Have you ever noticed your skin looking shiny and oily on the surface, but feeling tight, dry, or flaky underneath? If so, you may have a skin type that’s often misunderstood and misdiagnosed: soobooji skin.

In Korean skincare, this condition is recognised as the fifth skin type — and understanding it could be the game-changer your skincare routine needs.

What Is Soobooji Skin?

Soobooji skin refers to a condition where your skin produces too much oil on the outside but is dehydrated on the inside. It’s a skin type that doesn’t quite fit into the traditional four (normal, oily, dry, combination) and is often mistaken for just oily skin – which leads to using the wrong products.

This misunderstanding is why many people with oily but dehydrated skin struggle to find balance. They use products that strip away oil, which worsens the dehydration, causing the skin to produce even more oil to compensate.

How to Treat Oily But Dehydrated Skin the Korean Way

If you have soobooji skin, the key is to focus on deep hydration without clogging pores. Think: lightweight, layerable products that restore moisture without overwhelming your skin.

Here’s a complete Korean skincare routine tailored for soobooji skin:

1. Start with a Gentle Low pH Cleanser

Cleansing is important, but you need a formula that cleans without stripping.

🧼 Skin Cupid recommends: Dr. Belmeur Daily Repair Foaming Cleanser

This gentle cleanser maintains your skin’s ideal pH level while protecting its natural moisture barrier. It leaves skin clean, balanced, and refreshed — not tight or dry.

2. Hydrate with a Lightweight Toner

Soobooji skin responds best to hydrating layers – but not heavy ones.

💧Skin Cupid recommends: S.NATURE Aqua Oasis Toner

Formulated with 8 types of Hyaluronic Acid and skin-hydrating agent Aquaxyl, this toner absorbs instantly and pushes hydration deep into the skin, helping to plump and nourish from within without trapping heat or oil at the surface.

3. Layer a Niacinamide-Based Essence

Essences help replenish water levels and support a healthy skin barrier. Niacinamide is a great ingredient to look out for at this step –  it regulates oil production and boosts ceramide levels to prevent water loss, making it a double win for oily but dehydrated skin.

🌿Skin Cupid recommends: NACIFIC Phyto Niacin Brightening Essence

4. Use a Lightweight Moisturiser with Barrier Support

You need hydration, but heavy creams can make soobooji skin feel congested.

🧴 Skin Cupid recommends: ZEROID Pimprove Moisturiser

This moisturiser uses MLE technology that mimics the skin’s natural lipid structure, helping rebuild your skin barrier from within. It’s featherlight, absorbs fast, and hydrates deeply – all without leaving a greasy film.

5. Finish with a Non-Comedogenic, Hydrating Sunscreen

Even oily skin types need sunscreen – but the right one is key.

☀️ Skin Cupid recommends: DR CEURACLE Hyal Reyouth Moist Sun SPF 50 PA++++

It has a serum-like texture and is packed with 10 types of Hyaluronic Acid to rehydrate your inner skin layers while protecting from UV damage. And yes – it’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.

Final Thoughts

Soobooji skin – the fifth skin type recognised in Korean skincare – deserves more attention. If you’ve been treating your skin as oily when it’s actually oily but dehydrated, you could be sabotaging your results.

The good news? With the right routine and hydrating, non-clogging products, you can restore balance and achieve healthy, glowing skin!

At Skin Cupid, we carefully curate products for every unique skin type – including soobooji skin. Shop our expert-recommended picks and start your glow-up today.