Some call it a Korean skin care guide, others call it a 10-step routine. Either way, there’s one thing we can all agree on: K-beauty is a surefire way to get dewy, plump and crystal clear skin.
While a lot of skin care routines focus on reversing ageing, correcting scarring and undoing sun damage, K-beauty focuses on prevention. Each step is effective, considered and serves a purpose as they work to protect, prevent and maintain the health of our skin.
And one of the best parts? K-beauty products are largely affordable. In fact, you’ll find some of their star products on the shelves of your local Woolies.
A complete Korean skin care routine…
Step 1: Oil-based cleanser
A first step in any nighttime K-beauty regimen, oil cleansers are used to melt away makeup, dirt and other impurities. For a gentle cleanse, we love the Amore Pacific ($75, MECCA).
Step 2: Foam cleanser
Typically infused with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and balanced with gentle florals, this step will ensure your skin is prepped and ready to absorb the ingredients to come. Our pick? The innisfree Green Tea Foam Cleanser ($15, Adore Beauty). Each application leaves the skin thoroughly clean without stripping it of its natural oils.
“My face instantly felt clean and refreshed with a nice scent which was not too strong. I did not feel any tightness or dryness and my skin was ready for my moisturiser. It is also affordable.” – Samsy, read more reviews here….
Step 3: Exfoliant
Up to twice a week, exfoliation is incorporated into the skin care routine to gently ensure there is no build-up of dead skin or impurities blocking the pores.
Our favourite? The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid ($24, Lila Beauty).
Step 4: Toner
If there’s one thing K-beauty will teach you, it’s that toners don’t have to be harsh, alcohol-scented liquids. Applying a formula like the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Toner ($51, MECCA) to the skin helps to add moisture, dissolve dead skin cells, and unclog pores.
Step 5: Essence
You won’t find a Korean-inspired skin care routine without an essence. Sitting between a toner and a serum, an essence works to hydrate the skin, enabling it to effectively absorb the products that follow. One of the most popular K-beauty essences is the COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence ($27.40, Lila Beauty). Made from 96 per cent snail secretion filtrate, this cult-favourite essence is famed for its ability to repair and prevent just about anything, from dry patches to acne breakouts to hyperpigmentation. This is not a step to sleep on, and like most K-beauty products, it’s incredibly affordable.
Step 6: Ampoule
Consider ampoules a double dosing of your serum. Though they look exactly as your serum would, ampoules act as an intensified version that works as a booster shot for things like targeting acne and fine lines. In addition to having a higher concentration of antioxidants and enzymes, ampoules often have a smaller molecule size than serums, allowing them to penetrate more deeply.
Ampoules are designed to be used in short sharp bursts when your skin is in need of some extra TLC. A favourite of ours? The Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule ($26.20, Lila Beauty).
Step 7: Serum
A step that needs little explanation. As with any skin care regimen, serums act as concentrated formulas of active ingredients that work to hydrate, fade pigmentation, plump fine lines or reverse acne flare-ups. As far as serums we reach for to restore hydration and keep our complexions radiant and clear, the innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum ($39, Adore Beauty) is an all-star.
Step 8: Sheet mask
After applying your ampoule and serums, apply the cloth mask that’s been saturated in hydrated skin care ingredients to further lock in the goodness that’s already been applied, while adding another dose of moisture.
Our favourite? The Dr.Jart+ Dermask Face Mask Sheets ($6, Lila Beauty).
Step 9: Moisturiser
If you hadn’t already picked this up, Korean skin care routines are all about hydration. So a nourishing moisturiser is a treasured step. The best place to start? Dr.Jart+’s Cicapair Cream ($64.95, Woolworths).
Step 10: SPF (AM routine)
Even if it’s the middle of winter and you’ve got no plans to leave the house, SPF remains a crucial step in any K-beauty routine. For a skin care philosophy rooted in prevention and protection, applying sunscreen every single day is non-negotiable. K-beauty sunscreens are typically transparent and feature ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide that you’d find in your serums.
Unfortunately due to our TGA regulations in Australia, Korean-formulated sunscreens aren’t readily available to us. But here’s hoping one day they’ll meet our stricter regulations and we’ll get to try these popular lightweight formulations ourselves.
In the meantime here are some Aussie-approved SPFs we think do a pretty neat job.
Main image credit: @innisfreeaustralia
Have you ever tried following a Korean skin care routine before? If not, would you like to?
Pleased to now know what an Essence is and does. Interesting article. Thanks, Samantha.
Sorry – it’s Ruby, not Samantha – couldn’t find an “edit” button.
That’s a lot of steps!!!
It is a lot of steps Miss19. You have to have a lot of patience to do so every day.
Yeah! I tend to even forget my essence a lot but I only have half that many steps if I did them all.
Do I make any sense? I do to me but not sure if I do to others!
I find that you have to do what works for you and not necessarily do what others are doing. For some that may include lots of steps, for people like myself it’s only a few. For my skin less is more
I was thinking the exact same thing… Surely you don’t use a sheet mask everyday.
I sheet mask every day and it makes such a huge difference 🙂
I agree with you *Miss19*. I think I’ll stick with my current beauty routine or I’ll be spending even more time in front of the mirror. LOL !!!
I would love to try but it would not be every day
Everyday would difinately be out for me. All so time consuming.
Fun to try though but just not every day
I need another oil based cleanser. I’ve run out.
I have about 8 steps in my routine but some different steps compared to the 10 steps listed above.
The toner bottle looks pretty glam!
yes I love tones especially in summer
I like using my essence when I remember to do it! I rally find it adds hydration and I should start using again tonight with all this heating air con on all day atm
I prefer a basic skin care routine, the Korean one has way too many steps for me.
Not sure I’ve ever used a Korea skincare product before and yes I would like to. Always wanted to try the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow range and I actually didn’t know it was Korean skincare either.
Korean*
I had no idea either. The Watermelon Glow range is so worth it – suggest trying the sleeping mask first.
Love a good skincare routine. I’m atm doing most steps of those, but with French made skincare and no spf (as am enjoying winter and not much uv blasting)
I don’t use a sheet mask every day, often forget an essence and don’t use ampoules.
I follow it. Not every step, but most. I love my skincare!
I would love to try but feel I would not use that manu products every day
So many steps! My day would be over before it begins 😀
Haha so true!
Yes there are only so many hours in the day !! Wonder what the night time routine is
Haha so true!
Such beautiful skin. Would I have the willingness and commitment to a daily 10 step routine? No. I’m not sure my skin needs all those products anyway
Yes -I think 2 serums seem over the top and exfoliating every day would be too harsh on my sensitive skin
I haven’t tried it before but I would.
My skincare routine is similar step wise all except for ampules. I find a long skincare routine calming before bed.
I don’t usually consider what country the product originated from when purchasing.
Sheet mask every day, sometimes twice a day! Have not really used an essence in a while and don’t really miss it. Using a really great hydrating toner instead. Also foaming cleanser is not for all skin types. That would definitely dry me out.
what ones pls
Glow Recipe is on my list of brands to try!
Its pretty much what I do and have done for most of my life.
That’s a lot of steps! I seriously couldn’t put anything from a snail on my face!
Thanks for explaining the difference between ampoule and serum!
And I really need to apply sunscreen everyday!
So many steps. Good skin takes work.
My routine is much more simplified because I’m more likely to stick to it, lol
Lots of steps, but some amazing products there!
Wait… do people do this every night?
I could not be more obsessed with k beauty products! The snail essence eye cream makes me skin so radiant and dewy!
Too many steps for me.
That sounds about right. I swap some of the orders because I have worked out what works best for me.
Wow, way too many steps for me.
I’ve been using Korean products for a few years now as their formulations are far superior and their prices are much lower for better quality.
Wow that’s Amazing Thanks so much for the interesting Article on Korean Beauty Routine, so very Intensive with so many products.
Woah!!! That toner and cleanser looks amazing! X
That’s really over the top. I’m not sure my skin would cope with so many products.
I love Glow Recipe – I can’t get past how good the watermelon scent smells, and the products work well too!
That does sound delicious!
yes our routines are becoming so much more time consuming with so many more products to use
I love Korean beauty products for their quality and price. However, the ‘Korean 10 step routine’ is a myth circulating in western media. Odile Monod debunks this – see https://themonodist.com/2021/10/26/the-10-step-korean-skin-care-routine-is-not-real-and-never-was/
THANK YOU for this. It’s crazy to think that people actually believe all Koreans do this twice a day, every day!
VERY interesting, Jupiter!
Way too many steps for me
I agree Susmat.
I love this type of routine; unfortunately, most days I do not have the time or patience lol.
Same, max I do is 2.
So many products I haven’t used!
How interesting! And good to know what an essence is too – I have an Innisfree one, but didn’t know what it was for! (won it in a set from Innisfree)
10 steps sounds like so much, although I probably do do most of these things across a week.
Interesting products, but too many steps for me.
I’m sure I read somewhere that in Korean skincare sometimes toner goes on after moisturiser. Either way it’s 10 steps too many for me!
K beauty has always been my thing
I haven’t try any of these.So many steps before apply moisturiser.
Speaking of korean beauty, Jolse.com, one of the largest online K-beauty stores in South Korea that ship worldwide, is offering free shipping on all orders until 5pm AEST 24 August. Prices will be much cheaper than the retailers mentioned in above article.
Another good online k-beauty store that ships from South Korea is stylekorean.com. Their prices are almost always the cheapest, but you need to spend US $80 to get free shipping. Products are always fresh and have expiry dates a couple of years away.
id love to try the Oil base cleanser! sounds really interesting
I always use masks on freshly cleansed skin, not after serum! My skin can’t absorb many products, so I stick to serum & sunscreen in the mornings & serum & rosehip oil at night. I use eye gel when I remember.