The Korean skin care routine has been popular for years now, but because it has so many steps, it can be hard to get the hang of it. But no worries – your Beauty Guru is here to help!
Korean Skin Care Routine Part A: Remove Dirt
The first three steps of the Korean skin care routine are all about getting your skin clean. What sets this method apart from most other skin care routines is that the Korean skin care regimen requires you to double-cleanse.
1. Cleanse with an oil-based cleanser
The very first step of the Korean skin care regimen is to get rid of all the oil and makeup on your face. Since water and oil are known to separate, what better way to strip the dirt and oil from your face than using an oil-based cleanser? Oil-based cleansers are particularly great at getting rid of makeup, too.
Start your new skin care routine right by using your favorite oil or oil-based cleanser. Massage it into your face for about a minute and rinse when you’re finished.
Don’t have a favorite oily cleanser? For your daily skin care routine, I recommend using cleansers with squalane, jojoba, or argan oil.
2. Cleanse with a foamy cleanser
The Korean skin care routine requires you to double-cleanse to get as much oil and dirt off your face as possible. After cleansing with an oil-based product, you’ll need to wash with a water-based cleanser. So don’t worry if you feel like you didn’t get all the oil off during the first cleanse.
3. Exfoliate with a facial scrub
Most skin care routines require some type of exfoliating. Exfoliating helps to scrub dead skin off your face, making your face look brighter and more even. (Check out my post on the difference between physical and chemical exfoliators to help you pick the best one for your needs!)
Keep in mind that exfoliating isn’t supposed to be done every day. Every two or three days should be just fine.
Korean Skin Care Routine Part B: Repair
This part of the Korean skin care regimen is dedicated to repairing and preserving your skin. Korean skin care steps 4 through 8 are the most customizable depending on your skin type and your areas of concern.
4. Use your favorite toner
Some of the skin care products we use expose our faces to free radicals (you can read more about it here.) That chemical reaction happening on our skin can set its pH off balance. That’s where toners come in.
Including a toner in your daily skin care routine helps restore, hydrate, and prep your skin to absorb the next products.
5. Use an essence
One of the most important and distinct features of the Korean skin care routine is the use of essences. Essences are absent from most of our skin care regimens, but they’re excellent at hydrating and repairing damaged skin cells.
6. Serum
What’s your biggest insecurity about your skin? That’s what a skin care serum is for. Serums can target many different skin imperfections, from discoloration to aging. This part of the Korean skin care routine should be curated to your skin care needs.
7. Sheet mask
For the Korean skin care regimen, the sheet mask is a staple. Sheet masks offer concentrated hydration and skin repair like no other skin care product. Leave the sheet mask on for about twenty minutes and rinse.
8. Eye cream
Korean skin care regimens include eye creams because the skin around our eyes is extremely sensitive. Even if you don’t have issues with undereye puffiness or dark circles, your daily skin care routine could benefit from an eye cream. Eye creams can both repair and protect the skin around our eyes from damage.
Korean Skin Care Routine Part C: Protect
The last two steps of the Korean skin care regimen are concerned with protecting your skin from future damage. You can follow the other Korean skin care routine steps to a tee. But if you skip out on the last two steps, your results probably won’t last long.
9. Moisturize
This one should be familiar. Many of us have already incorporated moisturizing into our daily skin care routines once or twice a day.
Moisturizing is a great way to protect your skin’s elasticity from drying and cracking — necessary for keeping the age lines away.
10. Sunscreen
If sunscreen isn’t included in your skin care routine, you’re. Even if you don’t live in a sunny place.
But before you pick the sunscreen to be included in your daily Korean skin care routine, be sure to read how some sunscreens do more harm to our skin than good.
Experiment with Your New Skin Care Routine
Now that you’re familiar with the popular Korean skin care regimen, you’re probably thinking about all the new skin care products you’ll have to buy. But not so fast — read how you can get the most out of the beauty products you have before going skin care shopping.
Do all these steps sound like a bit much? No worries – you can keep it simple and still have radiant skin! Check out my 4 EASY steps to taking care of your skin.
For more beauty tips, check here every week for a new blog post. Don’t forget to follow my Instagram @JustAskDavid!
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