What is the Korean skincare routine?
These are the 10 steps as commonly recommended by Korean beauty retailers and influencers.
Emulsion
Eye Cream
Korean skincare step 1: Double cleanse
The first step of the Korean skincare routine is to wash your face twice: once with oil, once with a foaming cleanser. Why? Because each type of cleanser gets a different type of crud off your face. While oily skin types may be balking at the idea of washing with oil, it’s actually extremely effective against oil-based impurities like SPF, sebum, and pollutants. It’s not as good against sweat and dirt, though, which is where the second cleanse comes in.
Korean skincare step 2: Toner
In America, we associate the word toner with an astringent meant to wipe even more gunk off our faces, stripping our skin. In the Korean skincare routine, toners are the opposite of that. They are typically a thin layer of moisture meant to regulate your pH and soften your skin, preparing it for the steps that will follow.
Korean toners come in many varieties, from thin to viscous. You can also include active ingredients like AHA and BHA in your toners if you’d like more intense results against aging, acne damage and fine lines. Typically, Korean toners are packed full of botanical ingredients that address similar concerns. You can apply them with your hands and pat into the skin, or apply with a cotton ball or pad. But since your skin reacts happily to the touch of warm hands, we like to opt for the former whenever we can.
How do you know which one is right for you? We’ve got a treatise on that, and we’d love if you gave it a read.
Korean skincare step 3: Essence
One of the keys to the glowy results of a regular Korean skincare routine is layering products. Rather than relying on one thick cream to do all the work, Koreans believe that layering products allow the skin to breathe and avoids clogging the pores. So if you think of your toner as the first layer of moisture, think of an essence as the second. These products are typically also thinner in texture, and some even feel watery. They penetrate the skin at a deeper level and aid with the absorption of the products to come.
If you aren’t sure where to begin with essences, we recommend you check out our guide to essences right here. It splits them up by skin type so you know exactly which one is right for you!
Korean skincare step 4: Emulsion
Another layer of moisture, you say? Yes. If you want “glass skin,” you have to work for it. That means drinking tons of H2O, exercising and eating well, and spending more than 30 seconds on your skincare routine. If you think that’s too long, don’t complain to us when you get another terrible breakout!
The emulsion layer is often just a bit more viscous than the previous layers, starting to build the richness and sheen we are going for in the final result. Much like the prior layers, these products are often packed with botanical extracts and other power-packed ingredients. However, some skin types may need more moisture than others. If you are an oily skin type, for instance, doing an emulsion layer might make you feel greasy. For super dry types, we can never get enough layers! The best way to decide if this step will work for you is to get to know your own skin. Luckily, the more hands-on time you have with it during your routine, the easier that becomes.
If you need help buying an emulsion, never fear – we have a full guide coming soon! In the meantime, the Moistfull Collagen Emulsion from Etude House is a great one for a beginner. It’ll make your skin look super plump and hydrated, which is awesome in our book.
Korean skincare step 5: Serum/ampoule
Here we are on step five (or six, if you count the double cleanse as two). Feeling overwhelmed yet? If so, this is a perfect time to stress that even though the Korean beauty routine is famous for having 10 steps, there’s nothing wrong with doing less. Typically serums and ampoules come next in the lineup, but if you feel your skin has had enough? Feel free to skip them. What I’m telling you may be blasphemous to some converts of Korean beauty, but as I said before, only you know what works best for your face.That said, both serums and ampoules are highly concentrated products. Ampoules are presented as a souped-up version of a serum by some companies. But as vlogger The Beauty Breakdown says in her video below, these products are kind of … the same. A big blast of intense moisture, a thicker texture, and an opportunity to add more juicy goodness to your skin. Use it if you dig the effects. If you’re trying for the glowy look Koreans call “chok chok,” don’t skip this step. Read our full guide on serums here.
Korean skincare step 6: Sheet mask
Easily the best-known product in this lineup, sheet masks have become so ubiquitous that they’re easy to find just about anywhere. I’ve even seen them at the dollar store. If you can afford it, though, you’ll want to spend more than a buck on a mask. These usually take 15-20 minutes and can be done as frequently or infrequently as you like. My favorite times to use them are before and after plane rides (as the pressurized air in the cabin dries the heck out of your skin), after a long day in the sun, or before a special event.Sheet masks are typically soaked in serum, so yep … another layer. The juicer ones have so much that it’ll be all pooled up at the bottom of the package. I like to use this on my decollete and arms. It’s packed with good ingredients, so no point in wasting it. One word to the wise: all sheet masks are not made alike! The best ones stay moist for the full wear time or more (more on this below in our sheet masks guide).If you’d like a guide to what sheet masks to buy, we have two! Our top 20 sheet masks can be found here and our top sheet masks for oily skin can be found here.
Korean skincare step 7: Eye cream
Eye cream is not unique to the Korean skincare routine, but it is one of the hardest products to consistently use because it’s more a preventative product if you’re under the age of 40. Eye cream is designed to moisturize the ultra-thin skin around your eyes where crow’s feet and fine lines are bound to appear. However, if you use eye cream regularly before they show up, you’ll see a marked difference in how old you look (or in this case, how young!).It may be hard to hear, but most people that apply eye cream are doing it wrong. Using the ring finger is the best way as it uses the correct amount of pressure rather than your pointer finger, which is bound to push harder since it’s used more often. The skin around the eyes really is that sensitive! It also dries out easily, so layering your eye cream in cold months is not a bad idea either. One trend among celebrities in South Korea is to wear eye cream as a night moisturizer all over the face. But since they likely have bigger bankrolls than we do, we might leave that for special occasions.Our eye cream primer is still in the works, but for now, check out one of our favorite Korean eye creams: the Blossom Jeju line, which offers two different types of eye creams packed with nourishing ingredients like Camellia Oil, Coconut Oil & Camellia Flower Extract.
Korean skincare step 8: Moisturizer
After all these layers, a thick layer of cream must sound a little crazy. More moisture, still? Maybe not for everyone (I know some friends who sheet mask as their final step). But in the traditional Korean beauty 10-step routine, you use a cream – also known as an occlusive layer – to seal in all the layers before it. Think of it as making a fragrant stew and putting the lid on the pot. It allows the fragrances and flavors inside to mingle and absorb, which is a lot like what all the luscious ingredients you layered are doing in your epidermis when you add a moisturizer.Much like American creams, Korean moisturizers come in a wide variety of textures and thicknesses. It can be challenging to find one for oily skin types, as they often struggle with clogged pores. But it is possible! Since you have done so much work on the previous steps of your routine, a thin layer is all you need to finish it up.Need some recs? Check out our guide to moisturizers here.
Korean skincare step 9: sunscreen (AM step)
Most of us were taught as kids that we had to wear sunscreen when we went to the beach. Unfortunately, we weren’t taught that we should also wear sunscreen pretty much every day (yes, UV rays can reach you inside too). Asian sunscreens also have a major advantage over most US-produced ones: the PA system. Originally developed in Japan, it’s a rating system a lot like SPF. The difference is that products scored with it protect you from both UVA and UVB rays – something many products in the USA do not offer. And trust us, the sunscreen in your makeup isn’t enough. You need to reapply every two to three hours, too. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.There are also two types of sunscreens: physical and chemical. It’s worth learning about how the different types work to make sure you are using the best one for your needs. Physical sunscreens are mineral-based and tend to leave a white cast behind. Chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin and work to suck up UV radiation so it doesn’t damage your skin. They are also terrific at protecting you from UVA rays. One isn’t better than the other though, it’s really up to you what type you prefer! Sensitive skin types often opt for physical as chemicals can make them break out, but that’s just a guideline, not a rule.Not sure where to begin? Check out our comprehensive guide to Korean sunscreens here.
Korean skincare step 10: sleeping masks (PM step)
So you’ve slathered your face with all these layers, and you’re starting to feel like a cake. I get it. But since your body goes into mega repair mode at night, it’s a good time to help with the process by using a sleeping mask. Think of it like a night cream, or a special treatment. It’s simply an extra layer of moisture, but often sleeping masks are designed to work while your body is at rest.I find a lot of sleeping masks in the Korean beauty market prefer to focus on packaging or scent over actual results. However, I have tested quite a few, and I can vouch for Sulwhasoo’s Overnight Revitalizing Treatment. It’s not cheap at $40, but it is very effective if you want to wake up looking like you’re 20 again. I am a BIG fan of that.
Source: The Daily Dot
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