**I glass skin all smoke & mirrors?**

korean skincare acne routine — Image Credit: restoredskincare.co.uk

In an age where we, the consumers, demand beauty brands to leave Photoshop and airbrush behind in a quest for unfiltered skin we can relate to, the ever-flawless "glass skin" is still ubiquitous in the world of K-beauty, with barely any acne or spot in sight (trying to find unretouched product photos by any Korean beauty brands is close to impossible). Yet, acne remains one of the most prevalent skin concerns worldwide, and while it's a popular belief that Koreans have "flawless skin", acne is as much a reality in South Korea as it is around the world: According to the first-ever global study on the epidemiology of acne which was published this year (February 2024) in the Journal of American Dermatology, 1 in 5 people worldwide are battling acne, with women being slightly more affected than men (Pierre Fabre Laboratories, 2024). The study also showed that us acne-prone girls and boys experience comparatively more physical and mental fatigue, and difficulty sleeping, and also tend to cancel social events more frequently because of the discomfort and shame that often go hand in hand with acne.

Ok, I know these stats might be a bit depressing but I wanted to share them nevertheless before we get into all the good moisturizers your acne-prone skin will love because rather than yet another product listicle featuring Korean skincare products meant to help "fix" your acne, I would love for this blog post to give you comfort in knowing that, as with all skin issues, you're not going through it alone and that many people globally are facing the same battle.

Moisturizers featured:

1. Dr.G: R.E.D Blemish Clear (Soothing) Cream 🫧

2. APRILSKIN: Carrotene Clarifying Cream🥕

3. Torriden: Balanceful Cica Cream 🌿

4. Medicube: Red Cream 👹

5. Dear, Klairs: Midnight Blue Calming Cream🌙

6. ETUDE: Soon Jung 10-Free Moist Emulsion 🌊

7. ROUND LAB: Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream 🌳

8. Beauty of Joseon: Red Bean Water Gel 🫘

9. COSRX: Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream 🐌

10. ROVECTIN: Cica Care Blemish Clearing Cream 🎀

Disclaimer: This is an independent blog post that expresses my professional opinion as a cosmetics marketer. None of the featured brands compensated me for reviewing their products. I was not sponsored to write this post nor received or accepted any products/PR packages. For SEO purposes, the word 'skincare' is occasionally written as 'skin care'.

Korean moisturizers won't"clear your skin"

A little disclaimer/rant before I introduce you to K-Beauty moisturizers that you'll actually love using: As a cosmetics marketer who wants to help you get the most bang for your buck, I always recommend getting a prescription retinoid such as tretinoin or adapalene to treat your acne properly and take a clinically proven, holistic approach to healing your breakouts as well as improving your overall skin health. After years of being a little bit scared (edit: more like terrified haha) of the infamous purge, I'm finally on a 0.1% Differin prescription (cream base) and it has made the biggest difference in visibly transforming my acne-prone skin for the better day by day (side note: Differin is prescription-free in the US and can be bought very affordably at most drug stores!).

So while finding an effective moisturizer can definitely help calm your skin while you're going through an acne breakout or the purging stage that comes with topical acne treatments/oral acne medication, relying on moisturizers as an acne treatment does not make the most sense as a face cream is supposed to be the supporting character, the second male lead if you will in your acne healing journey. It is meant to enhance your acne skin care routine but you also can't expect too much from it in terms of healing the chronic condition that is acne. So any advertising or branded social post by either Western or Korean skincare brands that promise you "clear glass skin" after daily use of their moisturizer, whether it contains active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, or not, as a cosmetics marketer, I'd say: RUN!

“Face cream is supposed to be the supporting character, the second male lead if you will in your acne healing journey. ”

What's your (skin) type?

korean skincare pores — Image Credit: teenvogue.com

And lastly, Western or K-beauty products, particularly facial creams, don't necessarily have to state marketing terminology such as "non-comedogenic", or "not pore clogging", etc. on their packaging because whether or not a moisturizer works for your acne-prone skin has more to do with your individual skin type and condition as well as with the overall formulation and ingredients. That's why we made sure to include not only gel-type creams that people with acne-prone oily skin tend to enjoy but also richer creams for people with acne-prone dry or aging skin.

Like most other skincare products, moisturizers are unfortunately trial and error (RIP our wallets), meaning what clogs someone else's pores might work wonders for your skin. That's why it's so tricky to purchase a moisturizer after watching a couple of "best moisturizers for acne-prone skin" Reels or TikToks. Most of the time, Western as well as K-beauty skincare influencers talk about their own experience with products and even if they honestly share a product that helped with their acne, you might not be able to get the same results as different skin types + one's overall skin condition are usually not taken into consideration. So to help you find your right moisturizer match with minimal to no search, we've created this comprehensive guide that categorizes all of our K-beauty moisturizer top picks using skin type tags, so watch out for these:

Skin type tags:

Acne-prone oily skin (incl. hormonal acne)

Acne-prone combination skin

Acne-prone sensitive skin types

Acne-prone dry skin (drier skin types)

Acne-prone aging skin (fine lines + wrinkles)

Dr.G

R.E.D Blemish Clear (Soothing) Cream

Acne-prone oily skin * Acne-prone combination skin * Acne-prone sensitive skin types

This moisturizer is a multi-award winner, and Olive Young bestseller and has been ranked highly on Korea's Hawhae app for years: It's a gel-type cream that is actually marketed towards acne-prone skin but what is great about it, is that it doesn't come loaded with actives like many other "acne moisturizers", meaning it is on the more gentle side, focusing on calming redness and inflammation in the skin rather than harshly fighting acne breakouts.

Formulated with 10 different types of cica including asiaticoside, madecassoside and centella asiatica extract, this moisturizer also adds mushroom-derived beta-glucan to soothe the skin, as well as green tea catechins for added antioxidant qualities which also make it a great fit if you have acne-prone sensitive skin.
In a small trial done by Dr. G, the moisturizer was also able to reduce sebum by 20% and oil secretion by 27% which is good news for all of us oily girls and boys. While many creams that achieve these results tend to have a not-so-nice feel and overall finish, people have reported over and over again that this moisturizer actually feels deeply hydrating and gives a glowing, yet not sticky finish. This might be due to the "ultrafine particles" that, according to Dr. G, are smaller in size than the average pore and help the ingredients penetrate deeply into your skin layers.
To avoid any confusion, there are currently two versions of this cream on the market: The R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream feels slightly thicker compared to the R.E.D Blemish Clear Cream, which is a special edition that was originally launched for Korean military bases but still has a huge cult following, yet only a few retailers sell this particular version globally. Keeping all this in mind, both formulations are quite similar so you can't really go wrong with either in my opinion.

APRILSKIN

Carrotene Clarifying Cream

Acne-prone dry skin * Acne-prone aging skin (fine lines + wrinkles)

aprilskin reviews — Image Credit: aprilskin.com.sg

This moisturizer is not only amazing for treating your acne and evening out your skin tone over time on your way to more radiant skin but is also great if you toyed with the idea of getting started on a prescription-strength retinoid but feel safer to dabble in non-prescription strength vitamin A-ish products first.

This moisturizer contains beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A in the form of carrot water at 10,000PPM, as well as carrot seed oil, and carrot extract.
It is also an amazing cream if you have acne-prone aging skin as it comes formulated with 3 different types of peptides including acetyl hexapeptide, copper peptide, and palmitoyl pentapeptide that help boost your skin's elasticity and firmness but please keep in mind that this is, after all, "just" a moisturizer. For dramatic anti-aging effects and visible wrinkle reduction, nothing beats prescription-strength, clinically proven retinoid products.
The cream has a rich, yet not too heavy consistency and also packs a punch for deeply moisturized skin by adding NMF, also known as natural moisturizing factors in the form of betaine, beta-glucan, as well as soothing panthenol.
As with anything that contains something that can potentially irritate acne-prone skin, I'd recommend you patch test this particular moisturizer on a small area of your skin before applying it to your entire face, if this is your first time using a product that contains a form of vitamin A.

Torriden

Balanceful Cica Cream

Acne-prone oily skin (including hormonal acne) * Acne-prone combination skin * Acne-prone sensitive skin

Torriden is one of those Korean skincare brands that's loved both domestically and globally for its replenishing, yet luxurious feeling products that still manage to have a reasonable price point.

Lisa's tip: YesStyle offers a travel size for around $5 so you can try first before committing to the full size which I love because moisturizers can get pricy.
This moisturizer with a lightweight formula is an excellent choice if you're looking for a light yet moisturizing daytime face cream that can double as a primer, no pilling, yay!
If you're currently on drying oral or topical acne medication/treatments or have hormonal acne, try and see whether you need another, thicker moisturizer for the nighttime. But if your skin is on the more oily side, this cream might work as a day-and-night cream for you.
The gel-type cream garnered rave reviews on Korea's Hwahae app and is also loved globally for its ability to soothe redness and inflammation and not cause or exacerbate acne breakouts in most people.
Torriden formulated this moisturizer with its patented T-Percent™ Calming Complex that allows its natural ingredients such as centella asiatica and madecassic acid to penetrate deep into your pores to counteract breakouts using a skincare technology called T-TECA drop system.

Medicube

Red Cream

Acne-prone dry skin (drier skin types) * Acne-prone aging skin (fine lines + wrinkles)

medicube skincare routine — Image Credit: hktvmall.com

Known for its best-selling beauty devices such as the Age-R Booster backed by many (majorly sponsored) influencer reviews, Medicube is a Korean beauty tech and skincare brand that blew up on TikTok around 2020 with fun skits that featured its CEO and employees re-creating K-drama plots together and even launching iconic limited edition photo cards.

Their Red Cream is an interesting and somewhat rare acne moisturizer in a market dominated by gel-type creams because it caters to people who experience acne but have drier or aging skin and are looking for a formula that is on the richer end with the ability to fight acne-causing bacteria. It's also a true winner if you're currently on drying retinoids such as Tretinoin or Adapalene and need a nourishing cream that can support your skin's moisture barrier.
Formulated with the evergreen BHA salicylic acid, as well as levulinic acid, Medicube tested the moisturizer in a small clinical trial to reduce sebum secretion by 17% and remove dead skin cells by 83.8% while simultaneously improving signs of a damaged moisture barrier.
Another ingredient I haven't seen in a lot of Korean acne products is called ovalicin, which is a fermented extract of cordyceps militarist, also known as the caterpillar mushroom, which is used to balance your skin's sebum production.
The cream is also enriched with 4-Terpineol which is one of the active ingredients in tea tree oil, and comes with Medicube's trademarked ingredient ACZERO™ meant to further target breakouts + acne ingredients classic any acne girlie or boy loves such as shea butter, niacinamide, and zinc to boost the cream's anti-inflammatory properties.

Dear, Klairs

Midnight Blue Calming Cream

Acne-prone combination skin * Acne-prone sensitive skin * Acne-prone dry skin

klairs moisturizer for oily skin — Image Credit: klairscosmetics.com

Klairs Might Blue Korean skincare line is not specifically marketed towards acne but positions itself as a redness relief cream suitable after skin irritation or even sun burns, yet, over the years, it has become a celebrated and much-beloved staple in the acne skincare routine of many, with people swearing by the cream doing an excellent job at calming inflammation, and breakouts.

Lisa's tip: As this moisturizer is on the pricier side, I recommend you try their face mask from the same line first before committing to the full size.
This K-beauty cult classic is not only great at moisturizing oily skin and extremely sensitive skin but also the perfect choice if you're using stronger prescription retinoids such as Tretinoin or Adapalene as it is formulated with moisture barrier strengthening ceramides (which are pricy to formulate with, hence the higher price point, which, in my opinion as a cosmetics marketer, is totally justified here.). If you have drier skin, this moisturizer might not be rich enough during the colder months of the year BUT you could give this moisturizer a try during the warmer summer months,
One of the cream's most unique ingredients that give it its stunning light blue color (all natural, no color additives!) and helps visibly soothe angry blemishes, and underlying inflammation, all while noticeably cooling down your skin is called guaiazulene, which is a botanical derivative of chamomile oil.
And it wasn't a K-beauty acne product if it wouldn't come with the classic centella asiatica which helps enhance the quality of the other soothing ingredients.

ETUDE

Soon Jung 10-Free Moist Emulsion

Acne-prone combination skin * Acne-prone sensitive skin types * Acne-prone skin with hormonal acne

soon jung moisturizer — Image Credit: etude.com

As part of Korean cosmetics conglomerate Amorepacific ETUDE has been formulating since 1985 and their Soon Jung line was specifically created to cater to sensitive skin, being free from mineral oils, parabens, artificial colorings, fragrance, and other additives that might be irritating to extremely sensitive skin (side note: As a marketer, I'm not a fan of "free from"-marketing claims in beauty but when it comes to acne, being extremely selective with ingredients CAN help some people in their healing journey so it is a good thing I guess that ETUDE caters to this approach with their hypoallergenic Soon Jung line).

Made for everyday use, this moisturizer is again one of these products that aren't marketed towards acne-prone skin, yet it is not only a great choice if you have acne-prone combination and sensitive skin but could also help soothe your skin if you're struggling with hormonal acne and are looking to avoid any potentially triggering ingredients (I know I've been there!).
The lotion-like formula feels lightweight and comes with ETUDE's patented ingredient named Panthensoside™ which fuses madecassoside, a compound of centella asiatica loaded with fatty acids and amino acids with soothing panthenol, which makes this cream a wonderful pick if you're going through harsh topical acne treatment.

Round Lab

Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream

Acne-prone sensitive skin types * Acne-prone dry skin (drier skin types) * Acne-prone skin with hormonal acne

round lab moisturizer for oily skin — Image Credit: @round.lab

You probably know the packaging of Roun Lab from their holy grail sunscreen but if you have acne-prone sensitive skin or dry skin, you might also want to try their moisturizers, with this one being rated as one of the best Korean moisturizers on the Hwahae app.

Key ingredients of this moisturizer include sap from silver birch trees in Korea's mountainous Inje region that is wrapped in a collagen moisture capsule and is supposed to help support a healthy skin barrier. This makes the cream amazing especially if you have acne-prone sensitive and dry skin, or are currently going through drying retinoid topical treatment.
Lisa's tip: Round Lab also has sheet masks for their Birch Juice line which comes with the same above ingredients like birch juice and hyaluronic acid so if you're not sure yet whether this formulation will work well for your acne-prone skin, it could be a good idea to get a couple of these masks first to try out how your skin reacts to it.
According to Round Lab, daily use of this moisturizer can also help lower your skin's sebum and oil production by roughly 20% which is great news if you have acne-prone oily skin and are hunting for a new cream that helps you keep your breakouts in check.

Beauty of Joseon

Red Bean Water Gel

Acne-prone oily skin (including hormonal acne) * Acne-prone combination skin

beauty of joseon acne safe — Image Credit: @beautyofjoseon_official

When you hear Beauty of Joseon, the first product that comes to mind is probably their viral sunscreen. Contrary to the hype on TikTok and Instagram, this sunscreen actually does not always work for acne-prone skin: There are multiple Reddit as well as comment threads of people sharing their breakouts experiences with this sunscreen, which makes sense as it does have a thicker consistency that can (but doesn't have to!) clog pores. So it's nice that Beauty of Joseon launched their first water gel moisturizer for people with breakout-prone skin, which is probably the lightest cream featured here.

Technically speaking, this very affordable gel cream doesn't fall into the category of "oil-free moisturizers" as it contains sunflower seed oil but it nevertheless does not feel greasy or sticky on the skin.
Formulated with 44% red bean extract from Korea's agricultural region of Haenam in the Jeolla Province, an ingredient that was used and loved by women of the Joseon dynasty, this gel was formulated to help your skin maintain its water-oil balance by absorbing excess sebum.
What I also love about this gel cream and what I usually know only from thicker, creamy formulations is that it is enriched with a peptide complex which is amazing if you have acne-prone oily skin or combination skin but are looking to include some anti-aging champions into your skincare routine. Yet again: For dramatic anti-aging results, you will need to start exploring retinoids, as this light moisturizer can only do so much and will not visibly reverse your fine lines and wrinkles.

COSRX

Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

Acne-prone oily skin * NOT recommended for hormonal acne * Acne-prone combination skin

cosrx acne moisturizer — Image Credit: sokoglam.com

A word of caution upfront: snail mucin, the main component of this moisturizer, either works wonders for people with acne-prone skin or leads to mean breakouts, there's very little middle ground with this one. I've seen multiple Reddit threads of people who tend to get cystic pimples not having a good time with this ingredient BUT at the same time, I've also heard success stories of it helping people's acne tremendously so there's that.

Formulated with 92% of snail secretion filtrate, as well as allantoin and panthenol to help soothe your skin, this light cream is a great choice if you're looking for a light-weight, yet nourishing moisturizer.
COSRX also enriched the cream with adenosine to improve overall skin texture and help boost your skin's collagen production + it in general sports a VERY short ingredients list, which, for some people with acne-prone skin, can be quite helpful.
I've also seen reviews of people sharing how introducing snail mucin into their skincare routine has helped with fading their dark spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Lisa's tip: The formula comes in a jar and tub version: For hygienic reasons, I'd always recommend the tub version, it's also lighter for when you're traveling! + COSRX offers this formula as sheet masks so if you want to try before committing to a full-size product, they're great for testing the waters.

ROVECTIN

Cica Care Blemish Clearing Cream