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10 Steps of the Korean Skin Care Method
Beauty

10 Steps of the Korean Skin Care Method

8 March 2025


10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine




The influence of K-beauty has well and truly made it over to the UK beauty industry, as influencers and celebrities alike are giving it a go, in an attempt to get ‘Glass Skin’. Not one to shy away from a challenge, the team at Procoal gave it a go for one week, to test out how difficult it would be and whether it was worth the effort.



The Process




Following some heavy research online, it appeared evident there wasn’t a clear ’10 step’, as almost all of them had a slight spin on it, but all kept a similar pattern. For example, some opted to include an exfoliator, however this could be pretty heavy on the skin and cause irritation if performed every day. The final order is highlighted below:



Oil Cleanser




Foam Cleanser



Toner




Essence



Emulsion




Serum



Sheet Mask




Eye Cream



Moisturiser




SPF



Oil Cleanser




After washing your hands, this is applied straight onto dry skin, helping to remove any make-up and any pollutants which could be lurking on the skin. For the challenge, the Dermalogica Balm was chosen.



Foam Cleanser




A consistent step in the Korean skin care routine is to cleanse twice, as this second step can help to remove any impurities which could cause a breakout. The Biore Baking Soda Wash was opted for as it is known for its great blemish control properties.


Toner

This is seen as a great preparation step, while also removing any excess residue left over from the cleansers, however Jess isn’t a huge fan of toner’s in general, therefore they opted for the Pixi Glow Tonic because it is more of a liquid exfoliator and will help bring a glow and radiance to the skin.

Essence

Moving on to the anti-ageing aspect of the routine, the essence can be incredibly hydrating, working in a similar manner to a serum. This was an area neither Jess or Tom were very clued up on, while after some advice, they chose the Estee Lauder Micro Essence.

Emulsion

This layer isn’t included in all the routines you can find online (around 20% of them), however it helps to add to the ‘glass skin’ appearance. With emulsions normally water based, Jess struggled to find something in her artillery of beauty products, so the closest option was the L’Oréal HydraGenius Aloe Water.

Serum

From helping to firm and smooth the skin, to restoring elasticity and moisture to the skin, as well as helping to regulate oil production, a serum is a crucial part of the daily skincare routine. Jess and Tom opted for a Vitamin C serum following some extensive research, with the Vonza serum the product of choice.

Sheet Mask

This is the longest part of the entire process, taking 15-20 minutes, however it is the pampering part of the process and can be quite relaxing in the morning. The Marine Moisture Sheet Mask was chosen, with each sheet mask packed with 25ml of extract rich serum, as well as botanical extracts.

Eye Cream

While some debate the real value of an eye cream, the fact is the area under your eyes is highly sensitive and is unfortunately prone to dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Fortunately, this is where an eye cream steps in, to moisturise, nourish and prevent dullness, softening those fine lines. The weapon of choice for this program was the Aurelia Eye Cream.

Moisturiser

Jess couldn’t stop going on about her love and admiration for the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, therefore this was decided before the routine was even lined up!

SPF

One of the key takeaways from the entire routine was the requirement to protect yourself from the sun, even during winter months. Opting for a quick and easy spray as the final touch, they chose the La Roche-Posay anthelios invisible face mist, SPF 50.

How Long Did It Take?

On the first day it took an exhausting 1 hour, however as the week progressed the time continued to decrease as it became a quick pattern, eventually bringing it down to 40 minutes. The biggest time resource was the sheet mask, with the targeted time on the face being 20 minutes, making it 50% of the time consumption by the end of the week.

What Other Items Did People Include In The 10 Step Routine?

As we mentioned, not everyone had the exact same routine as us. Some opted to use an exfoliator each day, however we weren’t sure whether this might cause some irritation so we opted against. Lip balm was also sometimes used, but this felt like an easy way out when struggling to know what to include, as this is very much separate to every other part of the process.

Some others added in the Ampoule, which worked very much like the serum, to offer some anti-ageing benefits, helping to target specific skincare concerns. The issue is it didn’t seem to offer much more than what was already being included in our routine, so we weren’t sure if would just be doubling up and offering limited return.

We mentioned SPF and moisturiser as a separate step, however a couple did use a moisturiser which had an SPF in, allowing them to sneak in an extra option.

Did It Work?

Both Jess and Tom felt it worked amazingly and were very much impressed by the results. Tom’s skin was certainly glowing by the end, however this might be less surprising considering he’s not used to applying anything to the skin.

Both Tom and Jess had a slight outbreak on day 2, but this disappeared within 48 hours and the skin was completely clear by the end.

One stumbling block was that the eyes did sting by day four and every morning they stung for about 10-20 minutes, with so many items packed onto the face.

They both loved the foam cleanser as a starting point, but maybe wouldn’t apply two cleansers going forward, while they have both committed to continuing the serum, eye cream, moisturiser and SPF on a daily basis. The sheet mask seemed to offer great results, but due to time requirements, that would be dropped to 1-2 times per week.

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.
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