Discover the secrets behind flawless Korean skin with this ultimate guide to the 10-step Korean skincare routine. From double cleansing to sun protection, learn how each step helps nourish, hydrate, and rejuvenate your skin for a glowing, youthful look. Perfect for beginners and K-beauty lovers alike!
“Cause I-I-I’m in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight (hey)
Shining through the city with a little funk and soul
So I’ma light it up like dynamite, whoa oh oh
Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na, life is dynamite
Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na, life is dynamite
Shining through the city with a little funk and soul
So I’ma light it up like dynamite, whoa oh oh”
When you hear this song, you instantly remember BTS. If you are army, then it is enough to send you into a tizzy. If you are not fans of BTS, you do not feel that much craziness. Neither you are a fan of BTS nor not you must admit that they are super gorgeous. They are not only good-looking but also have flawless skin, which desires for everyone. Korean beauty products are becoming popular, called “The Korean Wave” for their beautiful, radiant, and well-toned skin.
According to a report, South Korean women spend income twice on beauty products and makeup than Americans. Meanwhile, South Korean men also spend more on skincare than any other country.
For keeping their skin healthy and beautiful, most Korean women use multiple steps skincare routines every day; however, it may sound extensive.
It is quite a bit of work compared to the average skincare regime; But, overall, you should focus on improving skin gently while achieving lasting results.
Even though ten is the most common step in Korean skincare routines, it could be five, seven, eight, or twelve steps. Ultimately, there is no need to follow a specific number of steps; however, personalize your skincare routine that what your skin needs. While many people start with a 10-step regimen, you can modify it to fit your requirements or preferences.
The traditional 10-step Korean skincare routine begins with the double cleanse which, is the core of Korean skincare.
Step one-Oil-based Cleanser
It is the first step of double cleansing that helps remove oil-based impurities and grime from your skin. An oil-based cleanser is a great alternative to makeup removers.
What it Does
- To dissolve and break down waterproof makeup.
- To sweep away any excess sebum and sunscreen.
- To hydrate, nourish, and softens skin.
- Do not strip the natural healthy oils.
- To keep your skin healthy and your sebum production balanced.
- To prevent skin from irritation.
How to Use
- Moring and night.
- pump the Oil Cleansing into the palm of your hands around three times and Gently massage your overall face to remove makeup
- Gently press and slide the colored makeup areas with sponge pads.
- Gently wipe away the remaining oil on your face with a cleansing Puff (soak with water).
- Focus on face areas such as the nose and chin where sebum and dead skin cells can clog up your pores and blackheads with the cleansing oil again.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
Skip if
You can avoid this part in the morning routine. And also, when you are no longer used to sun cream and makeup. Your skin is too delicate to double-cleanse, or your skin reacts badly to oils.
Step Two-Water-based Cleanser
It is the second step of double cleansing. Dermatologists and aestheticians recommend cleansing twice as it thoroughly cleanses impurities from your skin. Water-based cleaners come in a variety of forms, including foam and gel. You will know when you look at the label water should be the first ingredient.
What it Does
- To remove dirt, sweat, and other H2O-based impurities.
- To allow for a deeper cleanse.
- To increase skin permeability.
- To slough off dead skin cells.
- To help prevent blocked pores and pimples, keep skin clear.
- To assist in the restoration and maintenance of its natural protective barrier.
- To make skin softening, smoothing, and hydrating.
- To help lessen inflammation and irritation of the skin.
How to Use
- To pump up the soap and get it on your hands and gently put it on your face.
- Gently rub it in circular motions on your face with the pinky.
- To rinse the product off with lukewarm water.
Skip if
- You have ultra-dry skin.
- You want to apply just an oil-based cleanser.
Step Three-Exfoliant
After cleaning your face, the next step is exfoliation–treatments that promote beauty, youthful appearance, or health. There are two kinds of exfoliators — physical and chemical.
A physical exfoliator involves sloughing away the topmost layer of skin– sugar scrubs, cleansing towels, peeling gels. You can feel baby-soft and smooth skin right away when you have done it perfectly.
Altogether It is not recommended for sensitive skin types; the Korean skincare routine has a place for them. When your skin is feeling dull and rough, it might benefit from a physical exfoliant.
Chemical exfoliation, also known as chemical peeling, is made up primarily of acids and exfoliated into the deeper layers of your skin. AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs are three familiar types of chemical exfoliation.
Even though it prescribes for people treating acne, AHAs and BHAs are available freely in the market for daily use. While AHAs are used to remove the surface layer of skin, BHAs penetrate and clean it from within.
What it Does
- To remove the “gunk” built up from the dirt, excess oil, and bacteria.
- To prevent clogged pores, which leads to fewer breakouts.
- To increase collagen production that makes skin glowing and vibrant.
- To promote skin elasticity, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and related sagging.
- To achieve a deeper clean by dissolving impurities.
- Softens skin texture
How to Use
- once or twice per week max.
Mechanical Exfoliation
- To move in short, soft, circular strokes around your face with preferred scrub.
- To keep your motion as light as possible.
- To rinse with lukewarm water to avoid irritating your freshly exfoliated face.
- To apply moisturizer after patting your skin dry.
Chemical Exfoliation
- To grab your favorite chemical exfoliant and apply softly in small, circular motions.
- Follow the package directions for how long you should wait before rinsing off if you want to apply the peel on your face.
- Pat face dry and apply moisturizer.
Skip if
- To have sensitive skin, active breakouts.
- You exfoliated the day before.
Step Four-Toner
Once you get to this step, your skin requires to return to its acidic state. For this reason, you need to apply Korean toner, which is different from Western toners.
Korean toner is full of botanical ingredients that provide the first layer of hydration in a skincare regime. It tends to be milder, gently formulated which, means non-astringent, nonalcohol-laden toners. Every time you wash your face with a cleanser, you must use toner.
What it Does
- To purify the skin
- To balance up the pH level in your skin.
- To help prep skin for the next steps that follow in your skincare routine.
How to Use
The traditional way is to apply toner to your face by using a cotton pad. But you can also use your fingers and gently pat them on your face. Or, put some in a spray bottle and use it as a mist.
Skip if
You are on a tight budget, or you are running out of time.
Step Five-Essence
Essence is one of the most necessary parts of the Korean beauty routine. It is also called the heart of the Korean skincare routine. But why is it so essential step in the Korean skincare routine? Give thought to a sponge.
Do you ever clean spills with a sponge? When you swipe spills with a dry sponge, it only shifts the spill about on the counter. Because of dryness, it diminishes its ability to absorb liquids. Yet, it becomes hydrated and plumped up when you soak the sponge in water. Then mop up the spills; it will work much more effectively since it has been sufficiently hydrated and can now perfectly absorb the spills.
Your skin behaves similar to a sponge. When your skin is dehydrated, it shows the signs of premature aging and is more prone to becoming irritated. An essence carries a high concentration of active ingredients to hydrate, protect, and boost the overall health of your skin. It also preps your skin for the remainder of your K-Beauty skincare ritual.
What it Does
- To maximize the absorption ability of your skin for additional products, such as your favorite serum or moisturizer.
- rehydrate the skin cells
- protect the skin barrier
- boost the health of the skin
- rebalance the pH of the skin
- soften and smooth the epidermis
- To provide both anti-aging benefits and UV protection.
How to Use
Appling essence to the skin after cleanser and toner; however, before applying serum or moisturizer.
Skip if
- You have a limited budget and are on a time crunch.
Step Six-Treatment (Serums vs. Ampoules vs. Booster)
Your skin has cleared up and is now ready to absorb the more crucial substances– treatment. In Korean skincare, treatment is the product that focuses on helping a specific issue— usually referred to as a serum, ampoules, and booster.
You may have heard of serum which is quite common for skin treatment.
It tends to be concentrated formulas with an extensive amount of active ingredients that target particular skin concerns like dehydration, age spots, or wrinkles.
What about ampoules and boosters? What are those? Are they similar products like serum? If not, what is the difference between serum, ampoules, and boosters?
Wait, do not be confused, dear.
Serums, ampoules, boosters are the same products for skin treatment. The terminology is mostly a marketing strategy to distinguish skincare products and make them sound exceptional. Nonetheless, just so you are aware, they all function the same way. Maybe you have read that ampoules and boosters are pumped-up versions of serums. Mean, they contain a higher concentration of active ingredients; however, concentration fluctuates depending on how the product formula is in the first place.
What it Does
- To soak up more easily into your skin.
- Better for sensitive skin.
- To improve the symptoms of wrinkles and fine lines.
- To protect your skin from free radicals and future damage.
How to Use
- Apply a few drops of serum on your fingers or directly onto your face.
- Gently pat it into your skin.
- Let absorb for five minutes.
Skip if
- To apply an exfoliating toner.
- To avoid using any chemical exfoliants or peels.
Step Seven-Sheet Mask
Korean face sheet mask has taken the beauty industry by storm-provides your skin hydration intense, suppleness, and brightening effects in less than half an hour. It is a common step of their extravagant skincare regime. Sheet mask comprises thin sheets made from cotton/ fabric that soak in essences containing nourishing active ingredients ranging from tea tree for acne control and ceramide for moisture retention.
What it Does
- To prevent and treat harmful free radical damage.
- To decrease dark spots and signs of aging.
- To restore a healthy glow to provide younger-looking skin.
- Effectively soothe and hydrate your skin.
- To get rid of dry patches and crepe skin.
- To provide a firm, plump, and rejuvenated appearance.
- To remove the harmful toxins and allergens from the skin.
How to Use
- Remove mask from the package.
- Unfold it and apply the sheet mask to your face while gently patting as you line it around your eyes and mouth.
- Leave it and relax for 15-25 minutes.
- Peel off it and discard the sheet mask.
- Use it 2-3 times per week as per your skin.
Skip if
- You are concerned about the single-use nature packaging, or you are short on time.
Step Eight-Eye Cream
Another unique ritual of Korean skincare is applying eye cream–formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye. It is a little different from regular moisturizers since eye cream contains more oil than a regular facial lotion, and they have a lot of active ingredients aimed at the problems we see around the eyes.
It is okay if you apply an eye cream before or after moisturizer. However, K-beauty skin care routine typically recommends put on eye cream before your moisturizer.
What it Does
- To reduce the appearance of dark circles.
- Help to boost the depth of the skin.
- Help keep these dehydration and environmental stressors at bay.
- minimizes the look of puffiness
- To comfort your under-eye area by having calming, nourishing ingredients.
- To dedicate getting back skin beautiful self.
- To prepare your skin for makeup.
- To nourish and moisturize skin looks brighter and healthier.
- To add in rejuvenating vitamins that keep buildup and irritants at bay.
How to Use
- Apply eye cream around your eyes with a pea-sized amount.
- Take a pea-sized amount of eye cream.
- Gently massage or tap the area behind your eyes with your ring or middle finger.
- To start in the innermost corner and move outward.
- To avoid your bottom eyelashes.
Skip if
- You do not have particular goals for your eyes that are different from your overall skin goals.
- Your moisturizer is secure for the eye area.
Step Nine-Moisturizer
Giving skin the water it needs to be well hydrated is called the hydration stage K-beauty skincare routine. Because of environmental factors such as cold weather, hot weather, air conditioning, indoor heat, etc.–all hydration evaporates into the air and leaves your skin dry. That process is called transepidermal water loss and, moisturizer prevents water from evaporating.
Even though moisturizer gives more hydration to your skin, it comes after essence, serum, and oil. A Moisturizer contains occlusive that creates a hydrophobic film on the surface of your skin. In other words, this thin layer of oil that prevents water from evaporating out of your skin means occlusive helps prevent transepidermal water loss. It comes many from like lotion, cream, gel, emulsion.
What it Does
- To help prevent dryness.
- To help maintain skin balance.
- To start preventing future fine lines and wrinkles.
- To help stop acne by not producing more oil than it needs.
- To soothe Sensitive Skin.
How to Use
- Need to put moisturizer on every day, twice a day, morning and night.
- Use a light moisturizer for the morning.
- Apply a heavy moisturizer for the night.
- Make sure you apply moisturizer gently.
- For 10-15 minutes, massage your skin in circular motions.
- Never press or pull on your skin.
Note: Never skip your moisturizer.
Step Ten-Sun protection/ Night Cream
Sun Protection (for Mornings)
Whether or not you are heading out, you should always wear sunscreen.
Sunscreen is the simplest and most efficient way to avoid premature aging and skin cancer. It is the last step of the Korean beauty routine which shields your skin from the sun’s rays.
There are three types of sunscreen formulations–Mineral sunscreens, chemical sunscreens, and hybrid sunscreens.
Mineral sunscreen contains only two mineral sunscreen ingredients: titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide–well-known physical sunscreens.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreen carries more ingredients. Mineral sunscreens resist UV rays, whereas chemical sunscreens absorb UV photons. It (chemical sunscreens) also converts them to heat and prevent further damage; which is a better mineral or chemical sunscreen? It is not essential since both are equally protective. It is entirely up to you to determine what you are looking for.
What it Does
- To block these harmful rays from reaching the skin and causing skin conditions.
- To protect your skin from signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines.
- To shield your skin from the risk of several types of skin cancer particularly, melanoma.
- To avoid irritating blotchiness and eruptions of red veins.
- To prevent the development of acne and other sun-induced damage.
- To limit the Appearance of Sunspots.
- To save the Skin from Sunburn.
- To protect essential skin proteins, such as collagen, keratin, and elastin.
How to Use
- Take a pea-sized amount of SPF on to hands.
- Rub hands to warm up it.
- Put on forehead, nose, cheeks first.
- Apply neck and chest.
Skip if
- Not for nighttime and going to bed.
Night Cream (For Night)
A nighttime skincare regime is also an essential part of the K-beauty routine. You are doing something wrong if you go to bed without having used a night cream.
Your skin cells try to heal the damage caused during the day and regenerate themself at night. The night cream helps to decrease symptoms of aging like fine lines.
What it Does
- To hydrate the dry parts of your face.
- To soothe your face.
- Ensures that your skin has an even complexion and fine skin texture.
- To boost collagen in your skin.
- To improve wrinkles and other lines on your face.
- To prevent your skin from sagging.
- To help your skin to restore its elasticity.
- To assist in the renewal of the cells and nourishes your skin.
How to Use
- Take a dime-sized portion of the cream and put it on your face.
- Massage the cream into your skin in an upward, circular motion.
- Apply the night cream on your face except for eyelids.
Skip if
- Not for morning time.
Yeah, there are still a few more steps–a face mist and maintenance facials. A face mist is best for after and before makeup.
Follow the 10-step routine first, and then add these two extra steps:
Step Eleven-Face Mist
Face mist has been cult-favorites ever since Korean skincare took the beauty industry by storm. Face mist is one of the most innovative skincare products that are especially beneficial in achieving a perfectly photo-ready complexion.
Your skin restores the natural luminance and vitality by using a face mist due to it enriches with essential skin components like nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It is very lightweight and easily absorbed deep into the skin layers, the best part about the face mist. To rejuvenate and refresh the skin for a well-moisturized look, foremost, the first function of a face mist.
You can get the benefits of a face mist in a matter of seconds for its hydration process.
What it Does
- To nurture and hydrate the skin.
- To prep the skin for makeup.
- To add a dewy glow to the complexion.
- To restore the moisture balance.
- To brighten and soothe the skin instantly.
- To eliminate the flakiness, dullness, and dryness of the skin.
- To Assist in increasing the efficacy of beauty products on the skin.
- To Come in travel-friendly bottles for convenient application.
How to Use
- Select your preferred face mist.
- Remove the top.
- Close your eyes and spray 11-12 inches away from your face.
Skip if
- If you apply sun cream, you must skip this part.
Step Twelve-Maintenance Facials
Koreans follow a weekly facial with massage, which is common in korean skincare routine.
Last Words on the Korean Skincare Routine
It is completely tiring to maintain a Korean skincare routine. However, you get positive results at the end of time. If you desire to try out the Korean skincare routine, then a few things to keep in mind to make things easier.
- It is not required to do every step every day. Sheet masks, for example, can be used twice a week.
- It is not necessary to buy every product. There are some natural DIY options like rose water that you can try. You are aware that rose water works as a natural toner.
- For crunch time, you can follow five steps routine:
- oil-based cleanser
- water-based cleanser
- toner
- moisturizer
- SPF or Night Cream
Most importantly, you need to know your skin type, layer cleansers, and moisturizers correctly and get the best results.
