K-Beauty for Oily Skin: Best Products and Routine Tips
If you’re battling shiny and greasy T-zones, having to use blotting sheets, or random breakouts before a big day 😩, you know the struggle of oily skin like we do! But don’t worry, K-beauty has your back at deiji.
From balancing excess sebum to keeping your skin hydrated without clogging pores, K-beauty routines are all about making your oily skin glow in a much healthier way.
So let’s take a look at the ultimate guide to the K-beauty routine for oily skin, as well as some of our favourite skincare products, because it deserves some TLC, too!
Understanding Oily Skin in the K-Beauty Context 🧖♀️
Skincare is not just at the surface level in K-beauty. It’s holistic. Oily skin isn’t just about shine; it reflects the health of your skin barrier, hydration, and overall wellness. In fact, over-washing or using way too many harsh ingredients can trigger an increase in oil production, making you look even more greasier.
Fact: Oily skin is more prone to acne and breakouts because of excess sebum production. Sebum itself isn’t entirely bad; it actually helps to protect and hydrate the skin, but when there’s too much of it, that’s when things start to go downhill!
Korean skincare is known for emphasising gentle layering. Because of its lightweight, hydrating, and soothing products, it helps in so many ways for those battling with oily skin. That’s why the K-beauty approach for oily skin focuses on balancing hydration levels, calming down inflammation, and keeping those pores minimised and in check. So when your skin feels balanced, less oil will be produced over time.
Key Ingredients to Look For 🔍
Certain ingredients are absolute must-haves for oily skin. So be sure to look out for these ingredients:
- 💧 Niacinamide: Helps to control sebum levels, tightens pores, and fade acne marks. Gentle, yet powerful!
- 🍵 Green tea extract: Rich in antioxidants, soothing, and perfect for inflammation on the skin, especially oily-acne prone skin.
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🌿 Centella Asiatica (Cica): Combats redness to soothe the skin and repair your skin barrier
Bonus ingredients: Salicylic Acid(BHA) for gentle exfoliation and Hyaluronic Acid for lightweight hydration.
Cleansers, Toners, Moisturisers, and Sunscreens To Try 🧴
We understand that layering too many products can feel like a recipe for more oiliness. So we’ve curated a simple yet effective array of products that you will love without having to stress about clogged pores!
Cleanser: Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 🌿
This popular cleanser is gel-based, which is gentle yet effective and is so loved at deiji. It has a skin-friendly pH of 5.5 that keeps your skin barrier healthy while removing oil and impurities. This cleanser contains tea tree oil and natural BHA, leaving your skin feeling refreshed without that tight and stripped feeling. Perfect for oily skin that needs a soft touch!
Shop Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser now
Toner: Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner 💦
A lightweight, refreshing, and antioxidant-rich toner that hydrates the skin while balancing out excess oils. What we love about this product is its berry-derived ingredients that deliver a boost of nutrients and protection against environmental stressors. So this toner will be an ideal prep for oily, breakout-prone skin. We also love that it contains protease, which is a gentle and natural exfoliator that can be used daily to help with skin texture and dull skin.
Shop Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner now
Moisturiser: Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream 🌸
You might’ve heard of this cream before because it’s viral! This is a super lightweight and calming moisturiser that sinks nicely into the skin without that greasiness. It’s formulated with Centella Asiatica and panthenol, which helps to calm irritation, strengthen the skin barrier, whilst also providing just the right level of hydration for oily skin types. We also recommend the Purito Oat-In Gel Cream as another moisturiser perfect for those with extremely oily skin.
Shop Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream now
Shop Purito Oat-In Gel Cream now
Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Aqua Fresh Rice + B5 SPF50+ ☀️
A global favourite for a reason! This sun cream feels like a lightweight moisturiser. We also love the matte finish it gives when you just want to keep your skin protected and matte when working out at the gym! It has rice extracts and vitamin B5 to hydrate and nourish the skin. No white cast, and no heaviness at all! Just comfortable and perfect for everyday sun protection on oily skin types. It also sits really well under makeup!
Shop Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Aqua Fresh Rice +B5 SPF50+ now
Bonus:
Exfoliate: Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
These are our favourite exfoliating pads!! They are pre-soaked pads that are drenched in gentle exfoliating acids that buff away dead skin cells, clear out clogged pores, and refine skin texture. We find these toner pads super easy to use and perfect for maintaining smooth skin and keeping breakouts at bay.
💡 Tip: Use 1-2 times a week after cleansing and before toner.
Shop Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 now
Tips to Control Shine and Prevent Breakouts ✨
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Moisturise! Skipping hydration triggers more oil. Gel formulas are your bestie.
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Blot, don’t powder 📝 – Blotting sheets absorb oil without clogging pores.
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Layer lightly 🧖♀️ – Avoid any heavy creams; stick to serums, essences, and gel moisturisers.
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Exfoliate regularly 🧽 – Gentle chemical exfoliants prevent clogged pores.
FAQs❓
Q: Can oily skin benefit from essences and serums too?
A: For sure! Lightweight serums deliver hydration and actives to your skin without heaviness.
Q: Will K-beauty products make my oily skin drier?
A: Not at all! If chosen correctly, they balance hydration, not dry out your skin. We would suggest avoiding harsh alcohol-based toners.
Q: How often should I exfoliate?
A: 1-2 times per week would be ideal (unless your skin can handle more than that). Over-exfoliating = more oil & irritation 😬.
Q: Are there K-beauty products to mattify all day?
A: Absolutely! Gel moisturisers, matte sun creams, and primers do help a lot. Don’t forget blotting sheets for on-the-go shine control.
Oily skin is not a curse! But an opportunity to show off your glow. With the right ingredients, layering, and consistent routine, you can keep those oils in check while looking fresh and radiant. We also recommend taking a look at our previous blog about sheet and clay masks that you may want to add to your skincare routine too.
So keep shining on..but with the good kind! 🌟
Let us know if you’ve tried any of these products and how it’s going for you so far!