10 Step Korean Skincare Routine For Normal Skin: Resurfacing & Radiance

10 Step Korean Skincare Routine For Normal Skin: Resurfacing & Radiance

Following from last week’s 10 Step Skincare Routine for Oily Skin, this post will include a 10 step routine targeting at those with normal skins, ie not too oily nor too dry.

People with normal skins tend to neglect skincare the most as they don’t have a problem to fix. Over time, the skin could get quite dull and flat. Therefore, this skincare routine aims to resurface the skin, smooth out the texture and add some radiance.

This skincare routine is also suitable for those who want to brighten and achieve more radiance in their skin.

Cleansing

Regardless of your skin type, cleansing will always be the starting point. It’s impossible to deliver any nutrients into the deeper skin layer if your dead skin cell layer is thick. Double cleanse, peeling and clay mask are the basic 4 steps to get your cleansing in order.

Step 1: Oil Cleansing

Use a cleansing oil first to remove makeup, sunscreen, sweat and sebum on the surface of your skin. This will allow the foam cleanser to work better in the next step. This cleansing balm from Beauty of Joseon is a sherbet type of oil cleanser. The solid balm melts into an oil when in contact with the body’s temperature.

By massaing the oil on the surface of your skin, it melts away the impurities gently. Because of the “oil dissolves oil” action, no scrubbing is needed. After a few circular motions on the entire face, focusing on the nose and T-zone, add some water to emulsify the oil then rinse away.

Your skin should feel lightened and pores opened up, ready for the second cleansing.

Step 2: Water Cleansing

For the second step cleansing, I’ve chosen the Hyggee All In One Cleansing Foam. This cleanser comes out of the pump as a foam, saving you the need to foam up, which is super convenient and quick to use. It’s low pH and non-drying, ticking all the boxes of a good gentle cleanser.

The second cleansing step will remove any residue of the cleansing oil and cleanse deeper into your pores, removing sebum, blackheads and whiteheads.

Step 3: Exfoliating

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$21.00 AUD

When your dead skin cell layer gets thick, it blocks the skincare products you use, preventing them from penetrating into the deeper layers of your skin. Thus your skin appears lack of energy and elasticity. Therefore, it’s important that you exfoliate regularly – once a week is sufficient.

Exfoliation doesn’t mean to scrub off your skin’s top layer. In fact, you want to protect the skin’s natural barrier by not using a harsh scrub.

This peeling gel from Pyunkang Yul is extremely gentle but effective. It contains BHA, which helps with loosen up the sebum wihin the pores. Once applied on the skin, it combines with the sebum on your skin, turns into a rubber dust kind of texture. Massage this over the nose and T-zone area to get rid of dead skin cell and sebum build up.

Your skin will feel refreshed and revived after using this.

Step 4: Clay Mask

This is a bonus step to keep your pores clean and tight. Use a clay mask once a week will help sucking out the impurities within the pores and smooth out the texture of your skin. This one from Isntree also acts as an exfoliator, so don’t use it on the same day as Pyunkang Yul Peeling Gel.

This clay mask contains Artemisia, which is a powerful herb with medicinal functions to clarify, detoxify, soothe and repair the skin. 

Hydrate & Brighten

Once you’ve done the cleansing steps, your skin should feel breathable and brightened already. The following steps will inject hydration into the skin, making it plump and elastic as well as adding nutrients, making it bright and radiant.

Step 5: Toner

After cleansing, start with a lightweight toner, which will penetrate deep into the skin layer and will help skincare products in the next steps to absorb better rather than blocking them. The Calendula Toner from Nacific is perfect for this. It has a water-like texture that hydrates and penetrates deeply. Calendula is effective at balancing and brightening the skin.

Apply this with your hands, the warmth of your hands will allow the toner to penetrate deeper. Gently pat and press the toner all over the skin.

Step 6: Essence

The concept of essence may not be familar to you if you’re not into Asian skincare. It’s a step that lies in between toner and serum. Essence usually have a texture that’s more viscous than a toner, yet lighter than a serum. It usually contains a high percentage of an active ingredient that targets at skin concerns.

This essence from Cosrx contains 80% black propolis and BHA. Propolis is full of nutrients that will add radiance and elasticity to your skin. While BHA helps to clear out your pores and micro-exfoliate your skin.

Step 7: Serum

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Serum is the most nutrient intense step in your skincare routine, often contains high concentration of highly effective ingredients, thus it’s also the step that you’ll see most results from. This one from Some By Mi contains snail mucin extract, which is a highly effective ingredient for brightening, smoothing and repairing the skin. This serum is not too sticky or oily, absorbs very well into the skin.

After some time, your skin should feel softer, smoother and brighter by using this serum.

Step 8: Moisturiser

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$22.00 AUD

Seal in all the skincare you’ve applied with a moisturiser. Moisturiser also helps to retain moisture within your skin, so your skin doesn’t become dry after a couple of hours. This one from Some by Mi is the same snail series as the serum used above. It’ll further enhance the brightening, smoothing and repairing effect.

This cream is not greasy and leaves the skin soft and smooth.

Step 9: Eye Cream

Use an eye cream to help delay the signs of aging. This eye cream is lightweight yet moisturising enough. It contains peptides to effectively reduce fine lines and lifting the eye area.

Step 10: Sheet Mask

Use a sheet mask once a week will help to take your skin to the next level. This one from Merbliss is great for hydration and brightening. Your skin will feel plumped, brightened and radiant after using this.

On the days when you plan to use the sheet mask, skip the essence and serum steps, as these will reduce penetration of the sheet mask and also makes the overall routine too heavy. After cleansing, lightly tone, then use the mask, follow by the moisturiser.

Final Words

I haven’t included a sunscreen in the above routine, but sunscreens are very important in keeping your skin away from sun damages and premature aging.

It may sound like a lot when you read through a 10-step skincare routine, but it’s actually not when you start doing it. Remember not all these steps will be used at one night, pick and choose as your skin desires.

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