The 10-step Korean skin care routine guide

Why do Korean women spend more than 10 minutes a day on their skin care and is it really necessary? Instead of hiding skin blemishes with cosmetics, Koreans choose skin care products that can radically fix the problem or even prevent it.

While most people in the rest of the world usually use only one moisturizer cream, Korean women prefer to use 6-10 different care products every day. The order of use also plays a significant role and each product has its own purpose: preparation, treatment, hydration and protection.

10-step skin care routine

The 10-step skin care routine is the most commonly used by the korean women way to achieve the perfect skin. This certainly does not mean that all 10 steps must be applied every day, morning and evening. Each step has its own goal and only you should decide how often and how many steps to use according to your skin type.

1. REMOVER OR CLEANSING WATER

Before starting to wash, you need to remove makeup from the eyes and lips. The main difference is that the remover is used to remove the makeup (including permanent) only from the eyes and lips. While the cleansing water can completely remove makeup from the entire face.

2. CLEANSING CREAM OR HYDROPHILIC OIL

Oil-based cleansing is greatly recommended for your evening skincare. Oil penetrates deep into the pores and dissolve fat and oil plugs, draw out contaminants, effectively removes tonal makeup and primers without disturbing the acid-base balance of the skin. There is no big difference in use between cleansing cream and hydrophilic oil, it all depends on your personal preferences. While cleansing cream, due to its oily texture, is more suitable for dry skin, hydrophilic oils and cleansing balms will do better to those whose skin is prone to be oily.

3. WASHING FOAM, GEL AND LOTION

The second stage of double cleansing is a water-based cleanser. This stage is designed to remove oil residue and other minor contaminants, as well as sweat and dust. Keep in mind that foams tend to dry the skin, therefore, after cleansing, it is necessary to moisturize the skin as soon as possible.

4. PEELING AND SCRUBS

Peels play a crucial role in the pursuit of flawless skin. Exfoliation of dead cells allows other components and treatments to penetrate deeper into the skin, and have a stronger effect. Peeling should be done no more than 2 times a week.

5. TONER

It is time to prepare your skin using a toner. In Korea, there is a “rule of 3 seconds” – you need to moisturize the skin in 3 seconds after washing. Put some toner in your palms, and spread it over the skin with patting motions, or put a toner on a cotton pad and rub your face with it. Toner helps to moisturize and restore the acid-base balance of the skin and prepare the skin for the next to be applied skin care products. Think of your skin as of a sponge – all products are absorbed into wet skin much faster and more efficiently.

6. ESSENCE, SERUM, AMPULES

This stage can be considered the “heart” of Korean care. Its main function is the skin treatment. Usually it has a specific action – improving wrinkles, brightening, regeneration, pores tightening, etc. Apply the product to the skin right after a toner, and slightly tap with fingers to help absorb.

7. EMULSION

The main goal of this step is to moisturize the skin and enhance the effect of the serum. The emulsion is less concentrated than serum and has a light texture that is quickly absorbed by the skin.

8. EYE CREAM

Skin around the eyes is very thin and delicate, and therefore, it is worth paying special attention. When applying an eye cream, do not stretch the skin and do not push it too hard. Use your fingertips to gently pat the cream into the skin, it is better to use the little fingers.

9. FACE CREAM

Face cream is used to protect the skin from the aggressive effects of the external environment and to increase the effect of the previous steps. Do not forget that the cream should be selected according to the type of your skin. The oilier the skin, the lighter the cream should be. It is best to have two creams – moisturizing and nourishing and apply them depending on the season. In the warm season – it is moisturizing in the morning and nourishing in the evening. In the cold season – it is nourishing in the morning and moisturizing in the evening.

10. SUN PROTECTION

Even if you only go out for a few minutes, sunscreen is the best thing to help prevent premature aging. Apply sunscreen every morning and reapply during the day as needed. This is an important final stage that will protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.

Why it is important to avoid sun exposure? Find out in this article.