5 Best Korean Beauty Products for Oily Skin

Put a finger down if you have experienced or done any of the following: keeping some setting powder inside your purse for those mid-day touchups, filling up an entire sheet of oil blotting paper in one swipe, laughing at the idea of dense facial creams, makeup that creases or clumps before the night even begins, enlarged pores, mirror-like T-zone. If you have more than 1 finger down, welcome to the oily skin club!

Oily skin, oiliness and excess sebum is not always the common enemy in Korean skincare, even though most of the time it feels like it. Matte, fresh complexion might be something that we all aspire to have, especially in the warmer summer months where our skin is prone to becoming greasy in the middle of the day. But has it ever occurred to you that if sebum is completely stripped off our skin, we would probably be left with extremely dry, paper-like skin without any plumpness? The key to keeping your skin healthy, youthful and fresh is balance. Yes, that kind of balance where you have an adequate amount of oil on your skin to maintain its elasticity, without the excess shine.

Keeping your face on the right side of ‘shiny’ can be done simply by restoring moisture balance of your skin, and leave you with that glowing, non-greasy finish that you always dreamt of having! Here are the 5 best Korean beauty products for oily skin that you need to add to your routine PRONTO!

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

‘Snail’ your 10-step Korean skincare routine with a powerful essence, packed with 96% snail secretion filtrate that works by supporting healthy skin repair, brightens dull complexion, fades acne scars and maintains optimal moisture balance of your skin.

The lightweight, syrup-like texture wraps around your skin to deliver deep nourishment without greasiness. In addition, you can safely pair this COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence with your other Korean skincare staples like vitamin C serums, hyaluronic acid, AHA skincare and so on. For best results, use this COSRX snail essence together with other products from the same line like the snail cleanser, moisturiser, eye cream and sheet mask.

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

Need a skin saviour to shield your troubled spots? Or do you simply have fingers that can’t stop fidgeting on those pimples? Well, either way you will absolutely love this COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch. The hydrocolloid material of COSRX pimple patch works by absorbing all that excess sebum, gunk and all the icky stuff to speed up wound recovery, prevent acne scars and further inflammation. Its small, convenient size make it easy to cover up any troubled spots in just one step.

And the best part? COSRX pimple patches sit well on your skin, even for a few hours so you can use them at any time of the day! How to use COSRX pimple patch? Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser, then stick on the pimple patches on troubled areas and leave it on for a few hours until it becomes opaque white in colour. If you are wearing makeup, you can apply a light layer of makeup over the COSRX pimple patch and voila! Your acne and redness will be concealed.

SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner

Add a little miracle to your daily Korean skincare routine with this gentle, exfoliating Korean facial toner. Don’t let the exfoliator content scare you, a small amount of AHA, BHA and PHA can help control excess sebum and shine. At the same time it can also help boost skin cell regeneration by sloughing away dull, dead skin cells for visibly brighter, illuminated complexion. Apart from that, this miracle toner prevents breakouts, unclogs pores and leaves your skin fresh and smooth to the touch.

SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner is perfect for those with oily, acne-prone and sensitive skin, as it contains a mixture of natural ingredients such as mugwort, tea tree and centella asiatica that can help soothe irritated skin, redness and reduces inflammation quickly. How to use Some By Mi Miracle Toner? Simply dispense an adequate amount onto a cotton pad, then gently sweep it over your skin before continuing with your favourite facial serum and moisturiser.

IUNIK Calendula Cleansing Oil

Become a master of your daily facial cleansing routine with the help of IUNIK Calendula Cleansing Oil. You would probably agree with us that when you have oily skin, the constant urge to wash your face everytime it gets oily is quite unbearable. According to dermatologists however, washing your face too frequently with drying cleansers is not something you should do, because overly cleansing your skin will further activate oil production which ultimately leads to even more oil.

IUNIK Calendula Cleansing Oil contains calendula flowers that will leave your skin feeling fresh and hydrated after cleansing. The best way to cleanse your face is to start by using an oil-based face cleanser (as counterintuitive as it seems, but hear us out), as this oil cleanser will attract excess oil, bacteria and traces of makeup that can clog your pores. Next, follow with your daily face wash to remove all the remaining impurities to reveal smooth, fresh skin.

BY WISHTREND Probiome Cream

Remember how we asked if you ever laughed at dense, creamy moisturisers? It turns out, you also need moisturisers if you have oily skin. BUT the main difference is that you will need a clarifying moisturiser, which has lightweight, non-oily textures to maintain optimal moisture balance of your skin. Unlike those with dry skin, your oily skin needs enough hydration for it to remain fresh, plump and revitalized throughout the day. A good rule of thumb you can follow is to opt for products that are non-comedogenic, and ideally something that has gel, watery textures.

Hydrate the right way with clarifying moisturisers like BY WISHTREND Probiome Cream! It has a non-greasy formula that applies easily on your skin, to help control excess oil production. With high concentrations of skin-loving probiomes and propolis extract, this daily face cream boosts skin elasticity, fades acne scars and fine lines, while strengthening skin barrier. For best results, pair this cream with the entire BY WISHTREND propolis line to enjoy the full benefits of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory care for your oily skin.

On top of using the best Korean beauty products for oily skin, other ways in which you can prevent breakouts and troubled spots is simply by taking a step back and reducing stress. Reducing stress through self-care, meditation or doing something as simple as ‘me time’ with a Korean sheet mask can help prevent your hormones and oil glands from going into overdrive. So, give your skin some love and you will soon be able to have your oily skin under control.