Korean Skincare Routine for Men Explained

If you’ve been even remotely active on Social Media, or have girlfriend/girl-friend or if you’re dance freak, you might have heard of Korean guys. Yes, Korean but they’re not the Kim Jong-Uns North Koreans but rather South Korean. The land of K-Drama, K-Pop, and Son Heung-min, the place responsible for clean-shaven, dapper-looking, flawless skin guys from East Asia. Some of the biggest names apart from Son Heung-Min if you’re not a football fan is K-Pop band BTS or Bangtan Boys consisting of seven extremely good looking, talented guys who can sing and dance. While apart from this they’ve been famous for being philanthropists, promoters of self-love, and BTS Army. While we aren’t remotely related to genes or the weather conditions, they’re blessed nor are we with the food they are lucky to have like Kimchi, Ddukbokki (Spicy Rice Cake), Bibimbap (Mixed Rice), Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup), etc. which apart from the vegetables & non-vegetarian produce, they have several medicinal herbs & spices included into their regular food which helps with the whole process as well.

If you’ll ask for basic pointers that’s taught in the family since an early age will stay hydrated with filtered water & tea, relax & sleep as much as you can, use botanical and other medicinal food for hydration & healing, eat as much kimchi & fish as you can and don’t be picky with food, choose fruits over sugar, avoid salty food after 8 P.M., exfoliate dead skin cells, sunscreen is mandatory, listen to your skin and 10 steps South Korean Skincare Routine. While other tips have been said in our culture and by our parents as well, but 10 step routine is something they had for years that we have started to adopt.

Today, we will simplify those 10 steps which you should follow every day if possible, to have near flawless skin.

Step 1: Oil Cleanse

It’s one of the things unheard in Indian Market, but what essentially it follows is to kill the poison with a poison which is quite a common thing in India. As the name suggests, oil cleansers, unlike water-based alternatives, can break down oil-based debris like pollution, sebum, and sunscreen. They are often nourishing, hydrating, and deeply relaxing, with a natural scent and soothing texture.

Do it twice a day, once within the morning and once in the dark . Take some in your hand and massage it properly.

Step 2: Water Cleanser

As the name suggests, once you’re done with Oil-based impurities, the next step is clear out ant water-based impurities as well. Look for gentle cleansers like milk, which shifts what needs to be sloughed off without stripping the skin. Dermatologists, aestheticians, and facialists have long advocated double cleansing – for almost as long as the Korean’s have

Do it again twice after Oil Cleansing, gently in a circular motion.

Step 3: Exfoliator

Now, it’s pretty obvious it follows but there are different scrubs for a different purpose. There are physical exfoliators that are abrasive on the skin with ingredients like Walnut, Salt, Rice, etc. which is ideal for dry skin & bearded faces. While if you have normal skin or physical exfoliators don’t suit on maybe a sensitive skin, stick with chemical-based products which include AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) like glycolic, lactic, or mandelic acid for more thorough removal of dead skin.

Do it twice a week in the evening, focusing on problem areas.

Step 4: Essence

One of the foremost hyped aspects of Korean skincare, essences hydrate the deeper levels of the dermis, priming, and prepping the skin for subsequent steps within the routine. These are watery lotions or thin gels that are more concentrated with active ingredients, often formulated with a higher dose of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and other natural extracts.

Do it in morning and night, use a small amount and pat it on the face and neck.

Step 5: Serum

The heavyweights of the skincare world, serums are the building blocks behind great skin. They contain the highest concentration of active ingredients, capable of addressing everything from hydration to aging. This is where skincare gets specialized, and you have to figure out what you want. Big pores? Niacinamide. Dull skin? Vitamin C. Wrinkles? Opt for a peptide complex.

Do it in morning and night, use a small amount and pat it on the face and neck or affected areas.

Step 6: Sheet Mask

Korea is the birthplace of sheet masks, with the tradition dating back hundreds of years using paper. While the principal remains the same – using a barrier to push humectants (ingredients that help bind water to the skin) and other elements into the face – the technology has progressed. Sheet masks now come in tissue, hydrogel, and bio-cellulose bodies, each with its advantages and efficacy.

Twice every week, smooth onto clean skin and relax for 20 minutes, then pat within the remaining essence.

Step 7: Eye Cream

Another common step in the west, eye creams target the fragile periorbital area (that’s the bit directly around your peepers) to deliver skin-strengthening proteins like peptides. Within the category, there are eye gels (ideal for younger skin or those looking to deal with puffiness) or eye creams (ideal for older skin looking to tone, tighten and lift). Dark circles are, sadly, a fairly genetic trait but a brightening eye gel can help illuminate the region.

Morning and night, use your ring finger to gently tap it around the entire orbital bone.

Step 8: Emulsion

Never heard of it? Don’t worry, you probably aren’t alone. Emulsions are lightweight moisturizers that suit male skin in particular, but can also be favored by people in more humid climates that don’t want the occlusive nature of heavy cream. Just like moisturizers, and emulsion seals in the goodness of the last seven steps while adding its brand of humectants, vitamins, and actives. However, unlike moisturizers, they’re able to get down to the deeper levels of the skin due to a typically smaller molecular structure. Science, eh?

Morning and night, pat into the face and neck.

Step 9: Moisturiser

Moisturizers come in many forms – gels, creams, oils – the function of which is to lock up the last nine steps. Moisturizers were popularised as they maintained the skin’s levels of hydration, sealing the water in the dermis so it couldn’t evaporate. Over time, skincare’s most popular category has become infused with all sorts, mostly focusing on dry, dehydrated, and aging complexions.

Morning and night, pat into the face and neck

Step 10: SPF

To complete the last nine steps and skip the 10th is almost sacrilegious in Korean skincare. Sun damage is the primary cause of all external skin concerns, from pigmentation and dehydration to premature aging. In Korea, where they value an almost ‘cloudless’ appearance, the sun is treated as the enemy. They bring out all weapons to protect against it; visors, sunglasses, gloves, but most importantly, SPF.

Reapply throughout the day on the face, neck, shoulders, and ears.

While some of the products are expensive that off the racks products while some products won’t be even available in your simple shops. While these products have a great impact, you can simplify them in an even easier process that is Double Cleanse, Exfoliate, Essence or Serum, Moisturise, and SPF. While for you it might sound a hassle but believe me follow this and the girls will be jealous of the radiant and glowing skin.