Korean Serum For Combination Skin Reviews 2023 | 8 Lightweight, Hydrating Products
What’s the one beauty product that people with combination skin types shouldn’t skimp on? The best Korean serum for combination skin of course.
Apart from hydrating your skin, these products have anti-aging, brightening, pore-refining, and anti-acne properties.
If you were to hold a competition among K-beauty products, we’re sure serums would come out on top. These little bottles of concentrated ingredients work like magic to heal your skin.
Related: Best Korean Toner For Combination Skin
Related: Best Korean Essence For Combination Skin
Korean Serum For Combination Skin | Best For | Chief Ingredients |
The Face Shop White Seed Brightening Serum | Skin Brightening | White Lupin Seed, White Willow Bark, White Lilly Extract |
Dear, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum | Sensitive Skin | Beta Glucan, Squalene Hyaluronic Acid |
Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum | Acne Prone Skin | 8% Glycolic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract |
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum | Anti Aging | Membranous Milk Vetch, Dwarf Lily, Licorice, Korean Ginseng |
Neogen Dermalogy Pore Refining Serum | Open Pores | Grapefruit and Witch Hazel |
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum | Dull, Tired Skin | Green Tea Water, Green Tea Seed Oil |
Nature Republic Snail Solution Essence | Acne Scars | 68% Snail Secretion Filtrate |
Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop Serum | Pigmentation | 5% Concentrated Vitamin C, Centella Asiatica, L-Ascorbic Acid |
From smoothening out wrinkles and fine lines to brightening your complexion. Is there anything these serums cannot do?
Formulated with the goodness of natural ingredients and the best of skincare technology, face serums make an indispensable part of your 10-step Korean skincare routine.
But with so many serums now available in the market, how do you find which one’s right for you? Just follow our little guide below.
We’ve rounded up the best Korean serum for combination skin that’s best suited to your skin needs. Take a look!
Which is the best Korean serum for combination skin?
The Dear, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum is the best face serum for combination skin overall. This serum contains natural ingredients like vegetable extracts along with nourishing sodium hyaluronate that hydrates combination skin without making it greasy. It’s perfect for very sensitive skin, including those with rosacea
How to select Korean serum for combination skin
Serum is one of the most essential parts of skincare routine as it penetrates deep inside the skin.
It’s really important to get the right serum that addresses your skin concerns.
It’s extremely difficult to fight the right serum for combination skin type as sometimes your skin is too dry but some areas like the T are really oily.
Water-Based Formula – Keeping both oily and dry skin concerns in mind, one has to choose serum that addresses both the issues at the same time. Serums are water-based formulas that are lightweight and extremely hydrating which is perfect for combination skin.
Ingredients To Look For: It’s important to keep in mind the ingredients used in the serum for combination skin. The key ingredients you can go for are Vitamin C, Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, and Alpha Arbutin. These ingredients can either be individually present in your serum or a combination of different ingredients in your serum.
Hydrating But Not Heavy: For the dry region of your skin, ceramides, peptides and hyaluronic acid work great otherwise, niacinamide. Retinol and AHAs are great for oily regions of your skin, black heads, skin congestion and Niacinamide shrinking pores.
Best Korean Serum For Combination Skin 2023
What Are The Top 5 Korean Skincare Products For Combination Skin
Combination skin can be quite tricky to manage – you have oily parts, and then dry parts, and sometimes even normal parts. Keeping it healthy and glowing can be a battle! But don’t worry, Korean skincare has got you covered.
Here are the top 5 Korean skincare products for combination skin that will keep your skin’s balance in check:
1. COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser – This gentle cleanser has a pH level of 5.0 to 6.0, making it perfect for combination skin types as it helps to balance the oil levels while still being gentle enough to avoid drying out the dry areas.
2. Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner – This hydrating toner is formulated with seven different plant extracts that help to soothe and hydrate the skin’s dry spots whilst balancing sebum production. It has a non-sticky formula and is perfect for sensitive skin types.
3. Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence – This essence is a game-changer for combination skin. It’s packed with snail mucin, bee venom, and tea tree oil that deeply hydrates, calms redness, and balances the skin’s oil production.
4. I’m From Vitamin Tree Water Gel – This moisturizer is perfect for combination skin types. It’s light and has a gel-like texture that hydrates the dry spots while absorbing excess oil from the oily ones.
5. A’pieu Madecassoside Cream – This cream is packed with centella asiatica, aka cica, which is a popular Korean skincare ingredient. It helps to soothe and heal the skin’s dry and irritated parts and regulates the oil production of the oily ones.
Combination skin can be frustrating, but with the right skincare products, it can be managed. These Korean skincare products are perfect for balancing and hydrating your skin, leaving it radiant and glowing.
Can I Use Vitamin C Serum For Combination Skin And Is It Safe?
If you’re someone who has combination skin, you’ll know how tricky it can be to find the right products for your specific skin concerns. One product that many people have started incorporating into their skincare routine is Vitamin C serum.
But, is it safe to use for combination skin? Well, the answer is yes! Vitamin C serum is actually great for combination skin as it helps to lighten dark spots and even out skin tone.
It’s a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your skin from environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution, which can cause premature aging.
However, it’s important to choose the right type of Vitamin C serum as some formulas can be quite harsh on your skin. Look for serums that contain low concentrations of Vitamin C, such as 10% or less, and opt for hydrating formulas like ones infused with hyaluronic acid.
This will help to keep your skin hydrated and balanced. Overall, using a Vitamin C serum can be extremely beneficial for those with combination skin. It helps to even out skin tone, protect against environmental stressors, and keep your skin hydrated.
Just make sure to choose a gentle formula and start slowly by using it once or twice a week before gradually increasing usage.
What Korean Moisturizer Is Good For Combination Skin
If you have combination skin, finding the perfect moisturizer can be a daunting task. You don’t want something too heavy that will clog your pores and cause breakouts, but you also don’t want something too light that won’t hydrate your dry spots.
Luckily, Korean skincare has got you covered! One of the best moisturizers for combination skin is the Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream. This cream is packed with collagen, which will help to plump and firm your skin, while also hydrating it.
It has a lightweight gel texture that won’t leave your skin feeling greasy or oily, making it perfect for those who have an oily T-zone. Another great option is the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream. This moisturizer is perfect for those with combination skin that leans more towards the dry side.
It’s made with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba seed oil, and ceramides, which will help to soothe and moisturize your skin without making it feel heavy.
If you’re looking for something that also has anti-aging benefits, the Banila Co Miss Flower & Mr Honey Cream is a great option.
This cream contains honey, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, as well as royal jelly, which is rich in antioxidants and will help to protect your skin from free radical damage.
It has a rich, creamy texture that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. In summary, Korean skincare has a plethora of moisturizers designed specifically for combination skin.
Whether you’re looking for something lightweight, rich, or anti-aging, there’s a perfect moisturizer out there for you.
The Face Shop White Seed Brightening Serum
(Best Korean Serum For Glowing Skin)
One of the top skin concerns in this day and age is tanning, pigmentation, and dark spots. All of which occur due to our busy lifestyles in pollution-filled cities. And spending hours together out in the sun commuting, doesn’t help either.
So thank goodness for the Face Shop White Seed Brightening Serum! It’s the perfect solution if you want soft, glowing skin. White lupin seed extracts and white daisy extracts are the hero ingredients here in this serum.
The blend of these natural ingredients along with HR Hexylresorcinol and Niacinamide are skin whitening agents that help give you brighter, lighter skin.
We find this serum perfectly suited for combination skin types asit contains hyaluronic acid which nourishes skin without leaving it greasy.
Panthenol also helps soothe any redness or irritation. But as the serum still has a light fragrance, we suggest you try something else if you have really sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Brightens skin
- Manages skin oiliness
- Good for sensitive skin
- Thin and lightweight
Cons:
- No value for money
- Mildly scented (might irritate skin)
Dear, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum
(Best Korean Serum For Sensitive Skin)
Most Korean skincare products are free of harsh chemicals and contain natural ingredients. But still, you need to take extra precautions if you’ve got extra sensitive skin or have conditions like rosacea.
So in this case, the Dear, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum is the top pick.
It’s the best Korean serum for sensitive skin as it doesn’t contain any artificial fragrances. There’s no ethanol, parabens, or synthetic dyes. Nothing here that can hurt your skin!
What it does contain is nourishing beta-glucan, sodium hyaluronate, and a blend of vegetable extracts including celery and carrot.
This serum helps retain moisture and hydrates dull and dry skin. As the formula is lightweight, it suits combination skin types perfectly. We also liked how the serum left a refreshing, cooling effect on the skin.
Pros:
- Deeply moisturizes and hydrates the skin
- Free of toxic ingredients like parabens, steroids, silicone etc.
- No artificial fragrance or colour
- Makes skin soft, radiant, and clear
Cons:
- Sticky consistency
Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum
(Best Korean Serum For Combination Acne Prone Skin)
The major causes of acne are the accumulation of dead skin cells, excess sebum, and acne-causing microbes in your pores. This can also lead to blackheads and whiteheads.
So we like how this Mizon serum contains 8 percent of AHA or glycolic acid. This hero ingredient is a chemical exfoliator that unclogs your pores, reduces greasiness, and removes blackheads from deep within your skin.
If you’ve got a combination and acne-prone skin, then this serum is going to be your best friend. It’s hypoallergenic too. So you don’t have to worry about further redness or skin irritation.
Removing the dead skin layer from your face can also bring out its hidden complexion.
And as the product contains nourishing ingredients like panthenol, allantoin, papaya extracts, and aloe vera it’s fantastic for keeping combination skin bright, soft, and younger-looking.
Pros:
- Safe to use everyday
- Results in smooth and healthy skin
- Removes dead skin cells
- Dermatologically tested
Cons:
- Unusual fragrance
- Might cause breakouts
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
(Best Korean Serum Anti Aging)
This product by Sulwhasoo is an activating serum. This means that the serum does not just nourish your skin but it helps increase the effectiveness of other skincare products in your routine.
We think it’s the best Korean serum for sensitive skin thanks to its JAUM Balancing Complex. A blend of nourishing herbs like lotus, white lily, Rehmannia, Solomon’s seal, etc., the serum helps maintain the moisture balance on your skin.
But the best thing about the Sulwhasoo serum is its anti-aging properties. The serum helps reduce the signs of aging and also increases collagen production.
This keeps your skin from sagging and gives it that youthful lift.
The lightweight formulation spreads easily on the skin too. Some users were unimpressed by the expensive price tag. But if you’re looking for a good anti-aging product, this serum is worth it.
And the herbal medicinal scent is also overwhelming for some people.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Formulated with medicinal herbs
- Good for anti aging skin
- Refreshing and nourishing
Cons:
- No value for money
Neogen Dermalogy Pore Refining Serum
(Best Korean Serum For Pores)
If you’re troubled over oily skin around your T-zone and large pores, this Neogen serum is the perfect product for you! The serum contains grapefruit extracts and a powerful astringent in the form of witch hazel.
The serum helps balance sebum production on your skin, leaving skin soft and silky. So if you have combination skin, you need not worry about your forehead and chin areas being greasy by the time it’s evening.
As the toner helps tighten and refine your pores, it can also help with acne and blackheads. The gel formulation spreads easily on your face, so you don’t have to worry about running out of product soon.
We give it bonus points for the lovely floral fragrance it leaves behind.
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum
(Best Korean Serum For Combination Skin Overall)
The Green Tea Seed line of Innisfree has been specially designed to suit combination skin types. So it’s no wonder that this serum is on our list.
This serum comes packed with antioxidants and vitamin-rich green tea from Korea’s Jeju island. It’s super lightweight yet nourishing and leaves your face moisturized without leaving it greasy.
The light, translucent base makes it easier to apply your moisturizer or night cream next to your skincare routine. We also liked the mild, green tea scent of the serum.
We do have one little complaint about this product. It contains fragrance and ethanol. So if you have sensitive skin or suffer from irritation, rosacea, or any other skin condition, we suggest you steer clear of this one.
Nature Republic Snail Solution Essence
(Best Korean Serum For Glass Skin)
Snail mucin extract is perhaps the best-kept secret in Korean skincare. It’s almost a wonder drug that helps with hydrating skin, increasing its elasticity, reducing wrinkles, and so much more.
And this serum by the Nature Republic contains snail mucin as the chief ingredient – there’s almost 68 percent of snail secretion filtrate!
The serum is just the thing if you want that picture-perfect Korean glass skin. It plumps up the skin, removes any blemishes, and even helps heal acne scars. And voila! You’ve got your clear, smooth-textured skin in no time.
Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop Serum
(Best Korean Vitamin C Serum)
Exposure to the sun’s UV rays and environmental pollutants can leave your skin damaged, dull, and dry. Not to mention all the havoc wreaked on your skin due to poor diet, aging, and free-radicals.
But this vitamin C serum by Dear Klairs is here to fix all that. It contains L-ascorbic acid along with vitamin C from various sources like anise, grapefruit, orange oil, and more.
The serum protects the skin from damage, repairs acne scars, and removes pigmentation and dark spots. Its 5 percent pure vitamin C formula also replenishes the skin’s lost moisture.
There are no artificial fragrances in this serum, so even those with sensitive skin can use it without worry.
FAQs about the best Korean serum for combination skin
How to use the top Korean serum for combination skin?
Serums are the one Korean beauty product that is often quite expensive. But the good news is that you need only a drop or two, so the product lasts for a long time. Most serums come with a dropper. You can use this to directly apply the product to the face.
Next, gently massage the serum into the skin until completely absorbed. It’s a good idea to wait for a minute or two before moving onto the next step of your skincare routine. Doing so gives the serum time to penetrate deep into your skin cells.
When is the right time to apply the a Korean serum for combination skin?
The best time to apply serums is during the morning and night. These products should be applied right after using a toner.
The toner helps the serum gets absorbed better into the skin. While some people prefer to use an essence after using a toner and then apply a serum, combination skin types can skip these steps.
Also, don’t forget to use sunscreen during your morning application of the serum and a night mask or cream after using it in the night.
Which skincare product is best for combination skin?
Skin Care Product | Best For Combination Skin |
Best cleanser for combination skin | Neogen Real Fresh Foam Green Tea |
Best toner for combination skin | Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener |
Best face mask for combination skin | Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off Exfoliator |
Best moisturizer for combination skin | belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb |
These best Korean serum for combination skin are those that nourish your skin without leaving your face either too dry or too greasy.
It’s tough to find the right moisture balance and help with your skin troubles. But these serums manage to get the job done.
To complete your perfect K-beauty routine, don’t forget to get the top toners, essences, and cleansers that are made for combination skin.
Also Read:
Best Korean face wash for pores
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

The best Korean serum for combination skin nourishes face without leaving it greasy. The Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum helps with pigmentation, ageing, and acne.
Product SKU: LH24962YIGB
Product Brand: Sulwashoo
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: $89.89
Price Valid Until: 2022-08-20
Product In-Stock: InStock
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