Korean women make us wonder with their fleeting glimpse. See, how glowing, supple and smooth their skin is. They are blessed with such flawless glass-like skin and the reason for having it is the time-tested skincare routine they follow called the 10 step Korean skincare routine.
With so many steps, you may find the Korean skincare regime intimidating. But with “more is more” philosophy- The 10 steps are not rigid that is once you know how your skin behaves, you can customize the steps according to your needs. So here is a breakdown of each step.
Step 1: Oil Cleanser
Start your routine by cleaning your face with an oil cleanser. The idea behind cleaning with oil cleansers is that like works for like. So, oil-based cleansers remove the oily gunk from the skin. These also help remove makeup and other oil-based products like sunscreen. Remove your foundation and mascara with suitable oil and then rinse it. For heavy makeup removal, use makeup remover.
Step 2: Foam Cleanser
This is the second part of the double-cleansing. Believe me, one cleanse is not enough. Even after cleaning it once, you will be left with impurities like sweat and dirt stuck to your skin. After removing the makeup and sunscreen with an oil cleanser, use a foam-based cleanser for deep cleaning. Don’t slack on this two-step process. Adopt it as an everyday habit.
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Step 3: Exfoliation
Exfoliation is a pillar of Korean skin care, whether physical or chemical. It not only cleans the clogged pores but it also sloughs off dead skin cells. When you remove the dull cell layer, brighter skin gets revealed. It is central to good anti-aging practice. But there is a difference between diligent and excessive exfoliation. So do not do it daily. Do this step 1to2 times a week especially if you have a sensitive skin. For tougher skin, do it more regularly.
Step 4: Toner
By the time you reach stage 4 you have cleaned your skin several times so it is in a fragile state. So, you want to hydrate the skin. Use a toner which hydrates the skin and prepares the skin so that the subsequent treatments can be easily absorbed by the skin. Korean toners are not like other astringent toners which make your skin turn into various shades of tomato.
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Step 5: Essence
It is neither a toner nor a serum. In fact it is a combination of both with the prepping properties of the former and treatment of the latter. Korean women swear that this step brightens their skin. For making the maximum use of the product, put it on the palm and pat it on your skin gently.
Step 6: Serum or ampoule
This is the major treatment step. It helps you get rid of fine lines, hyper pigmentation, acne and nothing works better than this. Tap it gently on the skin for increasing blood circulation and improving absorption. Don’t do this step if you do nothave brown spots.
Step 7: Sheet Mask
Korean women use a sheet mask as less as two times and as much as seven times in a week. It is the show pony of the Korean-beauty family. When you apply it you may look like a serial killer but believe you me, when I say that 15 minutes of looking like an axe murderer is worth it when you finally get a lush skin. Here’s a tip. Do not let the sheet mask remain for longer than the prescribed time as it may leave your skin dry by sucking out the moisture from the skin.
Step 8: Eye Cream
Depending on your cream, the focus could be on anything from fine lines to dark circles. If you have dark undereyes, this is for you. The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face so here is where you get fine lines. Koreans start with the application of eye cream at a young age. The chief ingredient in these eye creams is snail filtrate as it has elastin, proteins, and hyaluronic acid.
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Step 9: Face Cream
This step helps lock moisture in the skin. And apart from the daily SPF, skin hydration is important to get a younger skin at any age. Apply this cream every night and wake up in the morning with a skin that does not feel sticky or greasy.
Step 10: SPF
We cannot stress enough how important is sun protection on a daily basis. Applying SPF makes the biggest difference in the Korean regimen. It will also give you a glowing complexion without the cakey makeup feel.
Korean Skincare is all about pampering yourself and taking care of yourself and your skin. If you follow these steps, your skin will definitely feel smoother. You won’t even have to wear makeup subsequently. So bring these steps into practice.
