Do you hate breaking out just as much as you hate fighting a 12-year-old for the last Drunk Elephant product at Sephora?
Or are you looking for a product that will calm redness and inflammation just caused by the previously-mentioned situation?
The truth is that overpriced skincare popularized by social media and largely bought by spoiled 12-year-olds with near-perfect skin is out. Korean skincare is in.
In comparison to their Western counterparts’ heavy reliance upon beta hydroxys (mild acids commonly used in skincare) like salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide (that can result in harsh irritation when overused since they tend to be drying) in both cleansers and exfoliants, Korean skincare promotes hydration (excessive sebum production as a result of skin dehydration is often the root cause of non-cystic acne) through the usage of polyhydroxy acids (PHAs).
PHAs gently exfoliate thanks to their large molecular composition that exfoliates at a surface level- which may not sound so promising, but surface-level exfoliation is non-aggravating and non-damaging to the skin barrier when set side by side with harsher exfoliants commonly seen in western skincare.
The COSRX Low PH Good Morning Gel cleanser cleanses your face without stripping away its natural oils that suit all skin types. Balancing your skin’s PH levels, it prevents excess sebum production. The cleanser’s formula includes BHA which penetrates pores and gently breaks up pollution, resulting in less visible pores. This cleanser is best recommended to those with oily combination skin types.
Oil cleansers come across as an extra step before cleansing with a regular cleanser, but are a necessary component in a good skincare routine as their main function is to break down sebum, makeup, and other impurities that your skin encounters throughout the day.
The Skin 1004 cleansing oil made with pure centella asiatica gently removes impurities including blackheads all while soothing and replenishing hydration levels which is best suited for acne-prone and sensitive skin.
Korean toners and moisturizers are specifically formulated with the pretense of calming and soothing redness and preventing irritation.
A popular item, the Anua 77% Heartleaf Soothing Toner, is perfect for those wanting to calm down breakout inflammation, as heartleaf extract is a natural substance that visibly reduces redness and makes the skin appear brighter. Not only that but it’s a key ingredient in fostering hydration, which dissuades excess sebum production.
The I’m from Rice Toner is another recommendation as its 77.78% rice extract helps with collagen production and has high water retention effectively locking in moisture. “It helped in clearing my skin, it made it softer too,” OH senior Iraina Whorton said, “I don’t get dry patches anymore.”
Likewise, the Dr G Red Blemish Soothing Cream is a moisturizer aimed at soothing redness as the name has it and efficiently destroys current breakouts. The centella asiatica in the formula aids healing and the cica boosts a strong soothing effect. Not to mention that it is composed of ultrafine particles smaller than pores that penetrate up to the 10th layer of the skin resulting in long-lasting hydration.
While this article covers surface-level skincare recommendations, sites- unknown to greedy middle schoolers- selling Korean skincare like Olive Young and YesStyle offer a wide array of skincare aimed at aiding skin concerns.
42Fiftys very own post-niche internet micro-ecelebrity (mid geoguesser player) that lived through a chronic gas leak that was going on in their house for a little over a year without their knowledge. Their only qualification is that they bring a silly goose vibe to the geese party.
Thank you thank you for looking out for the oily skin girlies!!