What Is a 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine?
According to Yoon, there's no standard or prescriptive way of approaching Korean skin care.
It's more of a philosophy of how to approach integrating all of the different elements you need for your skin type and concerns into a routine that works for you.
You might like to combine two steps into one product, or skip and add steps as you need them depending on how your skin's feeling.
10-Step Korean Skin Care Routine
That said, a traditional 10-step Korean skincare routine philosophy is built around these 10 pillars:
1. Step 1 in a Korean Skincare Routine
A balm or oil cleanser.
Using a balm or oil cleanser is the first step of a 'double cleanse'.
Its job? To break down oily substances on the skin like sunscreen, makeup and sebum!
2. Step 2 in a Korean 10 Step Routine:
A water-based cleanser.
The second step of your double cleanse removes any remaining debris on the skin.
This can be a gel, foaming, cream or milk cleanser, depending on the best cleanser for your skin type.
3. Step 3 in a K-beauty Skincare Routine:
An exfoliant.
Depending on your skin type, use a physical exfoliant (a manual scrub) or a chemical exfoliant (with exfoliating acids or enzymes) once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells.
4. Step 4 in a Korean Skincare 10 Step Routine:
A toner or face mist.
In Korean skin care, toners aren't harsh or astringent. This step preps the skin by adjusting the skin's pH level (4.5-6.5) to better absorb all the hydration coming in the following step.
Plus, face mists especially just feel really nice.
5. Step 5 in a K-beauty Skincare Routine:
An essence.
If a toner's main job is to balance the skin's pH levels, an essence's main job is to hydrate the skin.
Do you really need a toner and an essence? It depends on the product! (And how much you can be bothered.)
Steps four and five (and even six) can be combined in one product if you're using one that combines hydrating, balancing and brightening ingredients.
6. Step 6 in a Korean Skincare 10 Step Routine:
An ampoule or serum.
Think of this as your concentrated treatment step that's personal to your skin.
The idea is to use a serum or ampoule (an even more concentrated serum) with active ingredients that address your specific skin concerns.
You can rotate your serums throughout the week, or pick one does-everything serum.
7. Step 7 in a K-beauty Skincare Routine:
A sheet mask.
Again, Korean skin care is all about packing as much hydration into the deeper layers of your skin as possible.
Sheet masks are materials soaked in a concentrated serum - a totally optional weekly step, but one that feels luxurious and relaxing... and looks great in a selfie.
8. Step 8 in Korean Skincare Routine:
An eye cream.
Do you have to use a separate eye cream? No and yes.
It depends on your skin concerns, and how much time and money you want to spend on your skincare routine.
If you have specific concerns around the eye area like dark circles, puffiness, dehydration and fine lines and wrinkles, you might like to keep this step.
9. Step 9 in a K-beauty Skincare Routine:
A moisturiser.
Your moisturiser seals everything in with humectant (water-binding) and emollient (barrier-building) ingredients.
Choose a moisturiser best suited for your skin type. This could be anything from a water gel to a heavier occlusive cream.
10. Step 10 in a Korean 10 Step Routine:
A thicker night cream, face oil or sleeping mask OR sunscreen in the morning.
A final layer of moisture, again, depending on what your skin type needs.
And of course, in the morning, every skincare routine should end in an adequate amount of a broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen.
Side note, SPF is only one part of sun protection. Always seek shade, and wear sunnies, a hat and protective clothing. Use sufficient sunscreen for all unprotected areas and reapply sunscreen as directed. Always read the label. You know the drill.
Korean Skincare Products in My 10 Step K-Beauty Skin Routine.
OK, but what does a 10 step Korean facial routine actually look like?
With absolutely nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon, I decided to try doing all 10 skincare Korean steps in long, luxurious K-beauty skin routine.
A bit about my skin: My skin type is dry, and my main skin concerns are dehydration, dullness, and congestion around the chin and jawline.
You can watch me do my 10-step Korean skincare for dry skin routine in the video below (spoiler: it's really bloody relaxing) or keep scrolling for my K-beauty product reviews.
