same.
To avoid fakes on Amazon, look for “Sold by Physiogel” or “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com”. Skip third-party sellers with no brand name.
Dry, oily or sensitive: who should buy it?
- Dry skin: the label fits. Glycerin sits beside coconut oil, shea butter and squalane. Hee-ssaem recommends it for dry skin, and Swan files it with the richer creams.
- Oily or combination skin: I’d skip it. Three of the first seven names are oils or butters, and Swan warns it can feel stuffy.
- Sensitive skin: no fragrance, ethanol or essential oils, and a short list. Patch test first, and ask a dermatologist if your skin reacts easily.
At 22,900 won I think it is fair for 150 ml of a plain, rich cream, and I’d pick it for dry skin rather than for ceramides. If ceramides are your goal, compare it with Aestura’s Atobarrier 365 cream first.
The short version
Two Korean creators, in videos with no sponsorship mark, like Physiogel DMT Facial Cream as a rich moisturizer, and one warns it can feel heavy. The label is a short list of oils, shea butter and squalane with Ceramide NP last. The US listing adds two buffer salts, and Olive Young Global costs about 55% more than Korea.
Some links on Haamoni may be affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post is not medical advice.
Sources
- 스완 SWAN_현실남자관리, tier list of 35 creams, uploaded 2026-10-21
- 피부는 희쌤, 11 moisturizers for the changing season, uploaded 2026-10-29
- Olive Young Korea, Physiogel DMT Facial Cream 150 ml, product information disclosure and price (checked 2026-11-02)
- Olive Young Korea, Physiogel DMT Facial Cream 150 ml set with toner (checked 2026-11-02)
- Olive Young Global, Physiogel DMT Facial Cream set, ingredients and price (checked 2026-11-02)
- Amazon US, Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy Hydrating Facial Cream 5 fl oz, ingredients and seller (checked 2026-11-02)
- Sephora US, search results for Physiogel showed no Physiogel product (checked 2026-11-02)
- MFDS cosmetic ingredient database (data.go.kr)
- YouTube Data API v3, Korean beauty videos from the last 30 days (collected 2026-11-02)
- Frankfurter (ECB reference rate), USD/KRW on 2026-10-30
