The 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine: Everything You Need To Know

To maximize the benefits of Korean skin care, it's crucial to follow the 10-step Korean skincare routine order. This comprehensive approach ensures that each product is applied in the optimal sequence, allowing your skin to absorb the active ingredients effectively. By adhering to this routine, you'll notice significant improvements in your skin's texture, tone, and overall appearance. 

For those new to Korean skincare, starting with a simple 5-step routine and gradually adding more steps can help your skin adjust. The typical Korean skincare routine consists of 8 to 10 steps that people perform daily to keep their skin looking healthy and radiant. This may seem like a lot compared to your usual skincare routine, but once you learn more about the steps, they may not seem so daunting. Once you get the hang of them, you'll probably be done in 15 minutes or less!

Here's a breakdown of the steps for the morning and night routines:

In the morning...

The Korean skincare routine has gained worldwide recognition for its effectiveness, and it's no surprise why. By incorporating the best Korean skincare products into your daily routine, you can achieve radiant, healthy-looking skin. From essences to serums, Korean skin care products are designed to work harmoniously together to address specific skin concerns. Whether you're looking to combat acne, fine lines, or dehydration, there's a Korean skincare product tailored to your needs.

Step 1: Cleanse your face

Begin your day by massaging your face with a gentle cleanser, that does not strip your skin of its natural oils. On the contrary, a soft gel cleanser like our Face Reset will add hydration to fortify your skin barrier and cleanse it at the same time.

Step 2: Use a Toner

Korean women use toners to balance their skin's pH levels. This prevents the skin from becoming dry and dehydrated and also helps to prepare your skin for the next products you'll apply.

Step 3: Apply Essence

Essence is a combination of toner and serum that works to hydrate your complexion and aid in cellular turnover for a youthful appearance.

Step 4: Use an Ampoule next

Ampoules contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than serums, making them ideal for targeting specific skin concerns. There's no need to do this step regularly - just use your ampoules for a short period of time as a booster when your skin needs extra help.

Step 5: Apply Serum

Serums are highly concentrated formulas packed with active ingredients designed to address specific skin issues. Our Shine Bright Serum, in particular, is ideal to prevent wrinkles, dark spots, and dehydration. 

Step 6: Apply Eye Cream

Apply a lightweight eye cream to the brow and socket bone, moving from the inner to the outer corner of the eye. Our Coffee Break Eye Cream is perfect for this delicate area, because there are no sebaceous glands to produce natural oils, so it's important to keep it hydrated and protected throughout the day.

If you are thinking of skipping this step, you may want to read this …

Step 7: Apply Moisturizer

Apply a soothing moisturizer, ideally rich in vitamin C, in a light layer to moisturize, shield skin, brighten and even skin tone. If you combine our Shine Bright Serum with our C-bomb Vitamin C Moisturizer, you'll get long- lasting hydration all day long.

Step 8: Don't Forget your SPF

Sunscreen isn't just for summer. It’s also for winter, cloudy or rainy days and for people who are working in front of screens all the time (hello remote workers!).
Protecting your skin from UV rays on a daily basis will help prevent dark spots, wrinkles, fine lines and keep your skin barrier strong.

PS: If you want to find out which SPF rating is best for you, click here.

And with that, you're ready to go out for the day!

Before bedtime...

Take some time to treat your skin before turning in for the night. Most of the steps are similar to the morning routine, but with a few additions and substitutions:

Step 1: Use a Cleansing Oil 

Using a cleansing oil binds the dirt with the oil and makes it easier for you to thoroughly clean your skin.

Step 2: Cleanse with a Foaming or Gel Cleanser

After oil cleansing and removing makeup and dirt, use a gentle cleanser to clean your face. We love our Face Reset Cleanser, specifically designed to take the day off. Lather it up with water, apply to your face, and rinse off.

Step 3: Exfoliate

Using a chemical exfoliant on a nightly basis will help you to improve the texture of your skin. Just make sure to choose one with a high concentration of acids and some hydrating ingredients, like our PHAbulous Chemical Exfoliant with 7% PHA and Macadamia Seed Oil. This product targets and removes dead skin cells from the surface, maintains hydration levels and promotes a smoother, brighter complexion.

Step 4: Tone the Skin

Even at night, it's important to use your toner to maintain skin pH levels.

Step 5: Hydrate with Essence

Don't skip the essence, as it's crucial for keeping your skin hydrated all night. 

Step 6: Use an Ampoule

The active ingredients and agents in the product will help your skin regenerate and recharge overnight.

Step 7: Sheet Mask Time

K-beauty fans love this step! Sheet masks are saturated with serum containing essential active agents and are suitable for all skin types. They provide deep hydration and offer specific benefits, such as anti-aging, anti-acne, hydration, and collagen-boosting, depending on your skin needs.

Step 8: And lip mask! 

Did you know that lip mask existed? A lip mask is a simple way to keep your lips hydrated and healthy. Our skin loses moisture at night and lips are particularly susceptible to dryness. A nourishing lip mask at bedtime provides intense hydration and repairs damage from the day. This step will leave your lips soft, smooth, and ready for the day. 

Step 9: Eye Cream 

Once your skin has absorbed the benefits of the sheet mask, it's time to treat the delicate skin around your eyes with an eye cream. This will keep the area hydrated and nourished. It will also reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.

Step 10: Moisturize

Finally, seal it all in with a night moisturizer. This will help your skin absorb all the ingredients overnight, leaving you with soft, supple skin in the morning. If you use a chemical exfoliator or any product with retinol (ex: Age Rewind or Timeless Skin), we recommend using a decongesting moisturizer, such as the Post Workout Gel Mask with centella asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid. This revitalizing product will keep your skin plump, bright and soft.


The Korean skincare routine may seem like a lot of work, but the results are worth the time and effort. Be consistent for at least 4 weeks, and we promise you won't regret giving it a try!

Remember

When selecting the best Korean skincare products, look for ingredients like Camellia Sinensis (green tea), Centella Asiatica, Bakuchiol, Panthenol and Aloe Vera, which are renowned for their regenerative and anti-aging properties. Korean skin care steps are designed to be gentle yet effective, making them suitable for various skin types. By embracing the Korean 10-step skin care routine and using high-quality Korean skincare products, you'll be on your way to achieving the coveted "glass skin" that Korean beauty is famous for – luminous, smooth, and effortlessly radiant.