• Oil cleanser

• Cleanser

• Toner

• Essence/Serum/ampoule

• Moisturizer

Is this what you're talking about?

You might want to list the steps you have for your routine as the korean routine may consist of 10 to 13 or more steps.

There really aren't any set numbers of steps on K-beauty routines. It's all about paying attention to your skin and meeting it's needs. For some that means a minimal number of products, for others it's a routine that has numerous steps. It's just a matter of finding what works for you.

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Loved this breakdown! Makes the K-beauty routine easy to follow and understand

sharing honest skincare routines, remedies, and product experiences that help solve concerns while promoting confidence and sustainable self‑care habits.

Looks like a very thorough and informative guide to the 10-step Korean skincare routine! It's great how it breaks down each step and emphasizes consistency and long-term skin health.

You might want to consult r/asianbeauty

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I would say is more important:

1. Your type of skin (hormonal acne/acne prone/dry/mix/oily/sensitive/rosacea etc).

2. Your main concerns (hydration, fine lines, discoloration, acne scars, etc).

With that info people can help you better imo.

I have the exact same routine for hot/humid and cold/dry - I just use less moisturizer. I do: wash - toner - essence - (moisturizer in winter) - spf. PM: wash - toner - essence - treatment (Tazarotene) - thick Moisturizer

If the goal were to make a whole routine based on all of these products, I don't think you'd need that much; but it looks like a good list for you to pick from.

The revive serum is targeted for dull skin, but how well it does, I don't know. For reference, I like the BoJ products and I have sensitive skin.

For wrinkles and such, you may need copper peptides and actives addressing those things. But I think it's good to start with gentle products that address your skin barrier--good cleanser, moisturizer, spf. The Korean products DO get the pH right in cleansers, because they (most that I know of) are low pH and that's what skin needs. A majority of the Western cleansers have wayyy too high of a pH which will strip your acid mantle, and that's a problem. They don't seem to pay attention to pH for some reason.

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between 2 to 5 steps, depending on how my skin feels/looks, what season/time of year it is, if I’m wearing makeup, etc. what never changes is cleanse, sun protection (morning) and toner + moisturiser (evening). I like trying out new stuff, but I’ve had long routines before and I just don’t have the patience for it anymore.

I like trying new products but I hate wasting stuff, so if I find something I like I keep using until it’s gone and if I still like it by the end, I repurchase.

Currently just cleanser, toner, cream, sunscreen in the morning and same at night except no sunscreen! Occasionally I do extra steps like exfoliating pad or extra moisturizer mask. Double cleanse if I wear a lot of makeup.

Combo dehydrated skin, sensitive and aging, UK climate.

Maximalist with a bit of a shopping problem! I don't have a budget, I just had a few themed routines this year and bought lots of products to fit those themes. Generally I really enjoy my routine, I look forward to it and I like using a lot of products.

Usually I'll 3-4 layers of hydrating toner and possibly 2-3 layers of One Thing extract (alternating layers), an essence or two, a serum, another serum for my eyes, a cream for my eyes, two to three face creams. Then there's AHA, BHA and retinal on different nights.

I haven't hit the point of too many layers yet, the longest recorded routine was cleanse, 14 layers of different types of watery products and then creams.

My dehydrated face can take all the hydration and just asks for more! I could use less if I didn't want to use actives but I prefer to keep my face very hydrated so I can use actives without any issues.

However, sometimes I don't have the mental or physical energy for much and so I'll just cleanse and SPF AM or cleanse and moisturise PM. My face doesn't fall off and thankfully the need for a minimal routine doesn't seem to happen more than a few times a week, so far.

Edit for skin type

I tried having a simple routine but it did not work for me. My skin needs layers and layers. Pairs well with my shopping problem 😅

Atm 6 steps for both AM & PM. Woah... i just realised that.

I tend to change up my skincare products as well until i found a true HG, then I'll just stick with that product.

AM - cleanse, spot treat with BHA, toner, ampoule, moisturizer, sunscreen.

PM - 1st cleanse, 2nd cleanse, spot treat, toner, ampoule, moisturizer.

I used to have a simpler routine as i was using kinda like a 2-in-1 (hydrating toner & brightening serum) toner previously however after finishing 2 bottles, it seems my skin started to get irritated easily so i had to stop and try a different toner. And since most toners don't have Tranexamic Acid in them, i had to buy a separate serum to treat my PIH.

Also, that simple routine was actually before i found the trick to use BHA as a daily spot treatment. It works so well this way. So whenever i have new acne, i will add the BHA and do spot treat daily. My acne would then flatten down in less than a week.

I have rosacea which causes extreme sensitivity and have found that there are many Korean skincare brands that are formulated very well for sensitive skin. My go-to brands are Purito, HaruHaru Wonder, Torriden, Illiyoon, Aestura, Skin1004, and some of the Beauty of Joseon line.

For cleansers that hydrate and don’t aggravate sensitive skin, I like Torriden Dive In Foaming Cleanser, HaruHaru Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Cleansing Gel, and Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam. If you want to double cleanse then start with either HaruHaru Cleansing Oil or Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm.

Toners for sensitive skin favorites are Purito Wonder Releaf Centella Toner- Unscented and HaruHaru Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner.

My favorite Korean skincare product of all time is the HaruHaru Black Rice Probiotics Essence which is soothing, hydrating, and barrier protecting all in one. Love it!

For moisturizers it is hard to go wrong with Aestura Atobarrier 365 Lotion (day) and Cream (night). If you’re not prone to clogging then the Illiyoon ATO Lotion and Cream are fantastic too. Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Moisturizer is also sensitive skin friendly.

Sunscreens that work for me are the Korean versions of Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice+ Probiotics for dry skin/winter and Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh.

One caveat – we all have varying degrees of sensitivity and different skin types so what works for me might not work for you! Ease into using products by patch testing and adding one at a time so that you can easily eliminate products which cause irritation.

Edit to add: CosRx 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum is a nice option for a gentle peptide. For gentle exfoliation you might like Torriden Balanceful Cica Toner Pads or By Wishtrend Mandelic 5% Prep Water.

You don’t need a standalone niacinimide serum. Niacinimide is in almost all Korean skincare products these days and research shows its efficacy is at lower concentrations than standalone serums.

You can look for Korean cleansers that aren’t foaming as those tend to strip the skin of natural oils. I like the anua gel hyaluronic acid cleanser as it’s very nourishing while cleaning without any fussy extra ingredients and it’s my favorite cleanser.

I think this subreddit and myself love the skin1004 hyalu-cica water fit sun serum - to me in humid Florida summer it’s been working almost double duty as a moisturizer and spf as it’s got a ton of moisturizing properties included.

I haven’t found an amazing toner, people rave about the I’m From Rice Toner - my current toner is half way through so I’ll look into this one next time I’m in the market for a toner. I also have but regrettably haven’t tried my hada labo premium lotion which is supposed to be similar to a toner and very nourishing to the skin (although it is j-beauty not k).

You mention gentle yet effective options but effective for what? Hydration only? Whatcha targeting? Just overall happy healthy skin for slow aging?

For serums I’ve heard Numbuzin is kind of amazing on this front, some people swear by them. There’s quite a bit for different skin concerns. All I know is the numerical system makes no sense lol.

I have super sensitive skin, so I think I can help! My skin hates hyaluronic acid (and all of its derivatives), ferments, cocoa seed extract, tranexamic acid, and ascorbic acid (and some of its derivatives). My skin is also milium/clog-prone, so I can't use heavy moisturizers. Retinol is a big no-no, and I haven't found a gentle exfoliant yet.

I'm still finalizing my skincare routine, but so far I use the Haruharu centella sunflower cleansing balm, Purito mighty bamboo cleanser, Purito oat toner, Anua Heartleaf 70% soothing cream, Purito daily soft touch screen, and The Ordinary argan oil (only at night). These are the products that got my approval after years of finding out what my skin loves and hates. I hope this helps!

P.S. I'm still looking for a gentle exfoliator and a gentle brightening serum.

Have not tried. Im ultra sensitive to retinoids. Currently use maelove peptide serum, The Ordinary Retinol .5 in Squalane, The Ordinary Lactic acid 5%, ROC firming serum stick.

Round Labs SPF 50 sunscreen.

Skin1004 has been an absolute game changer for me. I picked up their travel kit with 5 minis to try and have never looked back. Skin looks amazing. Im 50, fair, freckled sensitive skin. Highly recommend!

Sure! Much like the Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream, the Aestura Atobarrier 365 Lotion is formulated specifically for atopic (sensitive) skin. The lightweight formula also works well to support the barrier of retinoid challenged skin by hydrating, soothing, and moisturizing with ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

I find just a small amount of the lotion spreads well and sits comfortably under sunscreen and makeup, while providing a nice glow without looking or feeling oily.

Edited for clarification and grammar

For the Neogen Gauze Exfoliators, I use them once or twice a week (I have these target exfoliators I'm trying to use up LOL).

I like innisfree sheet masks, I like anything innisfree tbh. It just works well for my skin and I don't really use sheet masks much. The sheet masks are $1.80 each.

I don't use eye creams much because I'm not at the age to need one or be recommending one for people either.

Honestly the Cosrx Snail Mucin can be doubled as a moisturizer because it's already quite moisturizing. Also, Amazon and ebay sometimes have fluctuating prices so I would check those out a lot. I got the Neogen Exfoliators for $16, Cosrx Snail Mucin for $14, sheet mask packs for less than individual costs, etc. It might be different now though because Mr.RX joined amazon and that's the official cosrx account.

1. Oil Cleanser: I've never heard of this oil cleanser, but if it's working for you, keep doing it! Some other affordable oil cleansers include: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil (not my favorite because it can irritate the eyes but many people's HG), or solid balm cleansers such as Banila Co.'s Clean It Zero Balm or Heimish's All Clean Balm. Note: these aren't exactly THAT affordable, but I can't think of any Korean oil cleansers that are as effective and relatively affordable.
2. Water Based Cleanser: I personally haven't tried this, but many people like Cosrx's Low pH Good Morning Cleanser. It's foamy and gentle on the skin as the formula is relatively close to the natural pH of the skin (~pH 4.5-5.5).
3. Exfoliator: I've tried this before, and it didn't do the job for me. But maybe it'll work for you! There's two different types of exfoliators (I'm just going to explain because I don't know if you already know or not): mechanical and chemical. Mechanical exfoliators often use tiny (or larger) particles to scrape away the dead skin cells and whatnot (remember that St. Ives Apricot scrub? That's an example of BAD mechanical exfoliation). The first product that comes to mind in this category is SkinFood's Black Sugar Strawberry Wash Off Mask. As for chemical exfoliation, this form of exfoliation doesn't use particles, but rather acids (if you really would like to know more, I'd highly recommend going over to r/SkincareAddiction and taking a good read with their very helpful user guides OR check out Liah Yoo on Youtube (mentioned below)). Some products that are chemical exfoliants include: Krave Beauty's Kale-lalu-yAHA (and Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow Mask (a sleeping mask that includes those acids). I generally exfoliate 2-3 times a week, since overuse of acids and exfoliants can lead to an inflammatory state of your skin. If your skin is more sensitive, exfoliating once a week is fine too! Whatever works for your skin type.
4. Toner: Omg my favorite toner! I've been using this toner consistently (actually the only thing that's stayed consistent in my life for the past 2 years lol). I don't really have any other affordable k-beauty options for toner, except maybe Etude House's 7-in-1 House Wonder Pore Freshener (BUT some say it's not good because it has alcohol in it and can dry out the skin; some people swear by this), Etude House Soon Jung pH 5.5 Relief Toner, Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner (this toner has the aforementioned chemical exfoliants, AHA/BHA, which are acids).
5. Essence: I actually don't really use essence. (Mostly because SK-II is too expensive and I will be having an essence when I bring myself to buy it). I've heard good things about Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence and how it's a dupe for SK-II's essence, but I once bought a beauty box that had a travel size version of it and I don't think my skin enjoyed it at all. May have something to do with the fact that this essence has fermented substances in it? Not sure. But for many people, it works for them, so maybe it will for you.
6. Treatment: You mentioned that you have a random dark spot, and I'm going to assume you listed that because you wanted to get rid of that. Vitamin C is very well known in the world of skincare and field of dermatology as a highly effective agent to get rid of hyper-pigmentation. Many affordable options can be found on Amazon, but if you want a Korean serum in particular, then try Klairs's Vitamin C Serum.
7. Sheet mask: My favorite face masks are from My Beauty Diary (a Taiwanese brand), some people don't like it because of the ingredients, but I've yet to find a sheet mask that works as well for me. Some affordable sheet masks (easy to find on Amazon) include: Dermal Korea Collagen Facial Masks (the most affordable option, I haven't personally tried this but many many people on Amazon seem to like this), Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Sheet (pretty good, it wasn't amazing for me and I wouldn't buy it again because I have other brands I like more), TONYMOLY I'm Real Sheet Mask (I once bought an entire set of these at a good price from Amazon and these masks were amazing but not as affordable as other options though), and Etude House 0.2mm Air Mask (pretty affordable, as most options from Etude House are, and pretty effective as well).
8. Eye Cream: Personally, I don't use an eye cream because I'm lazy, my skin is pretty oily already, and I think crow's feet are cute. But Lily Ana Naturals Eye Cream has many great reviews on Amazon, which you can try. Don't have any other recommendations for eye creams.
9. Moisturizer: I personally switch off between rosehip oil, Clinique's Dramatically Different Gel (got as a sample from a friend), Glossier's Priming Moisturizer (some people really hate this, but this really works to reduce the redness from my acne and also creates a smooth base that isn't slick like some other primers), and A'PIEU Madecassoside Cream (great if you have redness like me, it contains Centella asiatica, a compound from the Tiger Grass plant, which has many soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. So really, whatever moisturizer works for you! Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Gel/Cream is raved about a lot too. Some recommendations from K-Beauty include: Benton's Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel, Benton's Snail Bee High Content Lotion, Klairs's Rich Moist Soothing Cream, and Klairs's Midnight Blue Calming Cream. I haven't tried any of these, but will be once my current moisturizers run out since they look pretty soothing.
10. Sunscreen: I'll let Liah Yoo (an AWESOME and amazingly informative Youtuber who now has her own skincare brand - Krave Beauty!) do the talking here. Here's her Sunscreen 101 video and some Sunscreens for every skin type. I highly recommend watching her other videos as well. They're always well-produced, researched, and entertaining. If you don't want to read those user guides from r/SkincareAddiction, then Liah Yoo has many many great videos for you to watch and learn.

Ok, done with the product recommendations. I want to emphasize that just because you're incorporating K-Beauty into your routine, that does NOT mean that you have to follow a strict 10-step routine. Do what works best for you and find products that directly address your skin concerns. Try not to get to caught up in having all the products because it's low-key a marketing scheme (which I have unfortunately fallen for). Sometimes, simpler is better. I'm currently slowly transitioning to a more simplistic routine (hard because putting on skincare can be so relaxing): oil cleanser (at night), water cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer (rosehip oil only at night), and then sunscreen (during the day). Best of luck finding the products that work for you!

Innisfree, The Face Shop have nice entry level masks which are relatively easy to find. Not sure if you can get your hands on Leaders & Mediheal - their main product line are masks so I feel like they are good quality & should what they are doing! Taiwanese brand Naruko is another one of my faves & I can get them quite cheaply :D price is a factor since I use sheet mask quite often.

I love skinfood and cosmetea sheet masks. You can often hit up TJMaxx or Marshall’s (Weiners or smth like that in Canada) for affordable sheet masks as well

For eye cream, vitamin E does the trick. I personally pat half a drop of coconut oil under each of my eyes, but other vitamin E sources should do the trick too.

5 in the morning (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, sunscreen), 5 in the evening (makeup remover, cleanser, toner, moisturizer, tret). I find these routines help my skin the most currently.

I’ve wanted to post this poll for a while now! I’m glad you beat me to it!

AM I have 6 steps, PM I have 11-13 depending on the night.

On simpler being better—sometimes it is. Whenever you’re new to skincare simple is the way to go, so you don’t overwhelm yourself and your skin. Also, people with especially sensitive skin a lot of the times can’t handle elaborate routines without irritation.

On the flip side, elaborate routines can be fun as heck when you’re a skincare junkie. My skin has never been more hydrated and glowy, and I love spending a long time in the evening pampering myself. Whatever you do though, don’t let this sub pressure you into buying more than you need. I personally have “too much” skincare because I enjoy the process and my skin is resilient and can handle it, but I’ve been in the AB game for a long time so I’ve had time to find out what works. Very, very few people actually need 10+ products (maybe even none), and once again, the only reason I have a ton is for skintertainment purposes. You do you boo!

I didn’t know which to choose because my am is much shorter than my pm routine. And I change things depending on my skin that day

AM is 3 PM is 3-5 depending how I tired I am lol

My AM is just sunscreen, because I'm extra lazy in the morning. However the PM is where I do the actual work. I do cleanser > toner > essence > serum > (possibly another thicker toner/essence) > (possibly mask) > moisturizer. I do my thicker toner/essence after the serum, because I just have the personal idea that my serum has less stuff to go through.

Toners. All the toners! I just enjoy adding layer upon layer of hydrating toners and essences. It's just such an enjoyable experience.

Comparatively, I loathe the tret phase of it xD

Honestly double cleansing! I just love getting my makeup/sunscreen off when I get home.....I dont know if I like the actual act of cleansing, but I just like knowing my face is clean after being out of the house. (It's like 'my face can finally breathe'). It's the second thing I do after getting home and changing out of clothes. I will never sleep without washing my face no matter how late it is.

Toners (especially when using ones with viscous texture) and Moisturizer (applying my illiyoon ceramide cream feels like putting a comfortable blanket for my skin 🥰)

I'm currently using a watery hydrating toner. I'm soooo going back to toners with more viscosity after this.

I think i might be in the minority here, but i love serums. It's the most important step of my routine and the most expensive product too. I need skin entertainment so i opt for fragrance and texture. My current serum makes me look forward to applying it every morning. It's a sensorial thing for me. Also, the idea that i get some specific benefits such as brightening or smoothing adds to the overall experience.

It does!! I totally forgot about it until i recently tried replacing my current toner to Isntree HA toner plus for 1 routine and now I'm craving to use it again!

Hydrating toners! Up to last year my routine was just cleanser and moisturizer, but after discovering AB hydrating toners I just can't get enough.

I currently use Jinyulhyang Essential Revitalizing Balancer AM and PM and like to apply two layers of it, I also ordered IPSA Time Reset Aqua to incorporate before Jinyulhyang as it is supposed to be lighter consistency but very hydrating too.