I'd suffered for years with dullness, uneven tone, and those infuriating under-the-skin pimples that simply refused to leave me alone. My skin was dry and on the verge of becoming really scary, especially around my eyes and mouth. I'd attempted hundreds of moisturizers and so-called 'trendy' serums, but nothing provided me with that radiance I was watching all these people flaunting on the internet. I still have crepey skin despite using several products.
Following a tumble into a late-night skincare rabbit hole, I was hooked on the Korean beauty routine, and in particular, the mythical Korean skincare routine 10 step procedure. The glowing testimonials and before-and-after miracles were too fascinating to ignore, so I dived in. My goal? Smoother, brighter, and more plump-up skin.
Here, I'm outlining the precise steps, the products I used, and the result after four weeks, spoiler alert: it worked much better than I expected.
My Korean 10-Step Skincare Routine (And What Actually Worked)
Every step of the Korean skincare routine order is meaningful, water layering, delicate exfoliating, and moisture sealing. Here's what I applied:
1. Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm
This balm takes off makeup and SPF in an instant without leaving me feeling heavy or oily. It dissolved everything, including waterproof mascara, and had my pores feeling significantly cleaner. It's the ideal first step to start the routine if you have makeup or sunscreen on every day.
2. Neogen Real Fresh Foam Cleanser Green Tea
Neogen's green tea cleanser was light, crisp, and massively soothing. It foamed well without dehydrating my skin, a welcome relief for my sensitive areas. I noticed fewer blemishes after just a few uses, and it left my skin silky smooth and primed for the next product.
3. Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
This toner exfoliator worked miracles on my texture and plugged pores. It provided a gentle sting on initial application, particularly on dry areas, but did not irritate my skin over time. After a week, my face was brighter and smoother.
4. Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner Plus
This toner was a bomb of moisture for my skin. It absorbed instantly, did not leave any stickiness, and gave a clear plumping before I applied serums. I used it especially before makeup in the morning; my foundation felt better, and dry patches almost disappeared.
5. Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence
Missha's essence lifted the tone and brightness of my skin. It is very light but extremely powerful. After two weeks, dullness decreased, and fading of post-acne marks happened much faster. My skin healed faster, and it became a daily essential that I never skipped.
6. Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
It left my skin with a healthy-looking, even-colored sheen. It's calming, light, and full of soothing agents. In week three, I felt less redness on the nose and chin. It also smoothed out the texture of my skin and left me with a healthy look without oiling me up.
7. Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence
Benton's snail essence gave my skin intense hydration as well as healing energy. It calmed any acne flare-ups and made skin feel more elastic. It was easy to apply underneath creams and made my skin appear smoother and more polished, especially when I used it every night.
8. Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream
This cream, which is full of antioxidants, left my skin feeling soft and hydrated but not too heavy. It's perfect for morning and evening, and it never clogged my pores. My face was calmed and moisturized, leaving me with a glowing look that lasted until the following day.
9. Etude House Sunprise Mild Airy Finish SPF 50+
An everyday sun protection essential, this sunscreen was lightweight, non-greasy, and provided zero white casts overall. It applied beautifully under makeup and didn't clog pores at all. I loved how breathable and matte this day and night Korean skincare routine was.
10. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Completing my routine with this lip mask was magic. My lips were no longer dry and flaky, even in the morning. A little was enough to keep them smooth and hydrated all night long. It's a small luxury that makes my night routine feel complete.
The Results After 4 Weeks
I was amazed. Two weeks later, my skin truly was brighter and smoother. The crepey, dry under-eye skin relaxed, and I only broke out as a guest every so often. During week four, I awoke with glowing skin, even after sleeping less than eight hours.
A few things didn't work out. The Miracle Toner was too harsh on me at first, and I had to dilute it every other day. But overall, consistency and moisturizing were the trick.
Tips for Anyone Trying Korean Skincare
- Begin slowly: Don't add all 10 steps to your routine simultaneously. Add a few a week.
- Patch test everything: Particularly exfoliants and actives.
- Listen to your skin: You don't need to do every step every day.
- Hydration is better than harsh activities: K-beauty is not about stripping, but rather about feeding.
Final Thoughts
Yes. This Korean beauty skincare routine taught me that it's better to layer light, hydrating products than to trust in one "miracle" product. My skin now feels strong, clear, and luminous, even without makeup.
If you've been experiencing problems with breakouts, and texture, or simply need your skin to be rebooted, I highly suggest you try the Korean skincare trend.