A Korean skincare routine has no single official list of steps, and you can borrow the idea with the products you already own instead of buying ten new steps. The AAD's own order is to wash, apply any medicine you use on your skin, then moisturiser and/or sunscreen (AAD). Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
What is a Korean skincare routine?
Routines vary from person to person, in Korea and everywhere else. There is no single official list, and no dermatology source we found says a set number of steps is required.
What is the Korean skincare routine order?
The order follows the same logic as any routine: wash, then any layers you use, then moisturiser, then sunscreen in the morning. Built from what you own, a Korean style routine can look like this:
- Cleanser
- Toner or essence, if you use one
- Serum
- Moisturiser
- Sunscreen, in the morning
That matches the AAD's general order of wash, any medicine you use on your skin, then moisturiser and/or sunscreen (AAD). The AAD also says to put sunscreen on after other skin care products (AAD). For the full version of this order, read what order should you apply skincare.
Does a Korean routine need ten steps?
No. Ten steps is not a rule. The AAD cautions that "Using too many products may irritate the skin, especially if you are using more than one anti-aging product." (AAD)
What does the research say about Korean skincare ingredients?
A 2017 review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology looked at nine ingredients common in popular South Korean products. The authors wrote that "High-level evidence to support the use of South Korean skin care products in anti-aging and skin whitening is lacking." (PubMed) That is a statement about the evidence, not about any one product.
How do you adapt a Korean routine to the shelf you own?
- Start with what you have. Cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen are the base.
- Add them to Oleah. Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
- Find any layer you already own. A toner, essence or serum you bought and forgot about can slot in after cleansing.
- Use the order above. Cleanser first, sunscreen last in the morning.
- Add one layer at a time. Test it on a small patch of skin first, twice a day for seven to 10 days (AAD).
- Skip any step you do not need. A shorter routine is still a routine.
If your base is not settled yet, start with a simple skincare routine.
When should you stop?
If a product stings, burns or makes your skin red, wash it off and stop using it. If a doctor prescribed it, ask them first. If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. If it blisters or swells, see a doctor today. If your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, call emergency services now. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Where Oleah fits
Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
Oleah is an iPhone app for the skincare you already own. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, take quick face scans to follow visible changes over time, and ask questions along the way. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together. There is a check-in on day 3, a first report on day 7 and the next report on day 14. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice. It does not sell skincare.
Download the free iPhone beta. Add the products on your shelf, then take a quick face scan in the morning.
Questions people ask
What is the Korean skincare routine order? Cleanser, toner or essence if you use one, serum, moisturiser, and sunscreen in the morning.
Do you need 10 steps for a Korean skincare routine? No. Ten steps is not a rule. Use the layers you already own.
Can I do a Korean skincare routine with products I already have? Yes. Sort what you own into cleanser, light layers, moisturiser and sunscreen, and use them in that order.
Where does sunscreen go in a Korean routine? Last in the morning, after your other skincare and before makeup.
Sources
- AAD: Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order?
- AAD: Dermatologist-recommended skin care for your 20s
- AAD: How to test skin care products
- Quay, Chang, Graber. Evidence for Anti-Aging South Korean Cosmeceuticals. PubMed
Oleah tracks how your skin looks. It is not a medical device. See a doctor about skin conditions.
