My Favorite Korean Acne Treatment And Skin Care Routine For Acne-Prone Skin

Everyone gets acne. But not everyone knows about the best Korean acne treatment. That’s why I’m here to help you find the right products and skincare for your skin.  

Acne can be of many types, there’s cystic acne, hormonal acne, and acne caused due to fungal and bacterial infections.

I used to follow a lot of DIY remedies but none of them seemed to work, until I figured out the K-beauty combination of using the right products and following the right routine.

Related: Best Korean Skincare Products For Acne

Related: Best Korean Serum For Acne Scars

And what do you know? My acne seemed to vanish almost overnight. And no I’m not exaggerating!

Here are some Korean acne treatments that I used to treat my breakouts.

Korean Acne Treatments	Best For	Chief Ingredients
Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream	Redness and Inflammation	Copper Tripeptide, Licorice, Salicylic acid, Rosemary
COSRX Centella Blemish Cream	Acne Blemishes	Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Extract, Tea Tree Oil
COSRX AC Collection Acne Patch	Overnight Acne Reduction	Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosin, PU Film
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask	Pore Cleansing	Volcanic Ash Clusters, Lactic Acid, Walnut Shell Powder

Best Skincare Routine For Acne Prone Skin

Use A Spot Treatment

If you’re in a hurry I highly recommend using one of the spot treatments mentioned above to take care of your acne breakouts.

Usually, these contain highly concentrated ingredients that reduce swelling, redness, inflammation, and any blemishes in a day or two. 

The Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Treatment has been my favorite so far. 

Cover It Up With A Pimple Patch

I’ve noticed that my habit of frequently touching my face or picking at my pimples was making things worse.

The bacteria and grease on your fingertips get transferred on to your skin and can worsen bacterial and fungal infections. 

A pimple patch helps cover the acne, so you won’t be touching it. And these contain hydrocolloids that absorb all the impurities from acne, leaving pores clear. 

Detox and Exfoliate Every Week

A lot of articles about Korean acne treatment focus on reducing acne but not enough is said about preventing breakouts.

A good detox for your skin can work wonders. I always use a clay or charcoal mask with mild exfoliators like glycolic acid, salicylic acid or lactic acid to thoroughly cleanse my face.

I recently tried out the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Mask that my skin loved. 

But you can use other products like the Neogen Real Cica Pad if you want a milder exfoliant. 

Related: Check out these Korean exfoliators to remove dead skin cells and impurities from your skin

Don’t Forget To Remove Your Makeup

Listen, I love wearing makeup, everyday! But going to bed with your makeup on is one of the worst crimes you can commit against your skin. 

All the makeup, sunscreen, and skincare products you applied in the morning, just settle down in your pores, making the perfect recipe for an acne breakout.

And no, using a face wash isn’t enough. I always suggest double cleansing.

So you have to firstly use an oil-based cleansing balm to remove makeup and impurities and then your regular face wash.

Related: Remove all that junk from your pores using these top Korean face wash for pores to keep your face acne-free

Use A Gentle Cleanser 

Speaking of cleansers, always use a gentle formula to wash your face everyday.

I personally prefer a water-based face wash as it suits my oily skin. But there are several face wash for dry skin that can help prevent acne as well.

Also look out for cleansers without any fragrances or sulfates as these are harsh on your skin.

A good Korean acne treatment cleanser should also have a low pH that matches skin’s natural acidity.  

Related: Try these Korean face wash for acne to match your skin’s low pH

Keep Your Skin Hydrated

A lot of Korean acne treatments contain ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, volcanic ash, etc. that dry out skin in the long run.

So don’t forget to give your acne-prone skin it’s required dose of moisture using a lightweight moisturizer for oily and acne prone skin.

Korean Acne Treatment 2022

Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream

This is one of the best Korean acne treatments out there if you want a quick response. 

The Pyunkang Yul Acne Spot Cream claims to reduce acne in just 12 hours. I was skeptical at first too. But it really delivered on its promise. 

Even looking at the minimalist, clean packaging which comes in a tube, you’ll see that this treatment looks more like medicine than a skincare product. 

There’s copper tripeptide and licorice extract that helps prevent breakouts, minimizes your pores, and fades any residual spots or blemishes.

Salicylic acid or BHA acts as a mild, chemical exfoliant that removes all traces of impurities and microbes that cause pimples and whiteheads. 

You’ll see that the cream consists mostly of natural ingredients, including rosemary leaf, green tea, Matricaria flower extract, and more. 

I found the cream to be a great anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent as well. So any infection or redness on your face is also reduced. 

Pros: 

• Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
• Unscented and suitable for sensitive skin
• Works quickly
• Mostly natural formula

Cons:

• Can be drying so use it only on smaller areas

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream

The one thing I’ve noticed about Korean acne treatment products is that they can get quite drying. But this isn’t the case with the COSRX Centella Blemish Cream. 

I loved how the cream felt moisturizing on my skin, so I could use it on a larger surface area and not just on acne spots. 

It contains centella asiatica leaf water that is hydrating but at the same time helps balance the sebum production on skin. 

So I’m not surprised to see that it’s one of the best selling Korean skincare products.

More than acne itself, this treatment is good to reduce the after-effects of a breakout. 

The Cosrx cream reduces redness, calms any sensitivities, and lightens any blemishes left behind by acne.

I felt it suited my sensitive skin very well as it did not contain any parabens. In fact, it seemed to reduce my acne scars significantly as well.

There’s also the fact that it’s vegan and cruelty free, so that’s another win for me. 

This product comes with a little spatula that you can use to hygienically apply the cream.

I’d like to add that there are fakes floating around online so be careful while you purchase. 

Look at the difference between an original and fake product below!

Pros: 

• Lightweight
• Matte feeling
• Good for sensitive skin
• Reduces redness and blemishes

Cons:

• More of an after-acne treatment

COSRX AC Collection Acne Patch

Cosrx is one of the Korean skin care brands ranking high for acne. So I tried out another one of their products.

And boy was this a good decision! Like I said, the Centella Blemish Cream is great for reducing acne scars and redness but not very good for quick breakout control.

So this product was a saving grace! These are hydrocolloid patches that are designed to soak up all impurities from acne, and leave skin clearer. 

I have also got the terrible habit of picking at my face, so these patches ensure my fingers don’t come in contact with the acne. So no more spreading infection!

The patches are also tapered in the edges, which is fantastic as I can use them on my jawline where most of my cystic acne occurs.

Just like the previous Cosrx cream, these patches also contain Centella Asiatica extracts, so they also help reduce any redness.

Pros: 

• Available in different sizes
• Soothe irritation
• Works quickly

Cons:

• Adhesive is strong, so you might have difficulty removing patches

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

So far, we’ve covered spot treatments, but what about a large breakout all over your face?

I decided to try out this very popular, cult K-beauty product to remove all that gunk and impurities from my face. 

As the name goes, this Innisfree mask contains volcanic clay from Korea’s Jeju island as it’s main ingredient.

Now, volcanic ash clusters are well known for their absorption properties. They are quite similar to activated charcoal in that area. 

They also help in minimizing the pores and absorbing excess oil from your face.

So I used this mask for the stipulated 20 minutes and the results were good. Yes, it’s not going to instantly remove acne, but regular use did help control breakouts.

There are no parabens, fragrances, or artificial dyes here, so I could use it on my sensitive skin without a worry.

My face is very oily, so I got away with using this twice a week. But it can be very drying for women with already dry skin. 

So I suggest limiting the use to 2-3 times a month or following up with a moisturizing toner and cream. 

Pros: 

• Removes excess oil
• Reduces pore size
• Clears acne caused due to bacterial infections

Cons:

• Can be drying in the long run
• No instant results for acne

Dr. Jart+ Teatreement Moisturizer

If you got acne, this is the best moisturizer that can treat your sensitive skin. It has a gel consistency that seeps in the skin in no time and balances the skin’s pH. 

I really like how it’s formulated with green tea and aloe vera extracts that soothes and calms the skin. 

The best part about Dr. Jart+ moisturizer is that it isn’t greasy.It also soothes the redness that results from acne. 

I love using this moisturizer for acne because of it’s healing properties. It has a light fragrance that is not irritating at all. 

This moisturizer also contains niacinamide which is the best ingredient for minimising pores, hyperpigmentation, as well as sun damage. 

Olive young acne patch

Olive young acne patch subsides pimples overnight. It’s a hydrocolloid sticker that eases getting rid of acne without popping. 

It’s very easy to stick and has a strong adhesive that sticks by. You’ll experience no redness or irritation while removing it for sure!

The patch is very thin and see-through. It works the best when put before going to bed as the zit gets to recover overnight. 

I found it to be a great deal as you get more than 100 patches in just about 10 dollars. 

The patches protect you from external pollutants like dust, water and other impurities. 

Banila Co Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Foam Cleanser

Banila Co pore cleanser works great for acne prone skin. It’s a light, non-striping product that deeply cleanses, purifies as well as refreshes the skin. 

It’s formulated with ​​natural amino surfactant, AHA, BHA and LHA that removes dead skin cells as well as soothes the skin. 

I was impressed by the formula as it contains no toxic ingredients like parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, as well as alcohol. 

This tri-acid peel relaxes face congestion, and maintains skin barrier without drying the skin out. 

It’s one of the best Korean acne treatments that actually worked on my skin.

Mizon Acne Blemish Out Spot Treatment

Mizon Acne treatment cream works amazingly well if you’re worried about the spots left behind by acne. 

I got this treatment as it’s formulated with BHA and AHA that removes excess sebum and dead skin cells. The pink layer is based on calamine that reduces redness and skin irritation. 

It’s dermatologically tested and safe to be used by all skin types. It’s very easy to apply and it’s recommended to be applied at night. 

The best part is that it calms all the skin troubles and keeps the skin healthy. 

Acne is not fun. But with the right Korean acne treatment and skincare routine, it’s very manageable. 

I suggest using a hydrocolloid patch to prevent infection during the day, and following up with a spot treatment overnight. 

Following a regular skin care routine also helps keep skin free from acne breakouts in the first place.

Also Read:

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