I Reviewed 8 Amazing Korean Skincare Products For Acne 2023

Acne and pimples can get frustrating. But with the best Korean skincare products for acne, you can keep them under control.

From toners to cleansers, and spot treatments, these best-selling Korean skincare can help soothe inflammation, reduce breakouts, and face acne scars and blemishes.  

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There are two things you need to fight acne – patience, and the right skincare products.

The best skincare products for acne are those that help soothe inflammation, exfoliate your skin without hurting it further, and also help prevent further breakouts. 

And Korean skincare industry is known for creating such powerful yet gentle products, enriched with natural ingredients.

Korean Skincare Product For Acne	Type of Product	Chief Ingredients
COSRX AC Collection Acne Pimple Patch	Overnight Acne Treatment	Centella Asiatica Extract
Neogen Dermalogy Green Tea Real Fresh Foam	Face Wash	Green Tea, Centella Asiatica Extract
COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Toner	Toner	Willow Bark Water, Apple Fruit Water, Allantoin
Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel	Moisturizer	Aloe Vera, Propolis Extract
COSRX Centella Blemish Cream	Spot Treatment	Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
BANILA CO Clean It Zero Purifying Cleansing Balm	Double Cleansing Balm	Active botanicals, Hot Springs Water, Vitamin E and Vitamin C
Dr. Jart Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution Mask	Sheet Mask	Antioxidants, Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree
Some By Mi Starter Kit	Skincare Set for Acne	Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica

So naturally, finding the best Korean skincare products for acne was a priority. 

We’ve rounded up the best skincare, right from the cleanser to a sheet mask, which we think works wonders on acne-prone skin. Take a look! 

What ingredients are best for acne-prone skin?

While shopping for Korean skincare products for acne make sure to buy stuff with these ingredients. They are the best for acne and pimples.

Benzoyl peroxide: This helps kill acne-causing bacteria, reducing the chances of breakouts. This ingredient is usually present in cleansers and toners. A concentration of 2-5 percent is optimum as anything more can be drying to your skin.

Salicylic acid: also called beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), this is a form of chemical exfoliant that gently removes the dead skin layer from skin. Salicylic acid is great for unclogging pores, removing blackheads, and controlling the sebum production on your skin. 

AHA: These are another form of chemical exfoliants. Glycolic acid is one of the most common AHA but mandelic acid and lactic acid are also popular for dry skin. It helps remove dead skin cells, control bacterial growth, and refine pores. 

Retinol: Retinol isn’t just great for acne, it can help reduce acne scars as well. It not just removes dirt and dead cells but also promotes collagen production. So it’s great for pitted acne scars. It also helps with reducing the appearance of whiteheads and refining skin texture. 

Korean Skincare Products For Acne 2022

COSRX AC Collection Acne Pimple Patch

Best Korean Spot Treatment For Acne

The worst thing about acne is that it seems to know when you’re making plans to go out. How many times have you had prom, a date, an important dinner meeting only to breakout the night before? 

So we were very happy to see Cosrx providing a quick-fix solution to acne in the form of these pimple patches. 

The Cosrx AC Collection Acne Patch comes with Centella Asiatica extracts and help suck out all the dirt, impurities, and acne-causing bacteria from the pimples. These hydrocolloid patches soothes the irritated skin and protects it from your tempted fingernails as well. 

We like how the patches have very thin, tapered edges. So it’s almost invisible on the skin. The patches come in three different sizes. You can choose depending on the size of the affected area.

Neogen Dermalogy Green Tea Real Fresh Foam

Best Korean Face Wash For Acne

One of the main causes of acne is the accumulation of dirt and bacteria in the pores. So using the right cleanser can work wonders for you acne-prone skin. We found the Neogen Dermalogy Green Tea Real Fresh Foam face wash to be best for defeating pimples and blemishes.  

It’s completely free of any harsh chemicals. There are no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or other problematic ingredients here. So it won’t hurt or inflame your skin further. 

The chief ingredient here is fermented green tea extracts that come packed with antioxidants and vitamins. These extracts cleanse your skin thoroughly without causing irritation. It’s deep-cleansing properties and foam formula also makes it one of the best korean skincare for oily acne prone skin. 

COSRX AHA BHA Clarifying Toner 

Best Korean Toner For Acne

Never underestimate the power of a good toner in treating acne and blemishes. Like this Cosrx AHA BHA toner. It clarifies your pores thoroughly thanks to the gentle exfoliants AHA (glycolic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid). 

And the best part? All the ingredients in this toner are natural. The AHA and BHA have been derived from apple and willow bark extracts respectively. This toner removes dirt, excess sebum, and acne-causing microbes from pores, leaving skin clear and smooth.

We also found this toner among the best korean skincare products for combination acne prone skin. Firstly, it contains willow bark extract instead of the more drying astringent witch hazel. It’s water-based formula is also hydrating and non-greasy at the same time.  

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel 

Best Korean Moisturizer For Acne

It can be a challenge picking out a moisturizer for acne-prone skin. Most rich and nourishing creams can increase greasiness and further increase breakouts. So we loved how lightweight and refreshing this Benton gel feels on the skin. 

The key ingredients here are aloe vera extracts and bee propolis extracts. Both rich in antioxidants and excellent for soothing red, inflamed skin. These ingredients also have antibacterial properties come handy in reducing acne. 

We also like how the gel gets absorbed into the skin. It doesn’t contain any alcohol, artificial coloring, or fragrance so it’s absolutely gentle on the skin. The gel also has a slightly acidic formula which matches with the skin’s natural pH. 

The face gel is also Ecocert friendly, cruelty-free, and comes in 100 percent recyclable packaging.  

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream

Best Korean Face Cream For Acne

This product is one of the best korean skincare products for acne scars. It’s more of a spot treatment than a full-blown moisturizer. You need to apply it only on the areas where there’s irritation or acne. It starts working in a few days of application. 

The Centella Asiatica extracts in the cream help soothe any inflammation, hydrates skin, and leaves it soft and smooth. It suits several skin types as the cream is very lightweight and non-greasy, but at the same time, provides deep hydration. 

Some users have noticed that the consistency of this product is rather thick. And it sticks on the skin rather than getting absorbed quickly. So we suggest using a little product only. You can also use it only at night time.  

BANILA CO Clean It Zero Purifying Cleansing Balm

Best Korean Makeup Cleanser For Acne

One of the secrets of K-beauty is double cleansing. And this becomes even more important if you have acne-prone skin. The residual makeup, dirt, etc. can clog your pores and make breakouts worse. So cleansing with an oil-based balm before using face wash is a must. 

The Banila Co. Clean It Zero balm is a holy-grail product for cleansing. If you have you should try the ‘Purifying’ variant rather than the original. This one melts all traces of makeup (yes, even the most stubborn, waterproof one from skin). 

And the best part? The formulation contains 7 herbal ingredients, including green tea extracts and chamomile that soothe inflammation and are gentle on sensitive skin.

The balm is also free from alcohol, sulfates, parabens, and artificial colors. So it’s absolutely gentle on your face. 

Dr. Jart Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution Mask Sheet

Best Korean Sheet Mask For Acne

If you want a good sheet mask to help with your acne, look no further than this Dr. Jart Clearing Solution Mask Sheet.

The microfiber sheet mask comes with ingredients like salicylic acid and tea tree oil that help with inflammation and acne breakouts.

They also help with controlling excess sebum production on your skin. 

There’s also niacinamide that heals acne scars, nourishes skin, and improves elasticity. Glutathione helps brighten the complexion and fade dark spots and blemishes. Together, these nourishing ingredients help give you clear, glass-like skin.

Some By Mi Starter Kit

Best Korean Skincare Routine For Acne

The big issue with skincare products for acne is that there are just so many of them. If you feel overwhelmed with all the choices, why not just try this starter kit. The Some By Mi Korean skincare set for acne comes with a toner, a serum, a cream, and a cleansing bar. 

From the gentle cleansing bar that helps remove impurities to the AHA BHA toner that exfoliates your skin of dead cells, this kit has been designed to help with acne breakouts.

The serum and cream come with Madecassoside and Centella extracts that soothe and heal your skin.

Our only complaint is that these products are travel-sized. So if you want something while you’re on vacation this would be a good pick. 

Conclusion

What ingredients are best for acne-prone skin?

While shopping for Korean skincare products for acne make sure to buy stuff with these ingredients. They are the best for acne and pimples.

Benzoyl peroxide: This helps kill acne-causing bacteria, reducing the chances of breakouts. This ingredient is usually present in cleansers and toners. A concentration of 2-5 percent is optimum as anything more can be drying to your skin.

Salicylic acid: also called beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), this is a form of chemical exfoliant that gently removes the dead skin layer from skin. Salicylic acid is great for unclogging pores, removing blackheads, and controlling the sebum production on your skin. 

AHA: These are another form of chemical exfoliants. Glycolic acid is one of the most common AHA but mandelic acid and lactic acid are also popular for dry skin. It helps remove dead skin cells, control bacterial growth, and refine pores. 

Retinol: Retinol isn’t just great for acne, it can help reduce acne scars as well. It not just removes dirt and dead cells but also promotes collagen production. So it’s great for pitted acne scars. It also helps with reducing the appearance of whiteheads and refining skin texture. 

Conclusion

There is no one-stop solution for acne. But with these top Korean skincare products for acne you can get some relief at least.

The key is to tailor your skincare routine to your needs. So always choose products that match your skin type. 

Also, most of these products take time to work. So you might need to use it for a few weeks before you see any changes. If your acne seems worse, always consult your dermatologist for advice.

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