Korean Skincare has gained worldwide popularity in the last decade but for beginners, it can still be quite confusing! That’s where this guide to Korean Skincare for beginners comes in.

If you’re just getting into Korean skincare, you have probably heard of the 10-step skincare routine. And that can intimidate skin care enthusiasts who are just starting out a little bit. However, Korean skin care is not only about the 10-step routine. It is about getting to know your skin better and caring for it the best way you can with products that help your skin thrive.

What is Korean Skincare?

Korean skincare is also often referred to as K-beauty. It basically involves products made in South Korea but what makes it unique is the way they are designed. They preserve and protect your skin’s health in the long term with consistent use.

One of the primary features of Korean skincare products is that they are skin-barrier-friendly. This means that you’ll rarely find Korean skincare products that have harsh ingredients that can possibly strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture barrier. Instead, they nurture your skin to be its best by hydrating, nourishing and preserving its natural health.

Should you do the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine?

When it comes to Korean skincare, the 10-step routine is what almost always comes to mind. For beginners who have mostly just heard of CTM (Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing) routines, Korean skincare can be quite overwhelming at first. However, it is important to understand that Korean skincare doesn’t strictly adhere to this 10-step routine. In fact, you can increase or decrease the steps according to your convenience and what your skin needs.

The Basics

To understand better, let us first take a look at what the 10-step routine includes.

• Step 1: Oil cleanser to remove makeup and oil-based impurities.
• Step 2: Water cleanser to take off sweat, dirt and give your skin a deeper cleanse.
• Step 3: Toner to hydrate and prep your skin while balancing its pH level.
• Step 4: Exfoliator to unclog pores, remove dead skin cells and get rid of blackheads and whiteheads.
• Step 5: Essence to nourish and replenish your skin.
• Step 6: Ampoule/Serum which is a skincare product with active ingredients that target specific skin issues.
• Step 7: Sheet Mask to relax, renew and hydrate your skin.
• Step 8: Eye Cream to prevent fine lines and dark circles.
• Step 9: Moisturizer to seal it all up with a boost of hydration.
• Step 10: Sunscreen to prevent sun damage.

The Answer

Now, to answer the question whether you really should do the 10 step Korean skincare routine: not necessarily!
Depending on your skin type, skin concern and skincare goal, you can have a routine with any number of steps! Beginners often get overwhelmed thinking that this 10-step routine is set in stone but it’s not. It is completely customizable and you can change up the number of steps according to the time of the day, season or simply the time you can give to it. The most common routines are the 5-step, 7-step and 10-step ones.

Want to know the differences between skin types and skin concerns? Go here.

Usually, a 5-step morning routine will include cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen. Just swap the sunscreen out for an oil cleanser in the evening and you have a quality 5-step night-time routine.

A 7-step routine will generally include an oil cleanser, water cleanser, toner, serum, sheet mask, eye cream and moisturizer. But again, this is not fixed, you can always tweak this routine and have your own 7-step routine according to your skin type, need and time.

Want to build a routine that will work for you? Our brand and skincare experts are here to help you create it!

Morning skincare routine and night time skincare routine?

Morning routines and night time routines are also known as AM and PM routines. These can either be different or similar.

Usually, AM routines are shorter consisting of just cleanser, toner, moisturizer and sunscreen. You can also add serums or essences to this routine as your skin requires. PM routines generally tend to be longer and more rigorous with more replenishing products such as oil cleansers, exfoliators, sheet masks and eye creams.

Where do I begin?

As a beginner, Korean skincare can be a bit puzzling. Along with all the steps and the factors that affect it, even the names of the products will get you thinking, “What in the world is this?” After all, it’s not every day that you come across products like skin, skin lotions, emulsions, ampoules, facial polish, liquids, oil drops, etc.

With Beauty Barn, it is easy to get started on your K-Beauty journey.

Here’s how:

First check out the products according to your skin type.
Do you have dry skin? You’ll find the right products for your skin type here.
Dealing with oily skin? These products right here will suit your skin type.
Don’t worry, we’ve got some of that goodness going on for combination and normal  skin types as well.
Second, get in touch with our consultants here to narrow it down to the perfect routine for you.And there you go, you are all ready to get started!