At the beginning of the year, many want to review their daily life and their goals. A frequently recurring New Year's resolution is to start a skincare routine. Today there is so much information about skincare and cosmetics that it can be difficult to know where to start. Even the thought that a skincare routine takes a lot of time can make it harder to get started. Therefore, we have gathered good tips in this article about what to consider when starting with skincare and how to create a Korean skincare routine that suits you – simple and without emptying your wallet. 

Skincare does not have to be complicated, but can become part of a relaxing daily routine. 

What is Korean skincare today?

Many think of Korean skincare as long and complicated routines with several different products. The 10-step routine is often misunderstood, and today we have moved far from it. Nowadays, Korean skincare focuses on preventing skin problems, keeping the skin strong and hydrated, and utilizing versatile products. The most important thing is that the skincare is regular. By keeping keep the skincare routine simple and start with a minimalist routine, it is more likely to be maintained. 

Starting with skincare – the basics 

The basic elements of skincare are simple: cleansing, moisturizing, and protection.

Everything beyond this is a bonus, but everyone manages excellently with these. If you want clearer changes in your skin, it can be good to add a serum that suits your skin type and your goals.

Cleansing – gentleness above all

Double cleansing is typical and popular in Korean skincare, but a beginner manages well with one cleanser! We tell you more about the benefits of double cleansing, among other things, in this article, which explains the origin of the 10-step skincare routine. 

You can choose a cleansing product that suits you depending on your preferences, your skin type, and how strong a cleansing effect you need.

👇🏽 From the list below, you can choose either one or several product types depending on your needs.

Cleansing oils and balms

Oilbased cleansing products are one of the best options for cleansing. Their combination of cleansing and oil-based ingredients helps effectively remove dirt and makeup without burdening the skin. Most oil-based cleansing products are suitable for simple cleansing and rinse off easily with lukewarm water. For simple cleansing, try for example hwarang's Peony Grinding Cleansing Balm or SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil.

Oily skin does not need to be afraid of oil-based cleansing: it does not leave the skin oily but only soft and clean. We recommend oil-based cleansing for all skin types, as it is both effective and gentle, and does not easily damage the skin's protective barrier.

Cleansing gels and foams

Cleansing gels and foams are well known to many and are popular in Korea! They work well as part of double cleansing, as their ability to remove makeup is lower compared to oil-based products. Cleansing gels and foams are therefore an excellent option for those who do not wear makeup or wear very little makeup.

Micellar water and cleansing wipes

Cleansing wipes and micellar water, which are intended for quick cleansing, are convenient for travel and outings, but we do not recommend these for daily use. Why? They are rarely as effective as oil-based cleansing products intended for daily makeup removal and the rubbing often required can irritate both the skin and eyes. However, they are a good emergency option for extra tired evenings and very practical when traveling!

Hydration and targeted treatment

Healthy skin is balanced and hydrated. Climate, age, skin type, medications, hormones, and many other factors affect how much extra moisture the skin needs. Even oily and impure skin needs moisture, but for this skin type, light, gel-like products work best, which balance the skin. 

The skin's moisture balance consists of many factors and substances. Our skin contains natural moisturizing factors (NMF), which are water-soluble substances that maintain healthy and strong skin. Whether your skin is oily or dry, the skin's moisture balance is then out of balance and a well-chosen cleansing product as well as moisturizer helps the skin achieve a better balance. When you combine a moisturizing product with active ingredients, that is, the substances that most affect the skin's visible condition, you get a very versatile product in the routine that both hydrates and improves the skin. For example, vitamin C has long been a popular ingredient to brighten and even out the skin, so Medicube moisturizer, which contains vitamin C capsules, is the perfect solution for a simple and modern skincare routine. For dry and sensitive skin, you get extra effect with a moisturizer that contains peptides and ceramides, such as Soondings Coconut Hydro Barrier Cream. For oily and acne-prone skin, a light moisturizer which contains niacinamide and centella a good option to give the skin balance. You also get real multi-effect from Some By Mis moisturizer with retinol, which combines the best properties of serum and moisturizer in one product. 

Sunscreen – the most important preventive step

Sunscreen is the most important step in the skincare routine because it is the best way to prevent all skin problems from wrinkles to pigmentation spots and minimize the risk of skin cancer. The benefit of sunscreen is an indisputable fact, and no serum can achieve what sunscreen can prevent. Korean skincare is based precisely on prevention and protecting the skin from the sun's harmful UV rays and is therefore the most important part of the Korean routine. 

The popularity of Korean sunscreens is based on the high demands placed on sunscreens in Korea as well as that they should be pleasant and easy to use as part of the daily skincare routine. Therefore, they are often more elegant and lighter in texture than Western sunscreen products, and their price–quality ratio is unusually good. In Korea, modern sunscreens have long been developed that combine high and broad protection (SPF 50+ or PA++++) with skin-caring ingredients. For example, the super successful Beauty Of Joseons sunscreen with ginseng, rice, and skin-strengthening ceramides that are both moisturizing and evening out skin tone as well as brightening. 

How to use sunscreen correctly? Sunscreen is always the last step in the skincare routine before makeup is applied. For the sun protection factor stated on the packaging to be achieved, the product must be applied in sufficient amount. For the face, this means about 1/4–1/2 teaspoon of sunscreen, which corresponds to the official recommendation of 2 mg/cm². Since it can feel difficult to measure the amount for the face, a simpler rule of thumb is to use about half a teaspoon or apply the sunscreen in a length corresponding to 2–3 fingers. However, the finger measurement is only an approximate guideline, as the size of the fingers and the product's consistency can affect the actual amount.

The last and very important point is waiting until the sun protection has been absorbed by the skin. The effectiveness of sun protection is based both on its content and its ability to form a "film" on the skin's surface, so that the protection is even and not easily wiped off. That is why it is good to let it settle calmly before you start applying makeup.

Explore our carefully selected range of sunscreenshere and find an option that feels comfortable for daily use! 🌞

How many products does a skincare routine really need? 

This depends on many factors, but these steps in the routine we would not skip: cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. With three products, you can go a long way! However, if you want a bit more from your skincare, serum and/or essence can be an excellent addition to the daily routine. For many, 4-5 products work well, while others enjoy a more extensive skincare routine. Often, less is more. When several products are used simultaneously, it can be difficult to assess the effects of each. Additionally, skin reactions are possible, and if there are many products, it can be hard to identify which one causes the reaction.

If you find that your skin, beyond the mentioned steps, still suffers from dryness, try adding a moisturizing essence in your routine. Focus on milky, versatile moisturizing essences instead of exfoliating products. Ingredients such as ceramides, panthenol, PCA, PHA, collagen, and hyaluronic acid are excellent moisturizers for the skin and also help strengthen the skin's protective barrier so that moisture does not evaporate so quickly. 

If your skin suffers from impurities or if you want a product that prevents signs of aging, choose a serum that contains, for example, retinol or retinaldehyde, which belong to the vitamin A family. These are ingredients that work against both impurities and signs of aging. A vitamin A serum suitable for beginners is, for example, K-Secrets retinal serum.

Skincare routine for beginners by skin type

When we know which products should be added to the skincare routine, all that remains is to find the products that suit you. To make this as easy as possible, we have compiled ready-made recommendations for skincare routines based on skin type and skin problems! Explore the starter kits via the links below: 

• Hanbang starter kit*
• Starter kit for normal skin
• Starter kit for dry skin
• Starter kit for combination skin
• Starter kit for oily skin
• Starter kit for acne-prone skin
• Starter kit for sensitive skin
• Starter kit for Well-age

*hanbang is traditional Korean medicine whose ingredients are also used in cosmetics. These are part of traditional Korean skincare and are found in every modern Korean product.

The most common mistakes when starting with skincare

What happens if the products don’t work? And if I am allergic? What can you really expect from skincare and how do you avoid the most common pitfalls in the skincare routine?

🤹🏻 Too many new products at once: This is very common when getting enthusiastic about skincare and cosmetics – and therefore also a well-known challenge for us. The risk of skin reactions increases if several new products are introduced at the same time. Then it is also difficult to assess the effects of the products, as it is hard to determine which product affects the skin and in what way. Therefore, start with a simple routine and add only 1–2 new products at a time. Especially sensitive skin should always do a sensitivity test before using a new product. For example, test the product on the neck or jawline and wait a day to see if it causes a skin reaction.

🏃🏽➡️ Expecting results too quickly: It’s completely natural to want results from skincare, but sometimes the skin needs time to get used to new products. With regular use, changes often start to appear only after weeks or even months.

🌞 Skipping sunscreen: This is a must! If you do everything else but don’t use sunscreen, it’s time to change that ☝🏼

Summary: a working Korean skincare routine is simple

No matter what type of skincare routine you choose, a working routine is one that works specifically for you and remains a regular part of your daily life. Whether you want the simplest routine possible or are curious to try many products, we always have something for everyone 💜 

Sources:

Understanding the Role of Natural Moisturizing Factor in Skin Hydration Read the article

The Science Behind Sunscreen: A Guide to Applying an Effective Amount of Protection Read the article