[ENG] Review: Torriden Dive-In Serum – Can Korea’s No.1 Hydrating Serum Live up to the Hype?

This article contains affiliate links* I’ve been extra keen to try the Torriden Dive-In Serum for a while now, given that it’s been the highest ranking serum on Korea’s popular Hwahae app, plus topped sales charts at Olive Young for years now. But – did this hydrating serum live up to the hype? Find out in today’s review!

Finally Trying Korea’s Highest Ranking Hydrating Serum!

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The Torriden Dive-In Serum had been on my mind ever since I heard how popular it is in Korea. I think it was as far back as 2019 that I became aware of it trending all over social media in Korea, when here in the West the serum was virtually unknown still. Thanks to Torriden swamping influencers with PR, suddenly the serum is everywhere on social media. To be honest, it kind of turned me off writing about it a bit, because I felt that it started to become just a tad too much. In cases like this I always wonder if there is really anything new that a review of mine could add to the discussion?

But my curiosity got the better of me in the end, and I bought the Dive-In Serum during a big Stylevana sale a few months ago. I’ve been using it on and off since then, and decided it is time to finally share my thoughts about what is arguably the No.1 popular hydrating serum in Korea right now!

Torriden Dive-In Serum: So, What’s the Secret of Its Popularity?

A big part of the Dive-In Serum’s incredible success surely is its continuously high ranking on Korean beauty app Hwahae. This app, which lets users share reviews of products and authentically rate skincare based on efficacy, safety of ingredients (a tricky one, given the clean beauty marketing currently popular in Korea and here in the West), and suitability for sensitive skin types. Hwahae has been immensely influential when it comes to the buying preferences of Korean consumers, and it helped the relatively small skincare brand Torriden to shoot to fame in a short amount of time.

The pandemic and its effect on the skin thanks to mask-wearing and constant stress also changed the way Koreans approach their skincare. Maskne and other sensitivity issues made people look for extra gentle, minimalist formulas, with previously more “low key” soothing ingredients such as Panthenol suddenly taking the spotlight.

Cue the Torriden Dive-In Serum, with its ultra minimalist formula and promise of “safe” ingredients! The main selling point of the serum has always been its use of high quality, lower molecular hyaluronic acid. While higher molecular-sized HA tends to mostly “sit” on the skin, helping to boost skin barrier function and protect skin from outside stressors, lower molecular hyaluronic acid can penetrate more deeply into skin, replenishing hydration and giving a plumping, smoothing effect. The Torriden Dive-In Serum uses 5 types of hyaluronic acid, plus humectant glycerin, betaine and beta-glucan.

Here is the full list of ingredients for the Torriden Dive-In Serum:

“Purified Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid (500 ppm), Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Trehalose, Betaine, Propanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (witch hazel) extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Malachite Extract, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PVM/MA Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract.”

The Dive-In Serum is free from any potentially drying alcohol or fragrance, including the omission of any essential oils. I know this is important to many of you with sensitive skin! However, I have to warn those who may be very sensitive that this contains Witch Hazel extract, which can be triggering for some. As for the added “goodies” besides those great hydrating humectants – well, we’ve got some lovely skin-soothers in here, namely allantoin, madecassoside plus madecassic acid (both centella asiatica compounds) and panthenol. The serum also contains moisturising ceramides.

I think the Torriden serum may have been the first product that actually gave Panthenol its moment as a key ingredient in K-beauty. It is a really “old school” type of ingredient, popular here in Europe as a somewhat unglamorous, reliable skin remedy for scraped knees and crusty skin all over your body. Also known as pro vitamin B5, Panthenol has calming, soothing and even wound-healing properties. Because there is actually quite a bit of research behind its efficacy, you often see it added to pharmacy balms and salves aimed at healing rashes, scrapes and very dry, flaky skin.

The Torriden Dive-In Serum has a very light blue tint, but mostly looks like a near transparent gel when applied to the skin. It is marketed mostly as a deeply hydrating, soothing serum – no more, no less.

Torriden Dive-In Serum: My Thoughts on This Cult Product

The Torriden Dive-In Serum has a very light, runny texture, quite watery for a serum, but with that slippery-silky viscous feel that is typical for serums rich in humectants. It doesn’t have any fragrance to it at all and is just generally very “unobtrusive.” I liked how fast it sinks into skin, almost feeling watery once applied.

As I already mentioned, I’ve been obsessed with trying this serum for years now, hearing so many amazing things about it! People claim that its hydrating properties are basically unrivalled, declaring it the best serum for sensitive skin, with the purest and best ingredients imaginable.

So I will be honest here in saying: I wasn’t wowed by the Torriden Dive-In Serum. Now, here is the crucial thing though – I think the reason why I am kind of “meh” about the serum is because it was so overly hyped and declared the best thing out there. This is something I often see happening with skincare products that are actually very consciously formulated to do very basic things. In the case of the Torriden Dive-In Serum, the product is a simple, basic hydrating serum. And, well, it does perform that function just fine! It isn’t a bad product, in fact, I do quite like it especially on days when my skin is a bit out of whack and needs a minimalist routine.

But having tried so many wonderful hydrating serums over the course of the past years, I simply cannot claim that this is the one that blew me away. It is just a tad too simple for my 43-year-old skin, I just need a tad more overall by now. If you are more on the dry skin side, if you have mature skin, and if you are extremely dehydrated, this honestly won’t cut it for you. I feel the Torriden Dive-In Serum is more for younger skin and for those who don’t have extreme hydration needs. It also could work very well for people who are very sensitive and want to keep irritation to a minimum. Because this is where the serum excels, for sure: it is a very fuss-free, straight-forward product that provides simple and fast, basic hydration.

So, I think in many ways, the Torriden Dive-In Serum suffers from having to live up to its hype and just not quite getting there in my eyes. I really want to be clear in stressing that it’s not a bad product and I do not dislike it. I feel almost a bit guilty in not being more positive, because I often see people get angry when a hyped product doesn’t meet their extremely high expectations, which irks me so much because – what crazy miracles did you expect?! So, am I just making the same mistake in simply expecting more than can be delivered here? Am I being unreasonably demanding towards this serum, vs. being perfectly ok with other basic hydrating products being, ya know, basic hydrating products?

This is something I lately see with the crazily viral Cosrx Snail Mucin Essence, which is honestly just another one of those lovely, simple hydrating serums which now suddenly is declared to be a skin miracle. I really like the Cosrx Snail Essence, but it never did anything for my skin beyond deeply and effectively hydrating it. Which – that’s fine! To me, this overhyping of certain products just sets consumers up for disappointment, with us expecting a quick and noticeable improvement of all of our skin woes. Which, honestly a serum consisting of mostly basic, but reliable hydrators and skin soothers really can’t do, unless your skin is truly, deeply troubled.

So, in summary: the Torriden Dive-In Serum is a perfectly fine, simple hydrating serum. It didn’t do anything crazy for my skin, and in truth, it always feels like I just need a tad more hydration after I use it. However, if you have younger, very sensitive or overall very balanced/normal skin, this could be a lovely addition to your routine. I also feel men will like this one a lot, with its easily absorbable texture and unisex branding.

So, where can you purchase the Torriden Dive-In Serum?

The Dive-In Serum is available at Stylevana*, where the 50ml bottle costs around $15, at Yesstyle* for currently around $16, or at Jolse* for around $20. You can also get a 1+1 value pack from Olive Young Global* for only $33.60 – use my coupon code “SUGARPEACH10” for an additional 5% off your Olive Young Order!

Let me know in the comments: Have you tried the Torriden Dive-In Serum yet? Is there a cult product that everyone loves that you didn’t like or felt “meh” about?

Take care guys, and stay safe – don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news, and check out my other work, e.g. my review of the Thank You Farmer Cica Ampoule and Cream! And guys – I have a YouTube channel now, I’d love for you to check it out and subscribe!

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