Are you thinking of dipping a toe into the Korean skincare realm but feel a little overwhelmed? I don’t blame you! Korean skincare is widely known for its 10 step routines. We’re not going to go through all 10 steps in this article, rather I will break down some of the product categories that might be a little unfamilliar, preparing you for the world of Korean and Asian skincare.
Having lived in Asia myself for a fair chunk of time, I’ve come across a tonne of wacky products over the years… but we’re going to stick to basics here. Going through a few , a standard products almost all Korean brands will have in their line up.
I’ll go through them them in order of use for your routine, to simplify things… I don’t think a 10 step routine needs to be complicated any further!!
What is an Essence?
Essences are used directly after cleansing; their texture is like water, and they contain hydrating ingredients to soften and prepare the skin to absorb your next skincare products. They are essentially toners (non-stringent type) but are widely referred to as essences in Asian skincare.
Most essences are hydrating and nourishing to the skin (in a light way) and can be used daily. Pour a little into the palm of your clean hands and pat into your skin.
A popular ingredient in amped-up essences is fermented rice or soy, taking cue from the super popular Japanese product SK-II PITERA; an essence containing fermented rice extract.
What is an Ampoule?
Ampoules are very much like serums but often are in more intense concentrations. Often they’ll come in a set of little bottles for a 7-day treatment.
I would put an ampoule on before serums, but to be honest, it’s nothing to worry about, just apply after your cleansing and toning but before moisturiser.
What is an Emulsion?
In short, an emulsion is a lightweight face cream. Perfect for summer or oily skin types that don’t love the feel of heavy creams.
They do a very similar thing to face creams; just more water-based. It’s really down to texture preference here, that’s one of the reasons why K-beauty is so great – so many options for a truly personal skin routine!
To slot an emulsion into your routine, it would go after ampoules and serums and followed by a cream moisturiser to finish off.
What is milk?
Milks are not a vast category. I only see them pop up in a few brands, and more in Japanese ones than Korean.. I thought they were still worth an explanation though! Milk is mostly describing the colour of an emulsion or liquid lotion type product, not because they actually contain cows milk.
They are often very soothing and calming for the skin, and absorb nice and fast. The term milk can also describe sunscreens too, just meaning a white runny formula.
As you can see by learning about various product categories, Korean skincare is all about hydrating and soothing the skin from everyday aggressors. It’s nice to know all these product types, but I (and you) definitely don’t have to use them all in our everyday routines.
