K-Beauty Secrets

If you are one of those few who don’t know, Korean pop culture, food, music and drama have gained immense popularity worldwide. However, it does not stop at pop culture; Korean skincare routines and beauty secrets have also become the talk of the town recently. You might be wondering what makes a Korean skin care routine so unique, so let’s take a deep dive and understand the Korean philosophy and look at the complete K-beauty regimen.

What is Korean Skincare?

Based on the Korean beauty philosophy, Korean skincare is focused on prevention and protection rather than repairing the previously dealt damage. And as we have learnt since childhood, prevention is better than cure because once the damage is done, it can be hard to recover the skin to its original state.

It was not the discovery of a single Korean brand or person but the compilation of what regime Koreans generally followed for their skin. Korean skincare regime aims to achieve what Koreans call “glass skin”, which is a term used to refer to a smooth and intensely hydrated complexion that appears to be transparent. A skin routine similar to the Korean skincare routine provides consistent and effective results and encourages people to go the extra mile when taking care of their skin.

Korean 10 Step Skin Care Routine

The ultimate goal of a Korean skin care regimen is to tailor a process that benefits your skin health. While a Korean skin care routine generally comprises many skin-benefitting steps, you will most commonly find a 10-step regime that Korean people follow. Let’s look at the complete Korean skincare routine order.

1. Oil-based Cleanser 

It is a well-known fact that oil and water are immiscible, which means that a water-based cleanser is not very effective at cleaning the oil-based impurities on your skin. Sunscreen, makeup, and the body’s natural excessive oil contents are cleansed most effectively by a cleanser with an oil formulation. 

Recommended product: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

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An oil-based cleanser like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser does not strip your skin of its natural oil contents.

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2. Water-based Cleanser 

It is the most commonly used cleanser across the world. It removes the remaining impurities from the oil-based cleanser, such as dirt and sweat. 

Recommended product: Good Vibes Papaya Brightening Face Wash 

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The Good Vibes Papaya Brightening Face Wash is the perfect addition to your Korean 10 step skin care routine.

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3. Exfoliant (Twice a Week)

Exfoliants help you remove the dead skin cells and buildup of your skin. They are a category of products such as scrubs, peels and pads. While using an exfoliant, always start slow and do it sparingly. 

Recommended product: Biotique Papaya Tan Removal Brightening & Revitalizing Face Scrub

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The Biotique Papaya Tan Removal Brightening and Revitalising Face Scrub is an excellent addition to your skin care steps (Korean).

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4. Toner

A Toner comes after cleansing/exfoliation following a Korean skincare routine order. By reaching this step, your skin’s pH levels might be wholly haywire and need to be restored to the natural pH. Toners are tasked with helping restore the pH balance and add moisture to the skin. You can 

Recommended product: Plum Green Tea Alcohol-Free Toner

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Add the Plum Green Tea Alcohol-Free Toner to your Korean skin care steps.

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5. Essence 

While they might seem new initially, essences are a common Korean skincare practice. Unique to the K-beauty regimen, essences are meant to hydrate and protect your skin and are formulated using fermented ingredients. You can think of essence as a bridge between toner and a face serum. 

Recommended product: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 

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The CORSX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Powder is perfect for your skin care steps Korean.

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6. Treatment/Serum 

A treatment in Korean skincare refers to anything focused on aiding a specific issue – we know of it as serums. They often contain highly concentrated ingredients to target skin problems like wrinkles and acne.

Recommended product: DermDoc 10% Niacinamide Face Serum 

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 The DermDoc 10% Niacinamide Face Serum is ideal for your Korean skin care.

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7. Sheet Masks (Twice a Week)

They are sheets of paper soaked in serums that you must lay on your face for 15 to 20 minutes. You must not use sheet masks like exfoliants in your standard Korean skincare routine order. 

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The Face Shop Real Nature Rice Face Mask (Sheet Mask) works perfectly in your skin care steps, Korean or not.

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8. Under Eye Creams 

They are creams, gels, or oil formulated, keeping the delicate nature of the skin near the eyes in mind. Gentle on sensitive skin, they help with darkness, puffiness and fine lines. 

Recommended product: Mamaearth Bye Bye Dark Circles, Under Eye Cream for Dark Circles

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The Mamaearth Bye Bye Dark Circles, Under Eye Cream for Dark Circles, is an excellent choice for following Korean skincare steps.

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9. Moisturiser

They act as sealants to ensure that all the contents of the previous skin care steps Korean are soaked into your skin. They have often been dubbed day creams because they are lighter in formulation for an overall lightweight experience throughout the day. 

Recommended product: Good Vibes Saffron Nourishing Day Cream

Customer Rating: 4.1 / 5

The Good Vibes Saffron Nourishing Day Cream is an ideal addition to your Korean skin care steps.

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10. SPF/Sunscreen

Nowadays, people have 1started to realise the effects of sun damage increasingly. And the number of products being sold with SPF-infused is also growing. Even if you use a product loaded with SPF, using sunscreens is one of the essential Korean skincare steps. You 

Recommended product: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ 

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Add the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ to your Korean skincare mix.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to attain Korean Glass Skin?

You can get this finish by applying a mix of one tablespoon each of honey and cinnamon powder and leaving it on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes. Once you rinse the paste off your face and pat it gently, you will have attained Korean Glass Skin.

2. How do I start a Korean skincare routine?

You can start your primary Korean skin care routine by simply following the abovementioned steps.

3. Is Korean skincare safe?

All the steps of a Korean skincare routine are safe. Even the most exotic ingredients used in practice, like snail slime, are safe.

Since you are now equipped with Korean skin care steps and philosophy, put the phrase “prevention is better than cure” into action. You can follow the steps mentioned above and use the recommended products initially. Purplle is one of the biggest e-beauty brands in India; you can visit our website or download our app to browse our skincare, haircare and beauty products.

Read more: 
- How To Achieve Korean Glass Skin?
- Rice water for glowing skin