For today’s article we are bringing the third part of our ‘Guide to Korean Moisturizers’ focusing only on oily skin. If you have dry or sensitive skin make sure to check out our previous articles and find the highest rated moisturizers for those skin types.
Today we are all about oily skin. This skin type is blessed because it produces its own natural oils which are great to avoid premature wrinkles and will always have you face ‘moisturized’ naturally, however, having oily skin also has its downside.
This skin type is something I have dealt with all my life and it comes with your genetics. After trying out many routines that would help my oily skin look less shiny and help with the bad breakouts I had, I discovered that oily skin needs that extra boost that comes from active elements such as niacinamide or salicylic acid that will help to control the excess of oil in the skin.
Large pores are a consequence of oily skin in many cases, leading the skin to be more prone to breakouts as a consequence of bacteria accumulating on the pores. Given this, it is very important to take a look at the ingredients of our moisturizers and see if its composition fits the needs of our skin.
For oily skin I regularly look for products containing niacinamide, green tea which is great for breakouts and it is also a natural antibacterial, anti inflammatory and a very effective spot treatment, tea tree oil, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, retinol, salicylic acid and centella asiatica.
Finding products with this mix is rather difficult but it is always a good idea to find serums that contain those active ingredients that will help your skin look healthier and also obtain the components it’s lacking.
For texture, I generally go for more gel (water based) moisturizers, these are super lightweight and are generally the best for oily skin as they soak faster into the skin, however, lotions are also recommended, they aren’t as lightweight as gel but still soak fast enough into the skin.
Here is a list of the highest rated Korean moisturizers for oily/acne prone skin:
Number 1: iUnik centella Calming Gel Cream
The iUnik’s Centella Calming Gel Cream is a water based moisturizer with fabulous ingredients for people with oily and acne prone skin. The centella asiatica is anti-inflammatory and the tea tree leaf water works wonders with blemishes. Together they are an incredible team that will maintain your skin stays hydrated at the same time it helps with those awkward breakouts.
Number 2: COSRX – Centella Blemish cream
I am a fan of COSRX, this cruelty free and vegan brand is one of the best for acne prone skin. Their Centella Blemish cream has amongst its ingredients tea tree, centella asiatica and glycerin. It helps with hyperpigmentation and unevenness as consequence of acne scars, and also keeps the affected areas moisturised.
Number 3: Innisfree – Green Tea Fresh Cream
This water based moisturiser comes in a gel texture and it is rich in amino acids in addition to green tea keeping the skin moisturised. Its clove flower extract will help control the production of sebum. And one of my favourite factors is that most of its ingredients are naturally sourced from Jeju Island, and after trying similar products from Innisfree produced in that region I can totally vouch for the effectiveness and quality.
Number 4: Benton – Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel
This water based soothing gel has as a main ingredient aloe vera and propolis that helps soothe irritated skin. At the same time it keeps it hydrated and balances the natural oils of the skin.
Number 5: COSRX – AC Collection Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer
I had to include this soothing moisturiser because it includes two of my favourite ingredients. Niacinamide is part of it as well as zinc, these two active ingredients together are very effective for enlarged pores, they control the production of natural oils and help to calm breaking-out skin.
That is it for this list. I hope you find a product that will work for your skin and let us know if you have tested any of these products.
