The short answer
Jeju Yuja Succinic Balancing Serum is the REFINE serum, a 30 ml dropper serum from the Green Line. It is for all skin types and specially for sensitive skin, and it suits skin that gets shiny, rough-looking or marked after breakouts. Its key points are succinic acid 2% (20,000 ppm) with niacinamide 2% (20,000 ppm), 40,000 ppm together, on 60% bamboo water, with the patented ACZERO™ plant complex; it has no salicylic acid in it. Use 2–3 drops after toner or a pad, morning or night.
Who it suits: oil, shine and texture
This is the REFINE serum in the Solution Series, and it sits in our Green Line as well: the Jeju Yuja line made to purify and balance oily, breakout-prone and combination skin without dryness. The serum itself is for all skin types and specially for sensitive skin, and its keywords are refine, soothing, skin barrier and texture care. Think of it as the serum for skin that has a few particular habits:
- it is shiny by midday, however carefully you cleanse;
- it is prone to breakouts and leaves red or uneven-looking marks behind;
- the texture feels rough and the pores look congested;
- it wants a little exfoliation but not the tightness that often comes with it;
- it feels sensitive or looks red, and needs calming as well as refining.
We suggest it from the late teens onward, and for anyone whose main concerns are oil, breakouts or a rough texture. It is a lightweight, fast-absorbing serum.
What each ingredient is doing
| Ingredient | Amount | What it is | Why it is in the formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo water (sourced in Korea) | 60% (600,000 ppm) | Water obtained from bamboo | Base, in place of purified water; helps soothe and hydrate, for a calm, balanced feel. |
| Succinic acid | 2% (20,000 ppm) | A mild acid | The headline active, chosen over salicylic acid for its gentler profile. With niacinamide it forms the 40,000 ppm duo for visible redness, calmer-looking sensitivity and clearer, smoother texture. |
| Niacinamide | 2% (20,000 ppm) | A form of vitamin B3 | For skin that looks clearer and more even. |
| ACZERO™ (patented ingredient) | 0.1% (1,000 ppm, as a complex raw material) | A complex of seven plant extracts: green tea, centella leaf, okinawa mozuku seaweed, bergamot leaf, pine needle, coffee seed and white willow bark. Supplier patent No. 10-2055098. | To help skin look calmer, with less visible shine and calmer-looking pores. |
| Citric acid (an AHA) and zinc PCA | 2,800 ppm combined (citric acid 2,700 ppm, zinc PCA 100 ppm) | A fruit-derived acid, and a zinc salt of PCA | Gentle exfoliation for smoother-looking texture. |
| Gluconolactone (a PHA) | Listed, amount not disclosed | A larger-molecule acid | Works alongside the citric acid for exfoliation. |
| Jeju yuja extract | Listed, amount not disclosed | An extract of Jeju yuja, the Korean citrus | For a clearer, smoother look. |
| Lactobacillus ferment lysate, panthenol, ceramide NP, beta-glucan | Listed, amounts not disclosed | A ferment from Lactobacillus cells, a vitamin B5 form, a skin-identical lipid and a sugar-based moisturizing ingredient | To support the skin barrier and keep moisture in; the ferment is a microbiome-care ingredient. |
The calming actives add up to 43,800 ppm in total. The exfoliation is designed to refine, not strip: citric acid is 0.27% here, and the formula completed a skin low-irritation test. The ingredient list has no added fragrance and no salicylic acid. For the story behind the citrus, see Jeju yuja; for why a plant water sits at the top of the list, what a botanical-water base tells you.
How to use it
- Cleanse. Use your usual cleanser; the Jeju Yuja Balancing Bubble Cleanser is the one from the same line.
- Tone. Use a toner or a Balancing Pad.
- Draw up and dispense. Squeeze and release the dropper bulb and place 2–3 drops over your face.
- Press in gently until the serum is absorbed.
- Moisturize. Follow with a cream, and use sunscreen in the morning.
It can be used daily, morning and night. If you also use other acids, introduce this serum gradually rather than all at once.
After a breakout: the two-serum order
When a blemish has gone but left a red or uneven-looking mark, use this serum first and Vita C TRX second, 2–3 drops of each. That order helps with the red, uneven look a blemish leaves behind. If you are thinking of adding the Vita C TRX serum, read its guide first; and when you use all three Solution serums, the order is Succinic, Vita C TRX, then Bakuchiol PDRN. For very sensitive or thin skin, use one serum per routine: this one in the morning works well, Vita C TRX or Bakuchiol PDRN at night.
Patch test and cautions
The acid level is low by design, but it is still an acid. If you are new to acids or use other exfoliants, patch-test on your jawline for two nights and begin every other day. Sensitive skin should follow the same rule. Stop using the serum and consult a specialist if redness, swelling or itching occurs, including after sun exposure, and do not apply it to broken skin. Keep it out of reach of children. Use sunscreen in the morning. If you have reacted to AHA or BHA products before, check with a specialist before trying this one.
Why the bottle can look different
- White powder around the neck. Succinic acid at 2% can form a little powder when it meets air. Wipe it off.
- Crystals in cold weather. Succinic acid and niacinamide can form crystals below −5°C. Leave the bottle at room temperature for about a day and it returns to normal.
- A lighter colour. The serum contains natural colourants, so long exposure to light can fade it. Store it in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
None of these affects quality. Use it within 12 months of opening (36 months from manufacture, unopened).
The serum reflects the brand's mindful approach to skincare: a balanced blend of ingredients, gentle even on sensitive skin, with at least six months of development behind it. Made in Korea since 2021.
Quick answers
Why succinic acid and not salicylic acid?
Succinic acid has a gentler profile. Exfoliation here comes from citric acid, zinc PCA and gluconolactone at a low level. There is no salicylic acid in the formula.
Is it too much for sensitive skin?
It is labelled for all skin types and specially for sensitive skin, and the acid content is low, but patch-testing is still sensible. Begin every other day and use sunscreen in the morning.
Morning or night?
Both. In the morning, finish with sunscreen.
Which serum do I choose for oily skin with marks?
Start with this one. If marks remain after breakouts, add Vita C TRX; the three-serum comparison shows how they differ.
Where to go next
- Jeju Yuja Succinic Balancing Serum: the product page and ingredient list.
- Succinic acid: more on the headline ingredient.
- Jeju Yuja Cera Balancing Cream: the cream to follow it.
