Transcription
This is the criteria I use when selecting recommended products on the Director Pi channel. Hello, I’m Director Pi.
When I review moisturizers, I usually break them down very precisely by texture, and this year, the level of detail is on another level. So before anything, we need to look at what a moisturizer is made of. Moisturizers are broadly divided into hydrators and occlusives. If a formula has a high amount of occlusives, it’s called a cream or balm-type moisturizer. If it has more hydrators and fewer occlusion agents, it’s labeled as a soothing gel, lotion, or moisturizing essence. Products with almost no occlusion, like toners or aloe gels, fall into that category.
Today, I looked into ingredients that can easily clog pores for acne-prone skin. These are ingredients with high comedogenic ratings, around 4–5, which acne-prone skin should avoid. They’re fine for dry skin, but not good for acne-prone skin. Ingredients with comedogenic ratings around 2–3 are ones that moisturizers need, but they can be borderline. Most of the commonly known butters and waxes fall into this group; these are the ingredients that are usually not recommended for acne-prone skin. For non-comedogenic ingredients, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is a synthetic oil derived from coconut oil and is one of the most commonly used oils today. Whether it’s an oil or butter, low percentages are usually fine. But once it goes above 1%, it can start clogging pores. Oils with a comedogenic rating between 0–2 are generally fine even at higher amounts. Depending on the texture and the emulsifier used, the comedogenic rating can change, so the best approach is to check the ingredient list and look for products that completed acne-suitability testing or non-comedogenic testing.
The second most common question I get is about the difference between “hwa-jal-muk” creams, the ones that smooth out skin texture. They need ingredients like polymer powders that give a blurring, smoothing finish. And the oil–water balance has to match your skin type. For oily or acne-prone skin, choose creams with low comedogenic ratings. Barrier-supporting ingredients must also be included. These days, because formulas are reducing oils, they use more active ingredients. Less oil means less moisture retention, so actives help compensate. So you need to check both the type and percentage of these ingredients. High-quality oils, skin-lipid ingredients like linoleic acid, omega fatty acids, and vitamins should be present for skin health. So being from the same brand doesn’t automatically mean a product will work well for you; you need to look at each product individually. Let’s go into the product reviews.
Go GO.
Round 1. B-rated from the list of new 16 products.
Green Tomato Cream by FULLY. This one uses synthetic oils as occlusion agents and contains powder. It uses silicone-based powder to reduce oil and is more of a soothing gel aimed at blurring pores. It has a lot of pore-care oils, so it feels less hydrating and more like a film sits on the skin. It’s targeted at combination and oily skin types that need oil-control.
This is the product you always mention in the comments. Numbuzin Pantothenic Active Soothing Cream. It contains oil, and for brightening, it uses 4% niacinamide. Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an oil with a slightly high comedogenic index, so very oily or acne-prone skin may rarely experience breakouts. It feels cool and hydrating, and there was no pilling or lifting, but in the afternoon, I experienced inner dryness, and after applying makeup, it became more noticeable.
Aestura A-Cica 365 Repair Cream. For the occlusive component, it uses only silicone oils and synthetic oils. It contains 0.5% panthenol and hexapeptide, which are good for calming and strengthening the skin barrier. You can think of it as a light soothing gel-cream that lightly helps control sebum. It feels moisturizing at first, and once absorbed, the oily feeling completely disappears. For combination oily and dehydrated skin, these products felt slightly lacking in moisture.
These are all Daiso-price products.
First, Clear Hyal Glow Cream by THE LAB by BLANC DOUX. As a cream for supplying moisture and balancing oil and water, it wasn’t bad. Its comedogenic index is around 1–2, so extremely oily or acne-prone skin should use it with some caution. The calming and barrier-support ingredients are not very high. It applies like a lightweight, hydrating lotion. You don’t feel much oiliness, but it takes time to fully absorb.
Next, Real Barrier CeraBase Calming Moisturizing Cream from Real Barrier. They highlight ceramides, but to actually help repair lipids or damaged skin, there should be around 0.1–0.2%, and this product doesn’t reach that. Among all the products I tested, this had the least hydration. It spread well, but gave a slight cooling–tingling feeling, likely because it's not sufficiently moisturizing. Dry and sensitive skin types should be cautious.
Cleaderm Low-Molecular Collagen Elastic Thread Cream. The oil content appears to be above 5%, so it’s on the higher side. The collagen is low-molecular, but the amount is minimal, so think of it more as a supportive barrier ingredient. It also contains a lot of thickeners with high oil content, making it more suitable for dry skin. The texture stretches like threads and feels dense. Oiliness is moderate. It contains linalool, so sensitive skin should be careful.
Now for the products that performed relatively better considering ingredients, amounts, texture, and overall feel, these are the “top of the top.” And this time, I combined the testing from ten members of the Director Pi Insighters Panel and our internal DP team’s experience to choose the top picks. I also subdivided the textures again: soothing, barrier, and nourishing types. Especially because many of you asked for more detailed breakdowns for combination–oily skin, I divided them this way. We’ll go in order from lowest oil content to highest.
The first product with very low oil content is S.Nature Aqua Oasis Moisture Gel Cream. From the start, its ingredient list is all about hydration and calming. It uses high amounts of Blue Agave extract, over 1%, providing deep hydration and soothing. It has a strong cooling effect. For oily or very oily skin, you can use this from autumn through winter.
Torriden Dive-In Low-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Cream. As occlusives, it uses synthetic oils, and for hydration and calming, it relies on hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan to reinforce the barrier. It was so lightweight that combination–oily skin needed an extra layer. But for oily skin, it works well as an oil–water balancing cream.
Aestura Atobarrier 365 Hydro Soothing Cream. I chose this as the top pick for oily skin back in 2021. It has more hydration than Torriden and slightly less oil. Plus, it contains proper barrier cream ingredients; that’s why I selected it back then. Even though the oil content isn’t extremely low, it doesn’t feel oily, which is great. It’s excellent for calming heat and irritation. It’s an oil–water balance cream for oily and acne-prone skin.
BringGreen Tea Tree Cica Soothing Cream Plus. They used squalane very well; it's an oil with a comedogenic index of 0. For calming, it has tea tree and cica. Tea tree is over 3%, and centella is above 0.1%, which is an active level. It’s refreshing, reduces heat, and overall, the ingredients are ideal for soothing acne-prone and oily skin.
This is Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cream. It uses volatile oils like isododecane, isononyl isononanoate, etc. These are occlusives but evaporate quickly, giving cooling and hydration without feeling oily. So oily skin types naturally like this texture. But for winter, the moisture level may feel a bit insufficient.
Dr.G Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream. It uses niacinamide powder to control oil. It feels very oily when first applied, but after some time, it settles into a matte finish.
Acnope CeraZip Cream. For anti-inflammatory and calming effects, it uses cica, centella, and dexpanthenol, which is good. It includes peptides and volatile silicone oils, so it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky despite having oils. The oils used have low comedogenic ratings, making it suitable for oily skin. But because the CER-based barrier ingredients are included properly, some people may experience breakouts. It finishes cleanly without causing inner dryness. If it isn’t fully absorbed, it can pill. That’s because it contains high amounts of panthenol. If that happens to you, use it only at night.
These next ones are soothing gel creams that even dry, combination–oily, or dry skin can use in summer.
Beplain Mung Bean Pore Tightening Soothing Cream. Mung bean peptides help minimize protein denaturation and boost elasticity, which is why I recommended this one. It’s a pore-tightening soothing gel cream with a good oil–water balance. After using it for 3–4 days, I noticed less oil on my face; it provides some sebum control too.
A product similar to Beplain is Scinic Centella PDRN Cica End Soothing Cream. It uses good anti-inflammatory ingredients for redness calming. Centella PDRN and cica give average hydration. When you first apply it, it feels slightly oily, but once it absorbs, it becomes matte. Recommended for dehydrated–oily and acne-prone skin. This was one of my top picks for combination–oily acne-prone skin in 2023.
Fation NoSCA9 Trouble Cream. It uses plant oils and synthetic oils in a good balance as occlusive agents, and the barrier ingredients are included properly. It’s suitable for combination–oily skin that feels dry.
Sungboon Editor Green Tomato NMN 4 Lifting Cream. They balanced synthetic and plant oils well and focused on pore care. The green tomato NMN and anti-aging blend help with pore tightening while keeping hydration. It feels more oily than watery and it has a coating finish that gives a slight glow. Oily skin types must control the amount.
Now let’s move on to barrier creams. For those whose barrier is damaged after washing, exposure to cold wind, or heater dryness causing redness.
Round Lab Pine Cica Calming Cream Plus. It contains 5% niacinamide for whitening and wrinkle improvement. At 5%, it also helps fade pigmentation and regulate sebum. The texture is unique: a dual formula that blends as you squeeze it out. The oil–water balance is good. It goes on slightly slippery and moist, then absorbs into a soft, velvety finish.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Multi Repair Cream. It uses oils and waxes, and the oil content is very high. I recommended it because it includes 5% panthenol for calming and barrier support. We need to compare Cicaplast B5 Cream vs. B5 Balm. It is both the cream and balm types. The balm uses a sebum emulsifier and contains a high amount of shea butter, which has a comedogenic rating around 3. Both cream and balm seem to have high panthenol. Between the two, the balm is more likely to clog pores; the cream is less likely. They don’t pair well with makeup; they can cause pilling or foundation separating, so they’re better for nighttime use. For combination–oily skin that feels dry, this is good for balancing oil and moisture.
Dr.G The Moisture Barrier D Intense Cream. Its occlusive ingredients are above 5%, so it’s quite high. With 1% panthenol, it supports the barrier and helps relieve itchiness from dryness. It maintains moisture well even in winter.
COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer. Using ceramides alone is less effective; ceramides plus cholesterol and fatty acids together strengthen the barrier much better, and this moisturizer includes all three. It relieves both inner dryness and surface dryness. It works well under makeup for dry skin.
A new release Bring Green BlueBean Bifida PDRN Mild Cream. It contains bifida, panthenol, and PDRN together. Panthenol is used at 1%, delivering nourishment, soothing, and anti-inflammatory effects. Overall, it's more moisturizing than hydrating. Recommended for sensitive dry skin. It was also one of my top picks in 2022.
Abib Jericho Rose Cream Nutrition Tube. It prevents moisture from escaping and leaves a soft finish that comes from the shea butter. For dry skin, even a single application kept me hydrated until the evening. It targets both inner dryness and outer dryness, a dry-skin barrier cream.
Now moving to nourishing creams.
Eucerin Hyaluron 3X Night Cream. I recommended it because it contains high levels of panthenol — 3%. It also uses soy saponin, a patented ingredient, and has certified wrinkle-improving benefits. It’s very moisturizing and quite oily. Perfect for winter, dry–very dry skin, and mature skin.
Aqua Squalane Moisture Cream from S.Nature. This was one of my top picks in 2021. Squalane doesn’t clog pores, and because it’s similar to our skin lipids, it provides nourishment and strengthens the barrier well. This cream combines squalane, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol and is a wrinkle-improving functional cream. It also works well under makeup for dry skin. I recommend it for dry skin types.
Biodance Pore Perfecting Collagen Peptide Cream. It contains various combinations of collagen, hydrolyzed collagen, elastin, and peptides. It helps more with pore-tightening and elasticity. Both hydration and moisture levels are good. It gives a slight plumping effect from nourishment.
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream. It has low oil content but high niacinamide. Niacinamide helps improve dark spots and pigmentation, and it also regulates sebum. It uses 0.02% sodium DNA, which helps strengthen the barrier, provides anti-inflammatory effects, and supports moisturizing. Balancing the formula well is important. It may feel oily, but I recommend it for dry skin, dehydrated–oily skin, and combination skin.
For Purcell Pixel Biome Hyal-Collagen Splash Cream. I included it in the “slow aging” category because of the fermented ingredients. Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid support the skin, and it contains over 6% fermented micro-active ingredients, which are effective for antioxidants and barrier strengthening. Dry skin definitely needs a barrier cream in winter.
Round 3. Formula and skin type.
Earlier, I explained how moisturizers are made of occlusives and hydrators. The occlusive component is the key factor in adjusting how much you should apply. So how do you apply moisturizer by texture? The method is actually simple; it’s all about amount control. For watery essence-type textures, you can just apply freely or layer multiple times. Soothing gels can cause slight pilling, but once absorbed, they’re fine. So check the occlusive content and choose accordingly. If you adjust the amount well, even barrier creams apply nicely. Use one pea-sized amount as the base guideline. In summer, use half a pea. In winter, use one pea — and add more if you feel dry. But for breakout-prone areas, do the opposite — apply less. Because creams contain occlusives, applying too much can clog pores.
Now, let’s move to the top products. Here are the Top Soothing Gels of 2025. For oily skin and oily dehydrated skin.
S.Nature Aqua Oasis Gel Cream. The 2024 top pick was Isntree Onion Newpair Gel Cream, which I chose because it helps prevent and reduce acne marks. It’s still a recommended item. This year’s criteria for selecting the best oily soothing gel were highest non-comedogenic scores and high blind-test scores from our oily-skin testing panel. It contains no oils and uses hyaluronic acid to support the barrier. It completed acne-suitability testing on the final formula. It’s also great that they created the gel texture without using thickeners like carbomer. It cools, calms, and controls sebum; it even helps minimize pores. The texture is a thin watery gel, almost like spreading water. It gives instant hydration, and as time passes, oil levels drop for oil control. During transitional seasons and winter, apply toner → serum → hydrator in that order. For dehydrated oily skin, it may not pair well with makeup in winter. This is a non-comedogenic, calming, cooling gel cream, a cream that hydrates from within without any oil. It works well with beauty devices and is recommended for oily, very oily, and acne-prone skin, safe for teens, pregnant women, and suitable for the whole family.
Now, the Top Soothing Gel Creams for Combination–Oily Skin in 2025.
Scinic Centella PDRN Cica End Soothing Cream. It’s a soothing gel suitable for dehydrated–oily and combination skin, and even dry skin can use it in summer. The 2024 top pick was FREEMAY Real Calming Moisture Cream, great for cooling and calming during summer, still recommended. The 2025 top pick for combination–oily skin has a very low comedogenic rating. I selected it from the “All-in-One Soothing Gel” category. Its occlusive content is under 5%. It has whitening and wrinkle-improving functions and uses excellent redness-calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients. The centella PDRN and cicazome include high-purity, low-molecular centella DNA, a patented ingredient used at 1%, which is an ideal amount. Cicazome is a centella-derived exosome; 0.5% is the appropriate amount. Its comedogenic index is around 0.7–0.8. For oily or severely acne-prone skin, it’s best to use products under 1. Because it’s a soothing gel, it doesn’t feel extremely hydrating, around a 3.5 level. So I recommend applying toner, essence, or serum first, then moisturizer, then the soothing gel. A tester in her 20s with dehydrated-oily combination skin said this gave her the least oiliness; she looked hydrated without getting greasy. Applied thinly, it also paired well with makeup. It’s a non-comedogenic centella patent anti-inflammatory gel cream. Light, fresh, with mild sebum control. Good for reducing redness. I recommend the Ori-One Soothing Gel Cream for dehydrated-oily combination skin and acne-prone combination skin that feels dry.
Top Barrier Cream for Dry Skin – 2025.
COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer. Last year’s top pick was Bioderma Cicabio Cream Plus. This year’s top pick has over 5% occlusives and high oil content. It also uses antioxidants well. The 2025 top barrier cream for dry skin uses a high amount of ceramides. The occlusive content is 5% or more. It contains 3% squalane, a skin-friendly oil similar to our own lipids, offering gentle barrier repair with low irritation. And it’s non-comedogenic. It also includes pseudo-ceramides, MCT seed oil, stearyl seed oil, and fatty acids. Dry, acne-prone skin can use this cream safely. It’s extremely smooth, spreads well, and leaves the skin soft. Moisture levels were about 10 points higher after 8 hours, and oil levels were nearly the same before and after, meaning the barrier remained intact. For dry skin, the oil–water balance is excellent. For combination skin leaning oily, it may feel a bit heavy. Apply a small amount in the morning; it layers well under sunscreen and cushion foundation. It’s a barrier-improving cream with 3.5% ceramides, great for reducing both inner dryness and surface dryness. Recommended for dry skin and combination-dry skin. Use a pea-sized amount in the morning. Recommended for atopic skin, redness, or irritated skin.
Top for Dry Acne-Prone Skin – 2025.
Dr.G The Moisture Barrier D Intense Cream. It’s a high-moisture barrier cream similar to Bioderma. But its comedogenic rating is very low, so it’s great for dry acne-prone skin. For these skin types, high-oil formulas cause breakouts and congestion, so this cream works well as long as you apply a thin layer just to create the barrier. It has over 5% occlusives and 1% dexpanthenol. Dexpanthenol is anti-inflammatory. It uses a golden 3:1:1 ratio of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. It forms a lamellar structure identical to skin lipids, so it absorbs well. The C14-22 alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, not drying alcohols like ethanol. They provide moisture and have low comedogenic ratings. Compared to soothing gels, this won’t give that watery, splashy hydration, but in terms of longevity, it performs extremely well. It is rich and oily. It’s excellent for relieving redness and itchiness. A high-moisture barrier cream. Ideal for acne-prone dry skin and dehydrated-oily combination skin with deep inner dryness.
Top Barrier Cream for Combination–Oily Skin – 2025.
Round Lab Pine Cica Calming Cream Plus. Last year’s top pick was Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream. This is a good choice for dry combination skin. This year’s top pick is a non-comedogenic, high-scoring formula. In blind tests, combination–oily testers rated the texture very highly. Even though it contains more than 5% occlusives, many reviewers said the oil–water balance felt perfect thanks to the high 5% niacinamide. Niacinamide improves pigmentation, but it also helps regulate sebum more actively, creating a better oil–water balance. It has a semi-gel, semi-barrier texture. Among five testers, three said it felt very hydrating; two said slightly less, but the mild oiliness helped calm flakiness very well. It pairs well with powdery foundations and gives a soft-outside, hydrated-inside finish. It’s a 5% niacinamide calming–brightening cream. For winter, pair it with a hydrating toner and ampoule to feel fully moisturized. It has great makeup compatibility. Recommended for dehydrated-oily combination skin during transitional seasons and winter.
This is the Top Slow-Aging Cream of 2025.
Biodance Pore Perfecting Collagen Peptide Cream. Last year’s top pick was the VT Toning Cream. It used niacinamide and tranexamic acid effectively for pigmentation care, which is why I recommended it as a slow-aging cream. It is still a recommended item. This year’s top pick is the product that received the best usability scores from our blind-test review panel. It contains 10 types of peptides, elastin, and well-chosen antioxidants. With both brightening and wrinkle-improving functions, it’s clearly suitable for slow-aging care. Its comedogenic index is under 1. Among the thread-stretching (stringy) textures, this had the best feel and absorption. No inner dryness. It maintained oil levels nicely. The oil–water balance felt great. People said their skin looked hydrated and glowing under cushion foundation because it provides good nourishment. It’s a daily slow-aging cream that helps with pores and elasticity. You can layer it multiple times comfortably. The texture offers both moisture and nourishment, giving a slight inner glow and a smoother surface finish. It improves overall skin texture and makes makeup apply more evenly. I recommend it especially for dry and combination skin. But it's non-comedogenic, so dehydrated-oily and acne-prone skin types can use it too.
Top Barrier Cream for Sensitive Skin & Families – 2025.
BringGreen BlueBean Bifida PDRN Mild Cream. Last year’s top pick was Uriage Xémose PSO, a product still recommended for its strong calming effect. I chose BringGreen as this year’s top because it delivers high moisture while keeping oil content low. It falls within the non-comedogenic range. Compared to Uriage, it also works better under makeup. When people asked for a cream that helps with redness, this is the kind of product I recommend. Its occlusive level appears to be around 5%. For soothing, it uses panthenol, pantothenic acid, and sodium DNA. For barrier repair, it uses ceramide MP, cholesterol, fatty acids, and phytosterols, a lipid complex similar to the skin’s own structure. It mimics the lamellar structure of damaged skin layers and helps rebuild them. Its comedogenic rating is about 1.6, still in the non-comedogenic category. It also has tiny capsules that melt well on the skin. Users reported feeling more oil than moisture. But many said they did not feel inner dryness throughout the day. It’s similar to the low-oil feel of Aestura 365. It’s a high-ceramide, high-panthenol barrier cream recommended for sensitive dry skin, as well as redness, bumps, and small closed comedones. Safe for children, adults, and pregnant women, a true family-friendly barrier cream.
Best Value Moisturizer – 2025.
Madeca21 Teca Toning Cream. I selected it for its good oil–water balance and pleasant texture. Occlusive content seems to be around 5%. It uses brightening and barrier ingredients effectively. Avoid using it on infants, pregnant users, or extremely sensitive skin. It uses lipid-rich ingredients that are not oily, and antioxidant ingredients are well included. As a moisturizing cream, it is very well-formulated. It’s extremely hydrating, moist enough that you can feel dew forming on the skin. I had the same experience. It feels refreshing because it isn’t greasy. For dry skin, it’s perfect; for oily skin, it may feel slightly heavy. It worked even better under cushion foundation. It’s a lightweight barrier soothing gel cream with antioxidant and brightening functions for pigmentation care. It’s light but deeply hydrating, good for all skin types except very oily or very sensitive skin. Dry skin can use it through summer and the seasonal transition periods.
Everything is summarized in detail here, so make sure to also check the list of non-comedogenic ingredients shown at the beginning and apply it when choosing your moisturizer. This has been Director Pi.