17 Best Korean Beauty Products For Acne & Acne Scars
Dealing with acne? We got you! Below, you’ll find the best Korean products for acne scars that will help you be your most confident self.
There are few things more discouraging than having to cover up acne scars with makeup, which is why tackling them head-on with serums and other creams is the best way to go. For ladies who struggle with stubborn acne or acne scars around their chin, forehead, and cheeks, there are several Korean products that can help you love your skin again.
Acne-scar-fighting products can range from cleansers and serums, all the way to toners, masks, and spot treatments.
In addition to using products that combat pimples in the first place, it’s important to incorporate some high-quality products made with ingredients that will fade your scars. So, what should you look for in products exactly?
The Best Ingredients To Fade Acne Scars
- Vitamin C: Key enzyme in collagen production, which helps to restore the skin’s structure and makes it appear more healthy and plump. Additionally, it helps lighten dark areas.
- BHA (Salicylic acid): Common treatment for active acne that helps to exfoliate the skin and unclog pores, reducing swelling, excess sebum and redness. BHAs penetrate the skin deeper than AHAs. Salicylic acid is best for oily skin types.
- AHAs (Glycolic acid, lactic acid and more): Similar to salicylic acid, AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove surface layers so that new cells can take their place. AHAs can be used on all skin types.
- Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a powerful ingredient that inhibits melanin production, which helps fade hyperpigmentation and acne scars. Additionally, it regulates sebum production and promotes healthy-looking skin.
For those who are determined to improve the texture of their skin, we’ve rounded up the 15 best Korean products made for correcting acne scars.
The Best Korean Products For Acne Scars
1. Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner
As we mentioned above, Korean products with AHA and BHA are some of the best to treat acne scars, regardless of whether you’re still battling with active acne or not.
This cult-favorite product takes the ingredients list a bit further: in addition to having AHAs and BHAs, it also contains PHA, which prevents moisture loss and is milder on the skin. The toner also has a high concentration of tea tree oil, which promotes clear skin and calms down irritation.
The product is so popular that a bottle is sold every three seconds! So, if you’re only looking to purchase a single product from this list, you should start with the Some By Mi 30 Days Miracle Toner. (And yes, you’ll most definitely see an improvement in your skin texture in 30 days of trying this product.)
2. TIA’M My Signature C Source
As we mentioned, Vitamin C can be a very effective ingredient when it comes to reducing the appearance of acne scars. This serum contains 20 percent vitamin C and can be trusted to brighten dull skin, remove dead skin cells, fight blackheads, and improve your skin’s elasticity.
But because the vitamin C in this serum is so potent, you should avoid using products that contain AHA, BHA, or retinol while using the My Signature C Source serum. It should be used before going to bed after applying a toner. This miracle serum retails for just under $14.
3. PURITO Galacto Niacin 97 Power Essence
Oftentimes, acne scars will result in an even skin texture and tone so products that brighten and smooth out the texture are essential. The PURITO Galacto Niacin 97 Power Essence uses galactomyces ferment filtrate (dense in nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, and enzymes) and niacinamide to improve the appearance of your skin, ridding it of any areas with dull texture.
Its hydrating formula also works to plump your skin, especially the pesky acne scars that slightly sink in. It’s free from harsh ingredients or chemicals so it’s safe for ladies and gentlemen with sensitive skin. A bottle of this highly concentrated serum retails for around $20.
4. Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum
If you’re looking for a milder vitamin C serum that can be used alongside other acids like AHAs or BHAS, try the Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum. This Korean brightening serum uses active ingredients like vitamin C, antioxidants, and a special blend of 15 other vitamins to minimize the unsightly appearance of acne scars while giving you a youthful look.
You probably already know that vitamin C serums are a must-have product in anyone’s skincare routine, because it brightens dark spots, boosts your skin’s radiance, evens your skin tone, and hydrates your skin.
It’s a multi-threat product that definitely deserves a spot in your skincare routine if you’re trying to minimize the appearance of acne scars.
This serum, which should be used in the morning, can be yours for around $25.
5. Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow
If you’re a fan of multifunctional serums, another vitamin C to check out is the Galactomyses Pure Vitamin C Glow serum.
This serum has a very mild concentration of vitamin C (3%), which is complemented by 75% galactomyses ferment filtrate, famous for its ability to brighten, soothe, smoothen, and moisturize the skin while boosting its elasticity.
It’s a great alternative for those who have sensitive skin and can’t handle harsher acids.
6. Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel
Those with acne scars and active acne should definitely try using a peeling gel once or twice per week. If you aren’t a fan of BHA and AHA acids that chemically exfoliate, one product that we can recommend checking out is the Brightening Peeling Gel from Dr. G.
It uses natural cellulose, vitamin C, vitamin E, honey, black willow, and hollyhock flower extracts to brighten and clarify your skin while improving your skin’s texture.
Many of the natural ingredients used in this gel have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It will leave your skin feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated. A bottle of Dr. G’s Brightening Peeling Gel retails for around $23.
7. Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Serum Light
If you love the effect that exfoliating ingredients like AHA and BHA have on your skin, why not get a serum that contains these powerful ingredients in addition to the AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner mentioned above?
Combining these two maximizes the results and benefits of these ingredients to give you the radiant, scar-free and spot-free skin you’ve always craved.
8. NEOGEN Dermalogy Cica Repair Snail Cream
If your acne flare-ups are under control and you’re in need of a product that can smoothen out your poor, traumatized skin, look no further than this repair cream. NEOGEN’s Dermalogy Cica Repair Snail Cream promises you firmer and younger-looking skin.
It contains powerful ingredients like niacinamide, which suppresses melanin production, lightening your acne scars and other dark spots, and hyaluronic acid that will plump up any dry areas.
It should be applied as the last step of your daily or nightly skincare routine and retails for around $20.
9. COSRX Centella Blemish Cream
This Korean blemish cream is best for those who suffer from active acne flare-ups. It uses leaf water and zinc oxide to soothe and combat any blemishes on your skin. Because the cream has ingredients that hydrate your skin, it removes some of the irritation and inflammation your pores might be experiencing post-blemish.
Not only does this cream reduce the appearance of acne scars and redness, but it also helps to decrease the number of pesky pimples that appear in the first place.
The COSRX Centella Blemish Cream can be applied in the morning and evening, during the last step of your skincare routine. It can be used as a spot treatment or applied all over your face. It retails for around $16.
10. SOME BY MI Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
This toner is considered a holy grail product by Korean skincare enthusiasts who often find themselves battling acne flare-ups related to stress and hormones. The Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner by SOME BY Mi contains black snail extract and its signature Truecica extract that will soothe and strengthen your skin’s barrier.
The toner’s black snail extract works to heal damaged skin and repair any acne scars that are left behind. In addition to clearing spots and acne scars, it can also be used for whitening and minimizing the appearance of fine lines.
The toner can be applied with a cotton pad (or simply by using your hands) after cleansing in the morning and evening. It retails for around $21.
11. COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum
This Korean blemish clearing serum from COSRX uses active ingredients like niacinamide, propolis extract, CentellAC-RX, and natural NMF to minimize the unsightly appearance of pimples while soothing irritated skin.
It also brightens dark spots, boosts your natural skin regeneration process, and hydrates your skin. It’s a triple threat product that definitely deserves a spot in your skincare routine if you’re prone to acne, blackheads, or oil bumps. This serum, with a cruelty-free formula, can be yours for around $28.
12. TONYMOLY I’m Rice Clarifying Blemish Mask
Those with problematic, acne-prone skin should most definitely be using a high-quality face mask once to twice per week. The Clarifying Blemish Mask from TONYMOLY uses gentle ingredients like kaolin clay, fermented rice, and herb pure complex to flush out your pores and control your skin’s oil production as excess sebum leads to blemishes.
It will leave your skin feeling soft and free of any redness. A small jar of the mask retails for $15 at Ulta Beauty.
13. Cos De BAHA TN Tranexamic Acid Niacinamide Serum
This serum is another cult favorite product for those who struggle with acne. Ingredients like tranexamic acid and niacinamide prevents any future hyperpigmentation, fights visible acne scars, and will even brighten your skin.
The COS De BAHA TN Tranexamic Acid Niacinamide Serum is free of harmful ingredients, parabens, and mineral oils that can cause inflammation or further breakouts, which makes it popular among ladies with sensitive skin. It can also decrease your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays and retails for around $16.
14. MIZON All In One Snail Repair Cream Tube
This all-in-one repair cream fights acne and scarring while promoting cell regeneration and infusing your skin with extracts that provide anti-aging benefits.
The MIZON All In One Snail Repair Cream in a tube contains snail secretion filtrate, adenosine, and peptides that will firm your skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars.
The special snail mucin is an ingredient that you’ll find in a lot of bestselling Korean products as the skincare experts in Korea swear by it! This cream costs under $10.
15. COSRX AC Collection Trial Kit Mild
If you’re completely fed up with acne scars and are ready to dive into a targeted skincare regimen, this trial set is a great place to start. The COSRX AC Collection Trial Kit Mild will work to clear blackheads and acne scars without drying your skin.
The set includes a foam cleanser, calming liquid, spot treatment, and soothing lightweight moisturizer. After using the products in this trial set for a week or two, you should see a noticeable difference and improvement in your skin’s texture.
The beauty of trial kits is that you can find out what products you can’t live without and what products you don’t need to purchase again. All of these products are available in full size so you can repurchase once the mini sizes are finished. This set retails for around $28.
16. Dr. Jart+ Teatreement cleanser
A good quality cleanser can really help you get on top of your acne problems, which is why we love the Teatreement™ Cleansing Foam from Dr. Jart+. This Korean brand is primarily sold at Sephora and is popular among those ready to tackle their skin issues head-on.
This gentle foam cleanser is great for people with blemishes, oily skin, and combination skin as it fights current and emerging impurities while reducing the appearance of pores. Because tea tree oil is a gentle ingredient, this cleanser can be used in the a.m. and p.m. without causing irritation.
For best results, always double cleanse your skin, starting with an oil cleanser such as the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm to get rid of oil-based products, and follow it up with a water-based cleanser like the Dr. Jart+ cleanser to tackle your main skin concerns.
17. PURITO All Care Recovery Cica-Aid
If you’re yet to dabble into the world of pimple patches, you’re really missing out as they are helpful in a multitude of ways. While most acne patches work to reduce the size and redness of a pimple, the PURITO All Care Recovery Cica-Aid patches contain ingredients that actively reduce any future scarring.
These 100 percent vegan and Korean acne patches contain hydrocolloid and cica extract, which encourages a speedy recovery while letting your skin breathe underneath. Pimple patches can be worn overnight while you sleep and in desperate situations, they can be worn during the day and camouflaged with makeup. These cost just under $7.
Bonus: Holika Holika Hard Cover foundation
Before you start noticing a difference with your Korean products that help lessen the appearance of acne scars, you can use a full coverage foundation to conceal the blemishes and scars. When it comes to finding a foundation, be sure to look for products that say they are suitable for oily, acne-prone skin so that you aren’t combatting any of the progress your Korean skincare products are making.
We suggest opting for the HOLIKA HOLIKA Hard Cover Glow Foundation, which comes in five different shades. This foundation boasts a coverage that will conceal any blemishes or acne scars, while keeping you safe from the sun’s harmful rays as it has an SPF of 50.
The foundation has a special Glow Layering Complex so that your skin won’t look dull, dry, or cakey. Instead, you’ll be left with a dewy, summer-ready complexion. It also contains aloe vera extract and centella asiatica extract for hydrating purposes. A bottle of this Korean foundation retails for around $23.
We hope you found this roundup of the best Korean skincare and makeup products for acne scars useful! For more similar posts, make sure to check out the posts below!
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