10 Step Korean Skincare Routine worth it?

 So today, I want to talk about the steps of skincare. Yes, there are steps. I know it seems like there are Wiki how-to's on everything nowadays; however, the steps to skincare are unique because they change depending on the person. I’ll explain why later. But first, to explain a simple skincare regimen I must explain Korean skincare.

Korean skincare is the most popular idea of skincare today. They lead the world in using the most innovative ingredients in skincare products such as kojic acid, snail mucin, and green tea. Although it may sound strange to use some of these on the skin, they have amazing benefits such as providing antioxidants, brightening and firming the skin, and reducing redness. Consequently, Korea has also led the world with its infamous 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine. When this routine made its way to the Western World, many people raved about it. This lengthy routine is promised to give the “glass skin” look that everyone craves. This routine includes a makeup remover/oil cleanser, water-based cleanser, exfoliator, toner, essence, treatment, sheet masks, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen. For a person just starting skincare, this may sound like a lot (honestly, for me, it still sounds overwhelming). So, I will attempt to break down each of these steps into simpler terms and, in the process, I will state which steps I believe are optional.

The first four steps are simply about cleansing the skin. When cleansing the skin,  there are three main things to focus on. Oil-based impurities, water-based impurities, and dead skin cells. Oil-based impurities for most people is makeup, which is why the first step is makeup remover/oil cleanser. However, you don’t need to wear makeup to have oil-based dirt on your face. This can also be for people who produce more oil. This can be in the summertime or any time of the year. It is important to note that you will not always need an oil-based cleanser. The second step is a water-based cleanser. For most people, this is your regular face wash, and I don’t mean the dove soap bar that you use to wash the rest of your body. The general rule is to use both of these cleansers for 60 seconds each. After your face is clean it’s time to exfoliate. This is the process of removing dead skin cells off your face. It helps the skin resurface with a new fresh layer. Different types of exfoliants do numerous things; I’ll explain in more detail in another blog post. This is also another step that is optional because some people can’t handle the power of exfoliants. Also, it can cause breakouts if not used properly. The final step of the cleansing process is the toner. It removes any leftover impurities and residue from the skin. This the step that prepping your skin for treatments. I believe this step is also optional because if you use a good cleanser then there shouldn’t be any impurities left. 

After cleansing the face the next four steps are more or less about treatments. Step number 5 is an essence. An essence is a product that you use to help hydrate the skin. Most essence also comes with anti-aging properties and antioxidants. Following this is actual treatment. Here you can use any product that treats any concern that you may have on your face. This can be acne, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, aging, etc. This step is generally used for serum-based products. These are products formulated with a thin consistency that allows for better penetration into the face. After the treatment, the 10 step skincare regime says that you should follow up with a sheet mask, then an eye cream. A sheet mask is another treatment step. It allows you to further treat skin concerns. Different sheet masks have different benefits such as brightening, calming the skin, or providing antioxidants. Similarly, an eye cream is another treatment but it’s primarily focused on the under-eye

area. It can help treat under-eye bags, wrinkles, and dark circles.

 In my opinion, I do believe all of these steps that I listed in the last paragraph are optional. My first reason is that many of these steps overlap in benefits. Although an essence may treat anti-aging concerns, a treatment or sheet mask can do the same. This means that you can easily just use one of these to treat all of your concerns. The second reason is that not everyone has a concern they want to treat. In this case, you can skip the treatment steps altogether. Lastly, most eye treatments are formulated with some of the same ingredients that a moisturizer has; therefore, you can swap out an eye cream for your daily moisturizer. This brings me to the last two steps of this regimen- moisturizer and sunscreen.

The last two steps are arguably the most important steps of the regimen. The 9th step is to moisturize. A moisturizer is used (you guessed it) to moisturize. It helps rehydrate your skin and prevents it from drying out. All skin types should moisturize, even oily skin. Without moisturizing, your skin may be prone to more breakouts caused by excess oil production or, if you have dry skin, your skin can turn extremely flaky and drier. After moisturizing, the final step is to use sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your skin from the UV rays that the sun produces. It prevents skin cancer and premature aging. Everyone should wear sunscreen. It doesn’t matter your age, gender, or race because we are all prone to skin cancer. There are two different categories of sunscreen, chemical, and mineral sunscreen. The difference between these two sunscreens is complex so I would have to explain them in a different article. Moreover, there are different levels of sunscreen ranging from SPF 15-50. The higher the SPF the more protection. Also, there are different types of sunscreens. Some examples are broad-spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB rays) and sports (a more waterproof sunscreen for people who work out and sweat more during the day). This is the only step of this routine that should only be used during the day.

Okay, so now that I spent the time explaining the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine, I know some of you may wonder what is my routine? Do I use this routine? If not, what do I use? You might have already guessed my answer, but no, I don’t use the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine. I believe that the routine is too long and has too many products. Generally, when I’m washing my face, I’m either in a rush (morning) or very tired ( night) so I don’t want to spend a lot of time putting products on my face. I also have very sensitive skin so if I put too many products on my face I might have an allergic reaction. So, I keep my face routine to a bare minimum- water-based face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning. However, my routine may change based on the day. For example, when I wear makeup, I do use an oil-based cleanser first. Also on some days, I might use an eye cream, a treatment, and a face mask. Nonetheless, I usually stick to my simpler routine. 

After reading all of this information, I’m sure you're even more confused about how to go about creating a routine. I suggest that you start with the basics- cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Once you are comfortable with that, then you may want to experiment with some of the other products I mentioned above. It’s important to remember that what works for someone else may not work for you. So that means that using all 10 steps may be great for you, but for someone else, they may only need to use 4 or 5. This is why skincare is unique. Everyone has their skin with many different skin concerns and skin types. So there is not a one size fits all product. You have to try new products to see what works best for you. 

So let me know in the comments, Do you have a skincare routine? What are some products that I mention that you never heard about? Which ones do you think you might try? What’s your opinion on the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine?