Foretderm
FORETDERM is a Korean derma-care brand with 10+ products organized around calming, brightening, and barrier repair. The Shikadum Carming Toner (standard 200ml and the concentrated 81% version) anchors the line, with the Centripetal 81% formula offering the highest active concentration. The Dermintense Vita Niacin Toning Cream in 20g and 20ml sizes addresses brightening and whitening, while the Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml focuses on barrier firming. A Vegan Armchair Sunscreen and two cleansers complete the range.
By Skinsli editorial Updated
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Buying guide
FORETDERM Brand Guide: Shikadum Toners, Niacin Creams, and Derma Relief
FORETDERM is a Korean derma-care brand that organizes its 10+ products around three functions: calming with the Shikadum Carming Toner range, brightening with the Vita Niacin Toning Cream, and barrier repair with the Peptide Derma Relief Cream. Two cleansers and a vegan sunscreen complete a full daily routine. This guide covers each product, explains the Shikadum active ingredient, and shows how to build a FORETDERM routine for sensitive or reactive skin.
What Is Shikadum? The Calming Active Across the Toner Range
Shikadum is FORETDERM's proprietary calming complex derived from shikak (the Korean name for sorghum extract) and related botanical actives. It is positioned as the brand's signature calming and redness-reduction ingredient, appearing in both the standard Carming Toner 200ml and the concentrated 81% Centripetal formula. In Korean derma-skincare, carming (a phonetic Korean rendering of 'calming') indicates a formula specifically developed for reactive, sensitized, or post-procedure skin. The 81% concentration in the Centripetal version means 81 out of every 100ml of the toner is active Shikadum extract - a significantly higher dose than the standard version for users with more pronounced redness or sensitivity.
Shikadum Carming Toner 200ml vs Centripetal 81% Version
FORETDERM offers two Shikadum toner options. The standard Shikadum Carming Toner 200ml is a daily-use calming toner at a balanced concentration - suited for regular maintenance use on sensitive or redness-prone skin. The Centripetal 81% Shikadum Carming Toner is the intensive version, carrying a much higher active load for skin in an active reactive phase, post-procedure recovery, or during flare-ups. For most users, starting with the standard 200ml toner as a daily routine step and using the Centripetal version as a targeted treatment when skin is particularly reactive is a practical approach to both products.
Two Cleansers: Gentle Micro Cleansing Whip and Derma Relief Gel
FORETDERM offers two cleansing formats. The Gentle Micro Cleansing Whip 195ml is a whipped or foam-type cleanser that produces a dense microfoam - the micro-bubble texture is particularly gentle on sensitive skin because the small bubbles lift impurities without mechanical rubbing. It suits morning cleansing or as a second cleanser in an evening double-cleanse. The Derma Relief Cleansing Gel 200ml is a gel-type cleanser focused on derma relief properties, suited for daily face washing on reactive or compromised skin that needs a non-foaming, minimal-irritation cleanser. Both are similar in size and priced for two to three months of daily use.
Dermintense Vita Niacin Toning Cream: 20g vs 20ml
The Dermintense Vita Niacin Toning Cream appears in two format variants: 20g (a jar, indicating a thicker cream texture) and 20ml (a bottle or tube, suggesting a lighter formula). Both contain the Vita Niacin brightening formula - niacinamide (vitamin B3) combined with a vitamin complex for tone-evening, pore-minimizing, and whitening benefits. The 20g cream is denser and suits drier skin that needs more emollient support alongside brightening. The 20ml lighter formula suits oilier skin that wants the brightening active without heaviness. There is also a 2-pack option of the 20ml version. These compact sizes (20g and 20ml) are positioned as targeted spot treatments or travel sizes rather than primary full-face moisturizers.
Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml: Barrier Firming
The Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml combines a peptide complex with derma relief actives to address barrier firmness and skin repair simultaneously. 'Derma relief' in FORETDERM's naming convention signals reduced-irritant formulation alongside active barrier support. Peptides in a moisturizer support collagen production over time while the relief actives manage immediate sensitivity or reactive skin states. The 40ml size is the primary daily face moisturizer size in the range - used as the final skincare step before sunscreen or makeup. For skin that is both sensitive and showing early aging concerns, this cream addresses both issues from the same step.
Derma Relief Vegan Armchair Sunscreen
The Derma Relief Vegan Armchair Sunscreen is FORETDERM's daily UV protection product, carrying the brand's derma relief philosophy into the sun care step. 'Vegan' indicates no animal-derived ingredients; 'Armchair' is an FORETDERM naming variant suggesting comfortable, everyday wear rather than high-intensity sport or outdoor-specific use. It fits as the final morning step after the Shikadum Toner, Peptide Derma Relief Cream, and optionally the Vita Niacin Toning Cream. The derma-relief formulation is compatible with the brand's calming approach - a useful property since many sunscreens contain filters that can irritate reactive skin.
Building a Complete FORETDERM Routine
A morning FORETDERM routine: Gentle Micro Cleansing Whip 195ml (light morning cleanse) - Shikadum Carming Toner 200ml (calming tone step) - Dermintense Vita Niacin Toning Cream 20ml (brightening treatment) - Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml (moisturizer and barrier seal) - Derma Relief Vegan Armchair Sunscreen (final UV step). An evening routine replaces the cleansing whip with the Derma Relief Cleansing Gel 200ml for a deeper clean. On reactive skin days, replace the standard Shikadum Toner with the Centripetal 81% version. The Vita Niacin Toning Cream can be used daily or every other day depending on how quickly your skin responds to niacinamide.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the Shikadum ingredient in FORETDERM's Carming Toner?
Shikadum is FORETDERM's proprietary calming complex, based on shikak (sorghum/Sorghum bicolor extract) and related botanical actives. Sorghum extract contains flavonoids with documented anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin redness and support barrier recovery. The Carming Toner uses it as the primary active for reactive, sensitized, or post-procedure skin. The 81% Centripetal version delivers the highest concentration of this active available in the line.
When should I use the Centripetal 81% Shikadum Carming Toner instead of the standard 200ml version?
The Centripetal 81% version suits active skin reactions - visible redness, a post-treatment recovery phase, a flare-up from irritants, or skin that is significantly more reactive than usual. The standard Shikadum Carming Toner 200ml is appropriate for daily routine maintenance on sensitive skin without an active reaction. Using the Centripetal version on clear skin that does not need intensive calming is not harmful, but the standard version provides sufficient coverage at lower cost for everyday use.
Is the Dermintense Vita Niacin Toning Cream 20g enough for a full face routine?
At 20g, the Vita Niacin Toning Cream is sized as a targeted spot treatment or an addition to the end of a routine rather than a stand-alone full-face moisturizer. Applied to areas of concern - dark spots, uneven patches, or hyperpigmented zones - a 20g jar lasts approximately six to eight weeks at daily spot use. For full-face coverage twice daily, the 20g depletes in three to four weeks. The 2-pack option (2 x 20ml) addresses this by providing double the supply.
Is the Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml suitable for sensitized or post-procedure skin?
Yes. The Derma Relief formulation across FORETDERM products is specifically developed for reduced irritant load, and the Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml combines this with peptide actives at concentrations safe for sensitive skin. It is an appropriate post-procedure moisturizer (after peels, microneedling, or laser) because it supports barrier repair without introducing actives that could cause post-treatment reactions. Apply it as the final moisturizer before sunscreen in the morning, and as the last PM step.
Does the FORETDERM Derma Relief Vegan Armchair Sunscreen leave a white cast?
The 'vegan' and 'derma relief' designations in the Armchair Sunscreen suggest the formula uses a mineral filter or a hybrid formula rather than a purely chemical UV filter, as vegan mineral sunscreens are common in Korean derma-care lines. Mineral sunscreens using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide can leave a white cast on medium to dark skin tones. The FORETDERM version may use micronized or coated mineral particles to minimize this, which is the standard approach in Korean derma sunscreens. Check the product's UV filter type on the ingredient list if white cast is a concern for your skin tone.
What is the difference between the FORETDERM Gentle Micro Cleansing Whip 195ml and the Derma Relief Cleansing Gel 200ml?
The Cleansing Whip produces a dense microfoam texture that is light and airy against skin, best suited for morning use or when you want a very gentle cleanse without strong mechanical contact. The Cleansing Gel is a gel-type formula that cleanses more thoroughly for PM use or when removing sunscreen residue after a day of wear. For a double-cleanse evening routine, use an oil-based first cleanser (not from FORETDERM's current range) followed by either the gel or the whip. For a single-step morning cleanse, the Whip is gentler.
In what order do the FORETDERM products fit into a morning skincare routine?
The morning routine order: Gentle Micro Cleansing Whip 195ml (cleanser) - Shikadum Carming Toner 200ml (toner step) - Dermintense Vita Niacin Toning Cream 20ml on targeted areas (brightening treatment) - Peptide Derma Relief Cream 40ml (moisturizer) - Derma Relief Vegan Armchair Sunscreen (final step). In the evening, replace the Cleansing Whip with the Derma Relief Cleansing Gel and optionally use the Centripetal 81% Toner for a more intensive calming treatment. The niacinamide cream applies before the heavier Peptide Cream because thinner-textured actives layer under heavier creams.