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Summer Skincare Staples: Oil Control? Light Moisturizers?
For those of us with acne-prone oily skin types, the summer weather and humidity may well be one of our worst skincare enemies, frequent breakouts and blackheads being an unwelcome yet inevitable sight. It’s not uncommon to think that oily skin doesn’t need moisturization – but this may in fact be exacerbating oily skin problems.
Summer puts our skin through constant air conditioning and strong UV rays, which can lead to an even higher rate of water loss from our skin (i.e., transepidermal water loss, or TEWL) compared to winter. Using oil control products too much without moisturizing adequately will send a signal for our skin to secrete more oil to keep our skin hydrated.
This means the more you try to control oily skin, the oilier the surface gets, while the inside remains dry and unhydrated.
This means the more you try to control oily skin, the oilier the surface gets, while the inside remains dry and unhydrated.
Summer Skincare Tips #1. Lightweight Moisturizer
The idea of diligent moisturizing during summer may not sound very appealing or even logical, but the point in our sebaceous glands doing their job is to lock in moisture within your skin.
This is why moisturizing in summer is just as important as any other season; the key, however, lies in using moisturizers, such as serums, with lightweight, non-sticky formulae.
Best K-beauty Serums for Summer: ma:nyo Galactomy Niacin Essence
This refreshing yet nourishing serum delivers intensive skin texture care with a high-concentration formula of 97% galactomyces ferment. It offers oil-controlling and pore-shrinking effects and can reduce blemishes for smooth, radiant skin.
Boasting a non-sticky vegan formula for your skin to drink up, this premium serum is imbued with high-grade rose ingredients and can brighten, shrink pores, improve elasticity, and smooth your skin with just one bottle, saving you the need to weigh your skin down with extra products.
Best K-beauty Serums for Summer: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum
Green tangerine extract is a brightening goodie full of vitamin C derivatives, niacinamide, and arbutin – and 70% of this Goodal serum is packed with it. Its brightening formula targets dark spots and post-breakout hyperpigmentation, while the soothing centella asiatica (cica) extract in it relieves inflammation and calms sensitive skin.
Best K-beauty Serums for Summer: Jumiso Super Soothing Cica & Aloe Facial Serum
Containing three key soothing ingredients, this calming serum relieves red, irritated skin and repairs your damaged skin barrier. It also moisturizes with various kinds of hyaluronic acids and amino acids to fill your skin with hydration from top to bottom.
Best K-beauty Serums for Summer: Medicube Collagen Glow Booster Serum
Formulated with high-content milk protein, this elasticity-boosting serum quickly absorbs as deep as 4mm into your skin and improves skin density and elasticity from within, leaving your skin looking youthful and luminous. One pump is all you need to enjoy spa-grade treatment.
Formulated with high-content milk protein, this elasticity-boosting serum quickly absorbs as deep as 4mm into your skin and improves skin density and elasticity from within, leaving your skin looking youthful and luminous. One pump is all you need to enjoy spa-grade treatment.
Summer Skincare Tips #2. Gel or Emulsion over Cream!
Water-based moisturizers, like a gel, emulsion or water cream, have a lower oil content compared to thick, rich creams, which can ensure a lighter, refreshing finish without clogging pores or weighing your skin down – while still maintaining good hydration levels.
Best K-beauty Moisturizers for Summer: Bonajour Eggplant BHA Water Cream
Eggplant, which contains the key component “lupeol”, has excellent anti-inflammatory and sebum control properties. The 75% eggplant extract in this oil-controlling formula works to shrink pores, while the natural salicylic acid (BHA) it contains can gently exfoliate and cleanse pores.
A refreshing gel purely concocted with 96% aloe vera, which is rich in nutrients and can protect and calm the skin from external irritation for moist and soft skin texture. The jelly-like watery texture promises fast absorption and moisturization without stickiness.
Best K-beauty Moisturizers for Summer: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Cream
Containing 10 types of hyaluronic acids of varying molecular weights, this cream hydrates your skin on different levels. Formulated with powerful antioxidants such as fermented black rice extract to restore elasticity, strengthen your skin, and soothe irritation.
Best K-beauty Moisturizers for Summer: Medicube Red Erasing Cream
Tackle summer breakouts with this brightening, anti-blemish cream suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Improves hyperpigmentation, fades acne scars and reduces melanin while improving the skin’s natural barrier.
Tackle summer breakouts with this brightening, anti-blemish cream suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Improves hyperpigmentation, fades acne scars and reduces melanin while improving the skin’s natural barrier.
Best K-beauty Moisturizers for Summer: LALARECIPE Yuzu Vita C Cream
Mainly comprising not just purified water but Jeju yuzu extract from Korea, this vitamin C gel cream features an intensively brightening formula that combats hyperpigmentation, freckles and impurities for a healthy, even glow.
Summer Skincare Tips #3. Regular Deep Cleansing
Hot and humid weather often adds an unwanted oily shine to our faces due to excessive oil production. Regular deep cleansing once to twice a week with a peeling gel or other gentle exfoliating products can help remove oil build-ups, clear away dead skin cells and unclog pores to keep your skin clean and fresh.
This hypoallergenic peeling gel is formulated with 100% organic betaine and plant-based surfactants for a low-irritation and satisfying cleanse. LIke the rest of the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice line, the cleanser is rich in fermented black rice, which has powerful antioxidant properties. The soft gel texture gently melts away dead skin to soften your skin and restore elasticity.
Wash off impurities and pore cloggers with this clay mask. With a core ingredient of 61% mugwort extract and 6 base ingredients, this wash off pack gently exfoliates with natural Adzuki beans and soothes inflamed and irritated skin to restore your skin’s health.
Best K-Beauty Deep Cleansers for Summer: Mary & May CICA Tea Tree Soothing Wash off Pack
Naturally concocted with cica and tea tree extract, this wash off pack also relieves redness and irritation and calms skin troubles. The soft, nourishing clay strengthens your skin’s health and leaves it clean and smooth.
Best K-Beauty Deep Cleansers for Summer: Aprilskin Real Calendula Peel Off Pack
This peel off cleanser, rich in calendula petals, pure natural calendula oil and calendula extract, exfoliates and cleanses blackheads with a hypoallergenic, low-irritation formula to give you smooth, bouncy skin like a boiled egg.
The naturally soothing blend of mugwort, green tea and heartleaf in this calming mask cools skin down and alleviates redness while providing mild exfoliation to detoxify irritated skin.
Summer Skincare Tips #4. Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen!
Suncare is essential – all year long, of course, but especially during summer when daytime is long and UV levels are high. Don’t forget to equip your skin with sunscreen before heading out!
Best K-Beauty Sunscreens for Summer: ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
This Tiktok favorite is imbued with hydrating birch juice extract and features dual moisturizing functions to prevent TEWL while protecting your skin from UV rays. The mild formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Best K-Beauty Sunscreens for Summer: Celimax Oil Control Light Sunscreen
A physical sunscreen that protects your skin by reflecting away UV rays. Its triple oil control ingredients keep your skin smooth and refreshed – no more worries of oil and sweat clumping under your sunscreen! Dermatologically and hypoallergenic tested.
Best K-Beauty Sunscreens for Summer: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen
The patented ingredient “UB-Protector” in this Korean sunscreen blocks blue light as well as UV rays. It contains ceramide naturally converted from the oil of the moringa, also known as the “tree of life”, which firms and moisturizes skin and strengthens its natural barrier.
Best K-Beauty Sunscreens for Summer: Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
A hydrating sun gel that moisturizes like a cream, yet with a light watery texture. The chemical sunscreen formula is gentle and contains 8 kinds of hyaluronic acids and a range of botanical ingredients – and it doesn’t just shield your skin from UV rays, but also brightens and reduces wrinkles.
With patented UV protection technology, this sunscreen boasts a powerful UV filter that protects against the most insidious UV rays, covering up to 400nm long UVA. Comprehensively prevents skin darkening and photoaging through an oil-controlling, water- and sweat-resistant formula perfect for oily skin.
Summer Skincare Tips #5. Cool Down with a Calming Mask
Exposure to UV rays can lead to TEWL and weaken your skin. Not only will a sheet mask physically cool down your skin, but it will also soothe and rehydrate skin in fragile conditions. Pro tip – keep it in a refrigerator before use for extra comfort!
Best K-Beauty Calming Masks: Medicube Super Cica Daily Quick Mask
A cica face mask delivering instant calming effect and lasting hydration, designed with sensitive skin in mind. Containing the Medicube in-house ingredient Super Cica complex, which condenses 7 types of core cica ingredients into the mask essence, a sheet can calm and moisturize in just 60 seconds.
Best K-Beauty Calming Masks: Aroh Centella Herb Cooling Mask Pack
A soothing hydrating sheet mask suitable for sensitive skin which calms tired and heated skin with instant cooling effect. Delivers calming and hydrating care with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as cica, aloe vera, and tea tree.
Best K-Beauty Calming Masks: numbuzin No.4 Icy Soothing Sheet Mask
This deeply moisturizing mask refreshes with a non-sticky hydrating essence and removes excessive oil. It provides a cool, quick freezing effect to relieve redness and irritation, perfect for after sun care.
Best K-Beauty Calming Masks: LALARECIPE Glow Face Moisture Mask
A multifunctional gel mask made with 88.5% skin-friendly natural ingredients for hydration, cooling, and soothing care all at once. The soft hydrogel sheet clings to the curves of your face perfectly and hydrates with 8 kinds of hyaluronic acids, phyto collagen and watermelon extract.
Best K-Beauty Calming Masks: ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Hydrating Water Gel Mask
The winner of the mask category in the 2018 Hwahae rankings, this water gel mask from the viral brand Round Lab is made with natural bio-cellulose for a light, seamless fit. The Ulleungdo Island deep sea water and 8 hyaluronic acid formula provide intense hydration.