The Best Korean Skincare for Clogged Pores

If you're an adult, you expect to have a handle on your skin. So when you look in the mirror and see bumpy texture, blackheads on your nose that won't leave, or persistent whiteheads on your chin, it's frustrating. Your first instinct might be to reach for the harshest scrub you can find, but that often makes things worse.

In this article we will provide a guide on clearing clogged pores using selective and effective products. Consider this your expert-driven plan for clearing congestion and revealing smooth, clear skin.

Will This Work for My Skin Type?

This routine works for most skin types dealing with clogged pores:

Oily skin: Use the full routine as written. You can use the BHA treatment 3x per week. Click here for a full guide for a oi

Combination skin: Focus products on your T-zone. Use the gentler peeling gel if the BHA feels too strong on dry areas.

Dry skin with clogged pores: Yes, you can get clogged pores with dry skin. Start with the peeling gel instead of BHA. Add an extra hydrating step.

Sensitive skin: Use the Trimay Peeling Gel instead of BHA. Start treatments once per week and build up slowly.

What Are Clogged Pores, Really? (And Why Do I Have Them?)

At its most basic, a clogged pore is just a tiny trap. Your skin naturally produces oil (sebum) and sheds dead skin cells. When too much oil, dead cells, and daily grime (like pollution or leftover makeup) get stuck in one of your pores, you get a clog.

This clog can show up as:

Whiteheads: A pore that's clogged and closed by a layer of skin.

Blackheads: A pore that's clogged but open to the air. When the gunk inside mixes with oxygen, it oxidizes and turns dark—it's not dirt!

As adults, this can be triggered by anything from hormones and stress to genetics. The key takeaway? You cannot scrub them away. Trying to do so just irritates the skin, damages your barrier, and can trigger more oil production. The secret is to dissolve the clog gently.

Quick Product Guide

The 5-Step Korean Skincare Routine for Clogged Pores

This strategic routine clears existing clogs and prevents new ones from forming.

Step 1: The Deep (But Gentle) Cleanse

A gentle cleanser is your non-negotiable first step. You need to remove surface dirt, sunscreen, and oil without stripping your skin. That tight, "squeaky clean" feeling is a red flag—it signals your skin to produce even more oil in panic.

For Brightening & Softening: 9wishes Rice Foaming Cleanser 

Perfect example of gentle but effective cleansing. Whips up into creamy foam that feels luxurious. Rice extract adds a brightening boost. Your skin feels soft and clean, never tight.

For Mild Exfoliation: Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel 

If you want your cleanser to do a little more, this is a solid choice. Lightweight gel that uses a blend of three gentle AHAs (Citric, Tartaric, and Mandelic acids) to begin exfoliation right from step one. Smart, efficient way to keep skin texture smooth.

Step 2: The Exfoliating Treatment (2-3x a Week)

This is your main "unclogging" step. You don't need to do this every day, but 2-3 times a week makes a huge difference. You have two excellent paths here.

The Power Player (BHA): COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 

There's a reason everyone recommends this in case you have blackheads It uses 4% Betaine Salicylate (a gentler cousin of Salicylic Acid) to tackle clogged pores. Why is BHA the gold standard? It's oil-soluble, which means it can get inside the pore to dissolve the hardened oil and dead cells that other ingredients can't reach. This is how you clear blackheads at the source. Seriously effective.

The Gentle Buff (Peeling Gel): Trimay Hyaluron Microdelivery Peeling Gel 

If your skin is sensitive and finds acids too intense, a peeling gel is a brilliant alternative. This is a gentle physical exfoliant. You massage the gel onto dry skin, and the cellulose in the formula satisfyingly "rolls" up, grabbing dead skin cells with it. It's also packed with hyaluronic acid, so it exfoliates and hydrates at the same time. Leaves skin feeling silky smooth, not raw.

Step 3: The Balancing Toner

On days you aren't using your heavy-duty exfoliator, a daily balancing toner is key. This step calms the skin, adds hydration, and delivers a gentle dose of BHA to keep pores clear.

Product: Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner 

Perfect daily partner to your weekly treatment. It's not high-strength acid. Instead, it uses a gentle amount of Salicylic Acid to maintain clarity. It also has Aloe Vera, which is incredibly soothing. If you have clogged pores but also deal with redness or irritation, this one's worth keeping around. Feels like a calming, hydrating splash of water.

Step 4: The Pore-Refining Serum

We've cleared the clogs. Now, let's address the cause (excess oil) and the result (visible pores). This is where Niacinamide comes in.

Product: Trimay Tremella Niacinamide Ampoule 

This ampoule is your best option for pore refinement. Niacinamide is seriously effective—clinically proven to help regulate your skin's oil production. Less excess oil means fewer clogs. Plus, it strengthens the skin barrier and has anti-inflammatory properties, all of which make pores appear smaller over time. This lightweight serum sinks in beautifully and is essential for any oily skin routine.

Step 5: The Weekly "Reset" Mask

Once a week, hit the reset button. This helps absorb excess oil and keeps your skin balanced.

The Detox Mask: Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask 

Think of this as a gentle deep clean. It uses Kaolin clay, which is a magnet for excess sebum and impurities. But unlike old-school clay masks that leave you feeling like a dried-out fossil, this one has Red Bean extract. It provides a very mild scrub as you wash it off, so your skin feels soft and refreshed, not tight. It even has a lovely cooling sensation when you apply it.

The Balancing Mask: 9wishes Hydra Ampoule Sheet Mask 

This might seem counterintuitive, but a hydrating sheet mask is one of the best things you can do for clogged pores. Why? Often, our skin produces more oil because it's dehydrated. By flooding your skin with hydration, this mask helps balance oil production. When your skin is happily hydrated, it doesn't feel the need to go into oil-production overdrive.

The Beginner-Friendly Version

Overwhelm with the choices? Start with these three:

1. Benton Aloe BHA Toner - This is your main weapon

2. Trimay Tremella Niacinamide Ampoule - Daily maintenance

3. Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask  - Weekly hydration

Total: ~$38 to start

Add the cleanser, serum, and clay mask as your budget allows. The BHA treatment is the most important piece.

Mistakes to Avoid

Over-exfoliating: Using BHA daily or combining it with other exfoliants will wreck your skin barrier. Stick to 2-3 times per week max.

Skipping moisturizer: Your skin will produce more oil to compensate. Always moisturize, even with oily skin.

Expecting overnight results: Pores take weeks to clear. Stick with it for at least 8 weeks before deciding if something works.

Using hot water: Hot water strips your skin and triggers more oil production. Wash with lukewarm water.

Picking at your pores: This damages skin, causes scarring, and can introduce bacteria. Let the products do the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long until I see results for my clogged pores?

Week 1: Skin feels smoother and softer. Surface texture improves.

Weeks 2-4: Blackheads start loosening. New clogs form less frequently.

Weeks 8-12: Visible reduction in blackheads and pore size. This is when BHA and Niacinamide really show their work.

The key is consistency. Use the routine exactly as directed, and give your skin time to respond.

2. Can I use the COSRX BHA Liquid and the Trimay Peeling Gel at the same time?

Please don't. That's a one-way ticket to an irritated, over-exfoliated skin barrier. Use them on different days. For example, use the COSRX BHA on Tuesday for a deep chemical clean, and the Trimay Peeling Gel on Friday for a gentle surface buff.

3. Will these products make my skin purge?

It's possible, especially with BHA. A "purge" is when an active ingredient speeds up cell turnover and pushes all the gunk that was already forming under the skin to the surface at once. It's temporary and a sign the product is working. It should clear up in a few weeks.

4. What's the difference between a whitehead and a blackhead?

Simple. A whitehead is a clogged pore that's closed by a layer of skin. A blackhead is a clogged pore that's open to the air. When the trapped oil and skin cells are exposed to oxygen, they oxidize and turn dark—it's not dirt!

5. Do I still need a moisturizer if I have clogged pores?

Yes, absolutely. This is one of the biggest mistakes people with oily skin make. If you skip moisturizer, your skin gets dehydrated and responds by producing even more oil to compensate, which just leads to more clogs. A lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer is essential to keep your skin balanced.