Summer Skincare Guide: How to Manage Clogged Pores and Acne

You know summer is coming when your face starts shining with a mix of sweat and sebum. The heat and humidity during summer can cause our sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which, combined with sweat, sunscreen and other impurities, can accumulate into pore-clogging waste. Not only can clogged pores evolve into acne and blackheads, but the blockage may expand the surrounding skin and stretch your pores.

This means anti-acne skincare and pore care is an indispensable step of your summer routine, especially for oily skin types. If you're not sure where to start with managing oily skin, here are a few tips and tricks for you to keep spots, blemishes and clogged pores at bay this summer. Also keep reading for a list of Korean-favourite skincare products to keep your skin fresh and flawless all season long!

Our Anti-Acne & Pore Care Skincare Picks
1. VT Reedle Shot 100
2. Sungboon Editor Green Tomato Pore Lifting Ampoule
3. numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum
4. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule
5. BIODANCE Pore Tightening Collagen Ampoule
6. AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment
7. COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum
8. ANUA Heartleaf 80% Moisture Soothing Ampoule
9. numbuzin No.5 Goodbye Blemish Serum
10. Aprilskin Carrotene Clarifying Serum
11. ANTI SIGNAL Acne Atcare Premium Acne Gel
12. Bioderma Sebium Sensitive
13. Avene Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cream
14. Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream
15. Medicube Red Erasing Cream
16. La Roche Posay Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask
17. Torhop Musta Conte Mask
18. Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask
19. Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask
20. Mary & May Blackberry Complex Glow Wash Off Pack
21. Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad
22. Aprilskin Carrotene Clarifying Vita Pads
23. COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad
24. VT Cica Reti-A Mask
25. numbuzin No.3 Tingle-Pore Softening Sheet Mask

① Anti-Acne, Pore Care and Oil Control Products

Look for functional skincare products designed to rebalance the water-oil levels within skin, as this can prevent dry and dehydrated skin from over-producing oil and avoid clogging pores and forming comedones, keeping skin clear and healthy. Some formulas also include anti-inflammatory ingredients to combat acne problems that are beginning to show.

Pore Minimising Serum Pick｜VT Reedle Shot 100

The viral Reedle Shot often found sold out at Olive Young stores in South Korea, with accumulative sales having surpassed 3.3 million units! It promotes your skin’s absorption of active ingredients to improve metabolism and revitalize your skin, with an anti-aging and anti-wrinkle effect. The Reedle Shot comes in varying levels of intensity, from 50 to 1000, and with different functional ingredients, including collagen, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, to suit different needs and conditions.

Pore Minimising Serum Pick｜Sungboon Editor Green Tomato Pore Lifting Ampoule

A bestselling anti-aging and pore minimising serum that has topped Olive Young rankings, the centrepiece of its formula being the excellent antioxidant “Tomatidine”, extracted from green tomatoes. Helps to tighten pores, slow down skin aging and lift sagging skin for improved elasticity and texture.

Pore Minimising Serum Pick｜numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum

The "Little Brown Bottle" and the "Miracle Essence" – the secret ingredients of two luxury department store serums are now infused in this budget-friendly K-beauty dupe. Formulated with 42% bifida ferment lysate and 21% galactomyces ferment filtrate, the numbuzin No.3 serum penetrates deeply to brighten dull, rough skin and smooth bumpy textures, all while keeping potential irritation from fermented ingredients to a minimum.

Pore Minimising Serum Pick｜SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule

Concentrated pore tightening serum offering comprehensive care for both O-shaped pores caused by excess sebum and Y-shaped pores caused by decreased skin elasticity. Infused with 9-Peptides complex to activate collagen synthesis and restore skin elasticity and firmness, with a refreshing non-sticky texture.

Pore Minimising Serum Pick｜BIODANCE Pore Tightening Collagen Ampoule

The serum version of the viral overnight mask selling more than 10 million pieces in Korea! Concocted with 74% ultra-low molecular collagen for easy absorption by the skin, this pink Biodance serum immediately increases your skin's collagen content by 168% after use. It also provides an excellent lifting effect to improve saggy pores and leaves skin firmer and smoother.

Anti-Acne Anti-Blemish Serum Pick｜AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment

Acne first aid in a bottle! This all-rounder features pink ceramide essence capsules, which, combined with 2% niacinamide and AHA, help to soothe, hydrate, control oil production and reduce dullness all at once.

Anti-Acne Anti-Blemish Serum Pick｜COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum

This niacinamide serum fades blemishes and breakout scars with a highly concentrated formula of 15% niacinamide and zinc PCA, a zinc derivative. It also controls sebum production and evens out your skin tone to instantly improve not just your complexion but also skin texture.

Anti-Acne Anti-Blemish Serum Pick｜ANUA Heartleaf 80% Moisture Soothing Ampoule

This ANUA serum is enriched with a generous 80% heartleaf extract content, the highest concentration in the brand’s heartleaf line. Delivering skin soothers into your skin in a nourishing yet non-sticky texture, it penetrates your skin effortlessly to quickly soothe and restore sensitized skin. Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant botanical also helps to relieve redness and improve rough skin texture.

Anti-Acne Anti-Blemish Serum Pick｜numbuzin No.5 Goodbye Blemish Serum

Targeting skin blemishes such as freckles, spots and acne scars, this antioxidant serum is formulated with natural vitamin plant extracts and a range of brightening ingredients to enhance your skin's inner glow. And if you have sensitive skin, fear not – skin soothers like centella asiatica and allaintoin are included for milder, low-irritation care compared to other brightening products.

Anti-Acne Anti-Blemish Serum Pick｜Aprilskin Carrotene Clarifying Serum

Infused with rich carrot extracts and niacinamide, this carrotene serum combats acne by inhibiting sebum that can cause blackheads and breakouts. It helps improve acne problems and fade blemishes and scars, while also offering barrier-strengthening and moisture-retaining abilities thanks to beta-carotene.

Oil Control, Anti-Blemish, Repairing Moisturiser Pick｜ANTI SIGNAL Acne Atcare Premium Acne Gel

An anti-inflammatory acne cream that soothes and prevents the formation of acne marks, pigmentation, and freckles. High-concentration medicinal active ingredients work in this formula with vitamin C derivatives for an anti-blemish effect, while hyaluronic acid, collagen and ceramides improve skin elasticity and moisture.

Oil Control, Anti-Blemish, Repairing Moisturiser Pick｜Bioderma Sebium Sensitive

Formulated for sensitive acne-prone skin to combat outbreaks and soothe redness, this oil controlling formula instils lasting hydration to help the skin regain its water-oil balance. Combined with zinc and mattifying powders, it eliminates shine, inhibits excess oil production and can be used as a pre-makeup primer.

Oil Control, Anti-Blemish, Repairing Moisturiser Pick｜Avene Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cream

Rich in moisturisers, this cream strengthens the skin barrier, reduces redness and soothes irritation, perfect for use in tandem with acne treatment to help repair and hydrate skin made sensitive and dry by acne products.

Oil Control, Anti-Blemish, Repairing Moisturiser Pick｜Dr.Althea 345 Relief Cream

Viral all over Instagram and TikTok, the 345 Cream naturally alleviates breakout aftermath and calms sensitive skin. Not only does it fade blemishes and acne scars, but it also strengthens your natural barrier to improve your skin's moisture retaining abilities and lower sensitivity. More moisture in your skin means higher stability and defence against external aggressors, as well as better skin health overall.

Oil Control, Anti-Blemish, Repairing Moisturiser Pick｜Medicube Red Erasing Cream

If you have sensitive acne-prone skin or are troubled by pigmentation, this multifunctional brightening and blemish-lightening cream can help to reduce melanin and fade pigmentation, improve acne marks, soothe redness and strengthen the skin barrier.

② Regular Deep Cleansing

Waste buildups on the skin's stratum corneum may put pressure on pores and stretch them, plus making your skin look dull and inhibiting the absorption of other skincare products. Tackle pore waste and blockage with a cleansing mask to refresh your pores! We recommend deep cleansing at least 1-2 times a week.

Deep Cleansing Mask Pick｜La Roche Posay Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask

Made from mild, gentle kaolin, this cleansing mask effectively absorbs excess sebum, unclogs pores, controls oil and shine, and removes dirt, waste and impurities from your skin. Combined with humectants like glycerin and vitamin B5, it not only protects the skin's moisturising barrier but also calms it.

Deep Cleansing Mask Pick｜Torhop Musta Conte Mask

The black spots in this clay mask are unique black capsules that "eats" sebum, effectively absorbing dirt in pores and quickly clarifying blackhead and acne with a deep-cleansing dual BHA formula. Delivering pore care and exfoliating benefits, it gradually turns black as you leave it on your skin – a sure sign that it's cleansing your pores.

Deep Cleansing Mask Pick｜Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask

Made from egg white extract, this cleansing mask penetrates deep into your pores to remove excess oil, dirt and other pore-clogging impurities. Albumin, found in egg white extract, contains skin-friendly amino acids and antioxidants that promote skin firmness and tighten enlarged pores.

Deep Cleansing Mask Pick｜Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask

Purify pores in just 3 minutes! Gentle, hydrating and imbued with 2 patented pore-shrinking and oil-controlling ingredients, this Instagram fave strongly absorbs dead skin cells and blackheads while tightening pores.

Deep Cleansing Mask Pick｜Mary & May Blackberry Complex Glow Wash Off Pack

A creamy clay-textured mask that deeply cleanses pores and reduces T-zone oil production, blackheads and shine. Enriched with anthocyanin-rich blackberry extracts to help delay skin aging induced by reactive oxygen species, rejuvenating and boosting elasticity.

③ Topical Intensive Care

Toner pads with exfoliating effects generally come in a double-sided design with a textured "embossed" side and a smooth side. Gently wiping your skin with the coarse embossed side after washing your face can help to lightly exfoliate and improve acne problems. You can then follow with the smooth side and leave it on your skin like a sheet mask for a hydrating boost, or use an actual sheet mask for more intensive care.

Exfoliating Toner Pad Pick｜Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad

These exfoliating pads target acne-prone skin to effectively remove dirt and oil from pores, with bonus calming and redness-alleviating effects. The toner texture glides on skin comfortably with no stickiness.

Exfoliating Toner Pad Pick｜Aprilskin Carrotene Clarifying Vita Pads

Formulated with acne-treating and clarifying ingredients like carrotene complex, plant-based salicylic acid and proprietary pore care ingredients, the Aprilskin Carrotene Clarifying pads purify pores and help to clear acne-prone skin.

Exfoliating Toner Pad Pick｜COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad

Bestselling exfoliating pads in Korea from the well known K-beauty brand COSRX! Simply take a piece of this exfoliator, toner and serum 3-in-1 to smooth your skin with mild and low-irritation natural BHA. The formula seeps into pores to powerfully unclog and remove skin waste, reducing acne and improving rough skin texture.

Pore Tightening Mask Pick｜VT Cica Reti-A Mask

Spare only 5 minutes a day to care for widened pores and saggy skin with this high concentration formula of of 99% pure retinol! Infused with the VT Cosmetics exclusive ingredient CICAHYALON (Centella asiatica + triple hyaluronic acid) to ensure low irritation without compromising on effectiveness, thoroughly minimising retinol's burden on your skin.