You’ve probably heard about the 10-step Korean skincare routine before. I heard about it a few years ago, but I never did any research to find out exactly what it is. But now I did and I am sharing all of the steps with you in this blog post.
This skincare routine will get you the smoothest and clearest skin you’ve ever had. But I am going, to be honest, and say that we don’t always have time to do all of these steps. I don’t always have the time to follow this whole routine including a face mask. I think this whole routine costs you around 30 minutes per day. But you can still follow this skincare routine if you don’t have a lot of time. Maybe you can skip the double cleansing and just do it once and you can decide to do face masks on the weekends. Just check in with your skin and see what it needs.
And of course, beauty also comes from the inside. So exercising, drinking enough water and eating fruit and veggies are still important steps too.
The 10-step Korean skincare routine
Step 1. Cleansing oil
The first step is to use cleansing oil. This will help you remove your make-up and is gentle on your face. It will also remove dead skin and pollutants. The oil in your cleanser will attract dirt and oil on your face and that is why a cleansing oil is an easy way to clean your skin. It cleans out clogged pores,
Step 2. Water cleansing.
If you follow this routine, you have to cleanse your face twice! You just washed your face with cleansing oil and now it is time for a water cleansing. You can use a cleansing gel or foam. You do this step to make your face extra clean. This way you can remove the residue from the cleansing oil. Many cleansing waters also contain ingredients that is beneficial for your skin. Aloe vera is an example of an ingredient that is good for your skin.
Step 3. Exfoliant
Remove all dead cells from your skin with an exfoliator, but don’t use this every single day. Using this every day can make your skin worse. Use an exfoliant 1-2 per week. So this is one of the steps you don’t have to do every single time. Use this when you think the first steps were not good enough when it comes to removing dead skin from your face that clogs up your pores. If you have breakouts, exfoliating might be something that can help you. Find an exfoliant that is still gentle on your skin.
Step 4. Toner/mist
Had a rough night and you are not feeling fresh? A toner can help you with that. Toners can help you to refresh your skin without getting rid of its natural moisture. A good toner is a toner that does not irritate your skin or make it really dry. A lot of Koreans also use a toner with antioxidants and natural ingredients from plants.
Step 5. Essence (a mix between serum and toner)
Essence for the skin is a product that will hydrate, protect and boost the health of your skin. These products are still pretty unknown in the western world, so it might be harder to find something like this. Essence is also more beneficial for your skin since it is more concentrated. Which means it has more ingredients that are good for your skin.
Step 6. Treatment (serum/ ampoule/booster.
The next step depends on your skin. Every skin is different. Sometimes your skin is dry, other times it is oily. Use something that is perfect for your skin. Find an ampoule that will be perfect for your skin type or use a serum.
Step 7. Face mask
A good face mask can make your skin feel soft and fresh. Of course, it takes at least 10 minutes to do a face mask. If you really want to do this step as often as possible, you can put on a face mask and do something else in between. Maybe make breakfast, pick your outfit for the day or pack your bag. But this is another step you don’t have to do every single day. You can use a face mask when you have more time, like on the weekends
There are a lot of different kinds of face masks, depending on what your skin needs.
Sheet masks are iconic in Korean skincare routines. These masks are made from special sheet material, they have holes for your eyes and mouth and are drenched in ampoules and essences. These are the ones that are the most popular and you can find them anywhere.
Sleeping masks are meant to be applied at nighttime and nourish and moisturize your skin while you’re knocking out the Z’s (sleeping). You can rinse them off in the morning. Use a pillowcase you can easily wash/clean.
Peel off masks are used to remove dead skin cells and pore clogging debris. They are most popular among oily-skinned folk. Just apply it to your skin, wait at least ten minutes until it is dry and peel it off.
Wash off masks to soothe, soften, firm or hydrate skin. Like the name says, you rinse them off after a short while.
Step 8. Eye care
The skin around your eyes is very thin and a lot of people take care of their face but they forget the skin around their eyes is important too. Especially on a day when you are feeling and look tired, your eye care can make a difference. Make sure your product is suitable for the skin around your eyes. Some products can irritate your eyes.
Step 9. Moisturize
After cleansing, a face mask and exfoliating your skin, your skin needs to be moisturized. Use a day creme that is good for your skintype. A good day creme does not make your face oily and dry. Day creme should hydrate your skin and make it feel soft. It shouldn’t irritate your skin. Find a day creme that matches your skin type.
Step 10. Sunscreen
Last but not least is wearing sunscreen. A lot of people forget to wear sunscreen and others think you only have to wear it on a sunny day. But even on a cloudy day, the sunlight can get to your skin. This means you have to wear sunscreen every single day. If you don’t have the time for this whole routine and you want to skip a few steps, don’t skip this step.
Photo by Camille Brodard on Unsplash