5 Essential Skin Care Steps For Any Skin Type

Having a solid skin care routine is important for anyone who wants to avoid developing a lot of wrinkles, dull skin and losing skin elasticity when they’re older. But it’s hard to always have the time or to always be in in the mood to do a 10 step Korean skin care routine because let’s face it, some days you just can’t be bothered. There are also people who don’t have a current skin care routine and aren’t sure where to start. This was really brought to my attention when we had our Pop Up Store. So, I want to share with you what I believe are the 5 essential skin care steps that should be in every skin care routine, for any skin type.

Related: Why Korean Skin Care Is So Good.

Step 1: Cleanser

Just how you shower everyday to clean the skin on your body, you should also use a facial cleanser to wash your face, at least once a day. Do not use body wash or soap on your face.

The morning cleanse helps to remove residual skin care you may have layered on your face the night before, as well as any impurities or dirt from a night’s sleep. You could opt for a cleansing water in the mornings if you are time restricted.

During the day, our skin is exposed to various pollutants, dirt, sweat, grime, UV rays and makeup, so cleansing your face every night is absolutely essential. Not doing so will result in premature ageing, sun damage, clogged pores and acne breakouts!

After cleansing, your skin should not feel “squeaky clean”, dry or tight. If your cleanser does this, it may be drying out your skin. This will lead to acne breakouts and oily skin as your skin will start producing more natural oils in an attempt to moisturise. Consider a gentle, pH balanced cleanser.

Shop our whole range of Korean cleansers here.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Aim to exfoliate approx. 2-3 times a week. Exfoliating will unclog your pores and remove the dead skin cells that have accumulated on your skin and inside your pores over time. It also helps to rejuvenate your skin.

Physical exfoliators are the usual scrubs that physically remove dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliators dissolve dead skin cells by using natural acids, usually either AHAs or BHAs. AHAs work well with dry skin, normal skin or dull, pigmented skin. BHAs are great to dissolve blackheads, heal acne breakouts and are well suited to oily, acne prone skin. If you have combination skin, you may suit either, or both!

If you have sensitive skin, chemical exfoliators are more gentle on the skin than physical scrubs. Some AHA and BHA exfoliators may cause slight tingling on first application however your skin will eventually adapt. If you prefer physical exfoliators, opt for a gentle scrub with fine granules.

See all our Korean exfoliators here.

Step 3: Toner

I never really understood the purpose of toner until I started using Korean skin care. The first toner I used that I actually noticed a difference in my skin was the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner, and I have not stopped toning since! Toning helps to remove any remaining stubborn makeup or residue from your cleanser. It also helps to replenish moisture and hydration into your skin in addition to balancing your skin’s pH level; which is very important for controlling excess sebum production.

Gentle, hydrating toners containing no alcohol are best for any skin type.

*Some people prefer to tone before exfoliating and that’s fine too. I personally prefer to exfoliate first and then apply toner directly onto fresh, new skin.

Explore all our Korean toners here.

Step 4: Moisturiser

Make sure you keep your skin moisturised day & night, even if you have oily skin! Moisturising is equally as important for oily, acne prone skin (if not more) as it is for dry skin. This is because if your skin lacks moisture, it will produce more natural oils to try moisturise itself.

Moisturising helps to protect your skin from premature ageing by creating a moisture barrier. This barrier locks in the nutrients, moisture and hydration from all your previous skin care steps. You may need to change your moisturiser according to the seasons (heavier during dry, winter months and lightweight for humid, summer months), however make sure your skin is kept moisturised all year long!

Don’t skip moisturiser! See our collection of Korean moisturisers here.

Step 5: Sun Protection

Sun protection is key to keeping those fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and saggy skin away. Even if you work indoors, if you are exposed to the sun any time of the day e.g. your commute to work, you need SPF. Especially in Australia where our sun’s rays are quite harsh, protecting your skin against both UVA and UVB rays on a daily basis will do wonders. Your skin will thank you later!

Our entire range of Korean sunscreen is available here.

Background Story

When I was a child, I use to love watching my Mum do her skin care routine even though I didn’t understand what she was doing or why. As I grew older, I have to admit that I didn’t always have a solid skin care routine…OK fine, I was definitely lazy with my skin care! Nevertheless I tried to take care of my skin, even if I wasn’t taking care of it very well. I would cleanse, use eye cream and moisturiser on most days and exfoliate maybe once every 1-2 weeks, eek! I tried toner but as mentioned, I didn’t understand the functionality of it and it didn’t do much for my skin. Oh, and I use to also sometimes sleep with my makeup on…Oops!

Fast forward to now, and even if I’m at home all day, I will still do my daily essential skin care routine, morning and night. But why? What changed from then until now that has led me to maintaining a solid skin care routine? Results. My skin has been noticeably smoother, clearer and brighter. It looks and feels more healthy. I almost never get pimples, even hormonal ones and, I have been foundation-free for almost a year!

Having a consistent skin care routine will deliver faster, better results. It’s also important to find skin care products suited to your skin type for your daily skin care routine.

Related: Find out what skin type you are.

If you’re looking to start a skin care routine and you’re not sure which products to start with, we have curated some 5 step Korean skin care box sets suited to different skin types and concerns.

Do you have a current skin care routine or are you looking to start one? If you have any questions or need recommendations to start a routine, let us know in the comments below!

Let’s Face It

Updated: 10 March 2019.