The concept of double cleansing is to balanced cleansing: First, remove oil-based makeup, sunscreen, and impurities with an oil cleanser. Then, remove dirt and debris with a water-based or foam cleanser. This is the foundation of a solid skincare cleansing routine. (And don’t worry — oil balances oil so even we oily-skinned folk need oil!)

For oily skin, keeping your skin cleansed but not stripped is vital to prevent your skin from producing even more oil. Start with an oil cleanser, and then follow up with a low pH cleanser to clean without disrupting your skin barrier.

An essence, serum, or ampoule is where you typically get the highest concentration of skin treating ingredients, and it’s considered an indispensable step for really effecting change in your skin. For oily skin, we like sebum-controlling tea tree extract, chemical exfoliants, and centella.

A good moisturizer not only softens your skin and provides a protective barrier, it can help treat a number of skin issues with the right formulation. And yes, even oily skin needs a lightweight moisturizer so it doesn’t get dehydrated and produce even more oil!

No skincare routine is complete without a good sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 (but preferably higher) that also protects from UVA and UVB rays. (In K-beauty, that means look for the PA+++ sign!) Thankfully, Korean sunscreens are some of the best in the world — they offer light textures and no white cast, so you’ll actually want to wear sunscreen!