Do you often think about skipping moisturizer in order to minimize excessive sebum production? Well, you couldn't be more wrong regarding the basic skincare products! Moisturizers are one essential product in your daily skincare routine that shouldn't be skipped irrespective of the skin type and that's why we are here to help you with these best Korean moisturizers for oily skin that not only address pesky problems but also promise a lightweight formula that doesn't leave residue in the first place. 

While experts believe in non-comedogenic formulas containing revolutionary ingredients like BHA, niacinamide, glycolic acid, and retinol, to be a blessing in disguise to minimize sebum production, Korean moisturizers contain some clinically proven exotic natural ingredients available only in their region that help in naturally addressing all the skincare concerns without infusing any nasty chemicals.

Our contributor Dr. Anju Methil, a renowned dermatologist and cosmetologist, says, “Integrating a moisturizer into the skincare routine is beneficial for people with oily skin. It can help balance the skin's hydration levels, preventing the overproduction of oils often caused by dehydration.”

On the other hand, people who think that not applying a moisturizer will help them curb the excess sebum, let us break the myth– it's not really helping! Not using a moisturizer causes your skin to produce more sebum when it feels dry and dehydrated. When it comes to moisturizing oily skin, picking the best product can be a bit tricky. But fret not! We have rounded off some of the raging products, that are lightweight and gel-based, available in the market drawing from our experience. From a myriad of options available, we have curated a list for you that we are sure won't disappoint. Check 'em out -

• 1
  Non-comedogenic

  Seoul Ceuticals Anti-aging Snail Repair Cream

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Snail Mucin creams are the latest obsession of the internet and we don't wonder why! The multifunctional cream from Seoul Ceuticals is loaded with 97.5% snail secretion filtrate, vitamin E, vitamin B5, shea butter, jojoba oil, organic aloe, and organic green tea to protect the moisture barrier while giving you wrinkle-free skin, without the hint of dullness and pigmentation. The best part? It is non-comedogenic and provides you with youthful skin that people will envy!

2

Hypoallergenic

COSRX Oil-free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion

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If you are dealing with oily acne-prone skin, we have found the holy grail for you – COSRX Oil-free lotion! The ultra-moisturizing product provides you with deep hydration, and an ultimate nourishment without leaving any residue. Formulated with 70% birch sap and 0.1% allantoin, the lotion takes the upper hand at effectively treating your acne and other skin conditions like spots, pigmentations, and uneven skin tone, without hampering the pH levels. Adding to that, it also treats pesky skin conditions like dryness, dullness, and redness for an even brighter appearance.

3

Corrects Dark Spots

GLOW RECIPE Watermelon Glow Pink Juice

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The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice is another internet favorite for all the right reasons! Other than watermelon extracts, the product is loaded with amino acids, hyaluronic acid, peony extracts, jasmine, and watermelon extracts to bring out the inner glow. With the right blend of ingredients, it further claims to make the skin smooth and plump. Besides, rich in antioxidants, the cruelty-free product also protects the skin from environmental stressors and blurs out the fine lines, and wrinkles at the same time without causing any skin irritation. Not to miss, it effectively prepares your skin before makeup for a smooth canvas.

4

Improves Skin Elasticity

belif The true cream-aqua bomb

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The Aqua Bomb from Belif is loaded with effective ingredients like lady's mantle, squalane, and glycerin to replenish the skin while maintaining its moisture levels. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties further treat dullness, dryness, and uneven skin texture by releasing an extra dose of hydration. It is indeed one of the best Korean moisturizers for oily skin that quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving a residue, thanks to the lightweight formula. Last but not least, the clinically-tested formula promises to improve your skin’s moisture barrier in 7 days.

Quick Tip:

Apply the moisturizer after thoroughly cleansing and toning your face twice a day. It will hydrate and replenish your oily or acne-prone skin to the maximum.

5

No Artificial Fragrances

IUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

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Packed with 72% Centella asiatica, 10% tea tree leaf water, broccoli, pak choi, sprout wheat, cabbage, white radish, and clover extracts, the calming gel also infused with revolutionary ingredients like hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and niacinamide, soothes your irritated skin and helps you deal with problems like acne, irritation, pimples, and rosacea. Its lightweight texture further gets quickly absorbed into the skin without congesting the pores. Furthermore, the gel cream goes deeply into the skin and helps to strengthen the barrier after each use. Last but not least, the hypoallergenic formula suits every skin type while ensuring the best results.

6

Absorbs Quickly

dear klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream

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Dear Klairs has introduced a hydrating cream with a non-sticky formula that can be a blessing for your oily skin. It is infused with centella asiatica, portulaca extracts, aloe extracts, and ceramide NP to soothe redness and irritation and retain your skin’s moisture barrier. The plus point is that the latest creamy texture of the product comes with a reduced portion of essential oils that will not aggravate your oily skin problems. Furthermore, the spreadable formula stays on your skin surface for more than 24 hours to give an uninterrupted dose of hydration.

7

Dermatologically-tested

LANEIGE Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer

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Along with classy packaging, Laneige offers you a formula packed with hyaluronic acid, squalane, ceramide, and glycerine to strengthen your skin's moisture barrier and provide long-lasting hydration for up to 100 hours. The hypoallergenic formula deeply penetrates into your skin without leaving a residue and bestows you with the flawless skin that you have always desired! It also gently firms your skin and boosts your confidence while replenishing the skin at the same time.

8

Lightweight Formula

TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream

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Tony Moly is a renowned brand when it comes to Korean moisturizers. The water-based cream is loaded with lemon seed oil, rosewood oil, and pure fermented green tea extract to soothe and revitalize your skin. It is indeed one good Korean moisturizer for oily skin that gives all the moisturizing benefits without being too heavy. Adding to that, packed with antimicrobial and antifungal properties, the moisturizer keeps infections and irritation at bay for you to have refreshed skin!

Quick Tip:

Apply the moisturizer on damp skin after taking a shower to reap maximum hydrating and nourishing benefits.

9

Controls Sebum Production

I'm from RICE Cream

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Rice is undoubtedly one popular ingredient in Korean beauty! For this K-beauty product, rice bran is amalgamated with ceramides to improve the skin's moisture barrier for a glowing look and control excessive sebum production in the long run. It also soothes the skin while evening out the skin tone for a brighter appearance. Addedly, active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and adenosine work like magic to keep the skin moist for a long time. The best part? It is cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and artificial color-free.

10

Improves Skin Barrier

JIN JUNG SUNG Soothing Moisturizer Essence

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The USP of this moisturizer essence is that it is non-sticky and suits almost every skin type including people with sensitive skin. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and beta-glucan, the plant-based moisturizer deeply hydrates your skin with no residue, greasiness, or stickiness. It also soothes the skin while giving it a coveted supple finish. Last but not least, the brand claims that the product works like magic on matured skin to address problems like pesky pigmentations, acne spots, wrinkles, and fine lines.

11

haruharu wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Cream

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The fermented facial moisturizer is packed with the goodness of hyaluronic acid, lavender essential oil, safflower seed oil, bamboo shoots bark extracts, black rice extracts, evening primrose oil, and vitamin E to strengthen the skin barrier, infuse hydration, and balance skin pH for a better result. Addedly, the powerful formula has the ability to transform the ingredients into a flexible configuration that helps the skin to absorb it better. It also spreads evenly without leaving a sticky residue. So, why wait? Grab it today!

12

Torriden DIVE-IN Soothing Cream

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It is a revitalizing facial moisturizer that is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Other than that, the hydrating formula thoroughly moisturizes all skin types without being sticky. Packed with 5 types of hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and allantoin, the moisture-boosting cream also helps to revive the elasticity of your skin for a youthful appearance. Furthermore, made without paraben, colorant, mineral oil, fragrance, and alcohol, the formula is any day easy to use. Last but not least, the brand pledges to make a vegan-friendly and sustainable formula for the overall betterment of your skin’s texture.

13

JUNG SAEM MOOL Essential Mool Cream

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This brand is named after the founder makeup artist, Jung Saem Mool, and boasts of providing you with an oil-free Korean moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and supple for long. It includes exotic ingredients like fermented pearl extracts, ceramide, and panthenol that help strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. It also gets quickly absorbed while ensuring the deep nourishment that your skin might need for a healthy glow. So trust us when we say that you really need this in your stash!

Now that you have taken a look at the top-rated Korean moisturizers for oily skin, here's how you can pick the best one for yourself -

Below are the parameters to remember before buying the best Korean moisturizer for oily skin - 

a) Ingredients- Before you pick a Korean moisturizer, make sure you go through the ingredient list thoroughly. An ideal Korean moisturizer must consist of key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramide, tea tree oil, aloe vera, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, etc. that can thoroughly moisturize your skin without being too heavy or greasy. On the other hand, active ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, and retinol work wonders on your skin reducing pore size, balancing oil production, and buffing away the dead skin cells for a smoother appearance. Also, make sure the product is free of parabens, phthalates, paraffin, and mineral oil, etc to ensure no nasty ingredients are getting into the skin.

b) Formula- Pick a formula that is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, lightweight, and non-greasy if you have oily skin. Also, ensure that the formulation is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory in nature so that the product protects your skin barrier and nourishes it at the same time.

c) Skin concerns-

Pick a product based on your skin concerns. If your concern is to address aging issues, a formula packed with retinol and vitamin E can be a savior. Similarly, for people who would like to strengthen the skin barrier, a ceramide-based formula is what they need. On the other hand, an antioxidant-rich formula is best to keep the skin away from the harmful effects of pollution, heat, and free radicals.

Speaking of antioxidant-rich formulas, our contributor Dr. Anju Methil, who is a dermatologist and cosmetologist, says, “Antioxidant-rich formulated moisturizers can help oily skin by neutralizing free radicals, reducing inflammation, and indirectly regulating oil production without clogging pores.”

d) Texture- Oily skin beauties should always pick a lightweight moisturizer with a non-sticky texture that won't leave behind greasiness or stickiness after using it. Also, a moisturizer that gets quickly absorbed has a higher chance of penetrating into the skin than those that are thicker in consistency and stay only on the surface. Heavy moisturizers can also cause clogged pores, excess oil production, and greasy surfaces that lightweight creams don't.

Now, take a look at how you can use a Korean moisturizer to achieve desired results.

Here's how to effectively use a Korean moisturizer for oily skin - 

a) First thing first, make sure you have wiped off all the makeup, grease, or sunscreen from your face using a cleansing balm or cleansing oil or cleansing wipe.

b) Next, take your foaming or gel face wash, and apply it on your damp skin and keep rubbing the face with a light hand for about 60 seconds.

c) In this step, you can use a physical or chemical exfoliator if you wish to. However, make sure you're not using it for more than two days a week.

d) Take your toner, and apply it thoroughly over your face and let your skin soak the refreshing product.

e) If you wish to follow a ten-step skincare routine, incorporate an essence in this step and apply it while your skin is still damp.

f) In this step, you can apply serums based on your skin concern. For example, if your concern is dull skin, a vitamin C serum will be appropriate. Similarly, if you want to address your aging issues, a retinol-based serum will work wonders.

g) You can now apply a sheet mask for about 10-15 minutes based on the skin condition you have. You can use a sheet mask for about 2-3 days a week.

i) Next, apply an eye cream thoroughly under the eyes.

j) Last but not least, finish off with a lightweight gel-based moisturizer that won't make your skin greasy or sticky.

So, there you go! You now have truckloads of options of the best Korean moisturizers for oily skin to pick from! They are specially formulated with potent oil-free ingredients to give you the best result without aggravating the condition of your excessive sebum production. Plus, they ensure that your skin remains thoroughly moisturized and the credit goes to their power-packed and exotic ingredients. Hence, drawing from our experience, we have rounded off these products that we are sure will give you the desired result that you have always wanted. So what are you waiting for? Grab one today!

Contributor: Dr. Anju Methil, Dermatologist and Cosmetologist - Clinicspots