Decoding Korean Skincare Routine

Hi Guys!

Among all the Asian skincare habits Korean skincare has always held an important place. In the past few years, globalization of beauty brands has caused a tremendous hype on beauty-conscious people. Previously there was only the western style Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing type skincare only. But, there is now provision to do some trials and errors to find out what type of skincare gives optimal results to someone. Today we are going to present an overall view of the Korean Skincare to find out if it’s worth the hype. Let’s start our discussion with the most basic topic, what is different in Korean skincare.

What’s New in Korean Skincare?

There are certain differences between traditional skincare routines and the Korean one that make this lesser known skin regimen stand out in the crowd. Firstly, Korean skincare is more of a preventive skin maintaining technique while the traditional one is curative. While Korean skincare believes in dis-functioning a skin concern from the root, the traditional skincare is based on therapeutic healing. Another point is, Korean skincare uses the goodness of herbal ingredients like Cucumber, Lingzi or Calendula that are either easily available or native to south Asian countries. The western skin care uses herbal ingredients and laboratory derived or naturally found therapeutics like Thermal spring water hand in hand. With these points discussed, it is time to jump to the standard Korean skincare steps.

Steps of Korean Skincare Regimen

Since the Korean skincare finds its base on the extracts of herbs and their healing properties, there are more steps involved to be comparable with the problem-specific traditional skincare. A basic Korean skincare regimen consists of 10 steps.

Oil-Based Cleansing: This is the first step of Korean skincare. Here cleansing oils, cleaning balms or other oil based cleansing lotions are used to get rid of skin impurities and residues of makeup. A Bi-phased makeup remover which contains an emulsion of both oil and water based cleansing agents is also a good option for this step. The aim of this step is to prevent clogging of facial pores which in turn prevents acne or allergenic skin reactions.

Water-Based Cleansing: In this step the face is double-cleansed with a suitable foaming or non-foaming cream facial cleanser to wash off the excess oil left from the previous step. This step ensures thoroughly cleansed skin with clean pores so that the skin can absorb the goodness of the upcoming nutrifying skincare products like toner and essence.

Exfoliation: Defoliation is not an everyday step but it is essential to get rid of dull layer of dead cell from the surface of the skin 2-3 times a week as per the skin’s current condition. Korean skincare regimen trusts upon physical exfoliators which we know as scrubs or chemical exfoliators (mild acid based skin peels). According to the budget and skin type a suitable exfoliator needs to be used for fresh and radiant skin.

Toning: Korean skincare cannot perform its best if toning is not properly done because our skin’s absorbing power is at its pick when it is damp. This dampness is supplied by a good quality toner. Water can also dampen the skin but, unfortunately it does not hold the power to pH balance the skin. After two steps of cleansing and exfoliation the skin needs to calm down and the pH balance should be maintained otherwise the risk of microbial infections or acne bouts increase abruptly.

Essence: This is a novel step of Korean skincare. Essence is nothing but the concentrates of fresh plant parts with serum-like consistency. These essences give instant boost to the level of hydration of the skin. The skin becomes supple, plum and illuminated with regular application. Lotus and rose essences are two widely appreciated floral essences.

Concern-based Treatments: Concern-based Treatments are basically serums targeting various skin problems like sagging skin, pigmentation, blemishes, acne, wrinkle or dullness. Like the essences, the serums used in Korean skincare are also made from herbal extracts. The difference between essence and serum lies in their purposes; the essence hydrates while serum cures. Serums are denser than essences and they show visible results faster than cream or lotion based topical treatments. In Korean skincare method serums are used after the essence gets absorbed into the skin.

Sheet Mask: Sheet masks are another exclusive skin pampering items of Korean skincare routine that should be used 2-4 times a month. Sheet masks are use-and-throw tissue mask sheets drenched in serum of fresh plant based skin nourishing ingredients. Unlike clay masks, sheet mask hydrates the skin and restores the moisture balance of the skin. The skin gets its dose of moisture to supple up and some skin concerns are also taken care of in the process.

Eye Nourisher: Eye area is one of the sensitive places of the face and the skin around the eyes is very delicate in nature. That is why; strong problem specific treatments for the rest of the facial skin should not be applied to this region. Plus the eye area is the place from where the wrinkles start forming. Twice a day massage with a good quality mild formula eye cream can sort each and every eye contour problem starting from moisture-less eyes to crow’s feet wrinkles.

Moisturization: This step is self explanatory and irrespective of the variety of skincare routine. For Korean skincare routine the importance of proper moisturization is greater because this regimen uses precious herbal and aroma-therapeutical concentrates most of which are water based. To seal these nutritive solutions within the skin a moisture barrier is very much needed. The moisturizer for a perfect Korean skincare regimen should be light on skin but, have enough moisturizing capability at the same time.

Sun Protection: This is the last and a very crucial step of Korean skincare regimen. Since harmful rays of sun are the main causes of most of the premature-ageing and skin quality degradation related problems, without a suitable and effective sun protecting skincare item all the efforts made in the previous steps are going to collapse fatally. Proper application and timely reapplication of good quality sunscreen is the key to a successful Korean skincare routine.

Here we complete our Korean skincare routine 101. Hope you enjoyed the article and some of your questions got answered. Are you you into Korean skincare or the Traditional C-T-M routine? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Post Author – Sreeparna