10-Step Korean skincare routine Guide

Do you really need all 10 steps?

Are you one of those who find a long skincare routine too time-consuming and exhausting? Do you prefer a simplified routine to a long one?

The most important thing when choosing a skincare routine is one that works for you and one that you can stick to. A comprehensive skincare routine is not necessary for healthy skin. We are all different and no one solution or routine works for everyone. That’s why it’s important to research what works for your skin. For some people this may mean a 10-step skincare routine for best results, and for someone else a larger skincare routine can easily trigger irritation and sensitivity. It will also make it very difficult to find the source of the irritation when using 10 different products with different ingredients and formulations.

Starting with a simplified routine according to your needs can be beneficial. Then you can choose to add more products gradually, which will allow you to better assess the effects of the different additions to your skincare routine. Below you can see examples of a 3-step, 5-step and 10-step skincare routine.

3-step skincare routine

A 3-step skincare routine is a good starting point when figuring out which ingredients work well for your skin. The fewer products also means you can keep track of any ingredients that cause breakouts or irritation. This is where the main skincare products are used, which will typically consist of a facial cleanser followed by a serum and finished with a moisturizer. The products used in the morning and evening are often different. In a morning routine, it’s important to prioritize SPF protection, using either a sunscreen or a cream with SPF.

1. Facial cleansers help remove impurities on the face and prevent breakouts.
2. Serums contain active ingredients targeted to specific needs.
3. Moisturizer helps to infuse and seal moisture into your skin.
4. Sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays.

5-step skincare routine

In a five-step routine, double cleansing is introduced to ensure all traces of make-up are removed. The double cleansing routine is used in the evening routine after a long day to dissolve makeup and remove impurities.

1. Oil-based facial cleanser helps remove oil-based impurities such as make-up (evening)
2. Water-based facial cleanser to remove remaining impurities on the face.
3. Toner to balance the skin’s pH level and prepare for the absorption of subsequent products.
4. Serum contains active ingredients targeted to specific needs.
5. Moisturizer helps to infuse and seal moisture into your skin.
6. Sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays. (morning)

Full 10-step Korean skincare routine

The 10-step Korean skincare routine is one of the most personalized and followed skincare routines around the world. The 10 steps are composed of a morning routine and an evening routine with a different order.

1. Oil-based facial cleanser helps remove oil-based impurities, like make-up (evening)
2. Water-based facial cleanser to remove remaining impurities on the face.
3. Skin exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum.
4. Toner to balance the skin’s pH level and prepare for the absorption of subsequent products.
5. Essence, like a toner, is formulated with moisturizing ingredients and penetrates deeper into the skin.
6. Serum contains active ingredients targeted to specific needs.
7. Sheet mask is a soaked mask in an essence/serum and leaves the skin moisturized.
8. Eye cream targets the delicate skin around the eyes.
9. Moisturizer helps to infuse and seal moisture into your skin.
10. Sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays. (morning)