We’ve come a long way in grooming. Over the past ten years, males have abandoned the old soap and flannel ritual in favor of using scrubs, masks, moisturizers, serums, and balms. Perhaps this is the right time to level up once more.
The world is rapidly adopting a 10-step Korean skin care program that promises to keep you looking young well into middle age. The effective formulae and opulent routines of Korean skincare, or “K-beauty,” which has been wooing women’s bathroom cabinets for some time, are beginning to catch on with Western guys.
Because it involves 10 steps and requires work, it is not the perfect regimen for men who wash their face with shower gel or spray deodorant into their pants.
Table of Contents
WHAT IS KOREAN SKINCARE?
Korea has long been recognized as the heart of skincare research, and it is thought to have popularized ingredients like egg white, green tea, and snail mucus (yes, it works as a hydrator). Everyone is talking about the much more comprehensive method since so many innovations are coming out of the eastern state that it is almost impossible to follow a traditional three-step exfoliate, wash, and moisturize routine.
Furthermore, many Koreans spend time ensuring their skin is as healthy as it can be since they think you can read your fate on your face. This requires a comprehensive approach that addresses all problems, such as hydration, nourishment, and protection, to name a few.
Adopting a skin care routine with Korean influences can also change your mindset so that you no longer see caring for your skin as a chore but rather as a treat. It’s more of a lifestyle trend, akin to the recent rise in traditional barbershops, but with the bonus of gorgeous skin.
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO KOREAN SKINCARE
Even though it may initially seem extravagant, the traditional 10-step Once your Korean skincare routine becomes a regular part of your day, it is simple (and enjoyable). Here are the components, their correct application, and application directions for a face fit for a K-pop star.
STEP 1: OIL CLEANSE
Fortunately, western thought has already been impacted by the first phase of the entire Korean skincare regimen. In contrast to water-based products, oil cleansers can dissolve oil-based substances like pollutants, sebum, and sunscreen. They are typically nourishing, hydrating, and deeply soothing with a natural aroma and tranquil texture.
What It Does: Removes dirt, germs, and debris from the skin.
How to Do It: Work in a thorough massage each morning and evening.
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STEP 2: WATER CLEANSER
Dermatologists, estheticians, and facialists have advocated double washing for almost as long as the Koreans. Oil dissolves oil. Therefore, it seems that you’d need a different cleanser to remove any water-based impurities. Find gentle cleansers, such as milk, that eliminate impurities from the skin without stripping it.
What It Does: Gets rid of any last-minute water-based filth and debris.
How to Do It Work: The best times to do it are in the early morning and late at night.
STEP 3: EXFOLIATOR
Most men know what this step does, but did you realize there are different kinds? Physical exfoliators are abrasive scrubs containing ingredients like salt, grains, or walnuts that are tougher on the skin if you have a beard or dry skin. For everyone else, stick to a chemical exfoliant that contains an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), such as glycolic, lactic, or mandelic acid, to more thoroughly remove dead skin.
What It Does: Dead skin cells are removed so subsequent products can absorb them better.
How to Do It: Focus on problem areas once an evening, twice a week.
STEP 4 : ESSENCE
Essences are one of the most well-liked components of Korean skincare since they hydrate the deeper dermal layers and prepare the skin for the next step. These are “watery lotions or thin gels with more concentrated active ingredients; they are typically produced with a greater quantity of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and other natural extracts,” according to Cho.
What It Does: With an active lotion hydrates and strengthens the skin.
Use a small amount and pat it on your face and neck every morning and evening to achieve this.
STEP 5 : SERUMS
The kings of the cosmetics industry, serums lay the groundwork for flawless skin. They include the most chemically active substances, which can heal anything from aging to dehydration. Given that the field of skin care has developed to a more specialized level, you should decide what you want.
What It Does: Directly treat problem areas or infuse the entire face with therapeutic ingredients.
How to Do It: Use a small amount every morning and evening on the face, neck, or affected areas.
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STEP 6: SHEET MASKS
In Korea, paper has been utilized for hundreds of years. The first sheet masks were created. Although technology has improved, using a barrier to drive humectants—ingredients that help bind water to the skin—and other things into the face is still the same. Currently, sheet masks are available composed of tissue, hydrogel, and bio-cellulose, each with specific advantages and efficacy. Additionally, they are excellent for Instagram selfies.
What It Does: Prolonged skin contact allows concentrated chemicals to be completely absorbed.
How: After relaxing for 20 minutes, pat on clean skin and apply the remaining essence twice a week.
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STEP 7: EYE CREAM
Another common practice in the west involves using eye creams to the sensitive periorbital area, which is the area right around your eyes, to provide skin-strengthening proteins like peptides. This category includes eye gels and eye creams, which are excellent for those who want to reduce puffiness or have younger skin (ideal for older skin looking to tone, tighten and lift). Unfortunately, dark circles are mostly inherited but can be made lighter with a brightening eye gel.
What It Does: The area surrounding the eyes is hydrated and illuminated.
How to Do It: Every morning and evening, gently run your ring finger across the entire orbital bone.
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STEP 8 : EMULATION
Not acquainted with it? Don’t worry; you probably aren’t alone. Emulsions are light moisturizers that are excellent for men’s skin. However, people who live in humid climates and don’t want the occlusive effects of heavy lotions may also prefer them. An emulsion, like moisturizers, adds its special mix of humectants, vitamins, and active ingredients while preserving the advantages of the first seven procedures. They can, however, permeate deeper layers of the skin than moisturizers because of a molecular structure that is typically smaller. Ohh, its science.
What It Does: It provides nourishment and moisture retention for the skin.
How to Do It: Pat your face and neck in the morning and at night.
STEP 9 : MOISTURIZER
Moisturizers, which can be found in various forms such as gels, creams, and oils, work to seal in the previous nine processes. Because they kept the skin’s moisture levels stable by securing the water in the dermis to stop evaporation, moisturizers were increasingly popular. The most popular skincare category has changed, concentrating largely on dry, dehydrated, and aging skin.
What It Does: Preserves moisture to leave skin smooth and supple.
How to Do It: Pat your face and neck in the morning and at night.
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STEP 10: SPF
Performing the final step of the remaining nine processes in Korean skincare is almost immoral. Sun damage is the fundamental cause of all external skin problems, including pigmentation, dryness, and premature aging. The sun is viewed as a danger in Korea, where Koreans value a practically “cloudless” sky. They get ready for it with visors, sunglasses, gloves, and, most importantly, SPF.
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What It Does: Protects the skin from UVA and UVB sun damage.
What It Does: Reapply makeup daily to the face, neck, shoulders, and ears.
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KOREAN SKINCARE RULES (SIMPLIFIED)
It’s not always possible to find the time or money to complete the 10-step Korean skincare regimen, despite its great programme overall.But that does not imply that you should give up completely.Fortunately, face-based prizes are still available even when you lower it to just five.
DOUBLE-CLEANSE
Whether you apply sunscreen, wear makeup, or have bare skin, double cleaning is still necessary, even with fewer steps. Boys who live in cities should take extra measures because the high pollution levels they are exposed to can wreak havoc on their pores and dermis.
ESSENCE
Think of your skin as a sponge: a wet sponge can absorb anything, while a dry, brittle one can’t. Essence is the substance that hydrates your skin and enables you to get the most out of your serums.
SERUM
Now that you’ve cleaned, primed, and prepared, it’s time for the fun stuff. Koreans wait to move on from the 10 phases of serum until the skin has completely absorbed the most active phase. You are welcome to combine and match, modifying your choice to meet your demands for any type of skin problem.
MOISTURIZER SPF
One of the simplest ways to simplify your skincare routine is to look for opportunities to double up. Moisturizers with SPF have just recently hit the market, and they are less skillful than their colleagues who are unprotected.
Include these 5 Korean skincare companies in your bathroom’s decor
COSRX
Since its founding in 2014, COSRX has become one of the few Korean skincare companies to have commercial success in the west thanks to the calming, hydrating, and barrier-restore qualities packed into each product. Although the company focuses on relaxing skincare, you’ll want to use its potent Vitamin C serum in all ten recommended steps because it has an incredible 20% active level.
HANSKIN
The first BB cream was created and made popular in the early 2000s by Hanskin, one of the most well-known names in Korean skincare. A multi-molecular kind of hyaluronic acid is present to hydrate the skin. The business is well known for using a medical, scientific approach to product formulation. The cleansing oil is one of the few cleansers that also contain ingredients that nourish and exfoliate the skin, so it shouldn’t be ignored.
DR. JART
Can you think of a better relationship to produce a beautiful face than the one that led to the founding of DR JART by an architect and a dermatologist? Dr. Jart’s products are known for their inventive packaging and eye-catching aesthetics. The business is well known for its sheet masks, available at various addresses, everything from pigmentation to acne.
NEOGEN
Another lab-based company, Neogen, focuses on the microbiota and enzymes present in organic foods to treat the skin thoroughly but effectively. Its goods are all simplified, straightforward, and backed by reliable science (almost all patented, FYI). The Gentle Green Tea Pads are excellent for sensitive skin because gentle exfoliation is favored in Korea.
SON & PARK
The Land of the Morning Calm is well-known for Son & Park, a company formed by artists, and its Beauty Water. The item is one of those skincare products that can wash, tone, exfoliate, and moisturize all at once, making it appropriate for almost every category. After a few uses, it becomes evident why it is a cult.