The Korean guide to healthy skin

Follow this 10-step K-beauty ritual for a radiant look

From essences to sheet masks, Korean beauty products and trends are taking over the beauty market. The K-beauty 10-step is one of the most personalised and widely followed skin routines around the world. Established thanks to Korea's cultural obsession with healthy skin and decades of scientific advancements, it is less of a "routine" and more of a lifestyle that has now turned into a global phenomenon. I know '10' can seem daunting for starters, so I will break it down for you. And remember, while I write about all 10 steps of the classic K-beauty skincare routine, you can choose ones that align with your personal skincare goals.
1. Oil Cleanser
You could use your makeup remover on a cotton pad at night and call it a day, but that means you'll most likely end up with black streaks of mascara on your pillowcase the next morning. To truly remove "all" makeup, reach out for an oil cleanser. Massage it all over your dry face and neck and then add a splash of lukewarm water to emulsify the cleanser. Massage again and then rinse everything off.
2. Foam Cleanser
It's called double cleansing for a reason. Wash your face thoroughly with a water-based cleanser to whisk away any remaining residue and impurities from your oil cleanse.
Try Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser, 5.07 fl. Oz, or Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam
3. Exfoliator
You don't always have to exfoliate (especially if you have sensitive skin), but keep in mind that exfoliating at least twice a week is crucial for a clear, polished skin. Sloughing off dead skin cells makes it possible for the rest of your skincare products to mingle with your pores and do their magic. Gently massage or tap an exfoliant into your skin for smooth and silky skin.
Try Skinfood Black Sugar Wash-Off Face Mask or Etude House Berry AHA Bright Peel Perfect Scrub
4. Toner
Think of your skin like a sponge - it's more difficult to rehydrate it when it's dried up and hardened than when it's already a bit damp. Toners dampen your skin and balance its pH levels. Sprinkle one into your hands and tap it directly onto your skin or dispense it onto a cotton pad and gently swipe around your face working outwards. Toner was always a skincare step I never skipped since I was 21 and noticed my face less oily. I use two toners during the day - one to wipe off excess oil in the morning and then a lavender gel-based toner to relax at night.
Try Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner - Toner or Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner or Innisfree Volcanic Pore Care Toner
5. Essence
The heart of the Korean skincare routine, it's a treatment product similar to serums, boosters or ampoules. But it's more watery in consistency than the rest of those products, so it comes out like a toner. Apply it to freshly toned skin and pat it in. Somehow, I usually skip this step as it makes my skin very dry, but I have read some great reviews on watery essence.
You could try products like ELF Hydrating Water Essence or Tony Moly The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Essence
6. Serum, Boosters or Ampoule Treatments
Boosters, serums and ampoules are concentrated essences that directly treat the issues you're often most concerned about. Whether they target dull skin, large pores, pigmentation, wrinkles or acne, serums are the ideal skin-perfecting step. Gently tap these into your skin!
Try OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum® 1.00oz or The Ordinary Buffet
7. Mask
My favourite step: I am completely in Zen mode when I put sheet masks on my face. By now, I am about to give up, but let me tell you the fun has just begun. If essences are the heart of the Korean skincare routine, sheet masks are the soul. All you have to do is put one on and chill for 15-20 minutes (and probably take a selfie). Sheet masks provide you with a quiet, meditative, and skin-nourishing ritual that imparts maximum treatment to your skin. Use them at least once or twice a week or every single day if you'd like. Just keep it inside a refrigerator 10 minutes before using.
Try sheets from Tony Moly, Innisfree, Etude House or a brand available around you.
8. Eye Cream
The skin around your eyes is thin and delicate, which means you should treat it like the fragile flower that it is. An eye cream provides the area with extra helpings of hydration and protection. Use your ring finger to gently tap (never rub!) eye cream around the entire orbital bone, avoiding the water line.
Try ETUDE HOUSE Collagen Eye Patch or OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Crème - 15ml
9. Face Cream
Hydration is your express lane to dewy, glowing skin, so it's extremely important to find a moisturiser that actually works for your skin type. They come in many forms - emulsion, lotion, gel or cream - all of which work to seal in moisture to plump up skin and smoothe away any fine lines. Pat a moisturiser onto your face and neck. On days when your skin feels extra parched, swap your regular moisturiser for a sleeping pack.
Try Innisfree Orchid Sleeping Pack or La Vallée Ultra Moisturizing Night Cream
10. SPF
Even if you're stepping outside for just a couple of minutes, you must wear sunscreen. It's the easiest and most effective way to prevent premature ageing. Apply every - and I mean every - morning, reapplying throughout the day as needed. It's important to put this on at last so it can fully shield your skin from the harmful UV rays without being diluted by prior products.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com