For skincare enthusiasts, you’ve probably heard of the 10-step Korean Skincare Routine, but if you’re new to this area then it’s going to be quite a journey. The 10-Step is much more than just a regimen, it’s a way of life that has become a global phenomenon. These steps however may sound daunting to some but fret not because we’re here to explain the famous 10-step Korean skincare routine.
What is Korean skincare and what’s the craze about it?
Rather than using treatments to promote healing, Korean skincare products aim at protection and prevention. Koreans believe that caring for your skin before your skin demands for it actually pays off in the long term. Since it can be difficult to restore skin to its former state after the damage has occurred, prevention is always ideal.
The Korean skincare routine wasn’t really invented by a single individual or company. It was somehow a more gradual progression that stemmed from the skin routine which many Koreans adhere to. What happened next has revolutionised the skincare market forever, catching the attention of those who track beauty and skincare advances throughout the world.
This sort of practice not only produces efficient and regular outcomes, but it also encourages individuals to value their skin and spend more personal time.
Does it really have to be 10 steps?
Although ten steps are the most typical number in Korean skincare routines, it’s only a suggestion. Korean beauty regimes, overall, have a lot of steps. They do, however, focus on gently enhancing skin while obtaining long-term outcomes. Ultimately, personalising a skincare regimen to your skin’s requirements is more important than following a set of instructions. While many individuals start with a 10-step regimen, you may modify it to fit your requirements or preferences.
Here is the 10 Steps Routine
The most common technique of conducting a Korean skincare regime is the classic 10-step procedure and it goes like this:
Oil-Based Cleanser
The Korean technique when it comes to skincare, in general, is delicate and cleansing is no exception. The double cleansing method not only removes pollutants and impurities from your skin, but it does it in a gentle manner.
Oil-based cleansers remove oil-based pollutants including makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum. The oil goes deep into pores, releasing all trapped dirt and washing away any extra sebum. These cleansers are also a viable substitute for makeup removers that can be drying the skin.
Water-Based Cleansers
When we talk about cleansers, the first thing that would pop into our minds would be water-based cleansers. This kind of cleanser is commonly a foamy liquid or bar that eliminates any lingering pollutants, like perspiration and grime, that the oil cleanser left behind. A water-based cleanser can remove impurities that oil-based cleansers can’t. Hence, using a water-based cleanser after an oil-based cleanser can effectively clear away any residue left behind.
When both cleansers are used together, the skin will be fully cleansed. It’s important to keep in mind that water-based cleansers have a stigma for being drying and peeling, which is usually linked to the high pH and sulphates in these cleansers. The secret is to utilise a mild, moisturising, low pH water-based cleanser in your 10-step Korean beauty care regimen to ensure that your skin is cleansed without damaging your skin barrier.
Exfoliants
This is one of the most important steps throughout the whole Korean 10 step skincare routine. Scrubs, peels, and pads are some examples of exfoliants. Exfoliating removes any dead skin that may have accumulated on your face, causing outbreaks and dullness.
Nevertheless, you should not exfoliate every day as it may destroy your skin barrier in the long run. For those with sensitive skin, begin slowly and gently, as well as try exfoliating perhaps once a week. You could also consider substituting one of your cleansers with a mild face scrub to avoid damaging your skin.
Toners
Your skin’s pH may be out of balance once you reach this step, so you’ll need to restore it to an acidic condition. Toners aid in the restoration of balance and hydration to the skin. When we’re talking about toners, it’s important to note that Korean skincare toners are entirely different from Western toners.
Korean toners are milder, made to be more delicate and give the initial layer of moisture in a skincare regime. These toners are not astringent and free from alcohol. They’re meant to moisturise and regulate the skin, not to dry it out as an astringent would.
Essences
Essences have been a staple of the Korean skincare routine for what seems like an eternity – many of us recall using essences before we even knew why. They’ve caused consternation in the West, even among beauty experts.
Essences, which are unique to Korean skincare routines, are often made with fermented substances designed to nourish while protecting the skin. This step is critical to attaining the radiant skin you desire. Essences can be considered as a hybrid of both toner and a serum. To get the most out of the product, simply dab it on your face and neck.
Treatment
When it comes to treatment in Korean skincare, it is something that helps with a specific ailment – it is commonly referred to as a serum and ampoule. Serums have a higher concentration of active chemicals and often include powerful compounds. The serums are designed to target and cure specific skin concerns such as dark spots, wrinkles, and dullness. Serums are also typically thicker and stickier than essences.
For ampoules, it is known to be a more refined form of serum – though it can be considered as a booster injection. They usually have a greater concentration of active substances and are only utilised for a limited duration. For instance, you could want to include a weekly ampoule pack to obtain large benefits before a major event or after a serious skin issue. Because a little goes a long way, you’ll often encounter them in tiny vials or pipette bottles.
Eye Creams
Eye gels are designed to aid with dark circles, puffiness, and fine wrinkles by targeting the thin, delicate eye area. While eye creams vary from moisturisers that contain active ingredients to address a variety of eye-region issues, they also serve an important function in hydrating eye areas. There are no rules in when to apply the eye cream, whether it’s before or after your moisturizer as it depends on your own preference.
Moisturizers
Your K-beauty skincare routine’s hydration stage is all about providing your skin with enough moisture to stay hydrated. However, because the skin is permeable, all that moisture you just put in can evaporate if the atmosphere is too dry or if your skin barrier has been weakened. All of it will evaporate into the air, leaving your skin drier than before.
Moisturizers certainly add hydration to your skin, but they should be used last, following ultra-hydrating products like essences and serums. This is because a lot of moisturisers contain occlusives. Occlusives are chemicals that generate a hydrophobic film over the skin’s surface, which form a seal by generating a thin coating of oil that stops water from dissipating. Occlusives, in other words, moisturizers aid in the prevention of transdermal water loss.
Sheet Masks
Sheet masks accomplish two goals: they provide moisture and other active, useful substances to your skin. They also work to establish a layer over your skin to allow those actives, beneficial components to soak in more effectively. The sheet masks, which are usually drenched in essence, inhibit all the hydration packed within that essence from just escaping into the atmosphere.
Sunscreen
People appear to be increasingly aware of the risks of sun exposure in recent years. Lately, there have been more beauty products with built-in SPF, such as foundation and moisturiser. The one sunscreen that has been everyone’s holy grail is the mineral sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens or often known as physical sunscreens are made up of only two ingredients which are titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide.
Even if you’re going to be inside all day, you should always remember to put on your sunscreen. It’s the simplest and best method for preventing advanced ageing and cancer screening. Sunscreen should also be applied as the final step in your skincare routine to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation.
