The 9 Steps Of My Korean Skin Care Routine And Why I Love It

Image Credits: Pixabay.

Korean skin care products are getting enormous popularity among women all around the world. Did you know? Because I didn’t.

I had no idea they were such a big deal until last year. I googled something like “best skin care product for dry skin” and I ended up with hundreds of results of beauty magazines’ websites. Most of them were raving about K-Beauty pointing out that it was, without trouble, the best.

Now, I am Italian. I grew up bombarded by ads that kept repeating how nothing could compare French or Swiss skin care. The more expensive, the better. Therefore, in my complete ignorance, I was a bit sceptical that such a miracle – a much more affordable one – could come from a different country.

I googled a bit more and I found a completely new world. The too-cute-for-words packagings. The assortment. The prices. Moreover, actual results. Websites selling K-beauty products were everywhere! Needless to say, I was sold.

All I had to do, as I soon found out, was trying to understand the “procedure”. That’s right because a Korean skin care routine can even have 10 steps or more!

They could seem too much, I know. Compared to a western common beauty routine, Korean style is slightly more intricate.

The truth is, though, that it works. My skin has never been more beautiful. Friends and colleagues have been even commenting about it. Which is why I stick to it, of course!

So, if you are willing to change your routine and discover the fantastic world of Korean skin care and its many steps, I am not going to lie to you. They take some time. Which may be a problem, in the morning, when you are in a hurry and you have to take your children to school or go to work. Or both.
However let me reassure you that, with a couple of tricks, it is achievable:

Tip #1: Your routine does NOT need to have 10 steps. In the end, it’s really up to you how many steps you want it to be.

Tip #2: You can split the whole procedure. You can use fewer products in the morning and follow the complete routine before going to sleep.

And now, it’s time to show you mine. I listed all the products in their order of use, but bear in mind that, most of the time, you will not apply all of them every single day. The longer version, in my case, has 9 steps but generally, 6/7 steps are more than enough. Just for your information, I have overall dry skin, which becomes somewhat combination skin on the T-zone.

Step #1

What: Cleansing oil/cleansing balm.
When: To remove make-up and impurities.

A cleanser is obviously everyone’s first step – even though there K-Beauty gurus suggesting to simply use plain water. Cleansing oil –or its other, much popular version, the cleansing balm- is necessary to melt make-up. I do not wear make-up to go to work, only on my nights out. Consequently, this cleanser is not part of my everyday routine. However, I still feel I need it when my skin feels drier than usual and would benefit from some extra help.

The product I use: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil. Light, stress-free. Very good. The little pump makes it even easy to use. Price: € 24,99
I will buy it again: Yes. I would try the Banila Co. Clean It Zero cleansing balm too, to be honest, just because I read so many wild reviews about it. Still, as far as I understand, my Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil is much easier and faster to use, which is just as fine.

Note: When I come back home too late to follow all the steps, or I do not have the chance to bring all the products of my routine with me, Missha Super Aqua Perfect Cleansing Oil in Tissues are an excellent alternative. They are available in two versions: for oily and dry skin and their cost is € 5,00.

Step #2 (or #1 if you skip cleansing oil)

What: Foaming cleanser.
When: Every day, whenever I wash my face. Both in the morning and in the evening. In my case, most of the times this is my #1 step.

At the beginning, I thought: “Do I really need to wash my face twice in a row?” Apparently, yes. According to Korean skincare experts, after the cleansing oil or balm, a foaming one will completely remove all make-up residues. Since I do not wear make-up every day, this is habitually the first step in my routine.

The product I use: Missha Near Skin PH Balancing Cleansing Foam. It helps to balance skin’s moisture and oil. Price: € 9,90
I will buy it again: Yes. I am completely satisfied. It is an excellent foaming cleanser and it does not dry my skin.

Step #3 (or #2 if you skip cleansing oil)

What: Peeling Gel
When: Depending on needs, approximately once a week or once every two weeks.

Every peeling product should be applied on a clean face, before the toner. Furthermore, since you are not supposed to use it every day, most of the times you will avoid this step entirely. I apply the peeling gel on my face and neck, but not around my eyes.

The product I use: the wonderful Mizon Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel. It may look like a simple cleanser once you placed it on your wet palm. But when you rub it on your face, you will soon feel some gel-like grains forming under your fingers. That means the peeling is working and is removing dead cells and the make-up/pollution/dirt residues you did not even think were on your face. All of this while being gentle and not irritating. Price: € 12,39
I will buy it again: Yes, absolutely.

Step #4 (#2 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel)

What: Toner
When: Every day, both in the morning and in the evening.

This is where things get much more interesting. Forget about the toners you are used to. All the toners I tried before did sting my skin, mostly because of alcohol. This is not the case with Korean toners. Their purpose is preparing the skin for all the following treatments. Personally, I pour some drop on the palm of my hand and then I pat all my face and neck with it. Apparently, Korean skincare is all about “patting” because it will help your skin to absorb the products way better.

The product I use: Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner. Understandably one of the most famous Korean toners. It is capable to hydrate my skin even by its own. Price: € 24,00
I will buy it again: Absolutely.

Step #5 (#3 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel)

What: Essence
When: Every day, both in the morning and in the evening.

Many beauty gurus insist the addition of an essence to their beauty routine it is what actually changed the game. In my case, it has been the toner & the essence combined, but I agree. My skin feels pampered and spoiled. It is luminous like it has never been before. It looks amazingly dewy, which is probably the main purpose of all Korean beauty products, judging by the wonderful skin Korean actresses and K-pop singers have. As with the toner, I pour a few drops of essence on the palm of my hand and I pat it all over my face and my neck.

The product I use: Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Intensive Essence. Aka the Holy Grail of many women. It is also the most expensive item on this list, but honestly worth every penny. Price: € 39,90
I will buy it again: Let’s say that I hope I will never run out of these two items.

Step 6# (#4 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel)

What: Sheet Mask
When: Once/twice a week

If there is one Korean beauty product that everybody knows, it is this one. Tons of versions exist, promising different results. It is a fabric sheet soaked with liquid treatment that needs to be placed on your face. It has holes for eyes, nose and mouth. I normally pat the residue of the treatment on my neck. Sheet masks are not all efficient in the same way, but there are many excellent ones. Besides, they are all quite cheap.

The product I use: A few of my favourites: Missha Pure Source Cell Sheet Mask Mango/Acai Berry/Aloe/Honey, € 1,75 each. But there are hundreds of sheets masks I have yet to try.
I will buy it again: Yes, of course.

Step #7 (#5 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel, or even #4 if you skip sheet masks, too)

What: Serum
When: Every day, both in the morning and in the evening.

This is the right time to apply all the treatments, i.e. before the moisturiser. In my case, I love using serums.

The product I use: Mizon Original Skin Energy Collagen 100. I am almost 38 and, even though I am lucky I do not have wrinkles yet, I have some fine line here and there. Not particularly worrisome at the moment, but it’s definitively time to start thinking that I will not get any younger with time! Price: € 22,14
I will buy it again: I can only say that, when I apply this serum, I have the impression the fine lines disappear. Perhaps it is a temporary effect, but I like it enough to buy it again.

Step #8 (#6 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel, or even #5 if you skip sheet masks, too)

What: Eye cream/eye treatment
When: Every day, both in the morning and in the evening.

For the same reasons I mentioned above, it is time for a good eye cream or treatment. Future wrinkles are not my only concern. The skin of my lids is very dry too, therefore I need a product that can moisturise and hydrate the area.

The product I use: Missha Super Aqua Ultra Walter-Full Eye Treatment. I applied it religiously, but I did not see any real result.
I will buy it again: Sorry, I have no intention to buy it again. Unfortunately, it is the only item that doesn’t work for me. I will substitute it with some other product, for sure.

Step #9 A (#7 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel, or even #6 if you skip sheet masks, too)

What: Face cream/lotion
When: Every day, only in the morning.

A face cream’s purpose is not only to moisture the skin. According to K-Beauty experts, it has to “lock” all the treatments applied until that point on your face. The face lotion is a lighter version of the cream, particularly useful in the summertime. Preferably though, instead of a moisturiser, you should use a cream with SPF every day. SPF is essential to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, and it contributes keeping it young as long as possible. In the morning, this is the last step of my routine. I put my cream on my face and my neck, patting a little.

The product I use: Missha Super Aqua Deep Hydro Cream. Price: € 15,90. Very good cream, excellent as a make-up base as well. I will probably buy an SPF lotion too, though. My eyes are on Missha All Around Safe Block Soft Finish Sun Milk SPF50+. It has natural filters, particularly zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I will definitively try it.
I will buy it again: Unfortunately, this item is no longer available, but there are many valid substitutes.

Step #9 B (#7 if you skip cleansing oil and peeling gel, or even #6 if you skip sheet masks, too)

What: Sleeping pack or sleeping mask
When: As the last step of my night routine, every day, before going to sleep.

I do not wear my face moisturiser when I have to apply the sleeping pack. That is why, though this is technically step #10, it is actually the alternative version of Step #9. The goal of a sleeping pack is similar to a face cream, but it has a whole night to work. I apply the sleeping pack on my face and my neck, patting a little.

The product I use: Innisfree Green Tea Sleeping Pack. Price: € 29,99. It smells delicious and leaves my skin incredibly soft.
I will buy it again: Absolutely. However, I am curious to try what is probably the most famous sleeping pack in Korea, i.e. Laneige Water Sleeping Pack.

So, as can be seen, the infamous 10 steps can be safely narrowed down to 6/7 steps, if necessary. You will not use all the items every day. In order to optimise your time, you could use cleansing products while taking the shower. Alternatively, you can wash your with only water as suggested above. Finally, you may relegate the serum to your night routine.

Now that I am used to it, the shorter version of my routine takes 5 minutes only.

And you, are you interested in Korean beauty products? Do you already follow a Korean skincare routine? Let me know in comment section below!

Note: I bought all the items listed in this post. The prices I included are the ones I paid for these products.