Korean skin care routine: Steps to follow

What is the Korean skin care routine?

This beauty routine that has come into fashion arose through the aesthetic cult and facial skin care in Korea. It consists of a double cleansing process, followed by preparing our skin to enhance regeneration and then nourishing and hydrating it. The last step consists of protecting our skin from external agents. It uses specific products which will depend on the needs of each skin type.

For this skin care routine to be effective though, the steps need to be followed in the right order, since each one of them has a purpose and prepares our skin for the next step.

Korean routine steps

It consists of 10 steps that will help you keep your skin in perfect condition, but it requires perseverance, discipline and time.

• Step 1: remove makeup. The first thing to do is to clean off any makeup from your face using an oil-based makeup cleanser to get rid of the top layer of makeup, cream and contaminating particles. This is the first cleansing step.
• Step 2: cleanse. The second step involves washing with a water-based cleanser, gel or micellar water. This double cleansing process is to remove any remains of impurities, dirt and makeup that may be left over.
• Step 3: exfoliate. For the third step you will need a facial exfoliating cream to remove any dead skin cells, renew your skin and improve its texture. This only needs to be done a couple of times a week, focusing on the areas with most pores or blackheads.
• Step 4: tone. The next step consists of using a toner to close your pores and restore your skin’s pH after applying the cleansers in the previous steps. This will get your skin ready for the next steps.
• Step 5: apply the essence. In the West we are not really very used to this cosmetic product, but Koreans use it a lot. It is a mixture of toner and serum which revitalises and illuminates your face by helping to remove skin cells whilst at the same time enhancing elasticity and firmness.

• Step 6: face mask. This is the star product of the Korean routine, and over there they prefer sheet masks. You should leave it on for 15-20 minutes and apply it 2 to 3 times a week. There are different types for different types of skin.
• Step 7: apply a serum. As this is the most concentrated product, just a few drops are enough to make the most of its properties. There are different types of serum for different skin types. You can choose one for blotches, to reduce wrinkles or expression lines or one to enhance the luminosity of your skin.
• Step 8: eye cream. As this is the most sensitive area, you will need a specific skin care and moisturising product to avoid wrinkles from appearing and signs of early ageing. You should apply it by gently dabbing it on with your fingers to stimulate blood flow and absorption of the product.
• Step 9: hydration. We are reaching the end of our Korean skin care routine, and this is when we apply a moisturising cream which should be suitable for each skin type. Koreans choose lotion for oily skin and cream for normal and dry skin.
• Step 10: sun protection. Koreans appear never to leave home without first applying sun protection, above all to keep their skin white, which is a trait of traditional beauty. This is an indispensable product in any facial skin care routine, to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. In this case, you can use a BB Cream to even out the colour of your skin.

Day routine v. night routine

After seeing the Korean 10 step routine, there are some steps that are better applied at night. One of them is exfoliating, which can irritate our skin, and therefore we recommend avoiding the sun afterwards.

It will also depend on how much time we have. Perhaps it would more convenient to apply the face mask at night because we have more time. The Koreans however, usually apply it in the morning because the effects are very quick and are visible in 20 minutes, and so they don’t waste it by using it before they go to bed.