Organic Korean Skincare Routine

I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post. I am an NYR Organic Independent Consultant and any purchase you make through my blog or shopping site helps keep this website working. Thanks for your support!

Have you heard of the Korean Beauty Routine? In Korea, women are taught early to take care of their skin. They prevent problems from happening, rather than trying to fix them after they have happened. As a result of a meticulous routine, Korean women are known for having beautiful, radiant skin. And this routine is pretty intense.

The beauty routine has ten steps, although all ten may not happen each session. Since this regiment requires using so many products, it is important to me that they are quality products. Enter my favorite Neal’s Yard Remedies products. The following is what an organic Korean skincare routine would look like, using Neal’s Yard Remedies products, which are made from organic ingredients. (These products also do not have any questionable ingredients like mineral oil, parabens, synthetic fragrances, silicones, phthalates, and more. You can read about the products in general on my consultant page here.)

Step 1: Oil Based Cleansing

An oil-based cleanser can clean in a different way than a water based cleanser. When following an organic Korean skincare routine, start with Wild Rose Beauty Balm. The first three ingredients are wild rose seed oil, Jojoba oil, and beeswax. This is a balm, solid at room temperature but goes on so smooth. You can read about more uses for Wild Rose Beauty Balm here.

Step 2: Water Based Cleaning

The next step in this beauty routine is to use a water-based cleanser. This removes any remaining residue. The idea here is that if you spend a lot of time putting stuff on your face (makeup), you should spend a fair amount of time getting it off. The important thing here is to use a cleanser that is right for your skin type (oily, combination, normal, dry). One to try is the Frankincense Facial Wash. With no toxic ingredients, it contains frankincense and  apricot oil. It smells heavenly and works for all skin types.

Step 3: Exfoliation

The third step is to exfoliate. This step should not be done every day. One to two times a week is a good guideline for exfoliation. Exfoliation is important to remove dead skin cells from the top layer of skin. This works to decongest the pores, brighten the skin and allows the moisturizer to penetrate the skin more effectively. My favorite Neal’s Yard Remedies scrub is the Honey and Orange Facial Scrub. I keep it in the shower and use just a tiny bit mixed with some water to make it go on a bit smoother. It smells fabulous and makes my skin super soft.

Step 4: Toner

Toners are important for many reasons. They cleanse any last bits of oil, makeup, or cleanser. They refresh and hydrate the skin. And they prepare the skin for the next step. (You are read my full post about toner here.) An excellent toner is the Rehydrating Rose Toner.

Step 5: Essence

In the Korean skincare routine, the next step is what they call an essence. This is considered to be the most important part of the skincare routine. It is a very concentrated product that affects skin at the cellular level. Our Rose Facial Oil works well in this step. It is 99% organic. You would apply this by patting it into your skin. (More information about facial oils in general here.)

Step 6: Ampoule

Ampoules are super concentrated versions of an essense. They might also be known as a serum. These are working to target specific issues like fine lines or sunspots. Frankincense Intense™ Concentrate makes a fabulous Ampoule. It has wild-harvested and FairWild frankincense, gardenia stem cells  for plumping, , a 3-peptide complex for line-smoothing, and nourishing organic argan oil.

Step 7: Moisturize:

The moisturizer is the next step. The moisturizer is the top layer that will lock in all of the other layers of moisture and goodness. It is important here to choose a moisturizer that matches your skin type. My favorite is our Frankincense Intense™ Cream, specifically formulated to follow the Frankincense Intense Concentrate. One trick to using this cream most effectively is to not dip your fingers into the jar. That will get any dirt or germs inside. Instead, use a clean spatula. (You don’t have one? Contact me and I’ll mail you one!)

Step 8: Eye Cream

Because the skin around the eyes is so different than the rest of the face, this area needs a different moisturizer. That skin is very delicate, prone to dryness, and shows signs of aging first. So what organic product should be used? Frankincense Intense™ Eye Cream. It is clinically proven to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to some of the key ingredients from the Frankincense Intense™ Cream and Concentrate, the eye cream has caffeine extract, from green tea leaves. You want to gently tap in this eye cream. The delicate skin should not be pulled or rubbed too hard.

Step 9: Occasional Mask

A mask is an important step in any skincare routine. And that is no different in the Korean skincare routine. Masks are intense and can serve different purposes. Some can be more moisturizing, some are more purifying and tightening. All skin types can benefit from masks. A great organic option? White Tea Enriching Facial Mask. The Korean method is all about adding moisture and antioxidants. This mask has white tea, full of antioxidants. The mask can be used once a week, or more for dryer skin. This particular mask would be used after a cleanser and before a toner. But some sheet masks could be used after toning. It is important to read the directions for each mask.

Step 10: SPF

The last step is to apply a sunscreen during the day. The goal is to look for one that is a mineral sunscreen (zinc and/or titanium dioxide) and not a chemical sunscreen. Avoid ingredients like Oxybenzone, which is an endocrine disruptor.

This ten step beauty routine is intense. But taking care of your skin is important. This might be something to try. And when you are using products with organic ingredients, you don’t have to worry about toxic ingredients building up on your skin. Have you already tried this routine? Come and share about it in my VIP group on facebook! See you there!