K-beauty, short for Korean beauty, has taken the global skincare and makeup industry by storm, offering innovative products, unique routines, and an emphasis on skin health and natural beauty. Known for its pioneering ingredients like snail mucin and centella asiatica, and iconic multi-step routines, K-beauty focuses on achieving healthy, glowing skin rather than covering imperfections. But what sets K-beauty apart from other beauty approaches? In this post, we’ll dive into the principles behind K-beauty, explore the popular products and techniques, and discuss how you can integrate this beloved skincare philosophy into your own routine for radiant, rejuvenated skin.
What is K-Beauty?
K-beauty is a beauty skincare routine coming from Korea (Asia). It consists of using a skincare routine’s products in a specific order. The products used contain natural ingredients.
K-beauty is based on a skincare technique called layering. This technique consists of applying different layers of products. Korean women have been using this technique for centuries. Korea is a country based on agriculture; therefore, Koreans spend a long time exposed to sun radiation.
They started using natural products available to protect their skin against the sun’s radiation. Later, after seeing the benefits they had on the skin, they started to commercialise them. With time, K-beauty has reached Western countries and become very popular.
The full K-beauty routine consists of 10 steps. However, there is a simplified skincare routine based on only 5 steps.
How is Asiatic skin?
First, I would like to clarify something. Even if we keep following the Korean skincare routine for years, our skin will never be like the Korean people’s skin. The reason is that Korean people (Asian people in general) and Western countries people have different skin. And I hope nobody says I am racist. The reason I say that is not based on racism but on genetic and biological evidence.
There are several differences between Korean and Western people’s skin:
Korean people have thicker skin because of having more cell layers in the Stratum Corneum.
Their number of ceramides and lipids which keep cells together is also higher. That is important as their skin doesn’t lose as much water as the Western people’s skin does and, therefore, their skin keeps hydrated.
Their amounts of collagen and elastin are also higher and, consequently, they show fewer wrinkles.
Finally, they have less hair, their melanosomes are bigger, and they are equally distributed across the skin, minimising the risk of dark spots.
What do they do to keep their skin healthy?
Korean people base their skincare routine on clean skin. They always make the double cleanse, which is the starting point of any Korean beauty routine. In addition to the double cleanse, they follow a strict skincare routine.
Another very important thing they do is protect the skin against UV radiation, independently on the weather conditions or season of the year. They protect their skin from childhood and prevent, therefore, premature skin ageing.
Women never apply makeup without doing a full skincare routine before. They always prepare their skin and keep hydrating it with face mists across the day.
One of their secrets is using always products indicated for their skin type and condition (skincare and makeup products) and modifying them depending on the skin’s demands.
In the same way that they take good care of the skin from the outside, they do from the inside. They drink plenty of water and avoid highly processed food, sugar, fat, etc. In summary, they keep a healthy diet.
10 Steps K-Beauty Skincare Routine
Korean people follow the 10-step skincare routine as much as they can. Let’s see the different steps involved in that routine:
Wash with an oil-based cleanser
This is the first step in the double cleanse. The goal of this step is to remove makeup and other non-water-soluble dirt. The products used in this step are cleansing oils or cleansing balms, both oil-based cleansers.
This type of product is ideal for removing not only makeup, but excess sebum, pollutants, rest of other skincare products….
This step leaves a soft and hydrating feeling on the skin. It is a step we cannot skip as allows the elimination of dirt which is not soluble in water.
Wash with a water-based cleanser
This is the second step in the double cleanse. It requires a water-based cleanser like cleansing foam, soap bar, cleansing gel…. These water-based cleansers help to remove the rest that the oil-based soap can’t remove and the rest of the oil-based cleanser.
This is another unmissable step as it gets the skin ready for the following steps.
Exfoliation
This step allows the elimination of dead cells and helps to unclog the pores. There are different products available for this step, like physical and chemical scrubs. The chemical scrubs help to make a deeper cleanse as they penetrate the skin while the physical scrubs only exfoliate the skin surface.
This is not a daily step. Depending on the skin type the frequency of exfoliation may vary from once to twice a week. It is however an important step as exfoliation helps cell regeneration, increases the amount of oxygen reaching the cells and boosts collagen production.
Toner
Most people skip this step, but it is also an important step. The toner helps to balance the skin’s pH and starts the moisturising process on the skin. In addition, depending on the type of toner we use, we can provide different benefits to the skin.
Essence
The essence is the big unknown product in the western countries. An essence is a product with a high active ingredient concentration which targets a specific concern.
The essence also helps the skin to absorb other products better. It has effects on the cells which means that it can take a few months to start showing results.
Serums
Serums are like essences but with a higher-density texture. As the essence does, the serums also target specific concerns. The serum of choice may depend on your skin type and concern.
Tissue Mask
A tissue mask provides extra hydration and nourishment to the skin. This is not a daily step; it is enough doing it two to three times a week.
Any K-beauty routine makes use of tissue masks for different reasons. The tissue is soaked in a serum with a high active ingredient concentration. In addition, the tissue produces an occlusive effect. That means that the product stays longer time between the skin and the tissue, therefore, the time the product is in contact with the skin increases. That makes visible results appear quicker.
Eye Cream
The area around the eyes is very sensitive. The skin in this area is thinner than in the rest of the face. Therefore, this area needs specific products. It is not a good idea to apply the face cream on the undereye area.
K-beauty routine advice to use a specific cream for the undereye area and to apply it by tapping with the middle or ring finger rather than rubbing it. That increases blood circulation.
Moisturiser
That refers to the moisturiser cream that everybody uses. The type of moisturiser will depend on when we are doing the routine. During the daytime routine, it is better to use a light moisturiser with SPF if possible. However, for the night skincare routine,e it is better to use a dense cream. That helps to keep all the products applied sealed and avoid water loss during sleep.
Sunscreen or sleeping mask
If we do the routine during the daytime the last product to apply is sunscreen. Apply sunscreen every day, independently on the weather and season. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen which can protect you against UVA, UVB and even IR radiations. Do not forget to re-apply it every 2 hours at least.
If you are doing the routine at night, instead of sunscreen you can use a face oil or a sleeping mask. Facial oils are dry oils which allow to lock moisture on the skin and seal all the previous products applied during the routine.
The other option is the use of a sleeping mask. They are relatively new, and they target specific concerns. There are sleeping masks available with different effects like moisturising, brightening, nourishing… Apply them before going to sleep as a last step of your skincare routine and they will act as you sleep. Then, the next morning, eliminate the mask when cleansing your skin.
5 Steps Routine
The 10-step routine is ideal, and it will help you to keep your skin healthy and looking nice. However, sometimes this routine can be long and tedious. Most of us are living a busy life and we are tired at night. Other people can’t or don’t want to spend money on cosmetics.
For so many different reasons, sometimes the 10-step routine can be too much for us. In this case, you can carry on with a 5-step simplified skincare routine. Let’s see the basic steps in this routine:
Cleansing
If possible, mainly if you have been wearing makeup, make the double cleanse as I explained before. This step, together with the sunscreen in the morning routine, is basic and a MUST for any routine. This is a step you can’t miss.
Toner
After washing your skin, it is important to balance the skin’s pH. The toner is the ideal product for this step.
Serum
As previously mentioned, serums contain a high concentration of active ingredients to target specific concerns. They penetrate deeper into the skin and produce long-term effects.
Moisturising
It is very important to keep the skin hydrated and moisturised. If possible, apply a moisturiser twice a day.
Sunscreen
This product MUST be the last in any daytime skincare routine. If you can invest only in one product, the sunscreen must be the product of your choice.
This simplified routine will keep your skin healthy. However, at least once a week you should carry on with the 10-step routine. At least one day a week your skin needs exfoliation and the extra hydration that tissue masks provide it.
7 skin method
In the last few years, this method has been gaining popularity. It is not a skincare routine. Instead, it is a different way to apply the toner on the fourth step of the 10-step routine (or the second on the 5-strep one).
The 7-skin method consists of applying seven layers of toner, one after the other, letting it dry between the layers. After the seven layers, you can continue with the rest of the steps of your routine.
There is a variant of this method consisting of applying alternate layers of toner and essence up to seven layers in total.
There are different ways to apply the toner, like using a cotton or reusable pad, using a spray bottle, or applying it with the hands (this is my favourite way).
The 7-skin method has numerous benefits for the skin. The most important are:
- Leaves the skin looking healthy
- Produces a refreshing feeling
- Removes all dirt from the skin
- Keeps the skin hydrated
- Gets the skin ready for the rest of the routine
Important Tip
It is important to choose a toner indicated for your skin type. As a rule of thumb:
Oily skin may need a toner which regulates sebum production, closes or reduces pore size, and controls bacteria growth to avoid acne.
Dry skin people should use a toner with emollient and soothing ingredients like glycerine, glycols, and vegetable extracts (aloe vera, oats or mallow). People with dry skin should avoid toner-containing alcohols.
Normal-skin people can basically use any toner. These people can use toners which control oil production, improve skin tone, hydrate, or cleanse the skin.
K-beauty brings a refreshing perspective to skincare and beauty by emphasizing long-term skin health, natural ingredients, and innovative formulations. Its unique approach to skincare routines, with multi-layered steps and effective products, makes it accessible to all skin types and concerns. By incorporating K-beauty principles and products into your routine, you can experience a radiant complexion and enjoy the benefits of nurturing your skin with thoughtfully crafted products. So why not give K-beauty a try and discover how it can transform your skincare journey? With a focus on hydration, nourishment, and skin wellness, K-beauty offers something for everyone, regardless of age or skin type.
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