Korean women are known for their flawless and age-less beauty. If you know some of them or watch Korean TV shows, you’d find their skin spotless and youthful. Many Korean women can skilfully hide their real age by following the 10 step Korean skin care routine. Here, we’re going to reveal their secret so that you too can have flawless skin too.
Table of Contents
10 step Korean skin care
Here is the 10 step Korean skin care routine that will help you find skin and let you retain spotless skin:
1. Double cleanse
The first among Korean skin care steps is to double cleanse. Yes, you guessed that right – you have to wash your face twice. Here, the first step involves using oil and then a foaming cleanser. The process will help crud off different types of impurities in your skin.
If you have oily skin, you might not like the idea of washing your face with oil. But this process really works well for oil-based impurities like sebum, pollutants, SPF, and more. It doesn’t work well against dirt and sweat, which is why the second type of cleansing is important.
You can occasionally add an additional step to the 10 step Korean skin care. Koreans swear by facial massages. So, you can take out some time to stimulate the surface of your skin. You have to prepare your face for the products you’re going to apply within the steps.
Wash off the cleanser with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel. Treat your fresh skin with care and you’ll notice an instant change.
When buying the second cleanser, try getting products with low pH levels. Cleansers that are super foamy will not have low pH levels, so you need products that do the opposite. For example, Clearasil mentioned having pH balance, which means your skin will naturally have a fall between 4.2 to 5.6. If that exceeds, your skin will become alkaline and if it is lower then it becomes acidic. You might irritate your skin, have acne, blotches, and more. If you feel your face too tight after washing, the pH level is higher than it should be.
2. Toner
American women know toners to be an astringent that wipes the gunk off their faces and strips the skin. However, in Korean skin care routine is different from that. When you use toners according to the 10 step Korean skin care formula you add a thin layer of moisture that regulars the pH level and softens the skin.
Korean toners have different types and they range from thin to viscous. It might have active ingredients like AHA and BHA that gives intense results against premature aging, fine lines, and acne marks.
Korean toners have lots of botanical ingredients that give similar results. You can use them without the hands and pat your skin with a cotton ball. Your skin will react happily to the touch of warm hands and the toner. It isn’t acidic like usual American toners.
3. Essence
The essence is one of the most important among the 10 step Korean skin care routine to maintain the glow. If you envy Korean women for the glow in their skin, it is mostly because of this step. What they do is, instead of depending on a thick cream, Koreans like to layer up with products. They believe that it helps the skin breathe and keeps you away from clogged pores.
If you think that the toner is the first later of moisture, next comes the essence. Again, this too will have a thin texture and feel watery. It goes into a deeper level of the skin and helps you absorb other products.
4. Emulsion
At this level of Korean skin care, you need to add another layer of moisture to have the ‘glass skin’. The product you use here will add a lot of H2O and will just add 30 seconds more in the routine. Skipping this product can lead to a breakout, which you would want to prevent at all costs.
The emulsion layer is slightly more viscous than the other layers you use. It helps you build the shine and richness of your skin that reflects on the final result. The product includes botanical extracts and other important ingredients.
You must note that some skin types need more moisture than other skin types. For example, if you have oily skin, the emulsion can make it feel greasier. While women who have dry skin might never seem to have enough layers.
The best thing to do is to get an emulsion that is perfect for your skin type. Emulsions make your skin look hydrated and super plump. So, make sure you know which product to buy.
5. Serum
We aren’t alien to facial serums and that’s what the fifth step is about. At this point, you need ampoules or serums. If you think that your skin has enough hydration and glow, you can skip this step. Some Korean women who strictly follow this routine might not agree with us. But you need to see what suits your face and skin type.
Ampoules and serums are highly concentrated makeup products. The ampoules are simply souped-up versions of a regular serum and produced by some companies. The point is, you might not get an authentic ampoule, so it is better to choose a serum instead.
Serums will moisturize your skin and add a thick texture. It will make your skin feel good and you should use it only when you think you need such an effect. If you’re stressing on having the ultimate glow, don’t skip the serum.
6. Sheet mask
Sheet masks are the best products that you need to add to you to the list of 10 step Korean skin care. They are easy to find and you can even get them at a dollar store. However, if you can spend a little more, you can put a few more dollars to get a good one.
Sheet masks need around 15-20 minutes of your time and you can use them as frequently you want. Most people prefer using sheet masks after a long day under the sun or before special events.
According to the 10 step Korean skin care, sheet masks enhance the use of serums. It adds another layer and is packed with good ingredients. Note that every type of sheet mask is not made in the same way. You should choose the ones that retain moisture all the time.
7. Eye cream
Eye creams are a common part of every Korean skin care routine. However, it is one of the hardest products to constantly if you’re not yet 40 or above. Eye creams are destined to add moisture to the ultra-thin skin around the eyes. This is the area where you can have crow’s feet or fine lines. Korean women tend to use eye creams from a young age to not let signs of aging show up.
One more thing about eye creams is that not everyone knows how to apply them in the right way. You can look out for tutorials for such cases and exert the correct amount of pressure to make it work. You are bound to push harder than usual because you want to prevent signs of aging. But the area around your eyes is very sensitive. They tend to dry out easily and that’s why many women prefer using them during winters.
Several South Korean celebrities like to wear eye creams every night to moisturize their entire face. If you can afford to buy a good eye cream and replace your night cream with that, you will be able to see the difference in no time.
Many Korean women choose eye cream primers instead of regular ones. Look out for ingredients like coconut oil, camellia oil, and camellia flower extract to ensure you’re buying the best.
8. Moisturizer
You might wonder you should add another thick layer on your face after having so many layers already. But you still do need more moisture. Well, maybe this step is not for everyone, but you at least need to know what it’s about.
According to the traditional 10 step Korean skin care routine, you need to use a cream at this point. It is an occlusive layer that helps seal the layers that came before it. You can consider this as a fragrant stew and put the lid on the pot. It helps the flavors and fragrances to blend and absorb. When you add the moisturizer, all the layers start working in the epidermis.
Korean creams are very similar to American creams when it comes to thickness and textures. However, you might find it difficult to get a product for oily skin. Many women with oily skin have clogged pore, so you need to choose a moisturizer wisely. It is not impossible for an oily-skinned woman to use a moisturizer. Just pick the one that goes with your skin type.
9. Sunscreen
If you think sunscreens are only for the days at the beach, you’re wrong. We need sunscreen every single day because you can’t let the UV rays get to you. Most Asian sunscreens are potent and often considered better than US products.
Sunscreens were produced in Japan and depend a lot on the SPF level. Most Asian products swear by keeping you protected from the harmful UV rays, which many American products don’t.
It is time you need to understand that makeup product that promises to have sunscreen really don’t have enough SPF. You will have to keep applying them every hour in order to make them effective.
Sunscreens can be of two types, chemical and physical. You need to know how different types of sunscreens work in order to use them in the best possible way. The physical sunscreens have minerals in them and usually leave a white tint after use. While the chemical sunscreens get absorbed right into the skin and prevent your skin from UV rays. It keeps you away from sun damage and is perfect to continue with your makeup.
Women who have sensitive skin must be picky about the sunscreens they buy. Many sunscreens can lead to breakouts. Look out for some Korean sunscreens online and buy a product that has great reviews and suits your skin type.
10. Sleeping mask
After you have so many layers on your face, you might start to feel like a cake! However, after going through all these steps, your body will be into a mega repair mode. Your face is now ready for the last step when you use a sleeping mask.
You can consider this as a night cream or a unique facial treatment. The process just adds another layer of moisture. Sleeping masks are designed to help your face rest. You need to choose them wisely as it has to serve the purpose.
Sleeping masks from the Korean cosmetic markets are perfect. These products serve the resting purpose instead of packaged with scents to make it alluring. Sleeping masks are usually expensive, so you’d have to spend a few extra bucks compared to regular sheet masks.
How does Korean skin care work?
Korean skin care beats your regular cleansing, toning, moisturizing regimen and makes it a little longer. Here, you concentrate more on adding moisturize to your skin and you go through a total of 10 steps to fulfill the routine.
The result of regular following Korean skin care routine helps you retain youthfulness and natural glow. You are one step away from looking as gorgeous as Korean celebrities look and defy their real age.
You have to get your hands on the right products to help you keep up with the exact process. Korean cosmetic industry is world-famous and many Hollywood celebrities follow their beauty routine. Give it a try and you won’t be disappointed when you see the results.
