Have you ever been puzzled as to how the Koreans manage to maintain such flawless, glowing skin? Their long-kept secret has finally come to light! Our Korean sisters’ skin appears to never age thanks to a 10-step skin care regimen they follow religiously.
It may be difficult to stick to a strict daily routine of ten steps. However, you’ll be inspired to continue your beauty regimen if you see the positive results others have had with it. Let’s go over each step one by one:
Summary
The 10 Steps – Korean Skincare Routine
It is imperative that you perform a patch test before beginning the Korean facial or using any of the aforementioned products. The product should be applied to the back of your hand and left on for 24 hours if you have sensitive skin. You can begin the Korean beauty regimen if you don’t see any reactions.
Step 1 – Use An Oil-Based Cleanser
Oil cleansing is the first step of this 10-step Korean skin care regimen, which removes makeup and dirt from the skin.
How It Can Help
Normal cleansers are more irritating than those that use oil as a base. Oil-based makeup, sunscreen, and other debris are broken down by them. Waterproof sunscreens can also be removed with these products.
How To Use
Gently rub a small amount of the product in circular motions all over your face after removing your makeup. A healthy blood flow is essential for a healthy skin because it enables the cells to carry out their functions smoothly. This contributes to the health and radiance of your skin.
Use a lukewarm washcloth to remove the cleanser after 1-2 minutes of cleansing. To prevent skin irritation and allergic reactions, you should dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil.
Step 2 – Cleanse Again
Oil-based contaminants are removed in the first step of the routine. A foaming/water-based cleanser is used to remove the sweat and dirt that has built up over time. In addition to removing dirt, sweat and oil-based impurities, double-cleansing your face will also help.
How To Use
Gently massage a small amount of cleanser into your skin after dispensing a few pumps. Keep your skin barrier intact by washing with a pH-balanced cleanser. It’s important to keep essential oils in your skin at all times.
What Is A pH Balancing Cleanser?
This means that our skin is slightly acidic, with pH levels ranging from 4.7 to 5.7. It is not recommended that you use a cleanser with a pH number higher than that. There is a good chance that your cleanser is alkaline and not good for your skin if it produces a lot of foam.
Step 3 – Exfoliate Your Skin
A gentle scrub that suits your skin type should do the trick for you here. Exfoliation essentially means removing dead skin cells from your skin. This step will make your skin appear brighter and more firm. It also helps improve your skin’s overall texture and tone.
How To Use
Take a small amount of your product on your palm and gently roll it in a circular motion on your face. Wash it off after a minute or two.
Step 4 – Apply Toner
After cleansing your face, a toner is used to remove any remaining dirt and restore your skin’s natural pH balance. Toners, on the other hand, tend to reduce your skin’s oil production, which can leave it feeling tight and dry. Also, toners containing alcohol should be avoided.
Toners with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as other beneficial additives, have been introduced in the recent past. Antioxidant. Instead of drying out your skin, they tend to be moisturizing and calming.
How To Use
Take a few drops of your toner onto your fingers and pat it gently into your skin. You can also use a cotton pad.
Step 5 – The New Thing In Town – Essence
One of the most important aspects of Korean skincare is the use of an essence. If you’re looking for an all-in-one product, this one does both. Hydrating ingredients abound in essence, which also has the added benefit of speeding up cell turnover.
How To Use
Take a few drops of the product onto your fingers and pat it lightly on your skin.
Step 6 – Use A Serum/Ampoule/Booster
Your skin is now clear and ready to effectively absorb the more important ingredients. A face serum is a slightly concentrated and heavier version of an essence. It essentially contains active ingredients to address specific skin issues like wrinkles, pigmentation, and dark spots.
This step of the Korean skincare regimen is also meant to improve overall skin health.
How To Use
Sprinkle a small amount of the product onto your palm and pat it gently into your skin.
Step 7- Put On A Sheet Mask
This Korean beauty product has taken the industry by storm. Sheet masks are soaked in serum and are packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals. They are also extremely hydrating, leaving your skin soft and supple.
How To Use
Sheet masks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are designed to fit everyone. Gently pat your face while lining the mask around your eyes and mouth, and you’ll be done. Take a 20-30-minute break from it. Sheet masks can also be used as a last-minute beauty fix before a big event.
Step 8 – Use An Eye Cream
The skin around your eyes is usually the first to show signs of aging. Eye creams are specifically tailored to address your under-eyes and prevent wrinkles, dark circles, and crow’s feet. They soothe the skin under your eyes and keep it hydrated.
How To Use
Take a pea-sized drop of the product and gently tap it into the skin beneath your eyes.
Step 9 – Moisturize
Locking in the previous layers, according to Koreans, is essential to this process. When used to secure previously applied products, this acts as an occlusive barrier.
Use a lotion-based moisturizer if you have oily skin. Avoid irritating your skin by applying a thick cream-based moisturizer to your face if you have dry skin.
How To Use
Take a small amount of the cream/lotion/gel/spray and gently rub it into your skin. Massage your skin in circular motions for 10-15 minutes.
Step 10 – Don’t Forget The SPF
SPF shields your skin and protects it against harmful UV rays. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is recommended to prevent UVA and UVB rays from damaging your skin.
If you have oily skin, it is recommended for you to use a physical sunblock or mineral sunscreen to avoid clogged pores.
Sunscreens come in various forms to suit your skin type and other preferences.
How To Use
Gently pat the product into your face. Cover your neck and jawline as well.
If you are a beauty enthusiast, you probably have noticed that a lot of your skincare products come from Korea or that your Instagram reels are loaded with Korean beauty hacks. But have you ever wondered why? It is because Korean beauty trends have taken the world by storm, and for obvious reasons. For them, it is not about how many or how costly your products are, it is about layering them right.
The famous Korean skincare routine ensures radiant, beautiful, and well-toned skin. Although it might be taxing to do this every day, the results of this Korean skincare regimen are enough to keep you motivated. Let’s talk about each step of the Korean skincare regimen and its benefits in detail.
- Oil Cleanser
- Foam Cleanser
- Exfoliant
- Toner
- Essence
- Ampoule or Serum
- Sheet Mask
- Eye Cream
- Moisturiser
- SPF
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Oil Cleanser
Koreans believe in treating their skin with care, and double-cleansing is one of the ways they do so. We all know that water and oil do not mix, so using a water-based cleanser to remove oily impurities is a bad idea. Make sure your skin is free of sunscreen, make-up, and your body’s natural sebum with this oil cleanser. For two to three minutes, gently rub it over your face in a circular motion to stimulate blood flow and help cells perform their functions more efficiently.
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Foam Cleanser
Using a foaming or waterproof cleanser as a follow-up to the oil cleanser will help remove accumulated dirt, sweat, and chemical buildup. Foaming cleansers, due to their high pH and sulphate value, have a reputation for drying and stripping the skin, but when used in conjunction with other cleansers, they thoroughly clean the skin. The 10-step Korean skin care regimen always includes a gentle, hydrating, low pH, water-based natural cleanser.
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Exfoliant
The next step in this skincare regimen is exfoliation, which immediately gives you results such as baby-soft, smooth skin. There are two types of exfoliators that you should be aware of: physical and chemical. A physical exfoliator is a textured tool that sloughs away the topmost layer of skin; examples would be sugar scrubs, cleansing towels, and peeling gels, among many others.
Chemical exfoliators, on the other hand, are made up primarily of acids such as AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs. The word ‘acid’ might seem intimidating, but we promise that they are very effective too! A chemical exfoliator helps slough away your dead skin cells and encourages cell turnover and rejuvenation. A chemical exfoliator not only works on the skin barrier but also sinks into the deeper layers of your skin.
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Toner
Toners in the K-Beauty skincare routine are very different from Western toners. They are milder and gentler, and they provide the first layer of hydration after cleansing and exfoliating. Korean toners are not astringent or alcohol-laden but formulated to balance the pH level in your skin. The ingredients sink deeper into the skin by drenching it with hydration. In simple words, these blissful products prep skin for the next steps that follow in your 10-step routine.
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Essence
A unique step only found in the Korean skin care regimen, essence floods the skin with hydration. Compare the skin to a sponge. When it is dry, it loses its ability to absorb, but, when you hydrate it by letting it sit in a bowl of water, it will work much more efficiently because it has been sufficiently hydrated.
In a similar manner, first prepping the skin with essence will maximize its ability to absorb all the goodness from the rest of your Korean beauty routine.
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Ampoule or Serum
Serums are concentrated in active ingredients that effectively target and treat skin issues such as dark spots, wrinkles, pigmentation, and dullness. An ampoule is a more concentrated version of a serum.
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Sheet Mask
In addition to hydrating your skin, sheet masks also serve as a barrier that allows other products to rejuvenate it. It is common for sheet masks to be soaked in an essence, which keeps the product in your skin and prevents it from evaporating. Sheet masks hydrate the skin, remove imperfections, and give it a healthy glow.
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Eye Cream
Eye creams contain active ingredients to target various concerns related to the sensitive eye area, providing a moisturizing and sealing effect. In the K-Beauty skincare routine, applying eye cream before your moisturizer is advised so the delicate eye area is treated first.
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Moisturiser
Moisturizing is a Korean beauty staple because it provides the skin with the water it needs to remain hydrated. Because many moisturizers contain occlusives, they should be applied to the skin almost last, following other products such as essences, serums, and oils. As a result of these ingredients, the skin is protected from water loss by a hydrophobic film (seal) that is formed on the surface of the skin.
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SPF
Even if you don’t plan on going outside during the day, sunscreen is a must. There are two minerals that makeup mineral sunscreens: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Both physical and chemical sunscreens are made up of mineral-rich ingredients. When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun, mineral and chemical sunscreens differ in their ability to block UV rays.
FAQ
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Is rose water a toner?
Rose water can be used as a natural toner, and many people swear by it. You can use it to hydrate and tone the skin on your face.
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Is Korean skin care better than Japanese skincare?
Both of these are good skin care habits. Your skin type, personal preferences, and daily routine all play a role in how effective these products are. The Japanese routine is ideal if you’re looking for a fast-paced routine. The Korean routine is ideal for those seeking a more rigorous exercise regimen.
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Is Korean skin care safe?
In general, yes, Korean skin care products contain safe ingredients.
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Is aloe vera gel a toner?
The cooling properties of aloe vera gel make it an excellent natural toner.
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Can I sleep with rose water on my face?
Yes, rose water can rejuvenate the skin and leave you with a glowing complexion the following day.
Thank you for reading!