When it comes to beautiful and glowing skin, there is absolutely no lie that we all look up to Koreans for their skin that is exactly what many would want —- flawless, radiant, and youthful. Over the years, more and more people got invested in following what Korean’s do for their skin in hopes of achieving the same results of healthy and glowing skin. 

Grounded by the Korean’s obsession with healthy skin and beauty, the 10-Step skincare routine that is just one of the many skincare routines that Korean’s have has become such a buzzword in the world of skincare. For them, this 10-step is more than just a routine backed by scientific advancement. It’s a lifestyle that has kept its reputation in the field of skincare. 

10-steps? That’s a bit much. That’s a whole lot of products. The principle about Korean skincare is although the number of steps can seem to exaggerate, it’s not about having more products than you can stash, but rather using the right products to do the right job in the right order. This also means that your products don’t have to be all from Korean brands. 

Did we mention that they have different skincare steps for day and night? If No, that’s what this article is all about. But before anything else, 

8 -Steps Korean Morning Skincare 

The morning skincare routine is all about keeping your skin hydrated and protected throughout the day. It’s all about keeping your skin cleansed from the night oils, and all prepped up for the day. Instead of 10 steps, the morning routine has 8… easy to work on!

Step 1: Simply cleanse your face with water. 

Simply wash your face with clean water to wash off the impurities that have settled on your skin overnight. Using cleansers such as facial wash and soap can strip off moisture from your skin which makes it dry in the morning. Water will keep your skin hydrated. 

Step 2. Apply a good toner. 

After washing your face, apply a toner to balance the pH level of your skin. This ensures that your skin stays hydrated. This also prepares your skin and ensures proper absorption of the next skin care products that you are going to apply to your skin. A toner can be applied to the skin by dabbing it on a cotton and gently swiping it on the skin or pouring the toner in your palms and gently patting it lightly all over your face. 

For toners, you may try: Cosrx Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toner, Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner, Aivee Skin Clarifying Toner 

Step 3: A good press of Essence is good. 

While a lot of people aren’t familiar with essence, it is definitely one product that is crucial in every Korean skincare routine. An essence is a blend of serum, toner, and moisturizer that hydrates and primes your skin and rejuvenates the cells. Add essence by gently pressing it all over your face for better absorption. 

For essence, you may try: Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum With Green Tea Seed, Mizon Water Volume Ex-First Essence

Step 4. Ampoules and Vitamins 

If you are suffering from dry skin, adding ampoules and vitamins to your routine changes the game. These are similar to essence and serums but contain a higher concentration of active ingredients that targets various skin issues such as dry skin, wrinkles, and pigmentation. Apply a few drops on your skin and tap it on your skin gently. 

For Ampoules, you may try: Cosrx Propolis Light Ampoule, Tonymoly Vital Vita 12 Ampoule

Step 5: Apply Serum 

Serums are an ideal solution for many anti-aging problems such as dry skin, dark spots, or fine lines. Serums are more viscous than essence and it also carries a concentrated amount of helpful ingredients that helps address common skin issues. 

For Serums, you may try: Cosrx AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum, Aivee Skin Super C-Plus Serum, Mizon Original Skin Energy Hyaluronic Acid 100 

Step 6: Don’t forget the Eye Cream. 

When we age the collagen in our body depletes. The skin around the eye is thin and delicate which makes it prone to cracking. Applying eye cream makes sure that your skin under the eye is well-hydrated and protected. It’s also packed with collagen so it will help reduce lines and wrinkles in the eye area. 

For eye cream, you may try: Laneige Perfect Renew Eye Cream, Aivee Skin Age Defiance Cream, Biopelle Stem Cell Eye Cream 

Step 7. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! 

A moisturizer keeps the skin hydrated all day long. For oily skin, use water-based moisturizer, and if you have dry skin, use the cream-based moisturizer. Apply a thin layer on your skin to give your skin an extra layer of hydration. 

For a moisturizer, you may try: Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotions with Birch Sap, Aivee Skin Lumi Bright Complex, Mizon All-in-One Snail Repair Cream

Step 8. Protect Your Skin, Get Your Sunscreen 

Sunscreen MUST be applied daily. Protect your skin from the harsh effects of UV rays which can damage the skin and cause premature aging. 

For sunscreen, you may try: Sulwhasoo Hydro-Aid Moisturizing Soothing UV Protection Fluid, Aivee Skin Sunscreen Foundation Cream SPF40, Aivee Skin Sunscreen Cream SPF 35 

10 Steps Korean Night Skincare Routine

The night skincare routine, generally repeats the same steps from the morning routine. It’s basically about cleansing your skin from all the gunk accumulated for the day and hydrating your skin well while you rest. 

Step 1: Take off your Makeup with an Oil-based Cleanser

Makeup doesn’t easily come off by washing it off with water. Before you go to the washing, use an oil-based cleanser to dissolve and remove your makeup. Massage the oil all over your face and neck and wipe it off gently with wet wipes or cotton. 

For an oil-based cleanser, you may try: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Rich Oil, Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Oil 

Step 2: Double Cleanse with a Gentle Foam Cleanser

It is important to double-cleanse so that your skin will be fully cleansed from dirt, pollution, and makeup that has accumulated all day. After you remove your makeup with the oil cleanser, thoroughly cleanse your face with a gentle foam cleanser and water to remove the last traces of makeup and oil. 

For gentle foam cleanser, you may try: Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Cleansing Foam, Aivee Skin Foaming Gel Cleanser

Step 3: Exfoliate your Skin 

Exfoliating the skin removes dead skin cells that have been clogging the skin causing it to look dull. There are two types of exfoliators that you can use — physical and chemical. 

Physical exfoliators are those that work on the surface of the skin to remove dead skin cells. They are in the form of scrubs, exfoliating creams, and peeling gels, as well as tools like cleansing towels. 

Chemical exfoliators work on both the surface and the deep layers of the skin to remove dead skin cells and encourage cell turnover in your skin. These are primarily made up of acids such as AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs. 

For exfoliators, you may use: Aivee’s Exfoliating Scrub, Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish, Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel 

Step 4: Apply a good toner.

Apply toner to balance the pH level of the skin so it stays hydrated. It will also prepare your skin for the succeeding steps and products on your night routine for better absorption. 

Step 5: Essence is essential.

Just repeat the same essence that you have applied in the morning for extra hydration. Massage your face gently with the essence to help it get absorbed by the skin well. 

Step 6: Treat your skin with Ampoules.

Charge your skin with a product full of super ingredients and active agents that target many skin issues and help your skin regenerate overnight. 

Step 7: Apply a good serum 

Give your skin another boost of hydration with a serum. It also targets various skin issues such as acne and premature aging. Serums also make your skin firmer and have a smoother texture. 

Step 8: Wear a sheet mask 

Sheet masks are a staple in every Korean skincare routine. Sheet masks concentrate and bring in your hydrating products closer to your skin. You can soak it in essence before applying it. It forms a barrier into the skin that traps in the hydrating ingredients until all the hydrating products are absorbed by the skin. 

For sheet masks, you may try: The Face Shop Facial Mask Sheets, Innisfree It’s Real Squeeze Mask Sheet, Aivee Crystal Mask 

Step 9: Keep your eye are hydrated with an Eye Cream 

The skin in the eye area is delicate and prone to cracking. Applying eye cream will ensure that your eye area remains hydrated even when you sleep. 

Step 10: Seal all the moisture. 

Lastly, apply your favorite moisturizer to lock away the products that you have applied to your face. This will allow your skin to fully absorb the hydrating products throughout the night so it will aid in the rejuvenating process of the skin. Your skin will be soft and supple by morning. 

Achieving good skin isn’t a one time process. It needs time, dedication, and patience to be able to improve. The Korean skincare routine may be quite a lot and overwhelming as a method for skin care due to the number of steps involved. However, it is not really about the number of steps but rather about each product that serves a different purpose and provides various benefits to the skin. Layering them properly is the key to the efficacy of the product and the routine. 
Check out Aivee Clinic’s boutique for more skincare products that you can add to your skincare routine.