“Good morning!” It’s time to start your day off right with a Korean skincare routine! I’ll show you how to take care of your skin…and don’t worry! It’s not as complicated as it might seem from the looks of it. Next thing you know, people will be asking if they can “borrow” your glow!
Many people skip makeup and skincare in the morning because they’re running late, but as Korean beauty Sarah Lee points out, starting with a pamper session is not only a chance for you to take care of yourself, it also sets the tone for your day to come.
Diana Chen, formerly with Soko Glam, talked to me about the Korean morning skincare routine. “I recommend this type of routine for anyone who wants to get the most out of their products”, she said.
Similarly, Lee Sa-Bi, the first native South Korean model featured in Playboy, follows the same steps to keep her beauty youthful.
The 8-Step Korean Morning Care Routine
The Korean Skincare Routine is a regimen that many women follow to have healthy and beautiful skin. This routine typically consists of 8 steps that are completed in the morning, and often again at night.
So let’s get started! Following are the 8 steps of Korean skincare routine:
Step 1: Cleansing
Step 2: Prep The Skin With Toner
Step 3: Apply Essence
Step 4: Apply Ampoule
Step 5: Target Skin Issues With Serums
Step 6: Apply Eye Cream
Step 7: Lock The Products Using Moisturizer
Step 8: Sun Protection/Sunscreen
Let me explain you each steps nicely.. 😉
Step 1: Face Cleansing
The Face Shop Bright Light Face Cleansing Foam
The first step in any good skincare routine is cleansing your face. This helps to remove dirt, oil, and makeup from your skin. It also helps to prep your skin for the rest of your skincare routine.
There are a few different ways to cleanse your face. You can use a gentle cleanser, micellar water, or even just water. Some people like to use a Clarisonic brush to help deep clean their pores. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a face cleansing device. A simple washcloth will do the trick.
Additionally, cleaning prepares the face for your morning skincare routine by removing any remnants of your Korean night skincare routine.
If your skin is dry, you should avoid using harsh cleansers or scrubbing your skin too much. This can irritate and dry out your skin further.
Double cleansing is common in Korean skincare, involves cleansing your face twice. The first cleanse removes makeup and dirt from the surface of your skin. The second cleanse helps to remove any leftover impurities.
You can use two different types of cleansers for your double cleanse. For example, you should use an oil-based cleanser to remove your makeup and a water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities.
Also Check: Best Korean Sheet Face Masks
Step 2: Prep The Skin With Toner
The next step in a Korean morning skincare routine is toning. Most normal Western skincare routines skip over this step, but it’s crucial in getting that dewy finish that Korean women are known for. A toner helps to prep your skin for the next steps in your skincare routine by evening out your skin tone and texture. It also helps to restore the pH balance of your skin after cleansing, which is important for keeping your skin healthy and balanced. Many toners contain glycolic acid or BHAs, which help to gently exfoliate the skin and unclog pores. To apply toner, simply soak a cotton pad with the product and swipe it across your face after cleansing.
Here is the complete list of Best Korean Toners you can by as per your skin type.
Step 3: Apply Essence
The third step in Korean skincare is applying essence. This step should be done after cleansing and toning your face, but before applying moisturizer. Essence is a lightweight serum that helps to hydrate and nourish the skin. Essentially, it’s like a toner on steroids. It contains active ingredients that help to restore skin elasticity and increase cell turnover. In addition, essence can help to brighten your complexion over time. Many Korean beauty experts, and Models use essence as an alternative to Western serums because it’s very hydrating without being too heavy on the skin. To apply essence, simply pat it into your skin using your fingertips after toning your face.
Step 4: Apply Ampoule
Some people think that Serum and Ampoule is the same thing. But in Korean skincare routine the ampoule is the supercharge version of serum.
Ampoules are less common and are somewhat new in the market. The term ampoule and serum can be used interchangeably. They are usually water-based and have a higher concentration of active ingredients as compared to serums. This is one reason why they are used for a shorter period of time, about 2-4 weeks as compared to serums which can be used for months. Just like serums, ampoules are applied on damp skin so that the skin can better absorb it.
The main differences between serums and Ampoules:
- Serums are light in consistency while Ampoules are thicker
- Serums have a lower concentration of active ingredients while Ampoules have a higher concentration of active ingredients
- Serums are for long term use while Ampoules are for short term use
Step 5: Target Skin Issues With Serums
After you’ve applied essence, it’s time to apply serum. Serum is a lightweight, concentrated product that contains active ingredients to target specific skin concerns. For example, some serums contain vitamin C to brighten the complexion while others contain hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. Serum should be applied before moisturizer so that your skin can fully absorb the active ingredients.
You can also use anti-aging serum, containing dynamic ingredients like retinoid or hyaluronic corrosive that are compelling in battling very common age-related skincare issues.
To apply serum, take a pea-sized amount of product and gently pat it into your skin until it’s fully absorbed.
Facial Oil (Optional)
Huxley Secret of Sahara Oil-Light
Facial oil is another optional step in Korean skincare. It can be used in place of serum or in addition to serum (although most people choose the latter). Facial oil helps to lock in moisture and keep the skin hydrated throughout the day. It also helps to create a barrier against environmental toxins and pollution. To apply facial oil, take 1-2 drops of product and gently pat it into your skin until it’s fully absorbed. You can apply facial oil before or after serum, depending on your preference.
Step 6: Apply Eye Cream
Innisfree Orchid Youth Enriched Eye Cream
After you’ve applied serum, it’s time to apply eye cream. You can use an eye cream at any point in your morning beauty routine, but Korean people choose to do it right before they apply their moisturizer. If you have dry Under-eye you can also apply under-eye jelly just before applying a day cream. Eye cream helps to hydrate and brighten the delicate eye area. It also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. To apply eye cream, simply dab it around your eyes using your ring finger. Be careful not to pull or tug at the skin around your eyes, as this can cause premature wrinkles.
Still confused which is k-beauty eye cream you should buy? Check out this list of Best Korean Eye Cream for Dark Circles
Step 7: Lock The Products Using Moisturizer
![[DearKlairs] Rich Moist Soothing Cream 80ml, Bigger size, all year around moisturizer, full hydration, Protective layer with Beta Glucan, Centella Asiatica, Ceremide, Non-sticky texture](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61+1PvsWxDL._SL1000_.jpg "[DearKlairs] Rich Moist Soothing Cream")
[DearKlairs] Rich Moist Soothing Cream
The next step Korean skincare routine is to apply moisturizer on your face. A good moisturizer will keep your skin nourished, hydrated, and radiant throughout the day. According to Korean beauty experts, women with an oily face should use a water based moisturizer and women who have a dry face should use a cream based moisturizer.
The next step Korean skincare routine is to apply moisturizer on you face . You can choose what kind of moisturizer you want, because I think there is a lot of different moisturizers that you can use. However, I would recommend Any Creme by Skinfood (here read my Weleda Skin Food Review) to be used at night and [DearKlairs] Rich Moist Soothing Cream to be used at daytime. So, if you only start from 5 steps Korean skincare routine in the morning (like I said before), after apply your eye cream, you can apply any creme to get more moisture for your skin both day and night routine.
Step 8: Sun Protection with Day Cream
A’PIEU Pure Block Daily Sunscreen Cream SPF45
The final step in Korean skincare is applying day cream (also called sunscreen). Day cream helps to hydrate and nourish the skin while also protecting it from harmful UV rays. It’s important to use a day cream with SPF 30 or higher to prevent sun damage. To apply day cream, start by cleansing and toning your face. Then, take a pea-sized amount of product and gently pat it into your skin until it’s fully absorbed.
Sources:
- Face serum benefits: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3140905/
- Skin-peeling Benefits: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4720453/
- Eye cream: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6850077/
