In Korea and other Asian countries, flawless, plump and extremely well-hydrated skin is considered the absolute ideal of beauty. The aim is to achieve radiant skin without make-up. As a result, skincare in Korea has developed into a veritable art and K-Beauty has become a trademark that has also become indispensable in Europe. It is no exaggeration to say that K-Beauty has revolutionised the beauty industry. Let's travel to Korea together and get to the bottom of the phenomenon of the iconic 10-step skincare routine. Of course, we'll also take a look at some of the most hyped K-Beauty brands.
What is so special about K-Beauty?
Skin care has a very special status in Korea. Most Korean women take a lot of time for their skin and rely on high-quality ingredients. Korean skincare products stand for natural ingredients that can unfold their full effect in highly developed formulations. Many brands also rely on the process of fermentation, which makes it easier for the skin to absorb active ingredients.
Korean Skincare focuses primarily on the prevention of skin conditions such as wrinkles, so sun protection should never be missing from your daily skincare routine. If you've ever wondered whether the viral hype surrounding the sun cream Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics from Beauty of Joseon lives up to its promise, I can say: Yes, definitely. We here in our little beauty editorial team have been fans ever since the light cream with SPF 50+ moved into our shop. It's super light and stays on perfectly, even during sporting activities. We buy it again and again and wouldn't want to be without it.
In other respects, too: better safe than sorry. Combined with gentle active ingredients that are never aggressive, this results in mindful Korean skincare with results that are the envy of Korean women all over the world.
10-Step-Korean-Skincare-Routine
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Korean Skincare - K-Beauty for short - is the 10-Step Skincare routine, which includes up to ten skincare steps depending on your needs and daily form. It is THE beauty ritual based on the concept of thorough and comprehensive skincare. You can tailor each individual product precisely to your skin's needs so that you end up with your own personalised skincare routine with Korean cosmetics. Over the years, the routine has been continuously developed and adapted to meet the needs of different skin types.
The basis of the 10-step skincare routine is K-Beauty's signature double cleansing, which cleanses the skin down to the pores. You start with an oil-based cleanser that removes make-up, dirt from the day, sun cream and sebum. This is followed by cleansing with a water-based cleanser.
This is followed by building up the skincare product layer by layer - known as layering. You start with products that have a light, watery texture and therefore penetrate deeper into the skin. They also prepare the skin to absorb the richer skincare products. In the next steps, the textures become denser and richer. Patience is important. Allow each Korean skincare product to absorb well before moving on to the next step.
Step 1: Oil-based cleaning
The first step is to remove make-up, sebum and dirt from the day with the Cleansing Oil. Gently work the oil into your skin and remove it with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Cleansing
The second step of double cleansing is a cleanser of your choice. This can be a gel, a foam or even a balm if you have very dry skin.
Step 3: Peeling
Exfoliate 1 - 3 times a week to remove dead skin cells and smooth your skin. Whether chemical or mechanical is up to your preference.
Step 4: Toner
Nothing works in K-Beauty without a toner. It balances the pH value of your skin and prepares it for the subsequent skincare treatment. Gently tap it into the skin and wait until it has been absorbed before moving on to the next step.
Step 5: Essence
The essence - usually a rather watery lotion - is still relatively unknown here. It helps your skin with cell regeneration and moisturises. It often contains antioxidants and provides the skin with initial nutrients. Pat it in well in the morning and evening.
Step 6: Treatment - serum or ampoule
Serums - also known as ampoules - are highly dosed and can combat a wide range of skin problems. They can have a clarifying effect, counteract pigmentation spots, tighten the skin and much more - just as you need it. Use a serum in the morning and evening that exactly matches your skin's needs.
Step 7: Mask
There are also conventional masks, but sheet masks are typical for K-Beauty. Wipes soaked in active ingredients - preferably made from cellulose - which you use once a week or as required. Put them on, lean back and enjoy your moment of self-care.
Step 8: Eye care
If you are over 30, this step is probably already part of your conventional beauty routine. Of course, the cream for the thin, sensitive eye area should not be missing from your K-Beauty. Use it in the morning and evening and gently pat it in to reduce puffiness, minimise dark circles or prevent and plump up wrinkles.
Step 9: Moisturiser
The day or night cream incorporates the skincare used previously and - as the name suggests - moisturises all skin types. If your skin is rather oily, use a light gel, if it is very dry, apply a rich cream.
Step 10: Sun protection
K-Beauty without sun protection does not exist. Never forget your SPF in the morning as the last step in your 10-step Korean skincare routine. Even on cloudy days, UVA rays can penetrate your skin and damage collagen and elastin. So prevent pigmentation, wrinkles, sagging skin and an increased risk of skin cancer early on.
Whether you go through all the steps of the Korean 10-step skincare routine is of course entirely up to you. At first glance, it may seem quite complex and time-consuming. Simply start in a relaxed manner and use the Korean skincare products that seem most important to you personally. Maybe it's a serum or the Cleansing Oil. Use the skincare products that are good for you. You can then increase your skincare routine over time.
I currently use these products in my 10-step Korean skincare routine
I admit that I very rarely manage to complete all 10 steps of the Koranic skincare routine. However, I attach particular importance to cleansing. Even in my mid-40s, I still have pimples and sometimes feel like a teenager.
- I use the Natural Cleansing Oil from Urang, a brand that I have known and loved for ten years, as a cleansing oil.
- This is followed by the Active Clean - Gel Cleanser from 11 Village Factory
- I'm currently using the PHA Peeling Gel from Benton, which works both physically thanks to the cellulose particles it contains and as a gentle chemical peeling thanks to PHA acid.
- The absolute highlight of my Korean skincare routine is the Organic Flowers - Toner Deep Rich from Whamisa. I used it again and again a few years ago because it has such a rich texture and moisturises the skin super well.
- The Bean Essence from Mixsoon has a thick consistency which I find very exciting. It gives my skin a little bounce.
- Serum Beauty of Joseon one of our favourite K-Beauty brands with a really great price to performance ratio. I love using the Revive Serum : Ginseng+Snail Mucin.
- This is followed by the Miracle Youth - Sheet Mask Peptide from 11 Village Factory, which really works wonders.
- I then apply the Miracle Youth - Eye Cream from 11 Village Factory to match the mask. Don't we all need a little miracle?
- The Wonder Releaf Centella Cream Unscented is the penultimate step in my K-Beauty routine, it is completely pure and contains Centella Asiatica, which has been used in many K-Beauty products since the beginning.
- I'm currently testing the Birch Juice Moisturising Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ from Round Lab as a sun cream. I think the packaging is just so cute and special that I had to test the cream.
My 10 K-Beauty products I use
K-Beauty brands you need to know
Beauty of Joseon
The Korean brand combines traditional methods with ingredients such as ginseng and green tea from the Joseon Dynasty (Korea 1392 to 1897) with modern technology. The brand is particularly known for its gentle formulations that are suitable for sensitive skin.
Purito
Purito stands for environmentally friendly and cruelty-free products that are hypoallergenic and chemical-free. The brand uses only naturally derived ingredients certified by the Environmental Working Group.
Round Lab
The brand offers minimalist and skin-friendly formulations that have been specially developed for sensitive skin. The brand uses high-quality, natural ingredients such as birch water and seaweed to soothe and nourish the skin.
Skin1004
The brand focuses on gentle and effective skincare products with natural ingredients, for example pure Centella Asiatica from Madagascar. The packaging is just as pure as the contents.
Cosrx
Cosrx skincare is based on scientifically proven ingredients. The Advanced Snail 92 range, which contains 92% snail mucus filtrate and is loved for its moisturising, repairing and soothing properties, has a special cult status
Anua
The brand uses natural ingredients to soothe and nourish the skin. Here, 77% is the proportion of heart leaf extract. This high extract content ensures an intensive soothing and moisturising effect on the skin.
We also have many, many more exciting brands from the K-Beauty universe. You can find them under K-Beauty in our beauty section. Keep checking back, we are constantly expanding our range to offer you the best shopping experience.
As you can see, K-Beauty is a very exciting field that is characterised by natural and often pure ingredients and, despite its gentleness, scores highly in terms of effectiveness. And even if the 10-step Korean skincare routine is very time-consuming, the investment in your skin is worth it. Just give it a try.
💋, Susanna
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