You don't have to tell us that the last few years have taken a toll on our emotions and our face. De-stress and decrease the worry lines and wrinkles off your face with our favorite Korean skincare products. If you can keep up with a good 8 to 10 step routine, you'll feel like a brand new person. Trust.
FACE CLEANSER
This baby does exactly what the name says it will do. The Banila Co. Clean It Zero is constantly on the "best of" lists and I can 100% understand why. This thing is magic. An affordable cleanser that erases every inch of makeup, even your cat-eye eyeliner in an instant.
FACE CLEANSER #2
That's right, you need and really should wash your face twice. The Koreans believe that from all the makeup you apply on a daily that double cleansing guarantees everything comes off properly. If you’re truly into K-beauty, then you’re fully aware that snail mucin power hydrates and regenerates for smoother skin and builds collagen.
THE EXFOLIATOR
I fell in love with this after using a sample and purchased one immediately. I'm hooked on how gentle the Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel works on my face. You can actually feel dead skin coming off.
THE TONER
Klairs Facial Toner instantly refreshes your face. I love the toner part of the skincare routine, because it feels like the perfect, smooth eraser right before you moisturize. This is a non-irritating daily toner that’s moisturizing while balancing pH levels of the skin.
THE SHEET MASK
For Korean skincare newbies, I highly suggest Facetory’s Glow Baby Glow as your intro to essence and sheet mask obsessions. This never fails me when I am in starter blemish mode and need a disappearing act. It is one of the most hydrating sheet masks out there and you can even keep the remainder (there's so much inside the packet) in the fridge for extra usage.
ESSENCE
For days or nights that you forego the sheet mask, this Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence is integral to your skin's livelihood. Don't let the name intimidate you, the snail, aloe, willowbark and bee venom work wonders to the health and upkeep of good skin. Twenty years from now, you’ll be very thankful for these 3 main ingredients.
SERUM
I’m always tempted to buy this in bulk and perhaps someday I will. The Peach and Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum will most likely transform your skin after a week of using it. A lightweight, fast-absorbing dream serum with hyaluronic acid and its peach extracts of natural vitamins and essential fatty acids to keep your skin firm.
MOISTURIZER
It’s important to find the right moisturizer. Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Moisturizer is good for all skin types and all year round, but especially during the cold winter season. Non-greasy, unscented, hydrates, revitalizes and goes on soft. Dry skin no more!
EYE CREAM
Whatever the age, an eye cream is always a good idea. COSRX Advanced Snail Peptides Eye Cream takes care of under-eye dark circles and sags by lifting the skin and brightening the tone. Seriously, snail secretion filtrate and peptide works to restore elasticity and reduce appearance of fine lines.
SUNSCREEN / SPF
Growing up in California wearing SPF everyday rain or shine was as normal as eating breakfast cereal. Huxley Stay Sun Safe Sun Cream offers SPF 50+ and PA++++ coverage at protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. The prickly pear seed oil extract is full of antioxidants that will keep skin hydrated.
And that is my Korean (sometimes 10-step, depending on the day or night) skincare routine. You don't need to be so strict with it, but if it feels like all these steps are time consuming, it's really not. You dab here, pat there and even during the 20-minutes sheet mask duration, I usually do other stuff like watch Netflix, listen to a podcast or go through TikTok. Find your own routine and stick with it. And make sure to use brands and products that you personally trust that will work solely for your own skin type and needs.
