🇬🇧United Kingdom

Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream for oily acne-prone skin

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate hydration and barrier support for your oily skin, as multiple forms of hyaluronic acid and ceramides enhance resilience and moisture retention. Glycerin and Centella Asiatica Extract provide general soothing and hydration, which are beneficial but not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • While the formula is safe for your oily skin and free from harsh ingredients, it lacks strong seboregulating components to address oiliness or shiny skin.
  • The product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin.

How to apply

  • Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
  • Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this product is widely praised as a lightweight, gel-cream moisturizer that effectively soothes sensitive and acne-prone skin without feeling heavy or greasy. It excels at calming redness and strengthening the skin barrier, though users with very dry skin often find it insufficiently moisturizing on its own, and a small minority of users experienced congestion or breakouts.

Highlights

  • Lightweight gel texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly without stickiness”
    • “feels like a water cream”
    • “perfect for summer/humid weather”
    • “doesn't feel heavy or occlusive”
  • Non-greasy finish Often Mentioned
    • “leaves a matte finish”
    • “works well under makeup”
    • “no oily residue”
    • “skin feels soft not slick”
  • Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
    • “reduced my redness significantly”
    • “calmed my irritated barrier”
    • “great for sensitive skin flare-ups”
    • “stopped the stinging sensation”
  • Not enough moisture Often Mentioned
    • “too light for dry skin”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour”
    • “need to layer with oil”
    • “better as a day cream only”
  • Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
    • “no scent at all”
    • “didn't irritate my nose”
    • “safe for fragrance sensitivity”
    • “gentle and non-irritating”
  • Small quantity Sometimes Noted
    • “jar is tiny (50ml)”
    • “finished it in 3 weeks”
    • “wish it came in a bigger tube”
    • “expensive for the amount”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “gave me whiteheads”
    • “caused small bumps/congestion”
    • “broke me out on the chin”
    • “clogged my pores”
  • Slow absorption Rarely Noted
    • “sat on top of skin”
    • “took a while to sink in”
    • “felt a bit film-like initially”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?

Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Barrier Cream works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin by offering safe hydration and soothing care, though other products fit this skin type better. To truly excel on oily and breakout-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs powerful oil-controlling components and targeted acne-fighting ingredients alongside lightweight hydration.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Ceramide NP, sodium hyaluronate, and Centella asiatica extract make this cream a good fit for oily skin by boosting moisture and calming the skin. However, oily acne-prone skin also needs lightweight, oil-free ingredients that help control shine and directly target breakouts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?

Ceramides help keep oily acne-prone skin calm and smooth by strengthening the skin barrier and locking in moisture. Since acne-prone skin often has lower levels of these natural lipids, adding ceramides helps reduce irritation, redness, and moisture loss. A product for this skin type needs barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and gentle hydrators to prevent dryness and balance oil.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Centella Asiatica Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Centella Asiatica Extract helps calm red spots and supports skin healing in oily, acne-prone skin. It may also help balance moisture and reduce breakouts by soothing irritated areas.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes after your cleanser and hydrating toner in the morning, and after your cleanser, cleansing toner, and treatment in the evening. It provides moderate hydration for your oily skin, though this skin type needs oil-balancing ingredients to better address breakouts and shiny skin.

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol, and it is best applied after your retinol treatment to help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids is unlikely to interfere with your treatment and helps maintain skin comfort.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Daily application is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep your skin soft and calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin, as it is free from harsh ingredients and has a safe profile. However, it lacks strong oil-controlling components for your blemishes, so this skin type needs targeted ingredients that balance oil and address breakouts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment safely around your eyes and on your body because it has a gentle formula without irritating ingredients. It provides good moisture and helps keep skin soft and calm in delicate areas.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023
  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Ceramide Np, Arachidic Acid, Glucose, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Squalane, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Disodium Edta, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 18 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

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