The Korean brightening shortcut that combines two actives dermatologists always recommend together

Galactomyces: the fermented brightening ingredient from Korean skincare tradition

Galactomyces ferment filtrate — the byproduct of fermenting Saccharomyces yeast in traditional Korean rice wine production — contains a complex of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and organic acids that collectively brighten skin, minimise pores, improve texture and increase absorption of other active ingredients applied over it. In modern K-beauty, galactomyces is used as both a primary active and as a penetration enhancer that prepares skin for the vitamin C and niacinamide actives layered on top of it.

Vitamin C stability and the reason K-beauty formulas solve it differently

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is the gold standard brightening active — but it degrades rapidly when exposed to air and light, oxidising to produce the orange/yellow discolouration that indicates an ineffective product. K-beauty formulas address stability either by using more stable vitamin C derivatives (ascorbyl glucoside, ascorbyl phosphate) that release active vitamin C after absorption, or by stabilising ascorbic acid with antioxidant-rich fermented extracts like galactomyces. Both approaches deliver the brightening mechanism without the instability degradation.

Using a galactomyces vitamin C serum in the K-beauty layering sequence

A galactomyces vitamin C glow serum fits in the active serum position of the K-beauty routine: after the first-step toner and before the moisturiser. In the morning routine, it is applied before SPF to protect its antioxidant content from UV degradation. In the evening, it can be used alone or layered with a niacinamide product at a separate step. Because galactomyces improves absorption of subsequent products, the serum also benefits the penetration of the moisturiser and SPF applied after it.

SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum 30ml — available on BuyBeautyKorea →