Best korean Skincare for Acne
This one is going to be different from the usual ‘best Korean skincare for acne’ posts you find on Google. What’s the reason? It seems like they’re just sharing the most popular Korean skincare products to attract more clicks on Google (ahem, Buzzfeed, a!).
Many of the Korean skin care products they mention may not be the best options for those with acne-prone skin.
In this blog, I’m excited to share the best Korean skincare options for acne, organized into different categories for you!
Best Korean skincare for acne: Sun Protection
Sun protection is important if you don’t want your acne scars to turn into dark spots that take a long time to fade. Being out in the sun makes acne scars look even worse, so SPF is a must.
Luckily, a lot of Korean sunscreens for acne have chemicals that fight acne.A lot of them are also much lighter, which makes them great for people with oily skin.
PURITO Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen
This sunscreen (and honestly, Purito overall) never really seems to get the spotlight it deserves.
I’ve been a fan of Purito since before I started creating content, and I truly believe it’s one of the most underrated brands in the Korean beauty scene.
The Purito Soft Touch sunscreen applies with a lovely dewy finish but settles in nicely after about an hour. This is a fantastic option for those with acne-prone skin who want to avoid looking shiny or overly dry.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreens, especially those made in the West, have a bad name. That being said, I think this Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Relief mineral sunscreen is one of the best Korean acne products out there.
Mineral SPFs are good for people with acne, perioral dermatitis, or skin that is very sensitive. Niacinamide is one of the good things in it for acne. Zinc and heart leaf extract are also good anti-inflammatory ingredients.
The look is somewhere between matte and a little shiny. Overall, it’s a great Korean skin care choice for people with acne or sensitive skin.
Skin1004 Hyalu Cica Sun Serum
You’ll notice the Skin1004 Hyalu Cica Sun Serum mentioned in just about every top Korean article for acne. It’s quite popular! It truly is a wonderful option for acne, even with all the buzz on social media. It has a really lightweight, watery serum texture that absorbs quickly!
For me, it feels a bit too lightweight – I really enjoy a heavier, more dewy finish. This SPF is packed with hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract, perfect for keeping your skin hydrated and soothed!
Relief Sun Organic sunscreen
I love this SPF cream so much! It’s light and doesn’t feel greasy, and it sinks quickly into the skin without leaving a white cast. It doesn’t feel heavy or sticky like a lot of other sunscreens, so it’s great for everyday use.
This SPF works great under makeup, which is one of its best features. It’s great that it doesn’t pill or make my makeup slide off. It also does a great job of keeping my face hydrated, so it stays soft and smooth all day. The sun protection is great; I’ve noticed that my skin stays safe even after being outside for hours. It’s also gentle on my sensitive skin and doesn’t irritate or break out.
Overall, this is a great SPF cream that does a great job of protecting your face from the sun. I really think everyone who wants a good and comfy sunscreen should get this one.
Best Korean skincare for acne: water-based cleanser
You probably know about double cleaning if you watch a lot of beauty TikTok.
I love double cleaning, and since I have a lot of closed comedones, it has made a huge difference in my face!
If you want to know how to double cleanse right and what mistakes you should avoid, check out my guide at the bottom.
You need both a water-based and an oil-based cleaner to do a double cleanse. Here are some of my favorite water-based cleaners from Korea. If you want to see my top picks from other countries, click on the links above.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture
You don’t need anything too fancy for water-based cleaners. It can be tempting to make a 10-step plan where each step is supposed to “fight acne.” On the other hand, doing too much of this can hurt the skin layer.
This Haruharu Black Rice Cleansing gel is nice because it cleans gently without roughening the skin. If you use an exfoliating cleanser everyday, you could be scrubbing 14 times a week just by cleaning.
APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Cleanser
Yet another company that receives not much interest online since they always mess up their advertising. APLB makes great Korean skin care for all skin kinds and acne.
It doesn’t come in a big tube, but you only need a little to wash your whole face. The cleaning cream feels thick and smooth. It was easy to rinse off and made my face feel soft. I didn’t smell anything. Even though I haven’t used the product for long, my first impressions are good, and I will keep using it in the hopes of realizing the benefits I read about earlier.
Like this niacinamide cleaner, their recipes are simple and use good chemicals. Like the other water-based cleaners, this could be the first thing you do in the morning.
Best Korean skincare for acne: oil cleanser
HARUHARU wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil
In 2025, the sebum strands hack was all the rage, and I found it to work really well for me. But you need a good habit to keep up with blackheads and sebaceous filaments (two different things!) on your nose.
This item is top-notch! It feels great and moisturizes my skin. It also easily removes my makeup, even eyeliner that’s hard to get off. I love that it only takes one or two pumps to do the job. Doesn’t have a smell for people who are easily annoyed by that. It feels clean on my face, and I’m ready for my second wash.
If you have acne-prone skin, the Haruharu Black Rice Cleansing Oil is one of the best Korean oil cleansers for you. It also keeps your nose glowing. Maybe this isn’t the best oil cleaner for everyone, but it’s a fan favorite for a reason.
Dr.Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
People all over the world went crazy over the Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm because of the unique way it grinds the product. But even if you don’t care about how unique it is, I think it’s one of the best cleansing balms for acne in Korea.
This is because the recipe is very easy and doesn’t use ethylhexyl palmitate. It only has 14 elements, which includes centella and things that come from it.
Best Korean skincare moisturiser for acne
Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream
Some people are afraid of moisturizer if they’ve had acne their whole lives. If that’s the case, the Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream is made just for you.
That’s why most moisturizers make my face break out. Oils and dimethicone, which is in almost all moisturizers, tend to set off my allergies. The only one that is really “clean” is this one. However, it doesn’t really moisturize dry skin, so you might need to use it more than once if you have a lot of dry skin. But if you only need an item simple, it does the job. You can add the Great Barrier Reef serum to this if you feel like a second boost. It works to add moisture back to in.
It’s very light and only has a few ingredients. The biggest problem is that it’s not very rich, which means it might not be hydrating enough.
Best Korean skincare treatments for acne
KSecret Seoul 1988 Serum
The 1988 eye liposome from KSecret Seoul uses liposome technology, which can make it feel softer all around. Liposomes generally mean that the retinal, the active ingredient, is enclosed in them.
They get under the skin and slowly release the retinal all over the face. This keeps things from getting too busy all at once, which can be annoying.
Nine less Azelaic Acid serum
The product is great! I use it every other day to keep my perioral eczema under control.
It’s good for a lot of things, though: Because
- It reduces inflammation, it can help with swelling and pimples.
- it stops tyrosinase from working, it can lessen and stop discoloration.
- It can kill and lower bacteria in the skin that cause acne.
This mix by Nineless has 10% azelaic acid, niacinamide, and snail slime, which works on a lot of problems at once.
Finally, azelaic acid can be used every day, morning and night, and can be mixed with any other activity!
How to Double Cleanse Your Face
I’ll show you step-by-step how to double cleanse, give you my personal advice on the best way to do it, and suggest some useful products along the way.
Cleanse the eye makeup (optional)
This step is up to you, but before I start, I like to use a different eye makeup eraser to get rid of my eye makeup. It’s hard for me to rub an oil wash into my eyes and get all of my mascara off, so I use a cotton round and makeup remover instead.
I didn’t like the idea of reusable cotton pads before I tested them, but now I really like them.
Use an oil, balm, or cream cleaner
Rub your oil, balm, or liquid cleaner into dry skin. If your skin isn’t dry, the wash will mix with water and move around on your face before you’re ready!
I think you should massage the cleaner for 45 seconds to a minute. Slide it across your face and neck, then rub your nose, lips, forehead, and neck.
If you have trouble spots with more congestion, like the nose, work on them for a little longer. When you use your hands with the heat, pressure, and oil, they will help open up any blockages and pores that are blocked.
A massage or gua sha for the face
Now is the time to get a face massage or use a gua sha tool. If I’m feeling up to it and have time, I’ll rub my face for one minute after step one. It is better to massage the skin with oil so that it doesn’t slip than to drag it.
Mix the oil with water
Once you’re done with the oil wash, mix some warm water with your hands and gently rub it on your face for a few seconds. The oil cleaner will turn a little white, which means it’s emulsifying.
Use a face cloth (or your hands, if you’d rather) to wash off the oil cleaner for about 15 seconds. It doesn’t have to be perfect; just get most of it off. Next, we’ll use a water-based cleaner to get rid of it for good.
Use a cleaner that is based on water
Get a small amount of your water-based wash and rub it into your face for 45 seconds to a minute. It won’t foam if it’s a gel cleaner. If the cleanser makes foam, you might want to try a gel cleanser instead! For some people, liquid cleaners can be very drying. If you use them for almost a minute, it can be even worse.
Rinse off the cleaner that is water-based
Last step: wash off all of the cleaner. Don’t forget to wash your head and neck! It’s faster, works better, and feels better to wipe off my cleaner with a soft microfiber cloth.
Do the rest of your skin care procedure
You’re done with the second part of your double cleaning process. You should use a clean towel to gently pat your face dry before putting on acids or retinol creams. Hormone-boosting serums should be put on top of skin that is already damp.
Don’t let your face dry on its own, no matter what! If you do this every day, it will lead to transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which means that the water will drain off your face, taking some of the wetness that’s already there with it. In other words, it will dry out your skin.
Final Thoughts
Skin care used by Korean women is very different from skin care used in the West. Many people seem to believe that if they switch all of their skin care products to K beauty, their skin problems will go better by magic.
I believe that Korean skin care is better than Western skin care in some ways, but it’s definitely not that easy.
There also exist many of other variations among people that could lead to different skin results:
- Pollution, worry, and sleep are all caused by the environment.
- If the food you eat is good for your skin or not.
- Even if you eat well, your face may not be happy with it because of your genes and hormones.
Most acne in adults is caused by hormones, and skin care alone may not be enough to “cure” it.
This post should have helped you narrow down your choices. You’re getting closer to finding the best Korean skin care practice for you.
