The 10-step Korean skincare routine made simple!

 

Unlike Western skincare, Korean skincare is dedicated to healing the skin through persistent and careful use of products. Inspired by the flawless, glass-skin complexions of many Korean actors, actresses, and K-pop idols, the famous 10-step Korean skincare routine has been dermatologically proven to enhance the health and appearance of your skin.

Is this Korean skincare routine good for beginners?

A 10-step Korean skincare routine can be overwhelming for newbies to K-beauty - but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy these products! Starting off simple with a 4-step routine will help you get on track to a 10-step routine. Focus on a cleanser, serum, moisturiser, and sunscreen – these are your bare necessities. It’s always better to start small and build your way up to a more complex routine. Your skin is delicate and needs to get used to active ingredients and layering products, otherwise you’ll risk breakouts. 

 

Step 1: Oil cleanser

An oil cleanser is an essential part of any Korean skincare routine. This is the first step of double-cleansing, which is a popular K-beauty method of clarifying the skin. Oil cleansers remove oil-based impurities like sebum, makeup, and SPF from the skin.

K-beauty enthusiasts use a technique called oil-pulling to cleanse the face, which aims to pull sebaceous filaments from your pores so you're left with smooth and flawless skin! After a minute of massaging the skin with oil, you should be able to see these filaments appear on your hands.

Step 2: Water-based cleanser

The second part of double-cleansing, water-based cleansers remove water-based impurities like dirt and sweat from the skin that can’t be clarified through oil-cleansing alone. There are a variety of cleansers to use for your Korean skincare routine, like gel cleansers for those with oily and acne-prone skin, and foaming cleansers for individuals with sensitive skin. 

Step 3: Exfoliator

Western exfoliators contain harsh acidic ingredients that could irritate the skin and cause damage to your delicate skin barrier. Korean skincare, by contrast, focuses on using mild ingredients to slowly exfoliate the skin. Over the weeks, you’ll notice that your skin looks smoother, brighter, and more balanced as these exfoliators gently slough off dead skin cells, revealing the fresh skin beneath.

Step 4: Toners

Korean skincare toners are non-abrasive and help the skin to absorb the active ingredients in your routine. They are essential to balancing the skin’s pH levels, giving you healthy-looking, hydrated skin. There are a variety of K-beauty toners to choose from depending on your skin type and concerns, from brightening, to quenching dry skin. Korean skincare innovators understand that every individual’s skin is unique; there’s no one-size-fits-all toner to alleviate skin concerns.

Step 5: Essence

Lightweight, viscous, and packed with antioxidants, essences in the K-beauty world are designed to absorb efficiently into the skin. They also optimise the absorption of serums and moisturisers, treating your skin on a cellular level - leaving you with dewy, glass skin.

Step 6: Serums/Ampoules

Like essences, serums and ampoules deeply nourish the skin. Unlike essences however, serums and ampoules are a little thicker and provide more targeted care, making them a Korean skincare essential. They are highly concentrated and include star ingredients like Retinol and Panthenol, to target specific skin concerns such as dryness, dullness, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and so on.

Step 7: Masks

From overnight masks to clay masks, masks are a K-beauty favourite. They give your skin a quick boost of nourishment and hydration. Offering multiple benefits like exfoliation and calming redness, these masks help to reinforce the skin barrier. This ensures the skin is left looking plump, smooth, and refreshed - a step closer to glass skin!

Step 8: Eye Care

Eyes tend to be a neglected area of the skin. Yet, Korean skincare prioritises this as it can bring radiance to your face. Formulated to have anti-aging benefits and to target hyperpigmentation, eye creams and serums rejuvenate the skin around the eyes to balance your complexion.

Step 9: Moisturiser

Moisturisers help lock in all those active ingredients that you applied to your skin and provide essential hydration throughout the day and night. They are also designed to strengthen the skin barrier, preventing impurities from penetrating into your skin. 

Step 10: Sunscreen

The final step to your AM Korean skincare routine is sunscreen. K-beauty emphasises the importance of using sunscreen daily - even on overcast days. Sunscreens protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays and blue light that can accelerate aging and cause sun damage, ensuring your skin is left youthful-looking and supple.