A guide to the 10 Steps Korean skincare routine
What are the 10 steps in Korean skincare? In this guide, you will gain basic knowledge about the popular Korean skincare routine, which has become a global phenomenon. It is not about having several products or steps, but rather about having the right products for your needs and in the right order. The 10 steps are general guidelines where your morning and evening routine are different depending on your needs.
1. Oil-based cleanser
2. Water-based cleanser
3. Exfoliation
4. Toner
5. Essence
6. Serum
7. Sheet mask
8. Eye cream
9. Face cream
10. Sunscreen
Do you really need all 10 steps?
Do you prefer a simplified routine to a multi-step routine?
The most important thing when choosing a skincare routine is one that works for you and one that you can actually stick to. A comprehensive skincare routine is not necessary for healthy skin. We are all different and there is no solution or routine that works for everyone. It is therefore essential to examine what works for your skin. For one person, it may involve a 10-step skincare routine for best results, and for another, a complicated skincare routine can easily trigger irritation and sensitivity. It will also make it very difficult to find the source of the irritation using 10 different products with different ingredients and formulations.
It can be an advantage to start with a simplified routine according to your needs. You can then gradually add more products, which allows you to assess better the effects of the various additions to your skincare routine. Below you can see examples of a 3-step, 5-step and 10-step skincare routine.
Simplified Routines
3-step skincare routine
A 3-step skincare routine is a good starting point when you find out which ingredients suit your skin. The fewer products also mean that you can keep track of all the ingredients and if they cause breakouts or irritation. This is where the most important skincare products are used, which will usually consist of a facial cleansing followed by a serum and finished with a moisturizer. The products used in the morning and in the evening are often different. In a morning routine, it is important to prioritize SPF protection, with either sunscreen or cream with SPF 30+.
- The facial cleanser helps to remove impurities on the face and prevents pimples.
- The serum contains active ingredients targeted to specific needs.
- Moisturizer helps to apply and seal the moisture in your skin.
- Sunscreen for protection against harmful UV rays (only AM).
5-step skincare routine
In a five-step routine, double cleaning is introduced to ensure that all traces of makeup and SPF are removed. The double cleansing routine is used in the evening routine after a long day to dissolve makeup and remove contaminants.
- The oil-based facial cleanser helps remove oil-based contaminants, such as makeup and SPF (only PM)
- Water-based facial cleanser to remove remaining impurities on the face.
- Toner to balance the skin’s pH level and prepare for the absorption of the following products.
- The serum contains active ingredients targeted to specific needs.
- Moisturizer helps to add as well as seal the moisture in your skin.
- Sunscreen for protection against harmful UV rays. (only AM) In the evening you can use a sleeping mask or oil instead.
Complete 10 steps Korean skincare routine
10 Steps Korean skincare routine
The 10-step Korean skincare routine is one of the most followed skincare routines around the world. The 10 steps are composed of a morning routine and an evening routine with a different compositions.
- The oil-based facial cleanser helps remove oil-based contaminants, such as makeup (only PM)
- Water-based facial cleanser to remove remaining impurities on the face.
- Exfoliation of the skin to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum.
- Toner to balance the skin’s pH level and prepare for the absorption of the following products.
- The essence is like a toner formulated with moisturizing ingredients and penetrates deeper into the skin.
- The serum contains active ingredients targeted to specific needs.
- A sheet mask is a mask wet in an essence/serum and leaves the skin moisturized – do not rinse.
- Eye cream is aimed at the delicate skin around the eyes.
- Moisturizer helps to add as well as seal the moisture in your skin.
- Sunscreen for protection against harmful UV rays. (only AM) In the evening you can use a sleeping mask or oil instead.
