Numbuzin, Korean skincare built on numbers and data
Numbuzin was founded in 2019 by the South Korean company Benow, started the year before by Lee Il-joo and Kim Dae-young, both graduates of Seoul National University with prior experience at cosmetics giant Amorepacific. The name numbuzin combines number, buzz and in: a description of the ambition to build attention around products that actually deliver, rather than around the marketing itself.
The clearest expression of that idea is the numbering system that gave the brand its name. Instead of imaginative product names, each formula carries a number tied to a specific skin concern, such as radiance, barrier care or elasticity. The system makes it easy to build a routine around what the skin actually needs, while signalling that development is guided by research and real customer feedback rather than seasonal trends. That data-driven approach has made Numbuzin one of the most talked-about names in modern K-beauty.
No.9, a range built around NAD+ and cellular energy
The No.9 number now spans four products, all built on the same core ingredient: NAD+, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme naturally present in every cell that plays a central role in cellular energy production and the skin's ability to repair itself. NAD+ levels in the skin decline with age, one of the reasons skincare research has increasingly turned its attention to the compound. From that shared foundation, the range has grown in several directions: an essence for firmness and radiance, an eye cream for fine lines, and a toner for hydration and glow.
No.9 NAD+BIO Lifting-sil Essence, firmness and elasticity
No.9 NAD+BIO Lifting-sil Essence is the range's starting point and the product that built No.9's reputation for lift and elasticity. Beyond NAD+, the formula includes a complex of 50 peptides, short chains of amino acids linked to supporting elasticity and a smoother surface, and adenosine, which helps skin feel softer and more rested. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid handle moisture and support the barrier, while astaxanthin, glutathione and resveratrol add broad antioxidant protection against free radicals that over time make skin look tired and dull.
The same formula is also available as No.9 NAD+BIO Lifting-sil Essence in 30 ml, a smaller, travel-friendly size with the addition of beta-glucan for extra soothing effect. It works well as a carry-on companion or as a way to try the formula before committing to the full size.
No.9 NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream, firming around the eyes
No.9 NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream brings NAD+ to the thin, delicate skin around the eyes and pairs it with retinol, one of skincare's most proven ingredients against fine lines. The same base of 50 peptides and adenosine found in the essence appears here too, alongside niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for moisture and ceramide NP to support the barrier in an area where skin is especially thin. The combination is designed to deliver a firming, plumping feel and address both fine lines and dark circles.
No.9+ NAD+ PDRN Glow Boosting Toner, moisture and radiance early in the routine
No.9+ NAD+ PDRN Glow Boosting Toner is the newest addition to the range and combines NAD+ with PDRN, an extract derived from salmon DNA at 1000 ppm, used in Korean skincare to support the skin's recovery and radiance. The formula contains the same 50 peptides and adenosine as the rest of No.9, plus niacinamide, ceramide NP, collagen and vitamin B12 as cyanocobalamin. As a toner-essence, it's designed to hydrate, refine the look of pores and give skin a visible glow from an early step in the routine.
- NAD+ across all four products to support cellular energy and renewal.
- 50 peptides and adenosine throughout the range for elasticity and a rested feel.
- Niacinamide plus hyaluronic acid or ceramide NP for moisture and barrier support in every product.
- Astaxanthin, glutathione and resveratrol as antioxidant protection in the essence.
- Retinol in the eye cream, and PDRN, collagen and vitamin B12 in the toner, for their specific concerns.
Where the essence, eye cream and toner fit in the routine
No.9+ NAD+ PDRN Glow Boosting Toner is used first, right after cleansing, as a hydrating, radiance-boosting step. Next comes No.9 NAD+BIO Lifting-sil Essence (or the travel size, No.9 NAD+BIO Lifting-sil Essence in 30 ml), whose lighter texture absorbs quickly and preps skin for heavier products. No.9 NAD+ Retinol Volumetox Eye Cream is applied separately around the eyes, before or after the essence, ahead of the rest of the routine's serum and moisturizer. Consistent, daily use over time is usually what's needed to notice a difference with ingredients like NAD+, peptides and retinol.
What sets Numbuzin apart from other Korean skincare brands
K-beauty spans everything from herbal, traditional formulas to advanced biotech, and Numbuzin sits clearly within the latter. Where many brands build their identity around a feeling or a packaging design, Numbuzin lets the ingredient list and the numbering system take center stage, clearly reflected in how the No.9 range has grown from a single essence into four products built on the same scientific foundation. That makes the brand easier to navigate for anyone who knows exactly which skin concern to address.
