Oily and acne-prone skin gets a lot of bad advice. Strip it dry, scrub it hard, use the harshest thing you can find. Korean skincare takes the opposite approach – and it works better. The logic is simple: skin that’s stripped of moisture overproduces oil to compensate, which makes everything worse. K-beauty keeps things calm, balanced, and consistent. Here’s a full routine built around that principle, with the best products at each step.
Step 1: Cleanse – COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
The foundation of any good routine for oily skin is a cleanser that actually respects the skin barrier. This one sits at pH 5.0, removes excess oil and impurities without stripping, and lathers lightly enough that you’re not tempted to over-cleanse. Use it morning and evening. Simple, effective, and one of the best cleansers at any price point.
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser – Amazon UK
Step 2: Exfoliate – COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
Two to three times a week, not every day. BHA – betaine salicylate in this formula – is oil-soluble, which means it gets into the pore rather than just sitting on the surface. It dissolves the buildup that causes blackheads and congestion, keeps pores clearer over time, and does all of this without the irritation that stronger acids can cause. This is the step most oily skin types are missing, and the one that tends to make the biggest visible difference.
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid – Amazon UK
Step 3: Treat – Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
Active breakouts need calming, not attacking. The Anua heartleaf toner brings houttuynia cordata at 77% concentration to settle redness, reduce inflammation, and stop breakouts from escalating. It also hydrates, which oily skin genuinely needs despite what it might look like. Use it after cleansing or exfoliating as a first treatment step.
Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner – Amazon UK
Step 4: Spot Treat – COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
Not a skincare step so much as a household essential. Hydrocolloid patches draw out fluid from active spots overnight, protect them from being touched, and speed up healing significantly. Put one on anything that’s active before bed and wake up to a noticeably flatter, less angry version of the problem. Keep a pack in the bathroom at all times.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch – Amazon UK
Step 5: Moisturise – Althea Pore Commanding Jelly Cream
Althea is a brand that tends to fly under the radar outside of dedicated K-beauty circles, but this jelly cream deserves more attention. It’s formulated specifically for oily and pore-prone skin – a combination that often gets neglected in moisturiser roundups in favour of dry skin options. The texture is bouncy and gel-like, delivering hydration without any heaviness, and it has a mattifying effect that actually holds through the day. Niacinamide and green tea extract help keep things balanced and calm. If you’ve been struggling to find a moisturiser that doesn’t make oily skin worse, this one is worth trying.
Althea Pore Commanding Jelly Cream – Amazon UK
Step 6: SPF – Purito Seoul Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++
Sunscreen is non-negotiable, but oily skin needs one that won’t make things worse. The Purito Daily Soft Touch has a matte, skin-like finish that holds up through the day without adding shine or blocking pores. Broad-spectrum SPF50+ protection, PA++++, and a formula that sits comfortably under the category of “sunscreens you’ll actually wear every day.”
Purito Seoul Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ – Stylevana
The Golden Rule for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
Consistency beats intensity. A gentle routine done every day will outperform an aggressive one done twice a week. Korean skincare is built on this principle, and oily skin – which tends to react badly to harsh treatment – responds to it particularly well. Start with the basics, give each product six to eight weeks to do its job, and resist the urge to add more.
For more picks at each step, see our full guides: Best Korean Cleansers, Best Korean Serums, Best Korean Moisturisers, and Best Korean Sunscreens.