The 10-step Korean skin care routine is legendary and, as such, has taken on mythical proportions. In North America, we tend to favor the most time-saving and efficient multi-tasking products, so a daily skin care routine that requires 10 different products, each one serving its own purpose, may seem a tad on the excessive side.
However, if you happen to have an extra 30 or 60 minutes a day to devote to meticulous skin care, or if you’re simply curious, here’s the 10-step Korean skin care routine that is guaranteed to give you the best skin of your life (or so we hear):
- Oil cleanser – Often referred to as a “precleanse”, this is step one of the double cleansing method. Not only will an oil-based cleanser remove makeup but it also removes excess oil as like-attracts-like.
- Water based cleanser – Using a foaming cleanser like Apothekari Cloud 9 or AHA-Mazing Gel Cleanser on a damp face will remove residual dirt and oil and prepare the face for the products that follow.
- Exfoliation – Technically, this step isn’t meant to be included in the daily routine but rather done 3 to 4 times a week. However, it’s important to not leave this step out as exfoliation is necessary to remove the dead skin cells that block pores and cause breakouts. Dead skin cells are also a barrier that can impede absorption of active ingredients.
- Toner –This is not the alcohol-laden solution that we grew up with in our teen years. In Asia, toners are geared more toward adding hydration and prepping the skin for better absorption of the products that follow.
- Essence – Although slowly making its way into the mainstream beauty and skincare industry, the essence is still a bit of a mystery in North America. Originally formulated to simultaneously hydrate the skin and add the first layer of active ingredients, an essence is applied onto the skin with the hands and allowed to dry before proceeding.
- Serum – We love serums and their ability to deliver a wide range of actives to benefit the skin. This is one step that we would never consider skipping.
- Ampoule – Ampoules belong in the same family as the essence and the serum in that they provide super-concentrated amounts of active ingredients.
- Mask – Whether you’re looking for a daily sheet mask that allows you to sit back and relax for 20 minutes or a smaller “point” mask to target specific areas and concerns, we’re confident that you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs. Whether or not you’ll be able to squeeze this into your schedule every day is another story altogether.
- Eye Cream – The skin around the eyes is amongst the thinnest and most delicate on your body. The first signs of aging often show up here so a daily eye cream should be on your must-have and must-do list.
- Moisturizer and/or Sunscreen – You’ve almost made it! The last step is a moisturizer that will keep your skin hydrated all night. During the day, a sunscreen is non-negotiable. If it’s one thing that all skincare specialists agree on, it’s that daily sunscreen use can slow down the signs of aging.
Completing a 10-step routine every day may be out of the realm of possibility for most of us but if you consider it more like a buffet as opposed to a set menu, it’s easy to tailor the list to your own needs. In fact, most of us are already incorporating half the steps in our daily skin care regimen.
However, if you do decide to jump in with both feet, we would love to hear about the results!
