The Best K-Beauty Products for Acne-Prone Skin

Your search for a proven acne skincare solution is over — BONIIK’s comprehensive list of the most effective and best K-beauty products for acne-prone skin will help you achieve smooth and healthy acne-free skin. 

There are many causes for acne: excess facial oil build-up, bacteria, diet, and even stress levels. Trying to solve your acne issues can often be a frustrating trial-and-error process, with many skincare products falling short of their promised results

To help you narrow down your search, we’ve meticulously curated our entire collection to find the best K-beauty products for acne that are renowned for consistently delivering noticeable improvements across diverse skin types.

Table of Contents

• Best K Beauty Cleansers for Acne
• Best K Beauty Moisturisers for Acne-Prone Skin
• Best K Beauty Serums for Acne

Best K Beauty Cleansers for Acne

Cleansers are specifically designed to remove dirt, oil, leftover makeup, and other nasties that can clog your pores. When your skin pores get clogged with these impurities, the natural oils that your face produces can add up, leading to excessively oily skin that increases the risk of acne breakouts. If you find yourself having to consistently deal with an oily face in the morning, after exercise, or when you’re at work, try these k-beauty cleansers to keep those pores clean. 

AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam — SOME BY MI

True to its name, this cleanser can really do miracles for oily skin. A gentle solution designed to purify pores by effectively eliminating sebum, dirt, and impurities, it works wonders with SOME BY MI's exclusive Truecica blend, consisting of mugwort, tea tree, and Centella Asiatica extracts. Combined with exfoliating AHA, BHA, and PHA components, it not only rebalances sebum levels but also offers a soothing touch, calming irritated skin troubled by acne, blemishes, and pimples.

Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser — COSRX

Tailored specifically for oily, acne-prone skin, the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser is a one of the best among foaming cleansers. Packed with botanical elements and tea extracts, this mild cleanser effectively manages sebum levels, preventing breakouts and revealing a smoother, softer skin texture. It also contains Willow Bark Water, a natural BHA ingredient that gently exfoliates, eliminating dead skin cells, blackheads, and whiteheads to unclog pores for a clearer complexion.

Gentle Black Facial Cleanser — KLAIRS

The KLAIRS Gentle Black Facial Cleanser is a mild, vegan-friendly option that has been praised for its gentle cleansing results. Powered by its signature Black Complex formulation, incorporating Truffle extract, Blackberry, Black Bean, and Black Cumin Seed extract, this purifying cleanser effectively rids the skin of impurities deeply settled in pores without being hard on sensitive skin. With its low pH, this cleanser resets the skin, delivering a hydrated finish and safeguarding against moisture loss, leaving behind a fresh, healthy complexion.

Dr. Belmeur Amino Clear Foaming Cleanser For Acne-Prone Skin — THE FACE SHOP

The Dr. Belmeur Amino Clear Foaming Cleanser is a cream-based cleanser that turns into fine bubbles to deeply cleanse pores. This gentle derma cosmetic caters to acne-prone skin and utilises salicylic acid, Cocamidopropyl betaine, and glycerine to effectively eliminate impurities and provide pore care, preventing oily breakouts and repairing acne-damaged skin. 

Best K Beauty Moisturisers for Acne-Prone Skin

Contrary to western belief that dehydrating the skin is the solution to acne, Korean beauty and skincare experts recommend adding hydration as a part of your skincare rituals to help with acne prevention and recovery. Moisturisers are ideal for keeping the skin supple and healthy, which is why they can help acne-prone skin stay balanced and hydrated, reducing the likelihood of excessive oil production and potential breakouts. Here are some of the most effective k-beauty moisturisers do just that:

AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream — SOME BY MI

The SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 DAYS Miracle Cream is both comforting and lightweight, formulated to fortify and defend sensitive, acne-prone skin. With 70.78% Centella Asiatica, this gentle AHA cream works to repair skin damage while forming a protective barrier against irritation. It also contains Tea Tree extract, which helps with sebum control, a key element of acne development. 

Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion (With Birch Sap) — COSRX

Formulated with 70% Birch Sap Extract, the COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion (With Birch Sap) is a grease-free moisturizer designed to impart deep hydration while calming the skin. The Birch Sap ingredient, recognized for its soothing qualities, is especially suitable if you struggle with sensitive or irritated skin. This moisturiser suits various skin types, including oily, acne-prone, and dehydrated skin. Its quick-absorbing nature ensures no greasy residue, reinstating the skin's ideal moisture balance for a serene, comfortable, and revitalised feel.

Centella Calming Gel Cream — IUNIK

IUNIK’s Centella Calming Gel Cream is one that we swear by — it contains 6 types of sprout extract, delivering a wealth of organic nutrients and enzymes to shield the skin from external stressors, preventing irritation and strain. It’s also infused with Niacinamide (or vitamin B3), which helps regulate oil production, refines pores, and has been recognised for its ability to reduce inflammation. This makes it an excellent option for those with itchy or red skin caused by acne breakouts. 

Best K Beauty Serums for Acne

Skincare serums are formulated to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients directly to your skin, penetrating into its deeper layers for more effective absorption, making it ideal for a targeted solution to skincare issues like acne. Skincare serums for acne usually contain ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, or retinoids, each targeting a different root aspect of acne. Some K beauty serums we recommend for acne are:

Glow Serum Propolis + Niacinamide — BEAUTY OF JOSEON

Targeted at sebum control, the Glow Serum Propolis + Niacinamide reparative serum from BEAUTY OF JOSEON has hydrating qualities that help with acne-reduction and complexion-brightening effects. Infused with 60% propolis and 2% niacinamide, this serum offers anti-inflammatory benefits, aiding in the healing and calming of irritated skin. Its honey-like texture wraps the skin, establishing a moisture barrier that ensures continuous hydration, promoting a healthy and luminous complexion.

Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence — COSRX

Yes, you read that right! The COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence comprises 96% snail filtrate, with acts as a robust skin-repairing and healing essence. With snail mucin renowned for its reparative and soothing properties, it aids in skin repair, protection, and alleviation. This extract's collagen-boosting capability assists in refining the appearance of acne scars and blemishes, and its lightweight consistency suits all skin types, providing nourishment, firmness, moisture, and relief to damaged skin.

 AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum — SOME BY MI

Completing the set, we have SOME BY MI’s AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum. A dual-phase solution adept at gently exfoliating the skin via AHA, BHA, and PHA, it delivers results of smoother and clearer skin. Featuring 14.5% Centella Asiatica extract and 10,000ppm Tea tree leaf water, this serum tackles issues related to acne-prone, blemished, and oily skin. Its emphasis on sebum regulation, skin calming effects, and moisture maintenance helps protect the skin from future breakouts.

Get Acne-Free Skin with BONIIK

There you have it, the best K-beauty products for acne-prone skin can help you minimise and prevent those acne hotspots and breakouts, even in the most humid or dry conditions. Taking care of your skin takes consistent and intentional effort, and its often advisable to use different types of products in conjunction with one another for the best results. To start, we suggest trying out one of the K-beauty products that we’ve listed above and incorporate it into your beauty routine to see how it can help with achieving acne-free skin. 

Looking for more K-beauty products for acne-prone skin? At BONIIK, we offer an extensive collection of top-of-the-line Korean beauty products from reliable and proven brands that you can trust for high-quality skincare. Browse our collection today and start you journey toward glowing, acne-free skin today!