There’s a fine line between oily skin and dewy skin. And these top Korean serum for oily skin can help you get that dewy skin you’ve always wanted!
Oily skin needs a bit of TLC. You put too much or the wrong stuff, and you’re going to be sitting like an oily duck with lots of acne. But if you use the right skincare products, you will have skin that doesn’t break out into acne, and looks fresh the whole day.
Serums play an important role in taking care of your skin. Korean serums are made of ingredients that penetrate the layers of your skin and nourish it the way a normal moisturizer cannot.
Which is the best Korean serum for oily skin?
I tested several Korean serum formulated for oily skin to find the best one. I tested them based on its hydrating and moisturizing power, formula, ingredients, and application. I found that Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum is the best Korean serum for oily skin.
Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum contains green tea seed that is rich in anti-oxidants that fight free radicals and keep signs of aging away. It is also infused with camellia leaf extract, citrus peel extracts and orchid extracts soften the skin to improve skin texture, and make the skin radiant. It is available on Amazon and costs $22.75
How to choose a serum?
There are various serums that target different needs, so you gotta choose depending on what issue you want to address. For instance, choose an antioxidant serum for slowing down the ageing process, or if you have pigmented skin, use an exfoliating serum with AHA for reducing the pigmentation and brightening your skin.
Read on for the reviews of the top Korean serums for oily skin:
Best Korean Serum For Oily Skin
Our Best Picks For Top Korean Serum For Oily Skin
- Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum – Rich in antioxidants
- Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum – Soothes the skin and reduces inflammation
- Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum – Regulates skin’s oil production to prevent clogged pores
| Top Korean Serum for Oily Skin | Price | Link |
| Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum | $23.49 | View On Amazon |
| SKINMISO Pore Minimizing Serum | $21.00 | View On Amazon |
| Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum | $16.89 | View On Amazon |
| Meebak Cica Face Serum | $19.97 | View On Amazon |
| 9 Wishes Hydra Skin Ampoule Serum | $17.48 | View On Amazon |
| COSRX Propolis Light Ampule | $21.99 | View On Amazon |
| Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum | $21.00 | View On Amazon |
| The Face Shop Whiteseed Brightening Serum | $30.00 | View On Amazon |
| PURITO Centella Green Level Buffet Serum | $16.17 | View On Amazon |
| SOME BY MI Aha.Bha.Pha 30 Days Miracle Serum | $15.97 | View On Amazon |
Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum
Our first pick for top Korean serum for oily skin is the Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum. Oily skin needs a serum that does not make it oilier, yet moisturizes it and refreshes it. Innisfree has found the perfect ingredient in the form of green tea seed that supplies your skin with loads of antioxidants while also hydrating it.
Benefits:
- The active ingredient, green tea seed has antioxidant properties that fight free radical damage and keeps your skin looking youthful
- The minerals in green tea seed nourish your skin from within
- The other ingredients like camellia leaf extract, citrus peel extracts and orchid extracts give the skin a smooth texture and a subtle glow
- Skin feels hydrated and refreshed on using this serum
Pros:
- Gentle and safe on oily skin
SKINMISO Pore Minimizing Serum
One big problem oily skin faces constantly are enlarged pores. Heavy creams can clog these pores or your skin ends up producing more sebum, leading to breakouts. Skinmiso’s pore minimizing serum tackles this with a light and gentle serum that helps tighten your skin. Definitely one of the top Korean serum for oily skin!
Benefits:
- The active ingredients in this serum are hyaluronic acid, witch hazel extract and allantoin
- Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture and keeps the skin hydrated without making it oily
- Witch Hazel extract soothes the skin, reduces inflammation and reduces blemishes
- It also has antibacterial properties that keep acne away
- Allantoin stimulates cell regeneration, helping skin repair itself
- Skin looks tighter and pores are visibly smaller quite immediately
Pros:
- Minimises pores and helps reduce acne
Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum
Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum is our next top Korean serum for oily skin. It is a serum that also doubles as an exfoliator, leaving you with well-hydrated, tighter, more supple, younger and brighter skin.
Benefits:
- The active ingredient is AHA or glycolic acid
- It exfoliates the skin, getting rid of dead skin cells and reduces the appearance of blemishes and dark spots
- Contains papaya which removes tan and lightens the skin
- Other ingredients like panthenol hydrate the skin, aloe along with Portulaca Oleracea extract soothes the skin and reduces inflammation, and arnica extract keeps acne and skin infections away
Pros:
- Brightens the skin and makes it smoother
Cons:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin as the AHA can cause irritation and damage
Meebak Cica Face Serum
This top Korean serum for oily skin, Meebak, is the new kid on the Korean skincare block with its innovative products that combine modern technology with traditional science. The Cica face serum is super gentle on your skin, while supplying it with essential nutrients.
Benefits:
- The main ingredient, cica has been known for its role in treating skin infections like eczema, psoriasis and for healing scars
- It is very gentle and its antibacterial properties keep the skin clear of acne and other possible infections
- It’s a good anti-inflammatory agent and it cools the skin, reducing redness and rashes
- The other ingredients are retinol that firms the skin, hyaluronic acid that hydrates, niacinamide that brightens the skin and fig extracts that exfoliate the skin
Pros:
- A suitable product for sensitive skin
Pair it with a Korean toner specially formulated for oily skin. Check it out here!
9 Wishes Hydra Skin Ampoule Serum
Oily skin does not necessarily mean that your skin is well hydrated. Lots of times, oily skin is dehydrated because we are afraid of using moisturizers and serums that might end up making the skin look worse. Try our next top Korean serum for oily skin, 9 Wishes Hydra Skin Ampoule Serum, which is a good solution for the problem.
Benefits:
- The primary ingredients are ceramides and hyaluronic acid. While the former moisturises, the latter locks in this moisture and keeps the skin hydrated
- Squalane Phyto Oligo is the other ingredient that is also an excellent moisturiser that deeply penetrates. It also soothes the skin and reduces swelling, rashes and redness
- Has coconut water that hydrates the skin
- The serum has antioxidants which make this a great anti-ageing serum as well
Pros:
- Perfect for sensitive and dehydrated skin
COSRX Propolis Light Ampule Serum
A couple of drops of our next top Korean serum for oily skin, COSRX Propolis Light Ampule serum, is all you need for rich hydration and supple, glowing skin. Light and easily absorbed, this nourishes your oily skin without making it look greasy. You could call this a medicine to keep acne away!
Benefits:
- Black propolis is the primary ingredient that is known for its antibacterial properties
- Keeps acne away and heals the breakouts that have erupted on your skin
- The anti inflammatory properties help calm the skin, reduce the temperature of your skin, bring down swelling and redness
- The serum has no fragrances that could trigger acne
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic, can be used by acne prone and sensitive skin
Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum
Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum is a best seller and that is no surprise. This serum is a miracle for your skin, evening out the texture, smoothening it and nourishing it to keep it healthy.
Benefits:
- Hyaluronic acid is one of the active ingredients that is perfect for oily skin as it hydrates without causing the skin to produce more sebum
- The other two active ingredients are licorice extracts and lotus flower extracts
- While licorice is used in many herbal remedies to soothe the skin and bring down redness and irritation, lotus flower extracts brighten your skin, supply it with vitamin C and help even the skin tone
Pros:
- Great for hot places and for summers as the serum cools the skin down
Check out this top Korean serum for oily skin below!
Related: Troubled with acne? Check out these Korean serums for acne prone skin!
THE FACE SHOP Whiteseed Brightening Serum
THE FACE SHOP Whiteseed Brightening Serum is a serum that you can use for getting rid of dark spots and blemishes left behind by acne. It hydrates the skin just right to ensure that you don’t develop further acne.
Benefits:
- Contains GMO free whiteseed extract that is traditionally used for lightening the skin’s complexion
- The primary ingredients are niacinamide to brighten the skin and HR Hexylresorcinol that reduces the appearance of blemishes. It evens out the skin tone
- Panthenol and Hyaluronic acid are the best moisturisers for oily skin as they hold back water and provide the skin with hydration
Pros:
- Brightens and lightens the skin’s complexion
Check out this top Korean serum for oily skin below!
PURITO Centella Green Level Buffet Serum
Centella Asiatica is widely used in many Korean skincare products to help your skin heal from infections and injuries. Purito uses this in the Centella Green Level Buffet Serum to give your skin optimum benefits.
Benefits:
- A high amount of Centella Asiatica is the active ingredient in this serum that helps the skin heal, boosts circulation and helps the cells regenerate
- It strengthens the skin barrier and makes the skin more supple and elastic
- It calms irritated skin and brings down inflammation
- It also contains panthenol and adenosine that moisturise the skin, tighten it, keep away wrinkles and make your skin youthful
Pros:
- Heals and repairs skin, calms and soothes it
Check out this top Korean serum for oily skin below!
SOME BY MI Aha.Bha.Pha 30Days Miracle Serum
This serum is an all rounder. It exfoliates, cools the skin, heals it and keeps infections away!
Benefits:
- The active ingredient is 10,000 ppm of tea tree extracts which is an antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
- It keeps skin infections and acne away and helps bring down redness
- The AHA, BHA and PHA in the serum gently exfoliate, get rid of dead skin cells and brighten the skin
- Asiatic Pennyworth strengthens the skin barrier
- The serum hydrates the skin and controls the production of excess sebum by the skin
- It gives your skin a fresh, smooth texture, free of acne and oil
Pros:
- A one in a kind serum that gives you complete skincare
Check out this top Korean serum for oily skin below!
Which is the best Korean serum for oily skin?
We reviewed 10 Korean serums for oily skin based on hydration, application, and ingredients for oily skin. One Korean serum that won on all three parameters is the Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum:
Dear Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum for oily skin is formulated with hyaluronic acid which is great for oily skin as this ingredient provides your skin with enough moisture so the skin’s oil glands stop working overtime. This Korean serum is also formulated with licorice to regulates skin’s oil production, lotus flower extracts to prevent clogged pores, and vitamin C extracts to improve overall skin texture and health. The serum costs $21.25 for an 80 ml (2.7 fl. Oz) bottle on Amazon.
How to Choose the Best Korean Serum for Oily Skin?
When choosing the best Korean serum for oily skin make sure to check the ingredients list so it’s suitable for oily skin. Also check the type of serum you’re choosing. And finally, before you buy a serum for oily skin, check the reviews!
Ingredients: Avoid serums that are formulated with a high percentage of exfoliating acids. Instead opt for serums that have a smaller percentage of exfoliating acids for gentle and daily exfoliation. It’s recommended to go for serums that are formulated with safe, botanical, and organic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and plant or flower extracts. Other than this make sure to read the ingredients list carefully to ensure that the formulation doesn’t contain ingredients that might trigger a reaction, inflammation or redness or cause any irritation in general. It’s always recommended to do a patch test before application.
Type: You’ll find different types of serums available for oily skin formulated for a specific skin concern like anti aging serum, exfoliating serum, hydrating type, or renewing serum. Select one based on what your skin needs.
Reviews: If you’re still not sure, it’s best to check out authentic reviews of the serums. You’ll find lots of beauty expert bloggers, reviewers online.
What Type of Serum is Best for Oily Skin?
Serums that are able to calm your skin and decrease the natural oil production of your skin are best for oily skin. Something that is light and hydrating is what you should go for.
#How Long Does It Take To Notice the Results After Using the Serums?
Like everything else, nothing happens overnight and serums also take time to show results. Give your new serum at least four weeks to a month’s time to see noticeable results.
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