Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by oily skin.
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Oily skin has been my arch-nemesis since middle school. I’ve had and still have into my late twenties oily skin – I’m just a very “dewy” person, OK! On top of that, my skin is also sensitive, a real win-win genetic combo. Over the years, thankfully, I’ve learned how to take care of oily skin. Although I’m no medical expert, hopefully you can pick up a few tips from my Korean skin care routine.
In high school before I knew about proper skin care, I would try to cover up oil by plopping on a drug store foundation every morning. I grew up in the Florida heat and humidity, so no wonder my face kept getting worse and worse. Oy, who can relate?
First, Let’s Talk Skin Care Basics 101
First of all, you should go to a dermatologist, discuss your medical history, and learn more about your skin. I have oily and sensitive skin, so I’m cautious with what products I put on my face. Different chemicals can have mixed reactions when combined.
You may want to try that new serum that promises a radiant glow overnight, but your skin may think overwise and break you. My #1 key skin care takeaway is to stay informed on what’s actually in the ingredients. Whenever I’m interested in a product, I use my Think Dirty app to lookup product ingredients.
Whether you’re into clean beauty or just want to know what the hell you’re putting on your face, this app is a must-have. Type in a product and you’ll be shown the ingredients and how clean or dirty they are on a scale of 0-10. Additionally, you can click on the ingredient and see why it’s considered clean or dirty. Think Dirty is a great simple way to understand the science behind your skin care products.
What is a good skin care routine for oily skin?
Your skin care routine will change with age, rather than just focusing on products right now, first implement a skin care method you can change as you age. How much money have you blown on skin care just for your skin to worsen or see no results? The Korean skin care routine for oily skin is my tried and true step by step routine. I’ve been using the method for years now, and it’s not only changed my skin; it’s given me a skin care foundation I can use for ages to come.
10 Step Korean Skincare Routine
The Korean skin care routine is a method, not just a list of Korean skin care products. The best part about it is that you customize the method to your skin type and needs. It’s not about having more products than you can count, but rather about having the right products that do the right things and using them in the correct order to achieve beautiful, healthy skin no matter your age.
I know you’re probably thinking there’s no way I have the time, patience, or budget to keep up with ten steps every day. You don’t need to blow a month’s rent at Sephora, and you don’t need to spend an hour each day on your skin care. Not all of the ten steps in the Korean skin care routine require daily application, and max you’ll be spending 10-15 minutes a night on it.
Do you have 10-15 minutes a day for better, less oily skin? I think so.
Below are the Korean skin care ten steps for oily skin in order of application. These products must be applied in the correct order to work correctly fully. Skin care products should always be applied lightest to heaviest, so the products can layer an absorb into the skin.
Oil Cleanser
Wait I have oily skin, why am I pitting more oil on my face! Skin care oils have a bad rap; however, they are excellent for all skin types to purify the skin. Oil attracts oil and debris sitting on your skin like a magnet, so it can be an effective way to lift away and dissolve stubborn makeup or anything sitting on your face. That being said, not all oils are created equal, make sure the oil’s ingredients don’t include ahem, coconut, wheat germ, cottonseed, these will clog your pores up even more.
Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil
I’ve been using this one for years and can’t live without it. It literally melts my makeup and the days dirt off my face. Plus it feels silky smooth and leaves my skin soft and hydrated. $33
Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Gentle and great for sensitive skin. Caudalie uses natural ingredients such as moisturizing grape and sweet almond to never irritate skin while effectively cleansing. $28
Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
Luxurious and contains Japanesse Camellia Oil. Excellent source of Vitamins A, B, D and E and nourishing Omegas 3, 6, and 9, this f botanical oil has been prized in Asia for centuries for its superb moisturizing and antioxidant activity. $48
Water-Based Cleanser
The second step in the Korean skin care routine is to double cleanse after an oil cleanser. Follow up with a water-based cleanser to remove anything the oil cleanser missed. This step has truly changed my skin, once my skin had been properly cleansed, the natural oils didn’t overdevelop as before, and my pores are a lot cleaner. Use your oil + water cleanser every day 1-2 times a day, depending on your skin needs.
Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser
Gentle and contains moisturizing grape and purifying sage. This foaming cleanser smells amazing and the foamy cloud feels luxe on your skin. $28
NEOGENLAB Real Fresh Foam
This green tea cleanser is a favorite of mine as green tea is known to reduces irritation and redness in sensitive skin. It even has real tea leaves at the bottom of the bottle and a steal at $19.
Cosrx- Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Formulated with a low PH of 5.0 – 6.0. Contains tea-tree oil and natural BHA that shrinks the sizes of pores and and refines the skin’s texture. A perfect gentle cleanser for oily skin. $10
Exfoliation
Having the right exfoliator can be a game-changer for your skin. Depending on your skin type, you can use a physical or a chemical exfoliant. Exfoliation is the key to removing dead skin that can clog up pores and cause oil to build. The best part is, this step does not need to be done every day, 1-2 times a week will suffice unless otherwise advised by your dermatologist.
If you have sensitive skin, scrubs or physical exfoliants can be rather harsh on the skin and can leave you red. If this is the case, choose a chemical exfoliant with a low percentage of glycolic acid.
What is Glycolic Acid and How to Use It
Glycolic acid is an AHA, or Alpha Hydroxy Acid. It’s a water soluble acid and an ingredient that increases luminosity of the skin because it exfoliates the outermost dead layer of the skin. The term “acid” can be scary, but I promise if used correctly you’ll be in love with the results. When Glycolic acid is used at the right percentage and when done appropriately, it’s a much gentler way to exfoliate the skin than traditional scrubs.
Once a week I like to add in an extra exfoliation, a clay mask to really suck all the NYC dirt out of my skin from the week prior.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel
A beauty cult favorite, Dr. Dennis Gross Aplha Beta daily peel is a two-step daily treatment for clinical results at home. Carefully selected dose of 3 AHA/BHAs plus antioxidants and vitamins lift away dead skin & impurities, while improving uneven tone, texture, and hydration. This product can be rather strong , I recommend getting samples at Sephora first before purchasing as it’s a more expensive product. $85
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
My personal favorite. A chemical exfoliant with glycolic acid that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin types and daily use without causing irritation and redness to the skin. $34
Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator
A natural physical scrub exfoliant that instantly removes dead skin and leaves you glowing and pores clean. $35
Caudalie Instant Detox Clay Mask
Caudalie’s Instant Detox Clay Mask is a great way to end your week and cleanse all the impurities out of your skin. This rose clay mask uses papaya enzymes to brighten and minimize pores while tannins tighten pores. After 10 minutes the clay will harden and you’ll be able to see all the pores on your face tighten. $39
GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD® Glow Stimulating & Exfoliating Treatment Mask
Made of volcanic rock and natural clay this mask intensely exfoliates within 10 minutes. You may feel a bit of a throbbing sensation while your face feels super tight, but that just means the mask is doing its thing. I personally was blown away after using this after one try, the exfoliation went deep into my pores and my skin was left baby soft. $59
Control Corrective Sensitive Skin Enzyme Mask
If you have sensitive skin and clay masks irritate your skin, an enzyme mask is a great alternative. This Control Corrective Sensitive Skin Enzyme mask not only softens and calms irritated skin on contact but also dissolves residual dead skin cell build-up with its silky texture. I personally switch on and off from a clay mask and this enzyme mask to not overwork my skin. Unlike clay masks enzyme masks don’t dry up, they lightly harden while still powerfully removing dead skin. $52
Toner
Now that you have cleansed and exfoliated your face, it’s time to seal all that up and prep with Toner. Toner is a crucial step in the Korean skin care routine for oily skin, as it repairs your skin’s barrier to absorb products into your skin better. With oily skin, look for a toner with a PH level of 5.5. The skin typically has a PH level between 4-6 but with cleansing and exfoliating that can throw your skin off and leave it dry or irritated. Apply right after you cleanse or exfoliate with a cotton pad and let dry.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir Face Mist
With scents like peppermint and rosemary this elixir not only smells amazing but tightness pores, sets makeup, and makes for a travel toiletry staple. $49
ACWELL Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner
This toner is balanced at the ideal PH level of 5.5 to ensure your skin is balanced. Peony extract and a high concentration of licorice water, both natural brighteners. Green tea extract also helps calm and reduce pigmentation, including acne scars and dark spots. $18
Essence
Essences are like a primer for your moisturizer essentially and have similar qualities of serums. The silky watery texture is concentrated and penetrates the skin to re-balance the skin and hydrate it. Essences are essential for oily skin because if the skin isn’t properly balanced or hydrated, it starts overproducing oils. Plainly speaking, an essence is predominantly used to bolster the benefits of all the other products in your routine.
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Mini
SK-II is one of the most luxurious and popular essences on the market. Packed with over 50 micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and natural acids to condition skin it’s worth the $99 price tag.
NEOGEN Real Ferment Micro Essence
Contains more than 93% naturally fermented ingredients, including bifida ferment lysate and 28% saccharomyces ferment filtrate, to deliver instant moisture and skin-plumping benefits. A steal at $38 for all the skin quenching benefits.
Treatments
Treatments are the step to treat any specific skin concerns you might have like acne, fine lines, or hyperpigmentation. If none of these apply to you, feel free to skip. The Korean skin care method is about quality, not quantity.
Sheet Masks
Once again, the key to healthy well-balanced skin, and say it with me is HYDRATION HYDRATION HYDRATION.
Sheet masks are like hydration on steroids. Place a cool sheet mask on your face once a week for 15-20 minutes and let the nutrients and moisture fully absorb into your skin. If you have sensitive skin, this is a great way to calm your irritation. Sheet masks also a must in your travel toiletries, as traveling, especially in-flight, sucks all the moisture out of your skin.
MEDIHEAL H.D.P Photoready Tightening Charcoal Mask
Binchotan charcoal helps to alleviate unwanted shine while cleansing pores of built-up oils in just 15 minutes.
MEDIHEAL Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Sheet Mask
Willow bark exfoliates pore buildup, rosemary purifies and tea tree oil targets breakouts, while chamomile and asiatic pennywort work to visibly soothe redness.
Eye Cream
Creams can be a nightmare when you have oily skin because they can leave your skin shiny, more oily, and sticky. However, at the same time, you need them in your life to smooth out your skin and stay hydrated; it’s more of a love-hate relationship, no?
Eye creams are essential because who likes crows-feet or dark circles? The area around your eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on your face, so it’s necessary to take care of it.
OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème
Packed with Vitamin C and Collagen, this eye cream reduces fine lines and brightness under eyes for a glowing “I woke up like this” look. $39
Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Certified clean by Sephora. This hydrating eye cream with Marine Algae Complex reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as few as seven days. $54
Moisturizer
One skincare ingredient that I can’t live without for my oily skin is hyaluronic acid. Much like sheet masks, hyaluronic acid is a powerhouse of hydration and should most definitely be in your moisturizer.
What is Hyaluronic Acid
So what is this magic ingredient? Hyaluronic acid is a molecule bound to collagen that occurs naturally in the skin. It binds to water to plump up your skin and give it that dewy, glowy effect. Best of all, it’s none irritating so great for all skin types. As we age, we lose collagen, so hyaluronic acid is essential to keep our skin’s elasticity. I love these moisturizers, they work great in the winter for dry skin and in the summer to even out the moisture.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
A 30 percent hyaluronic acid complex cream that drenches skin in moisture and helps lock in hydration for up to 72 hours—even after cleansing. $52
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel
A budget-friendly hyaluronic acid moisturizer that keeps skin plump and hydrated all day. $16
SPF
Face SPF 50+ needs to be part of your daily routine if you leave the house. No one likes wrinkles, sun spots, or worse cancer! SPF’s, however, can be greasy and harsh on the skin, so it’s essential to choose wisely. I prefer sun milk as it block UV rays and do a great job of keeping my fave moisturized without that greasy feeling.
Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk
This sun milk SPF 50 is non-greasy and lasts all day in sweat and water without leaving your skin dry. $17
Supergoop!
Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Certified Clean SPF 40 sunscreen that lasts through sweat and water for 40 minutes. Best of all it won’t clog your pores and is reef safe! $34
Overall Tips: Korean Skin Care Routine for Oily Skin
- See a Dermatologist and discuss what’s right for your skin vs. what’s not.
- Know what’s in your products before buying them.
- Double cleanse, exfoliate, tone, and moisturize at the very least!
- Exfoliating and stabilizing the moisture in your skin is KEY to minimizing oil production.
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Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love.
