Last updated on March 23, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
What is the best Korean skin care routine for oily skin? I have already written a post on how to take care of oily skin and this is just the 3 steps in the morning. Compare this to the 10 steps of a Korean skin care routine! But if you’re a fan of skin care products and rituals, this is how I approach my skin care routine. I’ll tell you what to use, what you can skip without compromising results, and the best Korean skin care products for an effective oily skin routine. let’s get started:
Why Your Skin Is Oily (And Why Rigid Routines Make It Worse)
What no one tells you when you’re standing in the skin care aisle looking for the most aggressive cleanser: Removing oil from your skin doesn’t cure oily skin. It makes it worse. Your sebaceous glands produce sebum – a lipid-rich film that protects your barrier, seals in moisture, and generally keeps your face functioning as it should. The reason why some people’s glands become overactive is mostly hormonal. Androgens increase sebum production, which is why oily skin often begins during puberty and can fluctuate with your cycle.
The part you can’t really control with skin care. You can control whether you’re accidentally telling your skin to produce more excess oil. Because when you over-cleanse, exfoliate too much, or skip moisturizer altogether (all things that people with oily skin are told to do regularly) your skin reads this as a threat and compensates by producing even more oil. That rebound effect is real, it’s documented, and it’s why many “oily skin” routines make things worse over time. The goal of a good K-beauty routine for oily skin isn’t to eliminate oil. It has to be regulated. They are very different things.
Korean morning routine for oily skin
Step 1: Cleanser
A gentle, low-pH water-based cleanser is really all that’s needed in the morning, and COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser One that comes up again and again for good reasons. It cleanses without disturbing the natural pH balance of your skin. Massage gently, wash with lukewarm water, done. That’s the first step.
Step 2: Niacinamide Serum
If there’s one ingredient that belongs in almost every oily skin routine, it’s niacinamide. The research is really impressive: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that 2% topical niacinamide significantly reduced excessive oil compared to placebo.. It also strengthens your skin barrier, fades dark spots left behind due to breakouts, and is gentle enough that even sensitive skin can use it. Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Mix niacinamide with propolis to soothe irritation. Apply a thin layer and give it some time to absorb.
Step 3: Light Moisturizer
This is the step that most people with oily skin skip, and honestly, few people can even skip it without their skin getting worse. If you want to use it, look for a gel-cream texture with hyaluronic acid, a humectant that draws water into the skin without adding oil or heaviness. Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream It does good; It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and sits well under SPF without causing any pilling or making your face feel like a shiny doughnut.
Step 4: SPF
The final step, every morning, no exceptions. UV exposure gives you wrinkles, makes dark spots darker, and causes long-term damage that no amount of active ingredients will be able to fully repair. The reason Korean sunscreens are so talked about is that they have actually solved the texture problem that causes many people to skip this step. They are developed to feel weightless, absorb fast and leave no white spots or greasy feeling. joseon relief sun beauty One of the most preferred options is – a water-based sunscreen with SPF 50+ that feels like skin care and fits beautifully under makeup. Apply this as your last step, let it set and you’re done.
Korean Night Routine for Oily Skin
Steps 1 and 2: Double Purification
Let’s get things straight right off the bat: You never need to clean again. I repeat, you do not need double cleansing. I know the logic makes sense. First, you use an oil-based cleanser to remove oil-based impurities (your SPF, pollution, accumulated sebum from the day), then a water-based cleanser to remove water-based impurities. But, a good cleanser will remove all impurities anyway. This is why I always recommend only one cleanser to my clients. Since this is a Korean skin care routine, I’ll tell you what to use for double cleansing if you want. Because double cleansing is not bad for the skin. This is absolutely unnecessary (and bad for your wallet).
For oily skin, choose a light cleansing oil instead of a thick balm. something like this Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Rinses off without leaving any residue or dangerous film that makes your face feel like it’s still dirty. Massage it in, emulsify with a splash of water, rinse, then use your low-pH gel cleanser. Total two minutes. That is double purification. And to be clear: This only adds to your nightly routine. Double cleansing in the morning is superfluous.
Step 2: BHA Toner (every other night)
Korean toners are not the astringent, alcohol-containing substances you may remember from the Western skin care world. They are lightweight liquids that prepare the skin and, in the right formula, efficiently deliver active substances. For oily and acne-prone skin, using a BHA toner a few times a week is one of the most useful things you can add to your routine. Salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) is oil soluble, which is what makes it so effective for this type of skin. It can actually penetrate your pores instead of sitting on the surface, dissolving the mixture of dead skin cells and sebum that causes blackheads and congestion.
The clinical evidence is solid: A 2025 trial found that using salicylic acid twice daily reduced sebum levels by more than 23% over three weeks.With measurable improvements in acne severity and skin texture. Be careful when you choose a product. Most Korean BHA toners use very low percentages or derivatives that don’t do much. If you want to use Korean BHA toner, here are the best options. But clearly, this is a product when the alternative to the Western alternative makes a lot more sense (here are my favorite options).
Steps 4 and 5: Serum and Moisturizer
Same as in the morning. Niacinamide serum, then light gel-cream. Your skin does its repair and renewal work throughout the night, so keeping it properly hydrated and supported is just as important in the evening as it is during the day.
what can you honestly give up
If you ask me (and I think you are), Korean skincare loves to add extra steps to make you buy extra stuff you don’t need. Therefore, using the above mentioned ingredients will not cause any harm to your skin, but it will also not provide any significant benefit to the skin. My advice: Save your money on these products:
- Summary: It’s only useful if it contains something that your skin really needs and you’re not getting what you’re already using. A plain hydrating essence adds a step and nothing else. There’s some logic behind the trend toward vegan kombucha tea essences and fermented ingredients, but it’s a good thing, no matter the base.
- Sheet Mask: Sometimes great. No regular staples. Once or twice a week if you enjoy them, but they’re not doing anything your serum isn’t already doing.
- clay masks: Useful for excess oil control when needed, but again – occasional use, not a daily or weekly requirement.
- eye cream: Only if you have any special concerns around the eye area. Eye cream is not necessary for oily skin.
- Ten steps for ten steps: The iconic glass skin look K-beauty is known for is the result of the right ingredients used consistently over time – not product calculation. A five-step routine with niacinamide, BHA, a good cleanser, light moisture, and a solid SPF will beat a 10-step routine built around filler products every time.
bottom line
The funny thing about oily skin is that once you stop trying to tame it, it actually starts to behave. A solid K-beauty routine isn’t about ten steps or a shelf-worthy collection of products — it’s about giving your skin what it needs and leaving it alone to do its thing. Niacinamide, a good BHA, SPF for sun protection, and a moisturizer you’ll actually use. That’s all you really need. Leave it on for six weeks and your skin will do the rest.
