Korean skincare has been a household name for several years, with fascinating products and routines going viral, especially on TikTok. But what's so special about Korean skincare?
What Is Korean Skincare?
Korean skincare encompasses skincare rituals and products from Korea. Formulations and treatments from Korea are considered particularly innovative, especially due to special ingredients such as snail mucin and centella asiatica .
Korean skincare has become known primarily through social media, where Korean skincare routines and the stunning results have caused a great stir.
The Philosophy Behind Korean Skincare
The philosophy behind Korean skincare is to identify problems at their root cause and not just treat symptoms. Beauty is viewed holistically and long-term. The skincare routine is a fixed ritual of self-care and delivers visible results.
With Korean skincare, you should be patient, as the skin needs time to regenerate. Consistent care with natural ingredients and daily application of sunscreen are considered cornerstones.
The Optimal Korean Skincare Routine
A Korean skincare routine consists of several fixed steps that you should follow to achieve the best results.
Cleansing Oil
The cleansing oil is applied directly to dry skin and gently massaged in. This removes makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil from the skin, preparing it for future products.
Korean Skincare is considered a co-founder of double cleansing : First, you use an oil-based cleanser and then a water-based cleanser. Double cleansing is ideal for truly thorough and effective cleansing of the skin.
ANUA – Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
26,90 €
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Hanskin – Pore Cleansing Balm BHA
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Water-Based Cleanser
The second cleanser is ideal for truly deep cleansing the skin and removing any residue. Korean skincare emphasizes very gentle cleansing formulas that are effective but don't over-dry the skin.
Water-based cleansers from Korean cosmetics, such as the Cosrx Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, have a moisturizing and balancing effect.
Cosrx – Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
14,90 €
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Beauty of Joseon – Red Bean Water Gel
18,90 €
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Exfoliant
Exfoliants are an essential step in Korean skincare to ensure an even skin tone. Exfoliating formulas help remove dead skin cells and unclog pores of dirt and excess sebum.
However, you should definitely not use peels every day—depending on the strength , once a week or at most every other day is sufficient. Increase the frequency of use slowly and steadily and observe how your skin reacts.
You should generally use chemical peels in the evening and be sure to use sunscreen during the day, as they increase the skin's sensitivity to light.
When choosing peels, you can choose from formulas based on AHA, BHA, LHA, PHA, or a blend. Learn more about the individual active ingredients in the section "Ingredients in Korean Cosmetics."
ANUA – Heartleaf LHA Moisture Peeling Gel
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Toner
In contrast to classic facial toners, which dry out and irritate the skin due to the alcohol they contain, toners in Korean cosmetics are formulated very mildly and pH-neutral .
Here, too, you will find different formulas depending on your skin type, which either work against impurities or moisturize or balance the skin.
You can either pour a small amount of toner directly into the palm of your hand and then apply it to your face or dab it onto your skin with a cotton pad.
mixsoon – Heartleaf Toner
11,90 €
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Essence
Essences are one of the most important and special formulas in Korean cosmetics. They are special water-based treatments that provide the skin with plenty of moisture and offer great anti-aging benefits.
At the same time, essences protect the skin from irritations, provide it with plenty of nutrients and thus ensure a radiant complexion.
Cosrx – Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
25,90 €
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Serum/ Ampoule
Serums and ampoules offer a high concentration of active ingredients that specifically address specific skin concerns. They are generally significantly thicker than essences.
Serums are great for daily use to benefit your skin. Ampoules, on the other hand, are much richer and more intense , making them too much for daily use. It's better to use them sporadically or before a special event for an extra boost of moisture and care.
ANUA – Niacinamide 10%+TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum
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SKIN1004 – Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule
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Face mask
Masks, especially sheet masks, are considered an essential part of Korean cosmetics. A mask should be used once or twice a week to give the skin additional hydration and an intensive nutrient boost.
Beauty of Joseon – Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask
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medicube – Collagen Night Wrapping Mask
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Cosrx – Clear Fit Master Patch
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Eye care
Special eye care moisturizes your sensitive eye area and reduces common problems such as dark circles, fine lines and puffiness .
Depending on the active ingredient, you should use your eye cream in the morning or evening . Formulas containing retinol and retinal should only be used at night, while eye creams containing caffeine are ideal for use in the morning, as they have a brightening and awakening effect.
Beauty of Joseon – Revive Eye Serum: Ginseng & Retinal
20,90 €
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Moisturizer
Moisturizers should be an integral part of every skincare routine to provide adequate hydration. At the same time, they lock in previously applied formulas and active ingredients on the skin's surface and prevent moisture loss.
In the evening you can use a richer moisturizer than in the morning.
Cosrx – The Retinol 0.1 Cream
27,90 €
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Sunscreen
To complete your morning skincare routine, be sure to apply sunscreen daily to protect your skin from potential damage and prevent signs of aging.
Beauty of Joseon – Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
25,90 €
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Latest lowest price: 22,02 €
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Innovative Ingredients of Korean Skincare
In addition to a minimalist approach – preferring effective active ingredients that really deliver results instead of unnecessary fragrances and other potentially irritating ingredients – Korean Skincare also focuses on innovative and special ingredients .
Snail Mucin (Snail Filtrate)
Snail mucin (also known as snail filtrate or snail slime) is a secretion secreted by snails that serves to protect their surface. It is also used in Korean cosmetics for its skin benefits.
Snail mucin naturally contains many skin-loving components such as allantoin, hyaluronic acid, collagen, peptides, glycolic acid, and elastin . Because snail mucin is an animal product, it is not vegan.
However, Korean brands emphasize that the extraction of snail mucin is gentle and stress-free for the animals, so that no snails are harmed .
Centella Asiatica
Centella Asiatica, also known as tiger grass, is a medicinal plant native to Asia that has been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries.
It's also essential for many cosmetic brands and formulations thanks to its skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory, and barrier-strengthening benefits . It's therefore widely used in Korean skincare—including the Korean brand SKIN1004, which has based its entire product line on Centella Asiatica.
Ginseng
Ginseng, another medicinal plant, is known in Korean cosmetics for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. At the same time, the plant is believed to have healing properties that protect the skin and ward off free radicals.
Propolis
Propolis is a beeswax-like liquid extracted from bee resins. Propolis has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties , making it ideal for use in skin care.
Rice and Rice Extract
Rice, and especially rice extract, is rich in nutrients and provides the skin with plenty of moisture. It has a soothing effect and offers great anti-aging benefits, protects the skin from free radicals, and also refines pores.
Korean cosmetics use rice and rice extract in a variety of products, including Beauty of Joseon with its best-selling sunscreen.
FAQ about Korean Skincare
What Is the 4-2-4 Method?
The 4-2-4 method is a special Korean cleansing technique in which an oil-based cleanser is massaged into the skin for four minutes. Without rinsing, you then apply a water-based cleanser and work it into the skin for two minutes.
Finally, rinse the mixture thoroughly with water for four minutes. Use lukewarm water for the first two minutes and then cold water for two minutes.
How Do You Get Glass Skin?
Glass skin is the skin result typical of Korean cosmetics, where the skin appears radiant and reflective, like glass. Thorough cleansing, plenty of moisture, and sunscreen are essential for the glass skin routine.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post! Let us know if you have any further questions or comments about Korean cosmetics.
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