You do not need ten steps to look after your skin the Korean way

You may have heard about the famous ten-step routine and thought, I simply do not have time for that. Relax. The number became well known, but many Korean women do not follow a fixed list. Each one adjusts her steps to her skin, the season and the day she has had.

What really counts is the order, and doing it regularly. Here is the full routine, the way a friend would explain it. After that, you will see how to shorten it.

At night, one step at a time

• Oil or balm cleanser. Massage it onto dry skin to dissolve makeup and sunscreen.
• Water-based cleanser. A mild gel or foam removes what is left. Together, these two steps are the double cleanse.
• Toner. In Korea this is usually a watery lotion that adds moisture and prepares the skin. Pat it in with your hands.
• Essence. Lighter than a serum, it gives a little extra hydration.
• Serum or ampoule. Choose according to what you want: radiance, firmness or calm.
• Eye cream. A tiny amount, applied with your ring finger and no rubbing.
• Moisturiser. It seals in everything else and keeps skin from drying out overnight.

Sheet masks and gentle exfoliation are extras, not daily tasks. Once or twice a week is usually enough, and less if your skin is sensitive.

In the morning, much shorter

You wake up with no makeup to remove. A splash of water or a very mild cleanser usually does the job. Then comes toner, some moisturiser and sunscreen.

That last step is the one Korean women take most seriously. Sunscreen counts as skincare, in winter as well as summer. If you adopt only one habit from this list, make it this one.

The three-step version

Short on time or energy? Keep the essentials:

• Cleanse gently.
• Moisturise with a cream you like.
• Wear sunscreen in the morning.

That is already a decent routine. Once you enjoy it, add one step at a time. This way you learn what suits your skin. Start five products on the same day and, if something irritates, you will not know which one it was.

Three small tricks

First, go from the lightest product to the richest. Watery textures go on before creamy ones.

Second, do not rush. Give each layer a few seconds to sink in. In Korea, people often pat products on with their fingertips rather than dragging the skin. It feels pleasant and is kind to delicate areas.

Third, listen to your skin as the years go by. Many skins ask for richer textures with age. That does not mean using more products. Sometimes all it takes is swapping your usual cream for a more nourishing one.

Where lashes fit in

A dedicated step for lashes and brows comes at the end, on clean skin. CILARIA serum goes on morning and night at the base of the lashes. It takes a few seconds, so it adds very little to your routine. Just take care to keep it out of your eyes.

In the end, the best Korean routine is the one you will still follow tomorrow, the day after and next week. If it is short and pleasant, you are already on the right track.