Korean Beauty Regimen That Works Like Magic For Your Skin

From melting-into-the-skin sorbet scrubs to bubbling face masks with carbonated water -- Koreans keep stunning the world with innovative and trendy cosmetic lines.

But all of these would be dust in the wind if it wasn’t for the proven results that we see on the faces of K-pop and K-drama artists.

Jun Ji Hyun, who is one of the most beloved and famous Korean actresses, is reported to earn up to nearly 100 000 dollars per single episode.

Is the Korean beauty regimen a feminist act?

​Maybe, yet there’s much more to that.

Meanwhile, the Internet booms with enthusiasts, raging from top experts to raving fans who swear on the benefits of the K-beauty regimen.

But is it possible that a suitable regimen can work like magic for the skin? Just think about it-- would a proper diet help you stay more fit than not?

Indeed, it all comes down to a single golden rule: persistence.

And more persistence. Koreans know this so well, and that’s how they open a gate towards another dimension of healthy and beautiful skin.

No beauty regimen works better than knowing your skin type.

If we want to treat an issue, first we need to recognize the signs. The “all skin types” products can make a suitable addition to a beauty routine but cannot possibly lead to a complete skin renewal.

Sure, there are some treasures among the hypoallergenic ones, however, limiting to these is a sin for every health-aware person.

Below you can find the characteristics of each skin type. We will make you a part of something that will exceed your expectations.

And so, our team of experts wants to emphasize the importance of understanding your uniqueness. Just imagine the millions of people in the world!

More often than not, it is the case that our so-called “skin type” is a mixture. It can be combination skin, more inclined to dry skin type traits. Or sensitive skin, prone to acne.

Check which traits you have the most and then pick the second best description. That’s how you will get a complete skin type profile.

Then we will show you how to benefit from the Korean ways of applying cosmetics in a specific order.

Your skin gets shiny by midday. You have a hard time achieving the matte looks without much and suitable cosmetics.

It can be a greasy T-zone, cheekbones, under-eyes, or over-mouth area. Pores often seem enlarged, too. 

If we look at Koreans, they appear to have no pores at all! So just to know -- it’s your responsibility for getting that oily skin. 

The good news? Yes, you can change this!

The primary trait of your skin type sums up with the very word “dry.” Each dry patch we have on the face is an area, prone to flakes.

But have you asked yourself why? It lacks hydration.

And who is in charge of that hydration? Yes, it is you again. Hooray, this sounds like there’s a way to block and prevent the dry skin issues.

Blemishes, bumps, pimples, zits-- does this sound familiar to you?

Appearing permanently, once in awhile, every month, or weekly -- the fact that you do stumble across these means you have to pay extra attention to yourself.

Your body is signaling you that it needs support to fight inflammation. Acting earlier is the only means to stop these from spreading, once they have appeared.

When it comes to building a Korean skin care routine for acne prone skin, remember not to put much pressure when applying your cosmetics, and use a wooden spatula to scoop out your creams to lessen chances of bacteria invading the skin.

Your skin doesn’t get along with every compound out there. You might have gone through allergic reactions, severe redness, itchiness, or constant discomfort after using a particular ingredient.

People with sensitive skin can get a rash even from sleeping in a new place, for example. That’s another aspect of skin sensitivity.

On your way to finding and following the best Korean skin care routine for sensitive skin, you have to stay very patient, focused, and take things slowly.

The intricate Korean beauty regimen steps, involving multiple products, can be too much all at once.

Aging is something profoundly beautiful. But the signs of aging on the skin are not. Our habits put the most significant impact on the skin.

The best decision? Treat and prevent the premature aging skin.

The earlier, the better. Now it’s no wonder how persistence helps Koreans make themselves appear decades younger.

A Korean skin care routine for mature skin is among the ones which show fast visible results, because of quenching aging skin’s thirst for healthy elements and moisture balance. 

And don't forget to find a good anti-aging cream to use regularly. Trust me, this will do wonders for your skin and help you achieve much healthier and younger-looking skin.

Combination skin is a hybrid of oily and dry zones. That is one of the most broadly spread skin types. But this doesn’t mean it’s a life sentence. 

And as to the pores -- yes, they keep acting terribly for this skin type.

The fact that your skin is falling into a particular skin type category now doesn’t mean this will last forever.

And with the mixed traits that form the complete profile of your skin type (e.g. acne-prone skin, susceptible to oiliness, or dry skin, prone to sensitivity)-- you need to learn how to observe your skin and act accordingly.

The easiest way to do this is to start paying more attention to the ingredient list of your cosmetics. (related info)

Don’t get confused or upset-- it is okay if you can’t grasp the whole picture immediately. But this is just like everything in life. The best things take time and will. You can do it!

​To help you out in this labyrinth, we have listed some of the most suitable compounds to support and treat specific skin type conditions. Just keep this neat cheat sheet handy.

With a little practice and patience, you can become your skinspiration guru.

Let's Find Out the Best Ingredients to Look for in a Regimen

Insider Tip: This is only a primary classification of the proper ingredients for each skin type. But where is the catch?

Let’s say that you want to treat acne-prone skin. If you don’t pay enough attention to your sub-skin type, you can make things worse.

For example, alcohols are notorious for their zit-drying action.

However, if your skin is acne-prone and incline to oiliness, alcohols will give you temporary relief, all while making your problems worse in the long run.

Your Best Move: After determining your skin type and sub-skin type, check the labels of the cosmetics you choose.

Google the ingredients if you want to expand your information on their characteristics and how they interact with each other.

Bonus Tip: We are lucky to live in the era of open Internet communication, and there are many fantastic sites where you can find everything about the ingredient content of the cosmetics already available.

Act wise, and always check your favorite sources for expert advice before investing your money in cosmetics that promise a lot but give off little in return.

Now, what makes a Korean skincare routine work (apart from persistence and quality cosmetics) is that Koreans build their regimen around diversity.

Giving your skin essential and various healthy compounds is a top priority.

But knowing how to alternate these, so that your skin doesn’t get used to any of the beneficial ingredients, is how you will start to see the results.

Behind the Scenes: Additional skin-friendly solutions, such as ampoules and essences, are also a regular part of the Koreans beauty regimen.

However, our team likes to call these the Pro League, because if you want to reap all the benefits, first, you need to start following your skin care routine with dedication.

Continue for at least a month, and when you have the motivation to proceed -- try out implementing your essences and ampoules (these are used before the serum).

If you only intend to put these once in awhile -- you’d better just save your money!

The Pro League tools put your consistency on a test, so it should be your top priority.

Korean Beauty Regimen For All Skin Types

Regardless of the skin type, the steps of the Korean skin care routine that lead to flawless skin are quite the same.

But you still have to choose the most suitable product for you.

Below, we are listing a valuable outlook on the best ways to find and implement your cosmetics efficiently to reap off all the benefits.

Step 1: Double Cleansing

Go over the face with a clean piece of cotton, dab in an oil-based cleanser. Then wash the face with a suitable product 2 times in a row.

For acne-prone and oily skin, let foamy washes be your leading ones. Gel-like products can be appropriate for every skin type, while creamy cleansers work best for dry and combination skin.

You can check out our list of the best Korean face washes here.

Step 2: Toning

Proceed with a toner, by soaking it on a cotton pad, or tapping it in with your hands. That depends mostly on your mood and the consistency of the product.

Check for its suitability, using our cheat sheet ingredient list above, and here's the full list of the best Korean toners on the market.

Step 3: Exfoliation

Koreans are notorious for their every day scrubbing routine. In case of acne prone and sensitive skin, opt for more natural based products, containing micro-abrasive particles and don’t rub in too energetically.

Just light, gentle moves, without pressing too firmly on the skin. For dry, mature, and combination skin type, oil-based exfoliators are the best to use on a regular base.

If you are looking for the most effective products to use, check out our roundup of the best Korean exfoliators here.

Step 4: Serum /+ essence + ampoule/ 

Inject essential elements deep in the skin by using a serum, essence, and an ampoule. For beginners, the serum is a good start.

Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid are among the most popular serum ingredients, as every skin type can benefit from their proper use.

We've also made a full list of the best Korean serums and the best Korean Essence products, make sure you check them out to find the best ones for your routines.

Step 5: Eye Creams

Applying these is a unique blood flow-enhancer for the under eye area. Tap the creams using your ring finger, starting from the inner to the outer sides.

When I tried a Korean beauty regimen for a month, the improving of the eye skin perimeter was the first most mind-blowing difference to see on my face.

Most daily eye creams are created to suit all skin types. If you're looking for the most effective Korean eye creams to use, make sure you read our roundup here.

Step 6: Moisturizer

Apply a daily and nightly moisturizer accordingly. Massage in with the cult favorite, time-tested classics -- gentle, circular movements.

People with predominantly dry skin type can use more creamy, rich formulations. For the rest, it’s best to stick with more lightweight products.

If you're unsure about which moisturizing product is good for your skin, check out our detailed roundup of the best Korean moisturizers here.

Step 7: Sunscreen

Yes, every day-- just like a regular moisturizer. For acne-prone and sensitive skin, go for products, containing Zinc Oxide, but restrain from Titanium Dioxide.

In case of oily skin, a combination of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide is the best.

In case of dry and combination skin type, sunscreen elements such as Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octisalate, and Octocrylene can do a decent job for your skin.

But don’t forget to alternate these with physical sunscreens (e.g Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide), as you don’t want to let chemical sunscreens accumulate in the organism for an extended period.

And also don't forget to find the best Korean sunscreens to protect your skin.

Bonus Step: Face Masks

We have an incredibly abundant choice of face masks to use for every skin type, and it’s all listed on the products’ instructions since they target specific demands and conditions.

However, as the typical morning routine for most of us won’t leave enough time to apply a face mask as well, you can merely take advantage of these nutritious bombs at night.

The Uncensored Truth: If you want good results, you must do these steps every day. Don’t rush and let the time reveal your skin gains.

That process might take up to 3 months to notice more visible changes, but the most significant part is that it will be worth the efforts.

Don't forget to try different masks, such as a good Korean sleeping mask, to find the one that works best for your skin.

And when you get what you were aiming for -- just don’t stop repeating the steps with the same diligence and motivation you did from the start.

The Bottom Line

I remember the beginning of my beauty expert career. I was watching a video of the famous beauty vlogger Sara K.

It had more than 20 million views (to date it’s reaching 40 million!), showing how to turn a red, bumpy, inflamed, and irritated face into a smooth, Instagram ready skin, using special foundation techniques and tools. 

And then I thought how sad it is that we have to fight so hard to feel comfortable in our skin when this is a sacred right for every person, no matter the age, gender, or skin type.

That’s why our team keeps showing respect and spreading the secrets of the Korean beauty regimen, so that more people can understand the responsibility we have towards our skin’s sake.

We hope we have been of your assistance with sharing our expert insights here for free. We can’t skip to mention that day and night skin care is the golden thread that leads to the most significant results.

You can check out our team’s work on the best day and night routines to keep the skin glowing and healthy.