Pampering your face with a natural glow feels so gratifying. The fascination with K-beauty powders has been revamping skincare. Hence, we have curated this list of the best Korean powders that can help your face attain a flawless glow without worrying about feeling greasy. Using Korean powder has more to do with promoting the natural glow of your skin than giving it a non-natural coverage. According to Dr. Usama Syed, a board-certified dermatologist, “Korean skincare is popular mainly because of its emphasis on natural ingredients, double cleansing and sun protection.” Some of the most commonly used natural ingredients in formulating Korean powders are green tea, red ginseng, botanical extracts, etc and these have proven to have antiaging and anti-melanogenic effects (1).

Korean powders have been a game changer for makeup owing to their sebum-controlling properties. Based on our observation, they preserve your makeup and make for an ideal on-the-go touch-up powder too. You can feel light and dewy and flaunt your makeup without worrying about sebum ruining your day and special moments. Not to miss, Korean powders also minimize the appearance of those blemishes and spots that seem to take forever to leave. With their oil-free formulations, they make bidding goodbye to oil and acne a lot easier for you.

However, finding a Korean powder that gives your face an ethereal glow can be very demanding. To help you find the best Korean powder, we have curated a list of our favorite products. Scroll below to see our recommendations.

• 1
  Best Mattifying Powder

  ETUDE HOUSE ZERO SEBUM DRYING POWDER

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Give your face an oil-free radiance with this zero sebum powder by ETUDE HOUSE. Infused with sugar polymer and cotton extracts, this product improves the health of your skin. Featuring a matte finish, this loose powder doesn’t clump and is among one of the best mattifying powders. Constituting no pigment synthesis, this drying powder gives your skin a wonderful finish. Free from clumps, you can amp up your makeup looks without making your skin texture cakey.

2

Best Hypoallergenic Powder

MINERAL FUSION Pressed Powder Foundation

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Flaunt a stunning glow with this powder foundation by Mineral Fusion. The infusion of pomegranate, sea kelp, red tea, and white tea gives your skin a refined texture. Featuring a natural formula, this matte powder foundation diminishes the appearance of pesky pores and feels soothing. Designed paraben-free, this Korean pressed powder has a smooth application that offers seamless coverage and nourishes your skin. Based on our observations, to get a more radiant finish, go for one shade darker than your usual one.

 

3

Best Multi-purpose Powder

SKINFOOD PEACH COTTON MULTI FINISH POWDER

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Pamper your face with an oil-free look with this pressed powder by SKINFOOD. This peachy powder is formulated with silky powder that gives it a light texture for a soft and smooth finish. With the goodness of peach, this loose powder gives your face an illuminating effect and controls sebum production. Featuring a delightful scent, this Korean powder is a multi-purpose product. You may use it for settling makeup as well as a dry shampoo on your oily bangs.

4

Best Scented Powder

I’M MEME SKIN MATTIFYING OIL CUT PACT

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Glam up with this flattering mattifying oil pact by I’M MEME. Designed as a plant-origin powder, this Korean setting powder feels light and calming on your skin. Featuring an alluring shade, this mattifying oil cut pact is specially composed for oily skin. The subtle pink of this powder adds a lovely glow to your makeup. Leaving no white cast, this green powder is perfect for flawless coverage. The added perk is that it comes with a separate compartment for keeping a makeup pad to keep your hygiene worries under control.

5

Best Overall

RUBY KISSES No More Blemish Pressed Powder WITH SALICYLIC ACID

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Crafted to give your face a refined appearance, this pressed powder by RUBY KISSES is an ideal addition for getting clear, velvety skin. Infused with salicylic acid, an effective agent for treating acne and photoaging, this product is good for acne-prone skin (2). Featuring an anti-blemish formula, this Korean face powder reduces the appearance of annoying blemishes. Making your face oil-free, this product absorbs excess oil, leaving your face silky smooth.

6

Best for Acne-prone Skin

Innisfree MATTE MINERAL SETTING POWDER

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This light mineral setting powder by Innisfree gives your face a soft, matte finish. Infused with the richness of green tea, it feels light and calming on your skin. Specially designed for acne-prone skin, this Korean setting powder controls oil production and gives your face a non-greasy appearance. Best suited to set your makeup, you can also use it to enhance the overall texture of your makeup. A multi-purpose product, this is also crafted to serve the purpose of dry shampoo.

7

Best Travel-friendly Powder

THESAEM PERFECT PORE PACT

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Ace a soft and smooth makeup look with this compact pore pact by TheSAEM. Infused with tea tree extract, it feels light and soft on your skin. Featuring a soft applicator, it has a feather-like consistency. The crease-free formula of this product is perfect to smoothen the under-eye area. With its application, your foundation may stay intact for a longer period of time. Designed for a long-lasting effect, it’s easy to carry for anytime glossy touch-up.

8

Best for Blemished Skin

ECCO BELLA NATURAL FACE POWDER

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Spruce up your charm with this face powder by ECCO BELLA. Enriched with green tea extracts, vitamin E, and aloe vera – this translucent powder gives your face a natural and seamless coverage. Designed to minimize the appearance of blemishes, this product is a game changer for blemish-prone skin. This pressed finishing powder is a beauty essential that you can also use as a concealer. Ace your special looks easily with this complete on-the-go essential. It comes with a mirror and an application puff so you can stash it in your purse for uninterrupted radiance.

9

Best Non-greasy Formula

JUNG SAEM MOOL Skin Nuder Foundation

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Amp up your dull days with this beautiful nuder foundation by JUNG SAEM MOOL. Featuring a transparent finish, it feels light and clear on your skin. With the application of this product, you get a shimmery finish — a glow that feels youthful and healthy. The non-greasy formula of this product neither feels heavy nor dries out your skin. It comes with a double-layered brush so you can get a mattifying look without wasting too much of the product. 

10

Best for Oily Skin

L.O.C.K. ALL DAY SEBUMLESS POWDER PACT

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Glow up beautifully with this sebumless powder pact by L.O.C.K. Infused with the richness of lecithin and plant squalane, it helps in sealing in moisture and gives you a healthy glow. The lightweight texture and easily blendable formula of this powder pact feel silky smooth and soft on your skin. Featuring a nice applicator, you can apply it to get even coverage. Designed to give you an oil-free sparkle, it controls sebum production – leaving your skin flawlessly clear. Control excess shine and feel naturally radiant anywhere with this product coming with a mirror and sponge.

Now that you have seen our product recommendations for the best Korean powders, refer to the following buying guide so that you can shop wisely.

Korean powders are mostly formulated with natural ingredients. They have a lightweight texture and also control sebum production. Formulated to give a natural glow, they don’t feel greasy, chalky, or too shimmery. On the other hand, American powders may be pigmented, thick, and creamy. They may not feel as light on the skin as Korean powders do. Their formulations may also be quite diverse.

Here are some of the factors to consider before buying the best Korean powder:

Consistency: The most important factor you should consider before buying a Korean powder is its consistency. Korean powders can serve different purposes, owing to their multiple uses. Go for a pressed powder if you want a more refined makeup look. Loose powders are ideal for people with oily skin type as it helps control sebum. 

Know Your Skin Type:

Before you include a Korean powder in your skincare routine, ensure it’s formulated for your skin type. Our contributor Dr. Anju Methil, a renowned dermatologist and cosmetologist, says, “Korean powders with oil-absorbing and non-comedogenic properties are best for oily and acne-prone skin. Look for products containing silica or clay to control shine and minimize breakouts.”

Read through the ingredient section and check if any ingredient doesn’t suit your skin. Doing that will help you find the Korean powder best suited for you without triggering any skin allergies or breakouts. 

Shedding some more light on the topic, our contributor Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “For oily and acne-prone skin, products like Innisfree's No-Sebum Mineral Powder are great. These are specifically designed to control excess sebum, the oily substance produced by glands on your skin, which can lead to acne. The powder is lightweight, leaving a natural and matte finish that doesn't clog pores, making it ideal for acne-prone skin.”

For individuals with dry skin, products which contain moisturizing components are great. Such products help to keep the skin hydrated, preventing it from drying out further. Additionally, it has a fine, silky texture that adheres smoothly to the skin, providing a natural, luminous finish without emphasizing dry patches.

Finish: To get seamless coverage, you need to ensure the shade and finish of the powder aren’t overpowering and unsuitable to go with your makeup. A darker shade or excessively glowing finish might make your makeup look pasty. Hence, you should check the color and finish properly and ensure it suits your skin tone and the foundation you use to get an even texture.

Step 1: Moisturize your skin properly.

Step 2: Apply the foundation that suits your skin tone. Choosing a foundation that doesn’t match your skin tone may give an off-look. It will feel quite unnatural too.

Step 3: Apply Korean powder using a brush, sponge, or makeup pad. Don’t apply a lot of it as that may cause clumping of your makeup.

Step 4: Reapply as and when you need, without overdoing it. Applying too much of it can give your face a cakey structure.

Conclusion

Exuding an ethereal glow feels so dreamy, especially with oil, acne, and blemishes finding a way on your face every now and then. Your makeup may also not reflect the radiance and charm with sebum reducing its finish and lasting power. Hence, having some of the best Korean powders to choose from relieves you of the stress of finding a sebumless powder for a flawless sebum-free makeup look. With these Korean powders, you can let your face radiate a lovely glow without feeling overwhelmed. Ensure you go through the buying guide to find the best product for yourself. Happy shopping!

Contributor: Dr. Anna Chacon, Dermatologist - MyPsoriasisTeam

Dr. Anju Methil, Dermatologist and Cosmetologist - Clinicspots