logo
logo
DEPRECATED_CloseIcon

Your Actual Guide To Korean Skincare Routine

Our Local Editor Shares Her Step By Step Skincare Secrets. What's The Korean Skincare Hack That Only Requires Your Toner At Home?

Yehee
4 years ago
Your Actual Guide To Korean Skincare Routine-thumbnail
Your Actual Guide To Korean Skincare Routine-thumbnail

What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase 'Korean skincare'? Do you think of a 10-step skincare routine or daily sheet masks?

Today, we'll list out the most important steps to follow in the Korean skincare routine with some product suggestions!

You don't have to follow every single step, but some are crucial. Let's take a more in-depth look.


STEP 1. Cleanser


Removing your makeup is the most important (and irritating) step among all steps included in this blog.

Koreans take the cleansing step seriously since removing your makeup right can lower the possibility of any acne or breakouts. There are different types of makeup cleansers to use, depending on your situation or your needs.

Also, this step is a two-step process, so make sure you follow them all!

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, cleansing

If you simply wear sunscreen, I would suggest saturating few cotton pads with the cleansing water and swiping across the face until you see no residual dirt or makeup on the pad.

If you wear makeup with more than a layer of sunscreen, I suggest removing your makeup with cleansing oil or cleansing balm; they are more effective at removing and melt away your makeup.

When you use cleansing oil or cleansing balm, pump or scoop a generous amount of oil (4 to 5 pumps for cleansing oil) and gently roll on your face for 90 seconds.

Make sure to give extra roll in the middle of the forehead, nose, and chin. Next, emulsify with a small amount of lukewarm water and rinse until it cleanses out.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cleansing, Cleansing Oil, Manyo Pure Cleansing Oil
Removing Everyday Makeup

Pure Cleansing Oil
manyo Factory
₩19,900

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cleansing, Cleansing Water, The Saem Green Tea Cleansing Water
Removing Light Makeup

Green Tea Cleansing Water
THE SAEM
₩5,500

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cleansing, Cleansing Balm, Clean it zero Banila Co.

Removing Everyday Makeup

Clean It Zero

(Cleansing Balm)
Banila Co.
₩18,000



The next step is removing the remaining oil on your face with the correct type of face wash!

After removing your makeup with cleansing oil or cleansing balm, Koreans usually avoid using Low-PH face washes.

Low-PH face washes are more suitable to use in the mornings.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cleansing, Cleansing Foam, Manyo Cleansing Soda Foam
Face Wash

Cleansing Foam
manyo Factory

₩13,900

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cleansing, Cleansing Foam, Morning Facewash, Beplain
Morning Face Wash

Low-PH Cleansing Foam

beplain
₩14,000


STEP 2. Toner


Using a toner is the following step after removing your makeup. You can simply apply 1-3 layers of toner to enhance the moisturizing level on your skin or soak a cotton pad to wipe down your skin.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Toner, 1025 Dokdo Toner, Roundlab
Hydrating (Oily / Combination / Sensitive Skin)

1025 Dokdo Toner
ROUND LAB
₩15,000

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Toner, Blueberry Rebalancing Skin, Innisfree
Hydrating (Combination Skin)

Blueberry Rebalancing Skin
Innisfree
₩8,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Toner, Cream skin, Laneige
Hydrating

Cream Skin
Laneige
₩28,000


A useful skincare hack is using these toners as a toner pack (or a toner mask).

A Toner pack is simply soaking up the cotton pads with the desired toner and place them on your face for 5-10 minutes to lower your skin temperature. This method is a famous skincare method among Koreans for both daytime and nighttime.

I even often use this to cool down my skin and soothe them. Also, when you are doing a toner pack, make sure to use spongy texture cotton pads!

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, toner packSource: COSRX

Toner pads (or peel pads) are also a must-have item in the Korean skincare routine.

Toner pads are a set of pads that can help exfoliate and remove your dead skin cells during your skincare routine. I recommend having at least one of these products to use once in two days to make your life easier.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Eggplant Clearing Peeling Pad, papa recipe

Acne (Combination / Sensitive Skin)

Eggplant Clearing Peeling Pad Toner
Papa Recipe
₩25,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Toner, Original Clear Pad, COSRX

Acne (Oily Skin)

One Step Original Clear Pad
COSRX
₩17,500


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Toner, Green Tea Moist PHA Gauze Peeling, NEOGEN

All Skin Types

Green Tea Moist PHA Gauze Peeling
NEOGEN
₩22,900



STEP 3. Ampoule/ Serum & Essence


What are the differences between an ampoule, serum, and essence?

The main difference would be the concentration of the featuring ingredient from each product. The ampoule is the most concentrated one and essence has the least.

If you have used an essence before but couldn't spot much of the differences after, try serum or ampoule which are more condensed with the main ingredient.

It is extremely important (and essential!) to use one of the three to give the full nutrients that you are seeking.

In my case, I normally use essences or serum in the morning and ampoule at night.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Ampule, Propolis Energy Ampule, CNP Laboratory
Hydrating / Nutrient (All Skin Types)

Propolis Energy
Ampule
CNP
₩25,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Serum, Cica Serum, COSRX
Hydrating (Sensitive Skin)

Pure Fit Cica Serum
COSRX
₩23,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Serum, Blemish Care Serum II, iSOi
Blemish Care (Sensitive Skin)

Blemish Care Serum II
iSOi
₩49,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Serum, Dive-In Serum, Torriden
Hydrating (All Skin Types)

Dive-In Serum
Torriden
₩18,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, essence, Artemisia Treatment Essence, MISSHA
Acne (All Skin Types)

Time Revolution Artemisa Treatment Essence
MISSHA
₩42,000

STEP 4. Eye Cream


Eye Creams tend to lighter and thinner than face moisturizers, so make sure to apply them before using your creams and oils.

The most important skincare rule is to apply the lightest first and the heaviest last!

The professionals suggest starting to use them from the mid-20s to prevent wrinkles later on.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Eyecream, AHC
Night Time Only

The Pure Real Eye Cream For Face
AHC
₩58,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Eyecream, Artemisia Eye Butter, Be Plain
Night Time Only

Artemisia Eye Butter
Be Plain
₩32,000


STEP 5. Lotion


The lotion (emulsion) is a lighter version of the moisturizer cream that you know of.

After applying a thin layer of eye cream on your eye area, the next step is putting on a layer of lotion depending on your skin type.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Lotion, The Simple Daily Lotion, SCINIC
Acne (All Skin Types)

The Simple Daily Lotion
Scinic
₩18,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Lotion, Atobarrier 365 Lotion, Aestura
Acne (Sensitive Skin)

ATOBARRIER 365 Lotion
Aestura
₩28,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Lotion, Dive-In Cream, Torriden
Hydrating (All Skin Types)

Dive-In Cream
Torriden
₩17,000

STEP 6. Moisturizer / Cream


I understand you will not be following all the steps here listed on your exhausting day, but you can't miss this step! No matter what, don't forget to apply a layer of moisturizer/cream depending on your skin type and condition.

Look for a light, gentle, hyaluronic-based moisturizer, which will keep skin hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy during the day.

What Are The Steps To Follow For Korean Skincare Routine?, Moisturizer/Cream

This type of moisturizer is more suitable for combination with oily skins, during the warm-hot weather.

At night, your skin goes into repair mode and works extra hard to fix damages and boost regeneration.

I would recommend any night creams that are filled with all of the things that your body naturally produces and can use more of; for instance, hyaluronic acid, lipids, proteins, and more.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cream, Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream, ROUND LAB

Hydrating (All Skin Types)

Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream
ROUND LAB
₩32,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cream, Aqua Angel Cream, BEYOND

Hydrating (Oily Skin)

Angel Aqua Moist Cream
Beyond
₩25,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cream, Radian-C Cream, Laneige

Brightening (All Skin Types)

Radian-C Cream
Laneige
₩29,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Cream, Barrierderm Intensive Cream, SKIN & LAB
Hydrating (Dry Skin)

Barrierderm Intensive Cream
SKIN & LAB
₩23,000

STEP 7. Face Oil


The final step is using face oil indeed. Remember the rule of thumb for a skincare routine? 'Apply the lightest first and the heaviest last'!

Face oils protect and seal in all the ingredients and moisture that you just applied to your face to keep them from evaporating quickly.

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Face Oil, Brightening Neroli Organic Facial Oil, Aromatica

Hydrating (All Skin Types)

Organic Neroli Brightening Facial Oil
AROMATICA
₩25,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Face Oil, Oil Essence: Essence-Like, Oil-Like, Huxley

Hydrating (Oily / Combination Skin)

Oil Essence: Essence-Like Oil-Like
Huxley
₩43,000


Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Face Oil, Soybean Energy Oil, Innisfree

Hydrating (Dry Skin)

Soybean Energy Oil
Innisfree
₩28,000



STEP 8. Sunscreen


Even though I said step 7 is about applying face oil, but technically sunscreen is the very last step.

Protecting your skin from UV rays is crucial to anything else!

What Are The Steps To Follow For Korean Skincare Routine?, Sunscreen


Professionals suggest applying sunscreen every single day (even on cloudy days or during the winter) if you would like to prevent your skin from rapid aging.

Not a big fan of the grease and stickiness from sunscreen? The three selections below are the lightest and non-sticky sunscreens that I have used and loved!

Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Sun Screen, Green Mild Up Sun+, Dr.G
Matte Finish

Green Mild Up Sun +
DR.G
₩28,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Sun Screen, Blueberry Rebalancing Watery Sun Cream, Innisfree
Light Texture

Blueberry Rebalancing Watery Sun Cream
Innisfree
₩9,000
Korean Skincare Bible, Korean Skincare Routine, Sun Screen, UV defences me Sun Fluid, Make Prem
Light Texture (Oily Skin)

UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun
Fluid
Make Prem
₩28,000


You finally learned everything about the Korean skincare routine (with locals' product suggestions!).

You don't need to follow every single step and use all the products that are listed on the blog; the most important idea is to find out which products and routine suits you the best for your skin.