The Korean Skincare Routine
💗 Koreans have the most beautiful skin in the word. 💗
What’s their secret?
It’s a skincare routine made of 10 important steps.
Let’s see what it’s all about!
🎀 KOREAN BEAUTY ROUTINE
ㅤ♡ A unique and thorough approach of daily TLC
ㅤ♡ Dew inducing and deeply soothing
ㅤ♡ Nourishes skin making it radiant, flawless, and healthy
♡ The routine should take less than 15 minutes
♡ It’s tㅤhe key to get the most luminous skin possible
🎀 HISTORY
The skincare routine has been around for the past 60 years, specifically popular in South East Asia. The world is starting to catch on, amidst the new craze for K-beauty products. Their technology-advanced skincare products have become a serious obsession for the rest of the world now. Let’s take a closer look at what K-beauty is and then go over the ten steps of the skincare routine.
🎀 WHAT IS KOREAN SKINCARE?
The Korean skincare industry is massive, including over 10,000 beauty brands. These brands are based on the Korean approach to skincare practices and philosophies. A skincare expert, Alicia Yoon, said in an interview: “There is so much variety in product and an incredible rate of innovation. There’s a huge appetite for seeing constant upgrades and newness to formulations. That drives the labs and ingredient suppliers to innovate and push the envelope, and introduce new products categories, new ingredients and new solutions to skincare problems.” You can listen to the full interview here.
The Korean skincare philosophy is all about layering gentle steps and putting a huge focus on hydration. The goal is to achieve long-lasting results over time, an idea that contrasts with the Western skin of overnight results, which is a false expectation to have.
🎀 WHAT IS THE 10-STEP KOREAN SKINCARE ROUTINE?
The four main components of the routine include:
1. Cleansing 2. Prepping 3. Nourishing 4. Protecting
♡ You begin with cleansing off any dirt and debris from the skin.
♡ Then you adjust your skin’s pH level (4.5-6.5) in order for it to best receive all the hydration.
♡ After this, you hydrate and nourish your skin.
♡ Finally, you will seal in the moisture and apply sunscreen protection.
Use these products in this order (It will feel like ‘second-nature’ in no time!)
OIL CLEANSER
WATER BASED CLEANSER
EXFOLIATOR
TONER
ESSENCE
TREATMENTS
SHEET MASKS
EYE CREAM
MOISTURIZER
SUN PROTECTION
💗 STEP 1: OIL CLEANSER
Start off by cleansing with an oil cleanser. You want to get rid of unwanted dirt, grime and debris that cakes up on your skin. It’s important to have the cleanest skin possible because it allows the skincare ingredients to properly set in. This is the first of two cleansers you will use. This two-step process enables you to draw out all impurities thoroughly and an oil cleanser ensures your sebum production remains balanced. Oil based cleansers do not strip the skin of its beneficial natural oils.
Product suggestion: The Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil by Peach & Lily
💗 STEP 2: WATER BASED CLEANSER
You use a water based cleanser for the second half of the two-part cleanse. This removes all water based impurities that the oil cleanser does not pick up. The deep cleanse really preps your skin and makes all ingredients more effective. The oil cleanser and water based cleanser work harmoniously to cleanse AND hydrate (which is the main focus and purpose of K-beauty)
Product suggestion: Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Superfood Cleanser by Youth to The People
💗 STEP 3: EXFOLIATOR
Less is more when it comes to exfoliating. When you do this step, concentrate on the t-zone and or where you frequently get black heads. A full scrubbing exfoliation is only necessary 2-3 times per week depending on skin type. This step is essential for a dewy, glowing complexion because it removes the dead skin cells that dull your appearance, cause breakouts, and clog pores. The cleansers and exfoliator work together to polish, thus revealing smoother and brighter skin texture.
Product suggestion: Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask by KORA Organics
💗 STEP 4: TONER
After fully cleansed and exfoliating, you want to balance your skin’s pH levels. This is what a toner does. It technically clears out sebum from your pores. The skin pH, is actually the ‘potential hydrogen’ in your skin and is based on a scale of 1-14. We want to aim towards a 3-5.5 on that scale. This lower number means your acidic mantle is in a good state. The acidic mantle includes an acidic film on the surface of the skin, this film keeps out harmful bacteria and pathogens. This step also prepares your skin to soak in hydration.
Product suggestion Daily Acid Toner by Josh Rosebrook
💗 STEP 5: ESSENCE
Now we begin to treat our skin. Essence is the lightest hydrating product that you apply before heavier creams. The hydrating liquid designed to moisturize and prep your skin is commonly formulated with antioxidants and vitamins that help remove dull surface skin and boost radiance. This step also protects the skin against free radicals which contribute to early signs of aging.
Product suggestion: Renew Microbiome Enzyme Essence by True Botanicals
💗 STEP 6: TREATMENTS
The next step of treating your skin uses a more concentrated treatment. Personalized to your skin type, the serum or ampoule (a more concentrated serum) that includes active ingredients delivers a high potency of nourishing ingredients to the skin. You can rotate serums throughout the week or simply use the same one.
Product suggestion: SOS Intensive Rescue Serum by Tower 28
💗 STEP 7: SHEET MASKS
You will use a sheet mask in this next step. This is essentially only needed 2 times a week depending on how dry your skin is. These wet paper masks are soaked in ingredients that soak into your skin when you put on the mask. This concept is innovative and effective because the ‘sheet’ forces your skin to absorb the nutrients and moisture before it has a chance to evaporate. They are proven to work better than just a cream and pack in the highest amount of hydration that soak deep into the skin.
Product suggestion: Ginseng Collagen Boost Mask by 100% Pure
💗 STEP 8: EYE CREAM
Eye cream comes next. In order to apply it properly make sure to gently tap it around the eyes. This method gives better absorption and eliminates pulling the delicate skin. Eye cream takes care of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles. This area of the skin is ten times thinner than all other skin of the face and the first area to show signs of aging making it crucially important to take good care of.
Product suggestion: Eye Cream with Cucumber, Hyaluronic Acid + Coffee by UpCircle
💗 STEP 9: MOISTURIZER
The single most important step in the routine is moisturizing. This is what seals in everything you’ve set in your skin because of its humectant and emollient properties. Generously lather it on.
Product suggestion: Moisturizer: Replenish + Protect by Follain
💗 STEP 10: SUN PROTECTION
Finally, you apply sunscreen and this is the cornerstone of the routine because of how important SPF is to anti-aging. Sun exposure is responsible for about 80% of aging. Make sure you use a 50 SPF that protects from both UVA and UVB rays.
Product suggestion: Everyday Lotion SPF 50 by Supergoop!
X♡X♡ - KMS
