The 10-step Korean skincare routine

*Do note what works for me may not work for you/ products are bought with own money unless stated.

This 10-step Korean skincare routine has become popular as people are loving the glass skin trend. This is my 10-step routine with products i have been loving and products i am still looking to alter.

Step 1: Micellar Water

I love using this even on days i do not wear makeup. This really cleans out your face of any dirt and gunk before washing your face and acts as cleanser. I absolutely love this product as this is very gently but yet effective on the skin. I personally have tried other competing brands of micellar water, however my heart always come back to this.

Step 2

Koreans love love double cleansing, this is because with an extra cleansing it really strips out any residual makeup that the micellar water could not take out and leaves your face clean before applying any products back into the skin. This is a new product which i am trying out and i cannot really give any opinions yet, but i really like how it does not leave my skin feeling tight even after double cleansing.

This is because i have yet to find a cleanser which actually works for my sensitive yet visible pores skin. Do let me know if you have any recommendations:)

Step 3: Exfoliate

Exfoliate helps remove dead skin cells and the effects are brighter and smoother skin.

I used to not believe in exfoliators and I honestly thought its such an extra burden step. However i do notice what a difference it makes once I included it in my routine. Do note that exfoliators are recommended to be used only once or twice a week as you do not want to strip the skin unnecessarily.

This is the one I am currently using, is it gentle as it claims. I personally do not believe in spending a bomb on exfoliators as long as there are no harsh chemicals inside that could strip your skin. If you have an exfoliators you would like to share, I would gladly love to try it and share my thoughts with you:) and in turn help the beauty community out too.

Step 4: Toner

A toner is necessary as it acts as a prep product. it firstly removes any residues from the cleansers but yet also repairs the skin barriers by adding some moisture back while balancing pH levels in your skin.

I gravitate towards toner which offers either AHA or BHA. BHA also known as beta-hyrdroxy acid are good as it can get deeper into pores removing the dead skin cells. As i do have visible pores on my nose and chin area, using BHAs are good for my skin as it can also reduce oiliness which i also suffer from and this is very common for most Singaporeans in such a humid weather.

I personally do not like this toner and have yet to found a replacement, however the only reason i am hesitant to reach for this product again is because it has a smell and it leaves your skin feeling tingly. i suggest if you have sensitive skin, do avoid this product because of the smell and the sensation it gives off.

This was a highly recommended Korean skincare product and even brand, however it really did not work out for me although i really wanted to love it as much as what people claim.

Step 5: Essence

An essence helps hydrate and aids cells in turnover.

I have been in loved with this essence ever since I got it. This is honestly a dupe to the very famous and expensive SK-II brand and this only costs a fraction of the price. This essence is filled with so much benefits and I honestly see my skin so much brighter when using this product. If you are looking for something budget friendly or just started incorporating essence into your routine, I really urge you to try this out and enjoy the goodness of this product with me.

Step 6: Serums

Serums target areas which need extra help. Currently i am using this one daily as this really hydrates my skin so well. The best ingredient in this is Ceramide. Ceramide helps locks moisture back into the skin and this can help in dryness and irritation which is especially good is such a humid weather. This product however is rather expensive but a little goes a long way and I honestly have not found a dupe for something equivalent or better than this.

Another serum i use is this glycolic night serum and I only used this 1-2 times weekly. If you are just starting out with serums, i would highly suggest NOT using this as glycolic is a very powerful acid and it is not suitable for every skin. I love this product as it also contains BHAs which is good for my visible pores and I notice that it does minimises my pores.

However, if you are a newbie, you can avoid serums first as truth to be told, serums are definitely very pricey as they do acts as a "medicine" for targeted problem areas as long as you wash and tone your face properly it would be good enough if you are a teenager or still a freshly graduate. However as you get older, it is a good idea to invest in a serum for the future.

Step 7: Sheet Masks

Koreans exceptionally love sheet masks. Sheets masks adds the extra concentrated essences back into your skins. At Watsons or Guardian there are many good and affordable sheet masks. This shows that you do not have to spend a bomb on masks. The ones are i love are either the Senka, Perfect Aqua rich mask and for only $2 per piece, it really brightens up your face and gives you a very glass skin effect almost instantaneously. Another one i absolutely love is the Saborino Good night sheet mask. This sheet mask is good on days i am lazy to put any essence or serums but I want a quick pick up before going to bed as it claims it is a 5-in-1(toner, essence, lotion ,moisturiser and mask) mask pack with so much benefits. This mask is also so affordable for $6.90 for a pack of 5.

Step 8: Eye Cream

An eye cream helps reduce puffiness under the eyes and prevents dark circle.

I honestly should have read the reviews before purchasing this product as it costs me a whopping $88 and I have yet to see it help my eyes. Eye creams are definitely expensive as it is taking care of such a delicate area of your face. However this did not really do it for me.

If you are a beginner, just like serums this can be avoided till later as it not really important for younger generation yet and is much more for the working adults and so on.

Step 9: Moisturisers

I have two kinds of moisturiser, one for day and one for night. This is the day one i used and it is a popular Korean brand. However, i was not impressive with this product as I noticed I started to get oily after 3-4 hours out which this product claimed not to do. However this product has ceramide which is good for hydrating and locking moisture in. Gels are also more suitable for people who have oily skin and it leaves the skin refreshed and not tacky.

The night moisturiser i use is the one below. I used to avoid putting on moisturiser at night as I realised that if i do so, when i wake up the next day my skin is very greasy. This product however changed my life completely and i wake up with my skin feeling very bouncy and light. This product was a sample given to me and i absolutely loved it that i may go purchase it once I am done using it.

Do note, you do not need two different moisturiser like me and can simply use the day.one as the night and it works the same.

Step 10: Sunscreen(only use in the morning)

This product was one of the top sunscreen mentioned in many beauty magazines or even blogs. However I did not loved it at all, it made my skin extra dry and left a white cast on my face. I have not found a sunscreen good enough for my expectations. However i suggest because of the hot humid climate we have over here, it is better to get a sunscreen which has SPF 50 or more to counteract sun-rays on your skin.

With that being said, i hope this gives you and inside to my skincare routine and what I loved and did not enjoy. Remember what worked for me might not work for you and vice versa.

If you are a company, and is looking for endorsers to try your products my links and socials are down below:)

Signing off,

Grace