As you may know, Korean brands are big on clean skincare, and Korean serums are one of the MVPs when it comes to rejuvenating your skin according to your skin concerns.
With a vast choice to choose from, like basics such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, etc, to advanced serums that are particularly effective for acne and acne scars, you can achieve youthful-looking skin easily.
If you have acne-prone skin, you can choose a Korean acne serum with skin-friendly ingredients such as tea tree, salicylic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid to minimize breakouts and heal the acne scars.
If you are looking for the best Korean serums for acne-prone skin, you have come to the right spot my friend!
9 Best K-Beauty Serums For Acne & Acne Scars
The perfect serum for acne and acne scars should be packed with awesome ingredients that work to reduce acne breakouts and sebum production while soothing inflamed skin.
Here are our top picks for the best K-beauty serums for acne-prone skin:
1. IUNIK Tea Tree 67% Relief Serum
My verdict: Overall best Korean serum for acne skin
Bursting with the goodness of 67% tea tree leaf water, 19.5% Centella Asiatica extract, niacinamide, and other natural ingredients, this is the best K-beauty serum for individuals with acne-prone, sensitive, and oily skin types.
Tea tree extract has anti-inflammatory benefits, making it perfect for fighting acne-causing bacteria.
Meanwhile, Centella Asiatica extract promotes wound healing, boosts the skin’s moisture barrier, and keeps dry skin hydrated.
Niacinamide helps to calm down angry red skin while fading acne scars.
The unscented lightweight formula absorbs easily into the skin, making it great for daily use.
Why You Love It
- Heals inflamed skin
Most users love how this Korean acne serum helps soothe their skin inflammation, visibly reducing redness and skin damage.
People with rosacea and other sensitive skin concerns tag this as the best serum they could ask for.
- Non-comedogenic
Women who use this serum are super impressed by its ability to minimize their enlarged pores, making it a holy grail for people with oily skin.
- Reduced acne flareups
What girls love about this Korean serum is how its antibacterial properties help keep their acne at bay.
Keep In Mind
A few users reported that it broke them down initially, but eventually cleared out.
2. Kaine Rosemary AHA Night Serum
My verdict: Awesome acne serum for sensitive skin
This serum made me believe again that my skin may like AHAs! It contains 9% lactic acid which is more gentle alternative to glycolic acid. Yet, it is super effective at exfoliating and treating pimples.
But that’s not all!
Why You Love It
- Bye-bye zits!
I use this serum as overnight treatment for pimples – including those nasty and painful blind pimples.
It helps to get rid of zits faster.
- Bye-bye blackhead!
There’s also succinic acid in this serum, which helps to reduce blackheads.
It really melts the gunk that is stuck in your pores and lets it get out more easily… leaving your pores clearer and less visible.
- Bye-bye irritation!
This is one of the best Korean acne serums for sensitive skin.
My skin usually freaks out or becomes drier because of higher % of acids, but it tolerates this serum super well. The concentration of lactic acid is just right I guess.
Besides, there’s glycerin, rosemary leaf extract, panthenol and allantoin to provide soothing for your skin during the exfoliation process.
Keep In Mind
It has a bit oily texture and takes some time to absorb, leaving slightly tacky feeling on skin.
I don’t mind that because I use it only in PM routine and always give it more time to sink in. After applying moisturizer I don’t feel any tackiness anymore.
PRO TIP: Even though this serum feels gentle and has less potent acids than other AHAs or BHAs, remember to NOT use it every day. Your skin doesn’t need exfoliation every day.
Give your skin a break (from this or any other product with acids) and some time to “rest”. In the meantime, focus on strengthening your skin barrier – it’s crucial in your battle with zits!
3. AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment
My verdict: Fantastic Korean serum for active breakouts
This is the best Korean serum for troubled skin for spot treatment.
It’s a great choice if you have reoccurring pimples with some inflammation.
This little bottle is filled up with powerful actives to help clear acne and soothe your skin.
Why You Love It
- Bye-bye acne
It contains all ingredients that acne skin needs: there’s AHA (glycolic acid) to gently exfoliate the skin, BHA (salicylic acid) to clear pores and regulate sebum production, and tea tree to fight with active zits and calm your skin.
- Acne marks fighter
This ingredient is perfect for treating acne-related inflammation and for brightening the skin. So you don’t have to worry about those pesky post-acne marks and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
It helps to even out skin tone and control skin’s oiliness.
- Hello soothing!
Do you see those pretty pink capsules in this serum? They contain ceramides to calm your acne-related irritation and boost your skin barrier – so it has the strength to fight with breakouts.
Keep In Mind
One of the ingredients in this serum is rosemary oil which gives it specific scent.
It’s also the smallest serum I ever had – only 15ml. Very precious tiny bottle!
PRO TIP: Acne left some dark spots and scars on your face? Vitamin C serum can help you brighten them and make your complexion more even. Here you can find my favorite and safest K-beauty serums with vit. C.
4. COSRX Refresh AHA/BHA Vitamin C Booster Serum
My verdict: Best exfoliating serum for acne and oily skin
This Korean beauty serum contains Vitamin C, AHA (glycolic acid), and BHA along with Kiwi fruit goodness.
Whenever there is Vitamin C in a product, you know your good skin days are not far away.
Its ability to boost collagen production and skin elasticity, fight free radical damage and reduce wrinkles keeps the skin plump and rejuvenated.
Next, the exfoliative AHA and BHA in this Korean serum dissolve the dead skin cells, improving the skin texture and dull skin tone.
The BHA (beta salicylate) is great for clearing zits and impurities while balancing excess oil production. In short, this is the best serum for people who get pimples with oily and dull skin.
Free of harsh chemicals, this non-sticky formula glides on easily and layers well with subsequent Korean beauty products.
Why You Love It
- Fades dark spots
Most women who use this product love how it fades hyperpigmentation and dark spots, with improved skin health.
- Smooth skin
Among the benefits, users rave about the silky smoothness of their skin texture with regular use of this Korean serum.
- Glowing skin
What girls love about this serum is how it improves their uneven skin tone and adds a healthy glow, making it one of the best Korean serums for dull skin that improves skin tone too.
Keep In Mind
Some users are not too fond of the slightly citrus scent of this serum.
5. Cos De Baha Niacinamide 10% + Zinc PCA 1% Serum
My verdict: Great serum for minimizing pores and reducing pimples
This Korean serum contains 10% niacinamide which is great for skin barrier protection, moisture retention, and improving the overall skin tone.
Other than that, there is zinc PCA which is super effective for people with acne-prone skin types. It minimizes large pores, balances sebum production, and reduces redness or itching associated with dry skin.
With added active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin B3 (panthenol), this Korean serum can help improve skin elasticity and brighten the skin complexion while protecting against UV rays.
You won’t be wrong if you call this the best Korean serum for dry skin.
It has a slightly thick texture and works great for dry skin types and any dry skin concerns.
Why You Love It
- No more oversized pores
What most users love is how it shrinks the appearance of oversized pores and reduces the greasy appearance of their skin.
- Fades hyperpigmentation
Women who use this Korean acne serum admire the fact that their hyperpigmentation and acne scars have reduced considerably with regular use.
- Acne buster
Most girls claim this serum helps keep pimples and redness away, and is the best Korean serum for acne and acne scars.
Keep In Mind
Some users find the consistency too thick for their liking.
PRO TIP: If you’re struggling with scarring, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and pimples, niacinamide could be the solution to your skin troubles. Make sure to read my article about Korean niacinamide serums here.
6. COSRX AC Blemish Spot Clearing Serum
My verdict: Effective Korean serum for clearing acne and recovering skin
This AC serum double as spot treatment for currently active pimples, as well as acne-related hyperpigmentation.
It not only helps to heal acne breakouts, but also revitalize skin afterwards.
Why You Love It
- Acne banisher
It contains gentle, but effective acids like: madecassic and asiatic acids, plus tea tree that are powerful weapon against acne.
- Soothes & hydrates your skin
It has high % of propolis and Asiaticoside (from Centella asiatica) – which help to recover your skin after breakouts.
- Forget about acne scars
It contains 4% of niacinamide – enough to brighten your dull skin, fade those red acne marks, and reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Keep In Mind
If you’re allergic to bees and/or honey, you probably shouldn’t use it, because it has over 85% of propolis.
7. Rovectin Pore Care Refining LHA Ampoule
My verdict: Great Korean acne serum for clearer pores
Hyaluronic acid is usually a part of all the best Korean serums out there.
With its ability to carry loads of extra water weight, hyaluronic acid in this serum is great for moisturizing the skin while protecting the skin’s moisture barrier.
It helps maintain the water-oil balance, making it one of the best Korean serums for oily skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin types.
And this Rovectin ampoule contain variety of types of hyaluronic acid.
Apart from that, it contains LHA, niacinamide and glutathione which help with sebum control, without stripping your skin.
Why You Love It
- Pores? What pores?
Most women who use this Korean serum love how it clears pores and reduces their visibility. All thanks to LHA, gentle type of exfoliating acids. If your skin doesn’t tolerate glycolic or salicylic acid too well, this is a good alternative.
Time to say goodbye to blackheads!
- No more dull skin
Niacinamide and glutathione help to brighten skin tone and smoother your complexion.
- Sooooo hydrating
There are 5 types of hyaluronic acid and also green algae (Chlorella Vulgaris) to provide your skin with optimal hydration level.
Keep In Mind
Remember to apply it to damp skin, otherwise hyaluronic acid can actually dehydrate your skin.
PRO TIP: If you want to fight acne and wrinkles at the same time, hyaluronic acid is your best bet. I found a few amazing Korean serums with hyaluronic acid – which I share in this article.
8. Bring Green Zinc Teca 1.2% Blemish Serum
My verdict: Amazing serum that works on blemishes and pores
Treating blemishes, soothing acne-related irritation, decreasing oil production and reducing visibility of pores?!
Yes! This little serum from Bring Green does it all.
And it’s also soothing with all that Centella and tea tree extracts inside!
Why You Love It
- Solution to pimples & oiliness
There are some real goodies in this serum: zinc PCA, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and niacinamide – all of them help with acne breakouts and control oil secretion.
This means less oily skin, less clogged pores and zits healing faster!
- Better looking skin
When pores are not clogged, they are less visible – and this is what Zinc Teca serum helps you to achieve.
Plus, niacinamide also treats acne-related inflammation and brightens skin tone, reducing the risk of post-acne marks.
Keep In Mind
Considering how small the bottle is (25 ml), it’s not the cheapest serum.
9. I Dew Care Juicy Kitten Face Serum
My verdict: One of the best Korean acne serums for combination skin
What makes this one of the best Korean serums in the market is the awesome ingredients it has. Basically the perfect green juice blend but for your skin.
This supercharged serum contains extracts of kale, spirulina, moringa seed, and willow bark along with niacinamide, so you know your skin is going to be soothed and purified like never before.
Willow bark extract is the natural source of salicylic acid (BHA), so this serum helps remove dead skin, reduces acne-causing bacteria (that can clog pores), and manages excess sebum.
If you have acne-prone, oily skin or combination skin (an oily T zone with normal skin elsewhere), this might be the perfect serum for you.
This green serum has a lightweight formula and a slight herbal scent, goes on easily, and dries perfectly, leaving no residue behind.
Why You Love It
- Great for oily skin
Most women who stumbled upon this serum love how it delivers what it promises. One of the cumstomers reviewed that among all the Korean serums she has used, this one finally puts an end to her quest of finding the right one for her oily, acne-prone skin.
- Removes dead skin cells
Among the benefits, users love how this acne-busting, pore-shrinking serum makes their skin fresh and keeps dullness at bay, thanks to the salicylic acid.
Keep In Mind
Though it is a safe product with promising results, it contains fragrance. If you have sensitive skin, better skip it.
Final Decision: Which Korean Serum Is Best For Acne Skin?
After reviewing so many different serums, in my opinion the best Korean serum for acne skin type is IUNIK Tea Tree 67% Relief Facial Serum.
Enriched with the goodness of tea tree, Centella asiatica extract, and niacinamide, it heals inflamed skin, reduces acne-flare ups, and does not clog your pores, making it the best Korean acne serum for people with oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types.
Why Do You Need A Serum For Acne Prone Skin?
These are the benefits of using a serum if you have acne-prone skin:
- Fewer breakouts
- Controls excess oil production (no more shiny face)
- Reduces acne scars and hyperpigmentation
- Fights acne-causing bacteria
- Reduces impurities and unclogs pores
- Calms down angry skin (redness, itching, irritation)
Which Serums Are Best For Acne Prone Skin?
The following serums are best for acne-prone skin:
- Serum with Centella Asiatica
Centella Asiatica, or Cica is nothing short of a miracle for irritated, inflamed or reactive skin. It repairs damage, calms redness and signs of inflammation, and adds moisture to the skin layers.
Hence, it is a great ingredient to look for in serums for acne-prone skin.
Serum with tea tree oil/water
Tea tree extract, whether it is tea tree oil or tea tree water, is used worldwide to reduce excess oil, fight acne and improve old scars, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial characteristics.
Serum with BHA (salicylic acid)
Commonly used in Korean skincare, salicylic acid is one of the best things for acne.
Since it is oil-soluble, it penetrates the deeper layers and removes oil, pore-clogging impurities, and acne-causing bacteria while exfoliating the dead skin gently.
Serum with zinc
Zinc reduces swelling, redness, and residual scarring associated with acne. If you have an acne-prone skin type, zinc PCA can improve your acne-scarred skin.
Niacinamide serum
A type of vitamin B3 – niacinamide – helps to regulate sebum production, calms irritated skin, and reduces acne scars and discoloration (hyperpigmentation, melasma, redness, dark spots, etc).
- Hyaluronic acid serum
Hyaluronic acid restores moisture and elasticity to the skin, strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier. This in turn heals acne scars and skin redness, improving the skin’s appearance.
In this article you can find out how to use hyaluronic acid to fight acne (and not worsen it!).
Serum with green tea
You may be well aware of the health benefits of green tea, but did you know green tea calms skin irritation, making it a great option for people with acne, rosacea, or acne?
Serum with retinol
Retinol fights signs of aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and reduces acne while increasing the cell turnover rate which can help to reduce acne scars.
Serum with azelaic acid
Azelaic acid is loved for its ability to reduce active and future breakouts with its anti-inflammatory characteristics.
It fades hyperpigmentation and scars, hence it is great for acne-prone skin.
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority.
All pictures in this article with YouAreBeautie logo belong to YouAreBeautie.com and were taken by the owner of this website. All these images are copyright-protected.
Other pictures:
- Pictures of COSRX Blemish Spot Serum belong to COSRX Brand. Source: https://www.cosrx.com/
- Pictures of Cos De Baha serum belong to Cos De Baha Brand. Source: https://www.cosdebaha.com/
- Pictures of I Dew Care Juicy Kitten belong to I Dew Care Brand (Wishtrend). Source: https://idewcare.com/
- Pictures of Rovectin LHA serum belong to Rovectin Brand. Source:https://rovectin.com/
- Pictures of Bring Green Zinc Teca serum belong to Bring Green Brand. Source: https://www.instagram.com/bringgreen_global/
