10 Step Korean Skincare Routine
The influence of Korean beauty has finally hit the UK beauty scene, with influencers and celebrities trying to achieve ‘glass skin’. Not one to shy away from a challenge, the Procoal team gave it a try for a week to see how difficult it was and if it was worth the effort.
The Process
After extensive research online, it seemed clear there was no definitive ‘10 Steps’ as almost all of them were slightly different but followed a similar pattern. For example, some people choose to use a scrub, but this can be very taxing on the skin and cause irritation if used every day. The final order looked like this:
Oil Cleanser
Foaming Cleanser
Toner
Essence
Lotion
Serum
Sheet Mask
Eye Cream
Moisturiser
SPF
Oil Cleanser
Apply directly to dry skin after washing your hands to remove any makeup and pollutants that may be hiding on your skin. Dermalogica Balm was chosen for this challenge.
Foaming Cleanser
A consistent step in the Korean skincare routine is double cleansing, as the second step can help remove any impurities that may be causing breakouts. The Biore Baking Soda Cleanser was chosen because it is known for its excellent skin blemish fighting properties.
Toner
This is considered a great prep step and also removes any excess residue from cleansing products. However, Jess isn’t a big fan of toners in general, so they opted for the Pixi Glow Tonic as it is more of a liquid exfoliant that leaves skin glowing.
Essence
As for the anti-aging aspect of the routine, serums are incredibly hydrating and work similarly to a serum. This was an area that neither Jess nor Tom knew much about, and after some advice, they opted for the Estee Lauder Micro Essence.
Lotion
This layer isn’t included in all the routines you can find online (about 20%), but it does help create that “glass skin” look. Since lotions are usually water-based, it was hard for Jess to find one in her beauty collection, so the L’Oreal HydraGenius Aloe Vera Water was the closest option.
Serum
Serum is an important part of your skin care routine as it firms and smooths the skin, restores elasticity and moisture, and regulates sebum production. After extensive research, Jess and Tom decided on a Vitamin C serum, with the Vonza serum being their product of choice.
Sheet Mask
This is the longest part of the whole process, taking between 15 and 20 minutes. However, it is the most relaxing part of the whole process and can be very relaxing in the morning. The Marine Hydrating Mask was chosen, each containing 25 ml of extract-rich serum and botanical extracts.
Eye Cream
While some debate the actual benefits of eye cream, the fact is that the area under the eyes is extremely sensitive and unfortunately prone to dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Luckily, this is where eye cream comes into play, hydrating, nourishing, preventing dullness and softening fine lines. The weapon of choice for the plan was the Aurelia Eye Cream.
Moisturizer
Jess couldn’t stop loving and admiring the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, so decided on this before planning her routine!
SPF
One of the most important takeaways from the whole routine was the need to protect yourself from the sun, even in the winter months. They chose a quick, simple spray as a finishing touch and chose La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Face Mist, SPF 50.
How long did it take?
The first day took an hour, which was exhausting, but as the week went on, the time got shorter and shorter, becoming a quickie mode, eventually coming down to 40 minutes. The biggest time investment was the mask, with a target of 20 minutes on the face, which accounted for 50% of the time invested on the weekend.
What else did people include in their 10-step routine?
As mentioned before, not everyone has exactly the same routine as us. Some people choose to exfoliate every day, but we weren’t sure if this would cause skin irritation, so we decided not to. Lip balm is also sometimes used, but it seems like an easy way to go if you don’t know what to add, as it’s pretty separate from any other part of the process.
Others have added ampoules, which work very similarly to serums, offering some anti-aging benefits and helping with certain skin care issues. The problem is that it doesn’t seem to offer anything more than what we already have in our routine, so we’re not sure if it’s just duplication of limited benefits.
We mentioned that SPF and moisturizer are separate steps, but some people use moisturizer with SPF, so they can include an additional option.
Is it effective?
Both Jess and Tom found it to work surprisingly well and were impressed with the results. Tom’s skin definitely had a glow at the end, although that’s not surprising since he’s not used to putting anything on his skin.
On the second day, both Tom and Jess had a slight rash, but it went away within 48 hours and they ended up with completely clear skin.
One stumbling block was that the eyes actually burned on the fourth day, and they burned for about 10-20 minutes each morning because so much product was applied to the face.
Both liked the foaming cleanser as a starting point, but may not use two cleansers in the future, and they both plan to continue using serums, eye creams, moisturizers, and sunscreen every day. The mask seemed to work well, but she cut it down to 1-2 times a week due to time constraints.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
