Most of us aren’t used to multi-step skincare. Some shy away because they’re intimated by the complexity. Yet if you want to reap the benefits, you have to create a routine. Habits and rituals, how you treat your skin day in and out, will transform it, especially if you want smoother skin and reap the anti-aging benefits. If you’re ready to go beyond your current routine, read ahead!

Step 1: Start with Applying an Oil Cleanser

Cleansing is one of the most important steps, because it determines how effective everything else you use afterwards will be. Not only can going to bed without washing your face lead to clogged pores and acne, it also accelerates aging.

Pollutants and free radicals collect on your skin throughout the day. If they are not washed away effectively by night, they will have even more time to wreak havoc on your skin and create wrinkles in the long term.

Applying an oil cleanser is step one of a two-step facial cleaning process. The reasoning for this is because no face wash–no matter how effective–gets everything on the first try.

Oil cleansers are excellent because they’re good at their job without being rough or abrasive on your skin. They also go well with most skin types, including oily.

Oil attracts oil, so rather than clogging your pores, an oil cleanser simply breaks down impurities and bad oils and allows you to easily remove them from the surface of your skin.

Spread the oil cleanser evenly across your face with gentle upward, circular motions, and use a splash of water to emulsify. Consider multi-tasking with a quick two-minute face massage. Increasing blood circulation helps nutrients to be carried to your skin, contributing to a healthier glow. Once you rinse with lukewarm water, your skin should feel softer and cleaner.

These helpful face cleaners also contain ingredients for anti-aging, as well as antioxidants. Acne or other skin conditions often see improvements with its use.

Step 2: Apply a Gel or Foam Cleanser for a Secondary Wash

When applied properly, your oil cleanser does most of the work. Still, you’ll find bits of debris remains behind, such as oil and keratin.

Following up with another foam or gel cleanser is critical to complete the job, as it removes anything left that could prevent additional treatments and products from penetrating your skin to achieve that glow.

If you go with a foam cleanser for your second wash, just keep in mind that foams are not necessarily better than gels. Foaming doesn’t provide any extra cleansing benefits, it’s just a way of marketing the product to give consumers the bubbles they want to enjoy. Not matter what you choose, you’ll want to select one that is gentle on your skin while still providing a deep clean.

You may notice that your skin feels a little tight after the second cleanse. A little tightness is expected, but not too much. Overly drying your skin causes damage and thins out the protective barriers, which also hastens aging. It’s best of go to step three or four of this routine immediately after double cleansing.

Step 3: Exfoliate Your Skin, But Do So Sparingly

Step three, although important, is not one you’ll implement every day. Exfoliants are healthy for your skin when implemented up to three to four times a week. They remove the dead layers off your skin, further clearing your pores and removing impurities.

Exfoliating more often than what is recommended can be too abrasive. When you over do it, you risk irritating your skin and causing more problems instead of fixing the existing ones. It’s important to note that over exfoliating leaves you more susceptible to sun damage and hyper-pigmentation because the skin’s natural defense system is compromised.

Keep in mind there are different types of exfoliants available on the market. They include:

• Microfiber Cloths
• Scrubs
• Chemical Exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs, PHAs)
• Sonic-powered facial cleansing brushes

The first two use texture to manually remove dead skin. For scrubs use ingredients such as sugar, jojoba beads, or oatmeal. Chemical exfoliants use acids to loosen dead skin cells enough to wipe them away. Gentler ones use fruit enzymes to sweep into pores. Chemical exfoliants are often recommended over manual ones, especially for acne-prone skin, since the results of chemical exfoliation are more uniform and effective. 

Popular sonic-powered facial brushes, offered by brands like Clarisonic and Foreo, also exfoliate the skin while lifting dirt and impurities away. So if you’re using a Clarisonic to cleanse your skin, there is no need to use an additional exfoliant at the same time.

Step 4: Begin Your Hydration Process with a Toner

Remember the hydration we promised? It starts here. A toner ‘preps’ the skin for moisture and will help your skin absorb more treatments to come. Dry skin can’t absorb heavier formulations effectively, but if you use a toner, those products will penetrate more easily.

A quality Korean toner is also all about balancing your skin’s pH levels, which fortifies the skin’s barriers to keep it smooth and protected. The toner should be very gentle and provide nutrients, humectants (to retain moisture), and ceramides (molecules that plump and hold skin cells together).

You’ll want to apply it as soon as you finish the last step, while your skin is still damp. Some toners combat inflammation and acne. Other toners are designed to tighten pores and make your skin look smoother. However, the one type of toner to keep away from are astringents, which contain high concentrations of alcohol and witch hazel. Be on a lookout for these ingredients, as they trigger inflammation.

If you have more than one product you want to use, multiple toners can also be layered onto the skin to maximize results and hydration. 

Step 5: Apply Your Essence

Exactly what is an essence? Does this step sound more like the lead-in to a Coco Chanel Eau De Parfum commercial?

Because it’s an original formulation developed in Korea, the Western market is relatively unfamiliar with this product.

Some confuse essence with toners. They can both look and feel similar, yet this amazing product serves a different purpose.

Essences are heavier than toners and they serve to primarily add hydration but can also brighten, even out skin tone, and reduce wrinkles. In fact, a good essence can even replace lower quality serums.

Wait, so are essence and serums the same?

Yes, and no.

Originally, essence was much lighter than serums. However, today that isn’t necessarily the case. Now essence and serums can be categorized as the same type of product.

The term “serum” is simply more familiar in Western culture, while “essence” is more familiar in Asian culture.

However, when it comes to the 10-step Korean skincare process, essence is mostly about hydration while serum is a separate step designed to tackle other unique skin concerns.

Which leads us to our next step…

Step 6: Apply Serum or Ampoule

Serum and ampoule are two different products, but they fall under the same step because they share the same purpose.

The difference between the two lies in texture and strength. A serum is less dense, while an ampoule is often thicker and made of a stronger formula.

In the Korean skincare routine, these products are aimed toward smoothing out your pigmentation, eliminating dullness, and targeting wrinkles. This creates a more youthful appearance through a healthy, smooth glow.

Step 7: Don Your Sheet Mask

Like exfoliants, sheet masks don’t need to be a part of your daily routine (but they certainly can be, unlike exfoliants). If you’re serious about radiant skin, you definitely want to include them in your regular skincare regimen.

Sheet masks are one of the key components of Korean skincare. Consider their application as the few times a week you really get to spoil your skin, or do as often as you’d like!

Made with either paper, gel, or fiber, these masks are loaded with a high concentration of various serums. Just apply them at minimum between two to three times a week to see an effect.

You leave them on for anywhere from 20 minutes to a half an hour. Shaped like your face with openings for your eyes and mouth, you don’t have to worry about sitting still during their application.

You can clean the house, do your laundry, work on your computer, or simply catch up on your favorite show. Many people use this time to multi-task, which makes it go by quicker.

Once you remove your sheet mask, don’t wipe away the residue left behind. Instead, gently rub it into your skin. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, and moisturizing ingredients.

The end result is brighter, tighter skin that makes you look healthy and youthful.

Step 8: Treat Your Eyes to Eye Cream

One of the most prominent areas to show our age is the skin around our eyes. Because the skin is thinner and more delicate, it requires extra care. You don’t have to be older to experience damage in this area.

Common eye issues include:

• Dark circles
• Lines (crow’s feet)
• Puffiness

To combat this, dab eye cream up to twice daily upon the skin around your eyes. Be careful not to get this cream into your eyes, but pat it into your skin by applying gentle pressure through your ring finger.

Retinol is best for fighting wrinkles and fine lines while formulas with niacinamide and peptides help firm and brighten skin.

Step 9: Apply Moisturizer to Your Skin

Think you’re done hydrating your skin? Think again!

As we stated before, cleanliness and hydration are two of the core elements of Korean skincare. Your epidermis should feel like a well-watered rose by the end of your routine! Expect to apply moisturizer both in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Moisturizers don’t need to be heavy to be effective!

Step 10: Pat on Sunscreen as Part of Your Morning Routine

It doesn’t matter if you live in sunny Florida or up north in a cooler climate–sunscreen is essential to the Korean skincare routine. Use SPF 30 or higher on a daily basis.

You don’t have to bask in summer weather in order to acquire skin damage. All it takes is daily exposure to the sun. You may not feel it, but the accumulated damage may start to rise to the surface as early as beginning in your 20’s.

Today’s foundations often include SPF in their ingredients. However, don’t be deceived. Most makeup formulations don’t provide enough coverage. For some brands, you would need multiple layers of foundation to get the sun protection as advertised on the label. We recommend pairing sunscreen with makeup! Makeup with built-in SPF can help, but don’t rely on them alone.

Koreans typically use BB Cream as foundation. The BB stands for “Beauty Balm”, and it’s a combination of a skincare product and everyday makeup. In fact, even men use it!

Where westerners go through a thorough application process involving primers, moisturizers, sunscreen, concealers, foundation, and other products, most Koreans simply apply BB Cream along with a minimal amount of makeup.

Whatever look you choose to embrace, just make sure sunscreen is a part of your routine!

Give Your Skin the TLC It Deserves – Morning & Night

Your skin deserves its share of tender, loving care – morning and night. To sum up this routine, in the morning you should double cleanse (steps 1 & 2), tone (step 4), pat on an essence (step 5), use a serum or ampoule (step 6), don’t forget an eye cream (step 7), use a moisturizer (step 9), and seal it with a daily sunscreen (step 10).

In the evening, follow the same process with heavier formulations if needed, and be sure to exfoliate (step 3), and treat yourself to sheet masks (step 8) on a weekly basis.

Take advantage of the many articles featured on this blog as the best tips, tricks, and products for achieving healthy, radiant skin are revealed.

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you’ll reap the benefits.

Photo by Harper Sunday on Unsplash