The 10 step Korean skin care routine

The 10 step Korean skin care routine is a routine that emphasises on layering your products in order to avoid clogging your pores. While this routine has been common in Korea for over a decade, it recently took the internet by storm with everyone jumping on it to achieve what has now been termed “glassy skin.”

1.      Oil cleansing.

Oil cleansing is the use of an essential oil to remove oil-based dirt from your skin. This is a great way to get rid of excess sebum, SPFs and other pollutants that find their way onto your skin.  If you have oily skin this may be the addition your routine needs.

2.      Foam cleansing.

A second cleanse is done using a foam cleanser to remove water-based dirt such as sweat and dirt. When selecting a foam cleanser, it is important to ensure that you invest in a cleanser with a low pH in order to maintain your skin’s natural PH balance.

3.      Exfoliate.

Once all the dirt is out, exfoliate using a physical or chemical exfoliator.  This step is important to remove dead cells and help your skin regenerate faster giving you a smooth and youthful look. If you have sensitive and acne prone skin, consider a chemical exfoliator to avoid irritating your skin. Do this step 2-3 times a week for best results.

4.      Toner

Forget everything you know about toners stripping your skin of even more moisture  .Korean toners are made to rehydrate your skin and balance your skin’s natural pH acting as a base for all the treatments you are about to give your skin. Don’t shy away from massaging the toner into your skin  

    

  .    Essence.

An essence is included in this routine to embrace the Korean culture. An essence is a hybrid between a toner and a serum. While choosing an essence it is important to consider your skin type. An essence is popular for its hydrating qualities and aiding cell turnover that results in a youthful look.

6.      Serum.

A serum is a treatment that contains active ingredients to address various issues like hyperpigmentation and appearance of spots. As a serum is considered a treatment thus use can be discontinued once desired results have been achieved.

7.      Sheet mask.

If you’re a spa person you’ll love this part of the routine. Sheet masks are used 3-5 times a week to address the needs of your skin and can often be used as substitutes for serums. Dry skin may benefit from using a hydrating mask while dull skin may benefit from a brightening mask. A good mask remains moist through the entire application time and don’t forget to massage the excess product onto your neck and feet!

8.      Eye cream.

While a number of people forego this step in their skin care routines, it is equally as important as it prevents appearance of fine lines under the eyes as you grow older. As the under eye area is sensitive, a lot of care is needed while applying an eye cream. Using the ring finger and a moderated amount of pressure is encouraged. Although an eye cream is a preventive addition to your routine, continuous use will definitely yield visible results.

9.      Face cream

After layering all these wonder working products into your skin, you have to lock the moisture in. Using a face cream or moisturiser that works for your skin type is recommended. A day and night cream may be a great investment for this step so that the magic continues to happen while you go about your business.

10.  Sunscreen.

I cannot emphasise the importance of sunscreen to this routine. You have your treatment going great and you’re finally beginning to see results and the last thing you need is heat damage. Invest in a great sunscreen to protect your beautiful skin because the goal is to glow not get roasted.

While the 10 step Korean routine may seem long and tiresome it probably isn’t because some of these steps don’t have to be done daily. If you’re looking to start on this journey, innisfree is a Korean brand that allows you to invest in your skin at pocket friendly prices.