- By Bornika Das
- Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Today’s generation is obsessed with Korean skincare which has gained immense popularity worldwide. Their effectiveness and focus on natural ingredients help nurture the skin through a methodical and multi-step approach. Korean skincare follows a strict day-and-night routine. While the morning routine prepares and protects the skin for the day, the night routine helps rejuvenate and repair.
Korean skincare emphasises prevention and treatment through a well-structured, multi-step routine. It helps maintain skin health over merely treating issues. The philosophy of Korean skincare is about achieving balance and hydration, leading to radiant and youthful skin. If you want to indulge in the Korean skincare routine for smooth, clear, intensely hydrated, and flawless skin, here’s all you need to know.
Korean Skincare Routine
Korean Day Skincare Routine: The morning skincare routine includes a multi-step process including cleansing, hydrating, and protecting the skin from environmental damage. Take a look at the eight steps:
- Water-Based Cleanser: Washing the face with a water-based cleanser helps remove sweat and impurities that accumulate overnight. However, the cleanser does not wash away the skin’s natural oils. It offers a clean base for skincare and makeup.
- Toner: Applying a toner after a face wash in the morning balances the skin’s pH and provides light hydration. Choose from a wide range of moisturising toners including ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, or hyaluronic acid. Using toners helps absorb other products better.
- Essence: Essences are lightweight, moisturising products that provide hydration to the skin and help repair minor damage. Essences like snail mucin help improve skin elasticity. Application of essences to the skin prepares it for the next skincare treatment.
- Serums Or Ampoules: Serums or ampoules contain powerful ingredients that solve specific skin issues like dullness, wrinkles, or dehydration. In the morning, it is advisable to apply Vitamin C serums.
- Moisturiser: Using a moisturiser after the above steps helps lock in hydration. It keeps the skin supple and prevents dryness. Koreans usually prefer lightweight moisturisers, especially gel-based for the daytime.
- SPF: The most important step is to apply SPF during the daytime. Apply sunscreens with SPF 50 to protect the skin against harmful UV rays. Moreover, sunscreens also prevent premature ageing, dark spots, and skin cancer.
Korean Night Skincare Routine: Although the night skincare routine is somewhat similar, there are minute changes that are incorporated. Take a look at the steps below:
- Double Cleansing: At night it is important to double cleanse the skin to remove the makeup, sunscreen, and impurities that have settled down throughout the day. Double cleansing helps prevent clogged pores and breakouts.
- Exfoliation: After double cleansing, exfoliating the skin is important to remove dead skin cells, promote cell turnover, and reveal smoother and brighter skin. Exfoliation should be done two to three times a week at night to avoid irritation.
- Toner: Toning at night, like in the morning helps balance the skin’s pH and soothes any skin irritation.
- Essence: At night skin becomes more receptive to hydration and repair. Thus, the application of essence is necessary to boost hydration and prepare the skin for the next steps.
- Treatments: Applying serums and ampoules packed with high-quality concentrations address specific concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles.
- Eye Cream: Eye cream is essential for the delicate skin around the eyes to prevent fine lines and dark circles.
- Moisturisers: Night creams are typically richer than day creams, providing essential nutrients and hydration to repair and rejuvenate the skin overnight.
- Facial Oils: These oils provide an additional layer of moisture to the skin, sealing in all the previous steps and enhancing skin barrier function.
Korean Skincare Helps Give Flawless And Glowing Skin (Image Credits: Freepik)
Day vs Night Korean Skin Care
There are distinct differences between day and night Korean skincare routines. While morning skincare focuses on protection, including the use of sunscreen to shield the skin from UV rays damage, night skincare emphasises repair, using heavier moisturiser to nourish and restore the skin.
Moreover, there is also a major difference between the active ingredients in the products. The morning routine allows lighter treatments like hydrating serums, on the other hand, intensive options such as retinol are applied during nighttime.
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