A luminous appearance is the trademark beauty symbol for Korean women.

Their dedication to the daily beauty routine is one that has been cultivated for centuries, starting around 700 BC. Since then, Korea’s beauty experts have blessed the industry with superior insight into ingredients for the ultimate glow, as well as product prices that cannot be rivaled! 

Rich, natural formulas, paired with particular youth-extending techniques, ultimately leave your skin with a supple glow. Though most may find the 10 step routine to be a bit excessive, the mentality behind it is based on reaching the optimal appearance of the skin while respecting its delicate surface.

If you’ve been longing for a perfect complexion,

just follow the steps below! 

 Step One: Cleansing Wipes

The cleansing process is essential to unlocking the power of your skincare routine. Beginning with a cleansing wipe allows you to gently remove the majority of your makeup, jumpstarting the rest of the cleansing process.

Step Two – Part A: Oil-Based Cleanser

Although cleansing wipes seem like a magical way to remove up makeup, they still leave traces of debris on the skin. Use an oil-based cleanser on dry skin and move in upward circular motion. As you work the product into your dry skin, slowly add water and repeat the motion until washed away.

Step Two – Part B: Foam / Cream Cleanser

By now, your skin should be feeling pretty fresh! However, there still may be some stubborn water-based particles left behind.  A foam or cream cleanser will take care of these though! Use small, circular motions when lathering onto the skin, then splash away the foam with handfuls of warm water.

Step Three: Exfoliation

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Buffing away dead cells not only reveals healthy new layers but also regenerates it by stimulating the surface. This is a step that should be done 1-2 times per week, depending on your skin’s sensitivity.

Step Four: Toner

In Korean beauty, this step is for rehydration and restoration in the PH balance of your skin. Because Korean toners (non-alcohol formulas) contain more hydrating properties than Western toners (alcohol-based), Korean toners have more body to them with a pearlescent or creamy undertone. Pat the product onto the skin to apply. This encourages the absorption of the product  

Step Five: Essence

This may be the most crucial element in the extensive routine. Essence is like a toner/serum hybrid – it elevates product absorption, quenches skin with a hydrating blast and promotes cell turnover. The cellular regeneration encourages skin elasticity and firmness, leading to rejuvenated appearance. Use it in a spray bottle for an even dispersion, then tap, tap, tap it into the skin!

Step Six: Serums, Ampoules, and Boosters

Dubbed the “Skin Perfecting” step, this part is a bit more free-range when it comes to your skin’s condition. These products are more potent, concentrated forms of the essence. They typically have a thicker consistency and are used to target your skin’s unique issues (like hyperpigmentation, acne, wrinkles, enlarged pores, etc.). Layer on as many as you would like, but be sure to let each dry before adding another one. Otherwise, you may start noticing some clogged pores!

Step Seven: Sheet Masks

Sheet masks have been sweeping the nation over the past few years and continue to climb as the preferred mask choice. They’re inexpensive, disposable, hassle-free and fun! With their cheeky packaging and adorable designs, using these masks 2-3 times a week should be a breeze.

Step Eight: Eye Cream

The eyes are the window to the soul, but they’re also the magnet for your age. As one of the top areas to show initial signs of aging, it’s essential to ensure you keep that on lockdown. Because the skin around the eyes is thin, it dehydrates quicker than other areas of the face (so, think about the state it’s in when your whole face is feeling dry!). Make sure to tap a liberal amount of product around the entire eye area.

Step Nine: Moisturizer

Now it’s time to seal in all of that hard work with a little moisturizer (because you can never have enough hydration). This final moisture boost not only amplifies the effect of all the previous step but continues to protect and supply your skin with the nutrients it needs to sustain itself throughout the day, leaving you with a consistent healthy glow that doesn’t fade as the sun begins to set.

Step Ten: Protect

Although Western society has been obsessed with a golden goddess glow, the Korean culture exalts a porcelain complexion as the ultimate beauty statement. But it’s not solely to keep the sun from tainting their tone, but also to protect against harmful UVA / UVB rays. This is saved for last, as not to dilute the other products (if applied earlier on in the process, it would create a barrier that would inhibit additional product absorption).  

Finally, everyone can achieve the unmatched complexion of this beautiful culture!

Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash Photo by Maarten Deckers on Unsplash Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Unsplash