10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine: Everything You Need To Know

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine! Wow, that sounds intimidating, doesn’t it?

Don’t worry. In this post, I will explain what “The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine” (a term coined by Charlotte Cho, the founder of Soko Glam) is and if it actually makes sense.

What is the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine?

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine is a reflection of Korea’s scientific advancements in the beauty industry and unique perspective that skin care is a lifestyle, not just a daily routine. K-beauty rests on the single belief that skin care is preventative, so each step in the 10 Step routine below plays a role in keeping skin healthy and glowing.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine can be broken down into four main sections: cleansing, prepping, nourishing and protecting the skin.

Cleanse

Keeping the skin clean is paramount in Korean skin care and it is the first most important step to maintaining clear and healthy skin.

1. Oil Cleanser & Makeup Remover

Oil cleansers are available in a lot of different formulas including cleansing oils and balms, which are designed to break down oil-based products like makeup and sunscreen as well as any other dirt or pollution as you massage it into the skin. This is the first step of a typical double cleanse.

When to use: AM and/or PM. But most important to use it at night.

2. Face Cleanser

Face cleansers or face washes are known as water-based cleansers. With water they tend to foam and cleanse the skin deeply to remove any leftover dirt from the skin and pores that the oil cleanser might have missed. Face wash is an extremely vital step in any skincare routine as it ensures that skin is very clean before applying anything on top.

When to use: AM and PM. For best results, wet your face first and massage in small circular motions.

3. Exfoliator

Exfoliators are available in physical form such as scrubs or in chemical form as toners and serums. These are designed to clean deep inside pores and on the surface of the skin to remove dead skin cells. You will notice ingredients such as salicylic acid, lactic acid and glycolic acid in exfoliators. They are important to help with even skin texture and brighter skin tone. If your skin is clear of debris and dead skin, then other skin care products can absorb into the skin much more effectively and work better.

When to use: 2-3x a week, depending on your skin type and concerns. I recommend exfoliating at night.

Prep

In K-beauty, prepping the skin to effectively absorb other skincare layered on top is very important because it can make or break the efficacy of a skin care routine.

4. Toner

Toner is a step that is often overlooked or not given as much importance. They also help give the skin a natural glow. Toners have come a long way from the astringent like formulas of the 1990s. Today, toners have lightweight, alcohol-free, water-like formulas to add moisture and balance the pH levels of the skin, so other products absorb much faster into the skin. Look for hydrating toners with ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, Centella Asiatica, propolis extract, rice extract etc.

When to use: AM after cleansing. PM after exfoliating.

Nourish

Nourishing the skin is where a Korean skin care routine really shines because of the belief that skin care is preventative, not reactive. So, just like how eating healthy and taking care of our bodies is vital for good long-term health, the same goes for skin. Each step serves a purpose in boosting skin health (and the coveted Korean glass skin effect).

5. Essence

Essences (also known as “skin” in Korea) are similar to toners in formula, but slightly more viscous. They are somewhere between a water-like toner and thin serum. Essences are designed with ingredients like rice extract, red algae, hyaluronic acid, soybean extract, oat kernel, yeast and a whole lot more. The main thing to know about essences is that they are usually formulated with fermented ingredients to form a concentrated skin care product that is hydrating, anti-aging, and brightening on the skin.

When to use: AM and PM after toner. You can try the 3, 5 or 7 skin method for extra hydration.

6. Serums & Ampoules (aka Treatments)

Serums and ampoules are thicker than essences in formula and are for targeted skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, acne, and rosacea. Ampoules tend to have higher concentration of active ingredients, which makes them much more potent, so be mindful about how and when to use them. Serums are gentle and can be used daily. For this skin care step, it’s important to do your search and figure out what your skin needs. Look for active ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, propolis extract, tea tree, snail mucin extract, plant extracts, niacinamide etc.

When to use: AM or PM as advised on the product. Don’t use multiple serums and ampoules together and use carefully.

7. Sheet Masks

Made of a thin sheet that conforms to the face, sheet masking is an extra fun step in Korean skin care. They are thin masks soaked in essences — many different kinds are available — and are supposed to be left on the face for 15-20 minutes to let the skin absorb an extra dose of moisture and nourishment. You’ll find lots of sheet masks made from flower and plant extracts such as cucumber, jasmine, green tea, rose, rice, ginseng, lemon, aloe etc. Depending on your skin type and skin concern, you can bet there is a wide range of sheet masks available — and they’re not expensive at all.

When to use: whenever you feel like a little extra pampering after cleansing and toning the skin. Sheet masks can replace the essence step or skip essence and use after serum.

8. Eye Cream

Eye cream protects the skin around the eyes, which is very thin and delicate compared to the rest of the face, by adding hydration. It helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and puffiness and brighten the eye area. Look for ingredients such as ginseng, caffeine, peptides, collagen, plant / flower extracts, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, bakuchiol, green tea, etc.

When to use: AM and PM before moisturizer (and sunscreen).

Protect

Skin protection is a non-negotiable step in any skin care routine. After making all the effort to cleanse, prep, and nourish the skin, it is vital to lock in all the nutrients and protect the skin.

9. Moisturizer

Moisturizer acts as a seal for all the moisture the skin absorbs from the toners, essences, and serums. Skin needs moisture 24/7 to stay healthy and plump, so moisturizer is always one of the final steps in a skin care routine. Moisturizers are available in a range of formulas including lotions, water gel, gel cream, emulsion, and sleeping mask and with a wide range of ingredients. Some popular ones are: hyaluronic acid, cica, green tea, snail mucin, botanicals, oat kernel extract, seawater, seaweed extract, collagen, glycerin, birch sap, niacinamide.

When to use: AM and PM after all skin care steps.

10. Sun Protection

Korean skin care routine takes sun protection very seriously. It is one of the only proven ways to prevent fine lines and other signs of aging caused by UV sun damage. So, every morning skin care routine ends with a generous amount of sunscreen application followed by re-application throughout the day. There are so many different types and formulas of sunscreens available: mineral sunscreen, chemical sunscreen, tinted sunscreen, and sunscreen sticks (great for reapplication over makeup). Find a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 (minimum) and PA rating ++++ that works for your skin type and skin concern. Look for formulas that don’t have a white cast or clog pores and look good under makeup.

Do you need a 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine?

The short answer is no. You’re not supposed to do all the steps every day.

The long answer is ao no, but now that you understand the philosophy behind the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine, you can take the steps that make sense for you and create your own skincare routine. Most people have a 5 to 7 Step Korean Skin Care Routine, which looks something like this:

Morning Korean Skin Care Routine

Face cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen

Night Korean Skin Care Routine

Oil cleanser, face cleanser, toner, essence, serum, eye cream, moisturizer

What is optional in the 10 Step Routine?

You can skip essence and sheet masks and use them when you feel like an extra dose of pampering.

Related:

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