The 10-step Korean skincare routine, explained simply
You've definitely come across this expression before: the "10 step korean routine", presented as THE secret to perfect k-beauty skin. In reality, this 10-step Korean routine is less a strict protocol than a philosophy: layering textures from lighter to richer, to nourish the skin in successive layers rather than in a single step. No one in Korea rigorously follows all 10 steps every single day without exception. But understanding what each step is for will help you build your own version, adapted to your time and your skin, rather than copying it religiously.
The 10 steps, one by one
1. Oil cleanser
An oil or balm that dissolves makeup, excess sebum and sunscreen. This is the first half of double cleansing, a core k-beauty principle: "like dissolves like", where an oily texture picks up oily impurities far better than a water-based cleanser alone.
2. Foam cleanser
It finishes the cleansing process by removing water-soluble residue (sweat, dust). In k-beauty the goal is always a gentle foam, close to the skin's natural pH, so it never strips the skin barrier.
3. Exfoliation
Once to three times a week, not every day: a gentle exfoliant (often with AHA/BHA) removes dead skin cells and refines skin texture, so the following steps can absorb better.
4. Toner
Unlike the astringent toners we know in Europe, Korean toner is hydrating: it rebalances the skin's pH after cleansing and preps the skin to absorb the products that follow.
5. Essence
The most distinctly Korean step, and often the most misunderstood. Essence is a fluid texture, between toner and serum, concentrated in hydrating ingredients (often fermented) that boost radiance and prep the skin in depth.
6. Serum or ampoule
This is where you target a specific need: centella asiatica to soothe, niacinamide to even out skin tone, vitamin C for radiance. It's often the most active step of the whole routine, chosen based on whatever your skin needs at the moment.
7. Sheet mask
A k-beauty cultural staple: 15 to 20 minutes of soaking in concentrated ingredients, two to three times a week, for an instant boost of hydration or glow.
8. Eye cream
A specific, lighter texture for a thinner, more demanding area (tiredness, dark circles, first fine lines).
9. Moisturizer
It seals in all the previous steps and forms the final barrier that locks in hydration. In the morning, a lighter texture is often preferred; in the evening, a richer texture is welcome.
10. Sun protection (morning only)
The non-negotiable step of any serious Korean routine. Korean SPFs are known for their fluid, invisible textures, a genuine pleasure to use that helps build the daily habit — even under Brussels' grey skies, where UVA rays stay active all year round.
Morning vs. evening: what actually changes
In the morning, you mainly keep the prep and protection steps: gentle cleansing, toner, possibly essence and a light serum, moisturizer, SPF. No oil cleanser or exfoliation in the morning. In the evening, it's the opposite: full double cleanse, exfoliation a few times a week, sheet mask now and then, more active serums, richer cream. Skin regenerates mostly at night, so that's when it needs the most care.
Do you really need to do all 10 steps every day?
No, and that's the most important thing to remember. The 10-step Korean routine is a menu, not a daily obligation. In practice, a base of 4 to 5 steps (cleanser, toner, serum, cream, SPF) is more than enough day to day. Steps like exfoliation, sheet masks or essence get added two to three times a week, whenever you have the time and the inclination. It's this flexibility that makes k-beauty sustainable in the long run, rather than a ritual abandoned after two weeks for lack of time.
The 10 steps aren't a checklist to tick off every night, but a toolbox to draw from based on what your skin needs.
Where to actually start
If you're just starting out, there's no need to aim for all 10 steps on day one: it's better to build a solid base, then add one step at a time to see how your skin reacts. At Clow, we select Korean products for each of these steps — tested, chosen for their real effectiveness, and shipped quickly to Belgium and France — to help you build your own version of this routine, at your own pace.
