Korean beauty products are a nearly $1 billion industry and gaining traction all over the world. Recently, it gained attention for its famed 10-step routine, which some people swear by, and others think is overkill.
While celebrities and influencers alike rave about the Korean skin care routine, is it actually worth it? After all, putting 10 products on your face doesn’t exactly save time before bed or in the morning.
In this article, we’ll talk about what the 10-step routine entails and whether it’s worth it to try it for yourself. Read on for more information on the trendy skincare.
What is the 10-Step Korean Skin Care Routine?
The 10 step routine acts as a bedtime ritual for those who are obsessed with their skin. While most women, and increasingly men, might put one or two products on their face before hitting the sack, this routine has you put on 10 different products.
The products in the routine are not uniform, as in it isn’t a one size fits all thing. You purchase items for your skin type and those that work for you.
But broken down, here are the 10 steps:
1. Oil Cleanse
2. Foam Cleanse
3. Exfoliation
4. Toner
5. Essence
6. Serums
7. Mask
8. Eye cream
9. Moisturizer
10. Night cream
What is Essence?
The 10 steps are probably pretty self-explanatory to anyone who knows even a little bit about skin care. But essence isn’t necessarily the most familiar step in the routine. So what is it?
Essence is an essential part of the 10-step Korean skin care. In Korea, lightening and firming the skin are two important parts of a good skin routine, as white skin is viewed as a mark of beauty.
A good essence will whiten your skin while keeping it looking firm and youthful. Though, to be honest, this might be a step many people in the United States or other countries in the west skip.
In the west, a lot of people replace an essence with wrinkle cream or something to simply keep the face firmer. As lightening your skin isn’t as much of a trend in the west, a single wrinkle cream will do.
Is This Routine for Everyone?
While not everyone has the patience to put 10 products on their skin in a row, much less when they are labor intensive, there are a couple of other reasons why this routine may not work well for everyone.
The 10-step Korean skin care program was created for women living in Korea. In Korea, they aren’t exposed to the sun as much as women in other climates, and therefore there isn’t much sun protection in the routine.
If you live in a hotter climate, using sunscreen is essential. It not only helps keep aging at bay but also protects you from skin cancer. Likewise, a skin routine developed in a hotter climate would probably be overkill for people in Korea, as they simply don’t need as much protection on their skin.
Koreans also generally have lighter skin and want to maintain the fairness. That’s fine for their culture but isn’t practical everywhere as skin shades and textures vary depending on the person and region.
If I Start the Routine Do I Have to Do It Every Day?
If you want to see what the fuss is all about when it comes to Korean skincare, you don’t have to feel as though you’re committing to using the ten products all day every day. Instead, you can buy the products for the routine and not do it every single day.
Some skin care experts say that you can try it, and if you like it but don’t have the time for it every night, to use it as a treat. You could indulge every other night, once a week or once a month. You can even decide to use the routine only during the winter months when the sun isn’t as bright.
That way, you can switch up your routine for more protection in the summer.
Why the Products Might Fit Into Korean Culture But Not Ours
In the United States and in the west typically, there is always a sense of urgency and being in a hurry. Enjoying your skin care routine is a spa only kind of thing. Almost every product advertised emphasizes how it can save us time in the long run. The Korean skincare process goes against that notion, and instead, asks you to savor the moments and elongate the process.
For many Americans and westerners, this goes against our value system of getting things done as quickly as possible. However, in Korea, there is already a long history of using skincare products to help keep the skin looking its best.
This is something that as westerners, we would need to get used to in order to adopt this routine into our everyday lives.
What Products Are Essential?
If you want to adopt the Korean 10-step regime but don’t have the time, you can incorporate some of the most important products. To get to the very heart of it, each morning wash your face with water. Apply toner, serum and then eye cream in that order.
Never forget to moisturize with a cream that has SPF in it, especially if you live in a warm climate. Although this isn’t always emphasized in Korean beauty routines, the sun protection is absolutely essential.
Should I Try the Routine?
If you have the time and money to attempt the Korean skin care routine, you can give it a shot. However, you should be aware that adding extra products on the skin can cause blemishes and breakouts, so know this before slathering it all on your face.
For taking the plunge into purchasing Korean products, ensure that you buy products that list the ingredients in English. This way, you’ll know if there is something in it that could potentially irritate your skin.
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