I wanted to love this. God, did I want to love this. After seeing it plastered across every K-beauty roundup and TikTok “glass skin” video, I figured the Torriden Dive-In Serum had to be worth the hype. Lightweight, fragrance-free, multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid? Sounds like a dream for someone with reactive, acne-prone skin like mine. And to be fair, it checked some boxes. But let’s be honest — not all hydration is created equal.

Here’s the good: the texture is honestly gorgeous. It’s almost watery, but not in a useless way. It absorbs quickly, doesn’t leave a sticky film, and plays nicely with my other products. My skin does feel immediately quenched after I apply it, and it layers beautifully under moisturizer and SPF without pilling. On mornings when I wake up dry from my prescription retinoid, this calms that tight feeling fast.

But here’s what I noticed after about 2 weeks: it hits fast and fades fast. The hydration doesn’t really stay. I’d apply it in the morning and by early afternoon, my cheeks would feel a little parched again — not flaky, just… dehydrated. And it wasn’t a barrier issue; I was sealing everything in with a good occlusive. I even tried sandwiching it between other hydrating steps, but the plumpness was always short-lived. That told me this isn’t a deep hydrator. It’s surface-level comfort.

Also, while it didn’t cause a breakout per se, I don’t think it helped prevent any either. For a serum that markets itself as calming and repairing, I was hoping for a little more. I still had congestion, and my usual chin-area stress breakouts flared up right on schedule. No improvement there.

Let’s talk ingredients real quick. It’s mostly hyaluronic acid in various molecular weights, plus panthenol and allantoin — which are great for soothing. But that’s about it. There’s no niacinamide, no centella, no peptides, no ceramides — nothing barrier-repairing or particularly functional beyond surface hydration. It’s a “supporting actor” kind of product, not a star. You’re gonna need more if your skin needs serious TLC.

Do I regret buying it? Not exactly. For hot days, post-exfoliation recovery, or a layering step before thicker moisturizers, it’s decent. But do I think it’s worth the hype? No. I feel like people expect this to completely transform dull or damaged skin, and it just doesn’t have the formula to do that.

Final thoughts:
✔️ Fast-absorbing, non-sticky, plays well with others
✔️ Instantly soothing for irritation or dryness
✖️ Hydration doesn’t last long unless sealed very well
✖️ Not enough to calm or prevent breakouts
✖️ Doesn’t improve skin condition long-term

Would I repurchase? Probably not. It’s not bad, but for $20+, I need a serum that does more. If you already have a strong routine and just need a hydration booster, it might fit. But if your skin needs help — this won’t save you.