Sort of like how K-pop has taken over the world, Korean skincare has also experienced a boom in popularity. It’s been around for forever, but America is just catching on to the trend. The best part? It won’t go away any time soon, because it actually works.
After doing some research, I have decided to ditch the only-treating-issues-on-occasion-with-three-products routine and sleeping in my makeup. Glass skin has become my new goal.
Want to learn more about the best Korean skincare routine out there? Read on for the full scoop.
What IS Korean Skincare?
Simplified: a 10-step beauty routine. Sound like a lot? Well, yeah, it kind of is. But is it worth it? Also yeah.
Korean skincare utilizes more natural ingredients, keeping the routine clean and pure. It’s also used starting at a young age, making it more of a preventative practice rather than a treatment. American skincare, on the other hand, uses chemicals that help target specific areas (salicylic acid, anyone?), and we don’t tend to use products until we need to treat something, like acne or wrinkles.
In America, we tend to find three or four products and use them as often as we feel like it – so, pretty often if you’re dedicated, or…not so much if you’re not. (Yes, I’m calling out myself and my horrible skincare routine again.) Korean skincare, on the other hand, requires dedication in order to reap the full benefits.
Check out this amazing video from Hyram for an in-depth breakdown of American vs. Korean skincare:
What Are The Steps?
We’re here to break down each step with some of the best Korean skincare products! These are all highly recommended, best-selling, and the highest-rated k-beauty products out there.
1. First off, you wash your face with an oil cleanser or cleansing balm. You’re creating a template for the following nine steps, which requires removing all oils, SPF, and makeup. Double cleaning is an essential step in Korean skincare!
2. Follow it up with a water-based cleanser.
3. Gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and smooth the canvas for the next seven steps.
4. Use toner to balance the pH of your skin. (We just wrote a whole article on the importance of this underused product!)
5. Next is essence. Haven’t heard of that? I hadn’t, either – I thought it was just some ~fancy word~ used to describe a normal product. Turns out essence is actually a legit product. Essence is basically in between toner and a serum. It helps with skin rejuvenation and cellular turnover, which is highly coveted in skincare.
6. Treatments. This encompasses boosters and serums, targeting specific problems, like acne. Some ingredients to look for include tea tree and vitamin C – all fantastic for your skin.
7. Sheet masks, which you’ve heard of before. These promote relaxation in both the body and the skin, and they rejuvenate by increasing hydration.
8. Eye cream. This is a no-brainer in both Korean and American culture, though, as mentioned, it contains more natural ingredients; think honey and lily.
9. Moisturizer – a staple in everyone’s routines.
10. And finally, sun protection. Trying to avoid those dark spots and save your skin? Korean skincare is all about that.
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