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Go-to Korean Skincare & Recos for Oily Sensitive Skin
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Pawi Ré profile picture
Pawi Ré
To build a good skincare routine, you first need to understand your skin type—dry, normal, or oily and then start from there to identify the right ingredients. As someone with sensitive and oily skin, I'm sharing a list of products that I find well-s...
Sections
10
 
Shop
 
🌿A Simple Routine
 
Cleansers
 
Moisturizers
 
Sunscreens
 
Serums

Shop

Best Go-To Shops for Skincare. While you can find the products individually on their website, these shops have more centralized and wide array of products that you can find at once.

 
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Hands down one of the best shops to get your favorite Korean Skincare Products 🙌
YesStyle
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Another one. They ship worldwide too!!!
olive young
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🌿A Simple Routine

You don't need a 10-step routine to get started. If you're building your first Korean skincare routine, these are the products I'd point you toward based on ingredient lists, dermatologist recommendations, and long-term community feedback. (Some are ...

Transparency Note: 🧪 On My Radar means I haven't personally tried it yet. It's included because of its ingredients, dermatologist recommendations, and consistently positive feedback—not because I want to pretend I've used everything on this list.

 
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Why it's here: This cleanser consistently comes up for being gentle without leaving your skin feeling stripped. The ingredient list is simple, making it a safe starting point for most skin types.
1025 Dokdo Cleanser
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Centella is one of the ingredients I trust the most when skin feels irritated or sensitive. This ampoule keeps getting recommended because it focuses on doing one thing well instead of trying to solve everything at once.
Madagascar Centella Ampoule | Skin Care
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Ceramides are one of the ingredients I pay attention to when looking at moisturizers. This one has built a strong reputation for supporting the skin barrier without unnecessary extras.
ILLIYOON Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream 2.53 fl. oz.(75ml)
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One of the reasons this sunscreen became so popular is that people actually enjoy wearing it every day. Lightweight textures usually make it easier to stay consistent with sunscreen.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics 50mL - olive young
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Cleansers

My skin is congested. Meaning the natural oils and dead skin cells pile up in my pores because my oil glands are misbehaving and I get tons of whiteheads and blackheads as well as occasional acne. So, I use oil cleansers to gently strip off the oils ...

 
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It's a great starter choice for Korean oil cleansers. Dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and impurities effectively
SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil | YesStyle
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Foam cleansers with Hyaluronic Acid tend to be milder and less drying compared to harsher surfactant-heavy or oil-stripping cleansers.
8 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
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Honorable Mention: Not a Korean product but great if you're focusing on gentle cleansers.
Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
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hydrating and non-stripping
Beauty of Joseon - Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser | YesStyle
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Another great oil cleanser specially formulated for oily and sensitive skin
Anua - Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Mild
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Moisturizers

While any moisturizers typically do, I make sure that mine contains ceramide or any other ingredients that will help strengthen my skin barrier.

 
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Personal choice. Just focusing on the ingredients—ceramide. Gentle and barrier-support
THE FACE SHOP - Rice & Ceramide Moisturizing Cream ...
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helps strengthen skin barrier and improve moisture retention
Purito SEOUL - Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream
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you can never go wrong with BoJ imo
Beauty of Joseon - Dynasty Cream | YesStyle
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Ceramide for strengthening barrier while keeping the skin moisturized
ILLIYOON - Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
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Sunscreens

This is a non-negotiable! I can't go on with my day without applying sunscreen to protect my face from UV rays. Sometimes, it's the only product that I use all day.

 
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mineral sunscreen - I use it as a standalone product sometimes on a lazy day. Since it's a mineral sunscreen, the product works almost immediately. Oh, and it doesn't sting in the eye!
SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Air Fit Suncream Light
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Great for oily skin; it's watery so it's not heavy on the skin and easily absorbing.
Abib - Sedum Hyaluron Sunscreen Watery Tube
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Highly recommended 🙌 it's a sunscreen that can double as a moisturizer. Great for busy days or when you don't feel like following your routine on some days.
ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen 50ml 1+1 Special Set | OLIVE YOUNG Global
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I'm using this currently! It's dewy but even though I have oily skin, it just gives that natural and healthy glow even if I don't put moisturizer or any other products in conjunction. I use it only during cold season.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum 50mL*2ea (Twin pack) | OLIVE YOUNG Global
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This has been sitting in my cart for a while because I wanted a mineral sunscreen without the usual heavy white cast. From everything I've read, it seems to be a better match for oily skin while still giving broad SPF 50+ protection.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Mineral Sunscreen
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Serums

Normally, there are two serums you use separate on day and night. Vitamin C is very important as a morning serum before your sunscreen as it helps with hyperpigmentation as well as fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid serum, if you want one produ...

 
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AM Serum; brightening, reduces dark spots (don't forget sunscreen)
EQQUALBERRY - Vitamin Illuminating Serum
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Supercharged antioxidant trio—L-Ascorbic, Ferulic Acid & Vitamin E; collagen boosting
Timeless Skin Care - 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum
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strenghtens skin barrier
Isntree - Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
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Mild. Mild. Mild.
EQQUALBERRY - Bakuchiol Plumping Serum
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Retinol / Eye Creams

This is also very important! Our skin loses elasticity as we age. Retinol helps recover some of its elasticity and stimulate collagen production. When using this, it is important not to mix this with other ingredients such as Vitamin C or other activ...

 
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Dark circles? Gone. It contains ginseng and retinal (said to be more effective than retinol) that helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles and brighten your undereye while still being kind to sensitive skin.
Beauty of Joseon - Revive Eye Serum | YesStyle
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hydrates the undereyes…
AXIS - Y - Vegan Collagen Eye Serum | YesStyle
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Another favorite; beginner-friendly
KSECRET - SEOUL 1988 Eye Cream : Retinal Liposome 4% + Fermented Bean | YesStyle
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Retinol can feel intimidating, so I like that this focuses on the eye area with a formula that's designed for gradual use. It's one of the eye creams that keeps coming up whenever people ask for beginner-friendly retinol recommendations.
Some By Mi Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream
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Actives

These are optional but may help as boosters depending on your targeted concerns.

 
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Gentle, Hydrating, Plant-based formula; Considered beginner-friendly
EQQUALBERRY - Purple PDRN Pore Minimizing Serum
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this is more advanced than simple moisturizers and mild serums, but reedle shots are great for oily skin that are prone to congestion and build-up. This also helps with texture and pores.
VT - Reedle Shot 100 | YesStyle
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technically advanced yet designed with beginners in mind.
celimax - The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
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Exfoliants

Important to remove those impurities.

 
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cult-fav, affordable, much stronger
The Ordinary - Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
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AHA + BHA + PHA - three acids combines to exfoliate dead skin cells, clears out pores and sebum all while preventing overdrying. I recommend introducing it gradually to your skin. Use small amounts.
SOME BY MI - AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner 150ml | YesStyle
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favorite; many influencers are vouching for this.
medicube - Zero Pore Pad 2.0
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Honorable Mentions

 
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This is probably the sheet mask I've seen the most over the past year. I was curious because the hydrogel mask gradually turns transparent as the essence absorbs into the skin, and it keeps showing up in celebrity airport skincare routines.
Biodance - Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask Set
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It keeps things simple. Instead of promising dramatic results overnight, it focuses on hydration and helping the under-eye area look more refreshed. The ingredient list is exactly what I'd expect from COSRX—hydrating, soothing, and easy to pair with ...
COSRX The Peptide Collagen Hydrogel Eye Patch x 60patches ...
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