Koreans employ a holistic approach to their skin care that includes consistent routines, proactive vigilance, and healthy skin care habits practiced from an early age.
Much like how we seek a balanced diet comprising the right nutrients and vitamins that cater to our body types, a balanced skin care routine involves using the right mix of products and ingredients that work for our skin type. Everyone's skin is different, and understanding your skin is a big focus of the Korean beauty philosophy.
Before you can begin the multi-step process that makes up the K-Beauty routine, you first need to take stock of what you're currently using and note any allergic or negative reactions to a product. By paying attention to the ingredients in your products, you can identify the ones your skin dislikes and those it needs.
The key factor of the K-Beauty routine is respecting your skin. Instead of using harsh ingredients that can damage the skin's natural barrier, the Korean skin care philosophy suggests working with your skin's natural ecosystem by cleansing, hydrating, nourishing, and protecting it.
Another important element in K-Beauty is consistency. The routine would generally include a balm or oil cleanser, foaming cleanser, exfoliant, toner, essence, ampoule or serum, sheet mask, eye cream, moisturizer, and either a thicker night cream, sleeping mask, or an SPF cream.
Contrary to popular belief, the Korean routine is not necessarily a 10-step process: it can be five or even 15 steps long. The number of steps in the K-Beauty routine can vary based on either what your skin needs or the time you have at your disposal.