Korean Skin Care Routine in 10 Steps

The recipe for success for an even and flawless complexion: less makeup, more skin care! The Korean skincare routine includes up to 10 daily steps: Pre-Cleansing, Cleansing, Toner, Essence, Serum, Ampoule, Eye Cream, Moisturizer, Cream and Masks used regularly.

Want to learn more? Here is a brief description of each step:

Korean Skin Care Routine in 10 Steps:

Make-up removal or double cleansing: First of all, make-up is removed with a make-up removing oil and the skin is massaged at the same time. And don’t worry even if you have oily skin! This is where the oil is perfect for removing sebum and impurities from the pores. Then emulsify the cleansing oil with a little warm water and then wash it off. To clean the face deep into the pores, a cleansing gel or foam is then used, which removes all oil residues and provides immediate hydration so that the skin does not feel tight.
A face scrub should be used 2-3 times a week. We distinguish between peels with mild acids such as AHA (fruit and lactic acid), BHA (pore-regulating salicylic acid), PHA (light anti-aging peel) and peels with exfoliants such as brown sugar or powdered peach kernels.
Toner is the first step after cleansing and replenishes moisture deposits. It also brings the skin into an optimal pH range for absorption of subsequent skin care steps and evens skin texture. A booster contains additional components such as active anti-aging ingredients or moisture boosters for specific skin needs.
Continue with an essence – the heart of Korean skincare. Essences are top anti-aging boosters and have a watery, very slightly gel-like texture that penetrates deep into the skin and does its job there. The essence often consists of fermented ingredients that have been processed without loss of active ingredients and can be absorbed particularly well by the skin, such as yeast extract or ginseng.
In the next step, the ampoule and the serum serve different needs of the skin and can also be used in combination. Combination skin with dry skin, but a slightly oily nose, with large pores and age spots on the cheeks, can keep these small problems under control very easily: For the T-zone we recommend a pore refining serum with vitamin B6, for the cheeks a product bleaching. against pigmentation and for the rest a moisturizing serum with hyaluronic acid.
Step number 6 of skin care is lotion/moisturizer. This step is perfect for particularly dry skin to get extra hydration before applying the cream. Or for slightly oily skin, for which a rich cream under makeup is perhaps too much during the day. Lotions are especially valuable here, as they restore the correct moisture-oil balance in the skin.
Eye cream is a must in any skin care routine from the age of 25 onwards, as the skin around the eyes and mouth is particularly thin and sensitive and this is where wrinkles are most likely to occur.
Skin cream is the crowning glory of any skin care routine. It spreads over the skin like a light protective film, prevents it from drying out and, so to speak, seals the active ingredients of the previous products. The skin creams contain high-quality ingredients such as gold and ginseng for mature skin, pure hyaluronic acid for dry skin or snail in a refreshing gel texture for oily and combination skin.
Step 9 in the Korean skin care routine is face masks that are used two to three times a week instead of skin cream. The packs are available as overnight masks, wash-off masks or the popular cloth or sheet masks. Here’s the active ingredients in a handy cloth that simply slips onto your face with eye and mouth cutouts and lets the anti-aging booster do its job for 20 minutes – no dripping or sliding.
According to Korean women, the last step in skin care should always be sun protection. Either on the beach or on a rainy day in the city. And their flawless skin, which is often free of wrinkles and spots even in their 40s, proves them right. Korean Beauty sunblocks often have a protection factor of SPF50+++ and are available as gels for slightly oily skin or as a primer texture for perfect makeup adhesion.