Have ever wished you could go back in time so you could pay a little bit more attention to your skin? Me raising both hands! Remember those late night parties, going to bed with your makeup on, and sun worshipping days? I don’t know about you, but I’ve done it all, and now that I’m in my 30’s, it’s coming back to bite me in the butt.
Due to my lack of effort and laziness, my skin got progressively worse over the years and issues like acne, dark undereye circles, and uneven complexion became a constant struggle. Needless to say, by the time I realized how much I’ve neglected my skin, I was in panic mode. Frustrated and desperate to save my skin, I spent hours scouring the internet and researching the best skin care products, and that was when I turned to the Korean Skincare Routine. In hindsight, that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my skin.
WHAT IS KOREAN SKINCARE ROUTINE?
The Korean Skincare Routine is a series of intricate 8-10 cleansing and moisturizing steps. This routine is done twice a day, morning and night. It involves steps like double cleansing, along with exfoliating, toning, essences, serums, and moisturizers.
The idea behind this routine is to treat the skin’s inner health and hydration. It’s not about one-time immediate results, but it’s in the prevention and taking care of the skin’s internal environment.
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The reason why The Korean Skincare Routine is so famous is in part due to Korea’s skincare industry. They are known for their fast-paced innovation, unique use of natural ingredients (like fermented yeast and snail mucin), and effective results. Their advancement in skincare technology is driven by their super competitive beauty market and the demand for effective skincare products from consumers.
So, let’s get right to it. Here’s my guide to The Korean Skincare Routine and why it works.
STEP 1- REMOVE MAKEUP
First, start by removing your makeup. The makeup wipes that I use are actually baby wipes. P.s I learned this hack from my mother. Baby wipes have a soft nonwoven cloth-like material which makes them super soft and gentle. They come soaked with mild cleansing lotion, water, and pH buffers to help babies maintain their naturally healthy skin. The wipes are dampened with a water-based lotion that is effective at removing dirt, oil, and makeup without any harsh chemicals. Honestly, these wipes are 10 times better than any makeup remover I’ve ever tried. And if these wipes are good enough for babies’ skin, they’re good enough for me!
STEP 2& 3- OIL CLEANSER & WATER BASED CLEANSER
Double cleansing is arguably the most important step in this routine. It helps to remove dirt and clear breakouts to create that perfect canvas for your skin to soak in all the other products. This part involves washing your face in two steps, first by using an oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser. The first step draws out oil-based impurities such as sebum while the second step cleanses debris such as sweat and dirt.
Oil Cleanser
I absolutely love Clean It Zero Classic by Banila Co. This is one of the top-selling products on Soko Glam and Peach Lily. They’re always sold out and are constantly restocked. If you can’t find it on these websites, try Amazon.
About:
This cleanser is a soft sorbet like balm that transforms into a silky lightweight texture on your skin. Its job is to dissolve any stubborn makeup without stripping away your skin’s natural oils. The Papaya extract ingredient works to naturally exfoliate the skin while the Vitamin C extract helps to brighten.
Clean It Zero Classic by Banila ($19)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick Green Tea– $18.30
2. Aromatica Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil- $33.50
3. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil– $26.22
4. Banila Co Clean It Zero Purity– $21.94
Water- Based Foam Cleanser
Next is the water-based cleanser. This second cleansing step is to make sure that any makeup residue and dirt are completely removed. I’ve been using Skinfood’s Egg White Pore Foam forever, it is also a top seller everywhere and it got the coveted Amazon’s Choice.
About:
I love this cleanser because it is super gentle on the skin and it does not make your skin feel tight or dry afterward. It contains egg white which has a lot of amino acids. Amino acids are good for cleansing pores while nourishing your stressed skin. It also helps enhance skin collagen to fight the signs of aging.
Skinfood’s Egg White Pore Foam ($11)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser– $19
2. Cosrx low-pH Good Morning Cleanser– $11
3. Neogen Real Flower Calendula Cleansing Water– $22
4. Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash– $11
STEP 4- EXFOLIATORS
Exfoliating is often overlooked but it is so important to not skip this step. It’s the key to sloughing off dead skin cells. Proper exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells that have settled into the pores, which can cause blackheads and pimples over time, and worse- those pesky white milia! I love Skinfood’s Black Sugar Mask and have been using it for years.
About:
The fine black sugar grains in this mask work as an excellent manual exfoliator. They slowly dissolve as you massage them onto your face with warm water. It contains shea butter and lanolin, which leaves skin feeling smooth without any tightness associated with exfoliating scrubs. 
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine– $27
2. Skinfood Rice Mask Wash Off– $10
3. Mizon Honey Black Sugar Scrub– $13
4. Neogen Canadian Clay Pore Cleanser– $27
5. Tony Moly Egg Pore Blackhead Steam Balm– $14
STEP 5: TONERS
After your face is cleaned, prep it with a toner. Toners are crucial in balancing your skin’s pH and moisture levels, it allows the skin to absorb the rest of the skincare products more effectively. My go-to is Son & Park Beauty Water, this toner is a fan favorite for its dual function as both a toner and cleanser!
About:
The ingredients include willow bark and papaya extracts, which help tone and mildly exfoliate to sweep away dead skin cells. It also has rose water, lavender water, and orange fruit extract to give the skin hydration and moisture. This beauty water works on all skin types.
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner– $18
2. Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner– $19
3. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner– $22
4. Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner– $28
5. Tony Moly Wonder Rice Smoothing Toner– $23
STEP 6: ESSENCES
Essences are considered the heart of the Korean skincare routine. Its ingredients focus on hydration, anti-aging, and enhancing your complexion. Don’t confuse Essences with Serums though as they are different. Essences are more lightweight and less concentrated than serums. Think of it as a hybrid between a toner and a serum. Its lightweight properties absorb into the skin instantly and work to repair the skin on a cellular level.
Missha Time Revolution First Essence Treatment is my all time favorite. My skin texture has improved quite a bit after adding this to my regimen. It has a very high concentration of fermented yeast which is one of the main ingredients in the Korean Skincare Routine.
About:
This product contains 90% fermented yeast extract which effectively plumps skin, refines texture, and reduces pigmentation. The water consistency ensures rapid absorption of moisture, allowing the skin to retain moisture and restore skin elasticity.
Missha Time Revolution First Essence Treatment ($49)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence– $19
2. Hanskin Hyaluron Skin Essence– $46
3. Missha First Treatment Essence Mist– $35
4. Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence– $39
5. Enature Birch Juice Hydro Essence Skin– $39
STEP 7: SERUMS/AMPOULES
After applying the Essence, the next step is Serum. These products are formulated with active ingredients to directly treat issues you’re most concerned about, such as fine lines, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Think of this as an extra boost to the Essence. Missha Time Revolution Ampoule is another one of my favorite and also cult favorite.
About:
The key ingredient in this anti-aging serum is fermented yeast which helps reduce the signs of aging and improve skin elasticity. It also repairs and hydrates the skin, giving it a more even-toned look with regular use. This serum is great for that extra boost of hydration.
Missha Time Revolution Ampoule ($49)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Cosrx Triple C Lightning Liquid Limited Edition– $27
2. Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum– $23
3. Neogen H2 Dermadeca Serum Spray– $19
4. The Plant Base Time Stop Collagen Ampoule– $29
5. RE:P Nutrinature Ultra Moist Gel Oil– $34
STEP 8: EYE CREAMS
Eye creams are essential in providing extra hydration to the delicate eye area. It helps target problems like fine lines and wrinkles, as well as signs of fatigue or dark under-eye circles. My favorite product for the job is Skinfood Royal Honey Moisturizing Eye Cream.
About:
This eye cream is made with royal jelly and honey extracts. It helps target tired eyes and fine lines by moisturizing and firming the area, not to mention it gives your eyes a nice cooling sensation.
Skinfood Royal Honey Moisturizing Essential Eye Cream ($30)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Erborian Seve de Bamboo Eye Matte– $34
2. Etude House Moistfull Collagen Eye Cream– $19
3. Missha Misa Geum Sul Vitalizing Eye Cream (R)– $45
4. Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye– $46
5. Benton Fermentation Eye Cream– $27
STEP 9- MOISTURIZERS
Moisturizers are designed to seal in all the beneficial ingredients you’ve just applied while making sure your skin stays hydrated. Moisturizers vary from rich creams to gels to cater to all skin types. After cycling through a few different ones, I find Missha’s Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream works best for my combination skin because it is not too heavy or greasy, but still provide really good hydration.
About:
This moisturizer contains 70% snail mucin extract as its star ingredient. Snail mucin is known to heal and repair the skin and is an excellent agent in helping the skin replenishes moisture to increase firmness. The moisturizer has a clear gel-like consistency that gives the skin a refreshing feel.
Missha’s Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream ($45)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel– $19
2. Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream– $23
3. Etude House Moistfull Collagen Emulsion– $15
4. Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask– $27
5. Missha Super Aqua Ultra Water-Full Clear Cream– $26
STEP 10- SUNSCREENS
I can’t emphasize enough how important sunscreens are. If there’s one thing you take away from this article, let it be to double cleanse and always wear SPF! All the hard work you put into this routine is nothing if you don’t protect your skin from the damaging UV rays. Neogen Day-Light Protection Sunscreen is hands down my favorite.
About:
The consistency is super lightweight so it does not feel greasy. In addition, it layers really well under makeup and does not leave a white cast like most sunscreens. Most importantly, it offers major protection with it’s broad-spectrum SPF 50 PA +++.
Neogen Day-Light Protection Sunscreen ($30)
OTHER BEST SELLERS:
1. My Skin Mentor Dr. G Brightening Up Sun SPF 50– $38
2. Missha Waterproof Sun Milk SPF 50+– $18
3. Missha All Around Safe Block Sebum Zero Sun SPF 50+– $14
4. Klairs Mid-Day Blue Sun Lotion SPF 40– $20
5. Tony Moly BCDation Multi-Use Sun Oil SPF 50+– $28.50
TREAT YOURSELF TO A NEW BEAUTY ROUTINE
I love doing my Korean Skincare Routine because it feels so therapeutic. You can tell that each layer of product is working at a cellular level to tackle your skin issues. The routine is a breeze once you get the hang of it. Start with the core steps of double cleansing, a hydrating toner, serums, and a moisturizer to seal in all the hydration. From there, slowly add products to address specific skin concerns like rough skin texture or uneven complexion. Once you figure out what works for your skin, it won’t feel so much as a routine, but more like taking the time to pamper yourself.
If you decide to give this routine a try, do share comments below!
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This post contains affiliate links, though all opinions expressed here are my own.
