This is not going to be like the other ‘best Korean skincare for acne’ posts that come up on Google.
Why? Because they are simply listing out the most viral Korean skincare to get more clicks on the Google algorithm (cough, Buzzfeed!).
Half of the Korean skin care products they mention are not good choices for acne prone skin either.
In this blog I’ll share the actual 30 best Korean skincare for acne options, breaking them down into different categories.
Table of Contents
- Best Korean skincare for acne: sun protection
- Best Korean skincare for acne: water-based cleanser
- Best Korean skincare for acne: oil cleanser
- Best Korean skincare for acne: moisturiser
- Best Korean skincare for acne: treatments
- Best Korean skincare for acne: barrier serums
- Korean skincare routine: how to put it altogether
- Final thoughts on the best Korean skincare for acne
Best Korean skincare for acne: sun protection
If you want to prevent your acne marks from leaving dark spots on your skin that take ages to fade, you need to use sun protection.
The appearance of acne scars only get worse when exposed to the sun, so SPF is a must.
Luckily, lots of Korean sunscreens for acne include acne-fighting ingredients.
And aside from this, many of them are also much lighter, making them ideal for oily skin types.
1. The Purito Soft Touch Sunscreen is massively slept on for oily skin types
This sunscreen (and tbh Purito in general) never seems to go viral.
I worked in marketing for 11 years and can tell you exactly why that is.
It’s because Purito aren’t putting money into influencers like other Korean brands are – Anua, COSRX etc.
I’ve used Purito since before I made content and it is one of the most underrated brands in the Korean beauty industry.
The Purito Soft Touch sunscreen goes on slightly dewy but ‘sets’ within an hour.
It is an amazing choice for acne-prone skin types, who don’t want to look shiny OR super dry.
2. Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Mineral Sunscreen is one of the best mineral SPFs around
Mineral sunscreens have a mixed reputation, especially western products.
This Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Relief mineral sunscreen, however, is one of the best Korean products for acne in my opinion.
Mineral SPFs are good for people with very sensitive skin, or conditions like eczema or perioral dermatitis.
It has some good ingredients for acne, such as niacinamide.
It also has some good anti-inflammatory ingredients such as zinc and heart leaf extract.
The finish of this is between matte and slightly dewy.
Overall it’s a great Korean skin care option for acne prone or sensitive skin.
3. One of the most viral products, Skin1004 Hyalu Cica Sun Serum
You can’t get past a single best Korean for acne article without seeing the Skin1004 Hyalu Cica Sun Serum.
It really is a great choice for acne, even despite all the hype on social media.
It’s a very lightweight, watery serum texture that absorbs super fast.
Personally it’s too lightweight for me – I prefer heavier, more dewy finish.
As the name suggests, this SPF contains hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract for hydration and soothing properties.
4. Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun Aqua-fresh suits oily skin to a tee
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have heard of the viral Beauty of Joseon Rice and Probiotics sunscreen.
However, it’s pretty thick, moisturising and can feel too heavy for acne prone skin.
Luckily, Beauty of Joseon have recently released a much lighter version that feels lovely on the skin – Relief Sun Aqua Fresh.
This is a great choice for anyone wanting a little bit of hydration, without the tacky sunscreen feeling.
5. COSRX Ultra Light Invisible Sunscreen is another great choice
COSRX make a lot of great products, and this Ultra Light Invisible SPF is no exception for acne prone skin.
Not only does it have a minimal ingredients list, especially for a sunscreen, but it’s also free of alcohol, fragrance and essential oils.
This leaves no white cast on medium-deep skin tones.
Really, it just feels like putting on a moisturiser with a semi matte finish.
Best Korean skincare for acne: water-based cleanser
If you love skincare TikTok, you’ll probably know about double cleansing.
Personally I love double cleansing and, as someone who’s prone to a lot of closed comedones, it has transformed my face!
Check out my tutorial on how to double cleanse properly, and common mistakes to avoid, to double cleanse effectively.
To double cleanse, you need both a water-based cleanser and an oil-based cleanser.
Below are some of my favourite Korean water-based cleansers, but click the links above to see my non-Korean top choices.
6. The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing gel is simple and effective
With water-based cleansers you don’t really want anything too fancy.
It can be tempting to create a 10-step routine, each with ‘anti acne’ properties.
However this can often result in a damaged skin barrier by simply doing too much.
I like this Haruharu Black Rice Cleansing gel because it gently cleanses without exfoliating.
Choosing an exfoliating cleanser that you use daily can mean exfoliating 14x a week – just by cleansing!
7. APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Cleanser
Another brand that doesn’t get much attention online because they fumble their own marketing constantly.
APLB make really good Korean skincare for acne, but also all skin types.
Their formulas are simple with effective ingredients, like this niacinamide cleanser.
You could use this as the first step in your morning routine, as with all of these water-based cleansers.
8. The SKIN 1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam is great for daily use
Skin1004 make a lot of great products and this is one of them.
Personally I think some of the best korean skincare for acne are the products based around centella.
I’ll choose hydrating and soothing over abrasive exfoliants for acne any day!
If you’re using retinoids or salicylic acid, for example, it’s beneficial to use lots of soothing Korean beauty products alongside those.
This Skin1004 Centella Ampoule Foam cleanser will slot into your routine perfectly.
9. Isntree Green Tea Fresh Cleanser can help with the appearance of pores
Green tea has some anecdotal evidence for reducing excess sebum and minimising pores.
The Isntree Green Tea Fresh Cleanser also contains a complex of ingredients they’re calling Anti Sebum P which also helps with oily skin.
Overall this cleanser is great for more oily-leaning skin types.
Remember the goal here is not to ‘dry out’ oily skin, this won’t help acne, you simply want to keep skin feeling balanced.
10. Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing foam is great if you like salicylic acid
I had to mention the Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol cleanser at least once in this post.
As I said earlier, be wary with exfoliating acid cleansers.
When you’re drowning in new breakouts and can’t get a handle on it, reaching for tonnes of active ingredients can feel like the right thing to do.
I personally prefer not to use acid cleansers, BUT I know some people swear by them.
If you know your skin loves exfoliating daily, this might be great for you.
Or, you can use this salicylic acid cleanser around the time of the month, just to help with hormonal acne a little bit.
If you find your cheeks and chin get oily near your period, this could be a great addition.
Best Korean skincare for acne: oil cleanser
Sometimes skincare is less about the products and more about technique.
You can have all of the best Korean skincare for acne, use it ineffectively and see zero results!
To remove makeup and sunscreen properly, an oil cleanser is the best option.
The trouble is, so many people with acne-prone skin are afraid of oil cleansing – and I totally get it!
I think the key is to look at what oil cleansers are made of and choose wisely.
Check out my post on the best oil cleansers for acne prone skin (Western and Korean), that avoid certain ‘base’ ingredients.
11. The Haruharu Wonder Black Rice oil cleanser is great for sebaceous filaments
The sebaceous filaments hack has been trending in 2024 and works really well for me, personally.
However keeping on top of nose blackheads and sebaceous filaments (two different things!) requires a good routine.
Not only is the Haruharu Black Rice Cleansing Oil one of the best Korean oil cleansers for acne-prone skin, but it’s also great at keeping your nose glowing.
No oil cleanser suits absolutely everyone, but this is favourite for a reason.
12. Dr. Althea’s Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm is ideal for acne prone skin
The Dr Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing balm blew up on social media because of the unique way it grinds out the product.
But all novelty aside, I really think it’s one of the best Korean skincare for acne around, in the cleansing balm category.
This is because it’s a really simple formula, that avoids ethylhexyl palmitate.
It has only 14 ingredients, including centella and its derivatives.
13. Purito strikes again with the From Green cleansing oil
All the good things you hear about Purito are true, and their Purito From Green Cleansing is also a great option.
They make some of the best Korean skincare for acne.
This cleansing oil for acne is very lightweight and doesn’t sting the eyes, although eye sting is a personal thing.
It emulsifies nicely and takes makeup off in seconds.
14. Beauty of Joseon Radiance Balm is a staple balm
People with acne prone skin love the Beauty of Joseon Radiance Balm.
It has a lovely, simple formula which melts into your skin easily and dissolves oil-based impurities.
The cleansing balm combines ginseng root and rice oil for a nourishing feel.
15. Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Purifying is different but well loved
This is the second most popular Korean cleansing balm for acne prone skin.
The Banila Co Clean it Zero Purifying cleansing balm is a little different from what I’d usually recommend.
It has quite a long ingredients list for starters.
I usually prefer a shorter list, but oftentimes real life experience is more important than that.
This is so popular amongst the acne community, it deserves a spot on this list.
Best Korean skincare for acne: moisturiser
There are so many posts about the best Korean skincare for acne, often solely featuring retinoids, acids and spot treatments.
The thing is, acne-prone skin types often forget to hydrate and moisturise as much as they should.
Dry skin can’t self-exfoliate as well as properly hydrated skin. Dead skin cells can clump together and get stuck, worsening troubled skin.
For a longer list, check out my post on the 25 best Korean moisturisers for acne prone skin.
16. Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream rarely causes breakouts
If you’ve dealt with breakouts your entire life, you might be scared of moisturiser.
The Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream is designed perfectly for you, if so.
It has so few ingredients and is very lightweight.
Though the main drawback is that it’s not super rich and therefore may not be hydrating enough.
17. Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream soothes without being overwhelming
Purito has a great range of moisturisers that pack a punch of hydration without being heavy.
Both the Oat-In Calming Gel Cream and Mighty Bamboo Cream work great for acne-prone skin.
The oat cream uses a combination of oats, squalane and panthenol to strengthen weak skin
18. COSRX Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream on repeat
I’ve had this on my recommendations page since I first started posting on TikTok in 2022.
It’s a great price and a staple for anyone who is prone to breakouts.
COSRX also make some of the best Korean skincare for acne, in my opinion.
The COSRX Green Tea Aqua Gel Cream green tea and pro vitamin B5 for soothing and restorative properties.
19. beplain Hyaluronic Aqua Moisturizer
Beplain’s Hyaluronic Aqua Moisturizer is a great choice for anyone looking for a simple moisturiser that actually works.
Their whole range sticks to the basics, which often yield better results in my experience.
20. Etude Soon Jung 10 Free Moist Emulsions
Etude’s Soon Jung range is famous on social media.
The problem is, their moisturisers can be quite heavy and acne triggering for many people.
If you’re acne prone and want to try one, I recommend the Etude Soon Jung 10 Free Moist Emulsions.
It’s the lightest of them all but still packs a punch.
Best Korean skincare for acne: treatments
There are so many Korean acne products available that it can be overwhelming to decide which to use.
Most people buy way too many, use them all at once and then end up with a damaged skin barrier.
This doesn’t just happen to sensitive skin types, either, it can happen to anyone.
I recommend selecting no more than two of these for your Korean skin care routine.
Choose the ones that best reflect your skin concerns, rather than what’s hyped up on social media.
21. Scinic Cicanoid Retinal Cream utilises effective retinaldehyde for results
If you know me on social, you’ll know I am a huge fan of retinaldehyde.
Retinaldehyde (shortened to retinal usually) is a step stronger than retinol, and is what got me my original results.
The Scinic Cicanoid Retinal Cream is a good option if you’re wanting to try it.
It’s the perfect step between retinol and prescription retinoids from dermatology providers like Dermatica.
Retinoids not only help with acne, but also fine lines and ageing – it’s a win win!
22. KSecret Seoul 1988 Serum with Retinal Liposome 2% for a gentler experience
KSecret Seoul’s 1988 retinal liposome uses liposome technology which can make it feel gentler overall.
Liposome basically means that the active ingredient, retinal, is encapsulated in liposomes.
They penetrate the skin and slowly release the retinal throughout the skin.
This avoids a more sudden ‘rush’ of activity which can cause irritation.
Check out my post on the full list of the best retinoids for clogged pores.
23. Nineliness A-Control 10% Azelaic Acid serum is a unique azelaic acid blend
I love azelaic acid and use it every other day to keep my perioral dermatitis under control.
But azleaic acid is good for so many things:
- It’s anti inflammatory so can reduce redness and pimples
- It’s a tyrosinase inhibitor, so it can reduce and prevent hyperpigmentation
- It can kill and reduce acne-causing bacteria within the skin
This blend by Nineless contains 10% azelaic acid, niacinamide and snail mucin to tackle a bunch of issues in one.
Lastly, azelaic acid can be used daily in both the morning and night, and combined with any other active!
24. The VT Reedle Shot lives up to the hype
I must admit I was skeptical about the VT Reedle Shot when it first launched.
But then I saw the results it can achieve, and that it also helps your other products penetrate better.
Whilst I disagree that it can be compared in any way to microneedling, I do think this is a worthwhile Korean acne product to try.
25. Cos De BAHA Salicylic Acid BHA 4% Serum is a staple
If you have classically acne-prone, oily skin, then salicylic acid may work wonders for you.
Cos de Baha in general make some of the best Korean skincare for acne, and this serum is very popular.
BHA stands for beta-hydroxy acid, and is also known as salicylic acid.
This serum is 4% which is double the strength of the famous Paula’s Choice 2% BHA toner.
You will want to slowly build to using this daily or every other day, as it may be drying at first.
Best Korean skincare for acne: barrier serums
Even if you haven’t damaged your skin barrier, it’s a good idea to protect it with a dedicated serum every single day.
The right barrier serum can make a huge difference to acne prone skin.
A healthy skin barrier is what gives that glass skin effect, in my experience.
Even if you’re oily and excess sebum is a concern, taking care of your skin with a barrier serum will improve overall skin health.
26. Purito Wonder Releaf Serum reduces redness allover
Centella is a common ingredient in everything from Korean toners to sheet masks.
It’s a powerful plant that soothes the skin, reduces redness and promotes glowiness.
Purito Seoul Wonder Releaf Serum combines centella and niacinamide to regulate sebum prodcution, as well as soothe.
27. TirTir SOS Serum soothes hormonal acne
I really like the TirTir SOS serum particularly for hormonal acne, but it can work to soothe inflammation in all types of acne.
It’s also niacinamide free, for those who are tired of seeing it in every single product these days.
The formula contains SO many soothing ingredients as well: centella, allantoin, panthenol and glycerin.
But not only that, it also contains licorice root extract, which is anecdotally known for fading marks and brightening skin.
28. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica ampoule has only a few ingredients
When you have super sensitive skin, as is common with acne skin types, using minimalistic products can be the best way to go.
This Skin1004 Centella serum has only a handful of ingredients, so it’s less likely to cause a problem.
Although this soothes the skin well, I don’t feel it’s super hydrating. Something to bear in mind.
29. COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is viral for a reason
Of all K-beauty products, the COSRX Snail Mucin Essence is impossible to avoid.
Snail mucin seems odd at first, but it’s a K-beauty staple!
Those who love this product, really love it. Those who hate it, seem to hate it!
You’ve got to try it for yourself to find out.
Some people have noticed that those with dust mite allergies react poorly to this, so make sure to patch test for a few days.
30. Beauty of Joseon’s Glow Serum can ease sebum production
Beauty of Joseon’s Glow Serum has been in my locker for a couple of years now, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
The main ingredient is propolis extract. Anecdotally, this can help inflammation in the skin.
It also uses niacinamide, which is great for evening out skin tone and boosting the strength of your skin barrier.
Korean skincare routine: how to put it altogether
Now that you’ve picked your top products from the best Korean skincare for acne, it’s time to put it together.
This is my rough skincare routine outline:
Morning skincare routine
- Optional: cleanse with water based cleanser. Not everyone needs to cleanse in the morning!
- Optional: eye cream
- Barrier serum of your choice
- Optional: moisturiser. You may just want to use your sunscreen as a moisturiser
- Sunscreen
Evening skincare routine
- Oil cleanse for one minute with your oil cleanser
- Use your water-based cleanser for a further 45 seconds to one minute
- Optional: eye cream – check out the best Korean eye creams
- Apply your treatment of choice
- Apply your barrier serum
- Apply your moisturiser
Final thoughts on the best Korean skincare for acne
There’s a big difference between Western skincare and the skincare that Korean women might use.
I think a lot of people assume that, if they suddenly change all their skincare to K beauty, their skin problems will magically go away.
Whilst I do think that Korean skincare is in some ways superior to Western, unfortunately it’s just not that simple.
There are also lots of other differences that might create different skin outcomes in different people:
- Environmental factors: pollution, stress, sleep
- Whether or not your diet supports your skin. You can eat a healthy diet but it still may not be quite right for your skin
- Genetics and hormones. Most adults with acne have hormonal acne, that may not be ‘cured’ with skincare alone
Hopefully this post helped you to create a shortlist of options.
You are one step closer to finding your perfect Korean skincare routine.
