Imagine this: it’s 11:40pm and you’ve just come home from drinks with the girls. You walk into your bathroom and your 10-step skincare routine is waiting for you. Cleansers, toners, essences, serums, ampoules, moisturisers – and all you want is to go to bed.
If you’ve ever been there, I’m giving you full permission to skip a few faffy steps. Enter: Korean beauty and skincare.
Since the 2010s, Korean practices have become a major sensation – sparking ongoing debate among the pros regarding the best and most effective beauty routines.
The 10-step routine promised glass skin but honestly, between the second cleanse and the third serum, we knew something had to change.
What is skip-care?
Skip-care – coined in South Korea, coincidentally the birthplace of the multi-step skincare routine – is the art of doing less. It doesn’t actually mean skipping steps, but rather cutting out the ones that don’t work for you and instead choosing purposeful multi-tasking products that replace numerous steps into one. So if you really think about it, not only is it better for your skin but it’s also financially smarter.
Is skip-care actually good for your skin?
For years, dermatologists have been warning us about the effects of overcrowding our skin with active ingredients. Over-layering products that each serve a singular purpose without the knowledge of how these ingredients affect our skin when mixed together can compromise the skin barrier leading to sensitivity and even more breakouts. Skip-care prevents this by encouraging you to choose fewer products which target multiple problem areas.
So, is less really more?
What is a skip-care routine?
What does a skip-care skincare routine actually look like? The non-negotiable essentials include a good cleanser, an (optional) treatment product, a suitable moisturiser, and SPF in the morning. Everything else is optional. The goal is not to have the shortest routine but the most effective. K-beauty emphasises putting your skin’s needs above everything else – and having successfully developed skincare products like serums that double as a moisturiser, or an SPF packed with active ingredients – you get the benefits of multiple steps in one!
If you’re ready to get to bed a little faster – or the idea of an intentional streamlined skincare regiment piqued your interest – read below for our picks on our favourite K-beauty products.
© LaunchmetricsWhat are the best skip-care routine products?
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Safe Me Relief Moisture Cleansing Milk
Make P:REM
Perfect for sensitive and dry skin, this gentle milky cleanser removes makeup and sunscreen without stripping the skin, while soybean protein strengthens the moisture barrier and ceramide, hyaluronic acid and provitamin B5 work together to restore moisture.
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Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam
Beplain
Award winner in Korea and a skip-care essential – formulated with mung bean powder sourced from Ochang, it deeply cleanses the skin. The centella asiatica, glycerin and ceramide NP keeps your skin soothed, hydrated, and comfortable.
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Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pads
Skin1004
These toner pads are infused with centella asiatica that hydrate, soothe, and restore balance. Suitable for all skin types it also helps to minimise the appearance of visible redness. Apply to clean face, in the morning and evening.
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Madecassoside Blemish Pads 100 Pads
Mediheal
Formulated around a cica-niacinamide combination, these toner pads are the holy-grail skip-care product for those struggling with redness and blemishes. It calms inflamed breakouts, reduces acne scarring and repairs the skin barrier.
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Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Anua
This lightweight serum is packed with ingredients that help to brighten the complexion, even out discolouration, and support long-lasting hydration. It’s 10% niacinamide with tranexamic acid will brighten and give you that glass skin look.
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Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Serum
Innisfree
Infused with green tea enzymes, this serum gently exfoliates dead skin cells whilst the blend between the vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid help to fade dark spots. Its gentle formulation makes this the perfect serum for anyone with sensitive skin.
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Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream
Dr.G
If your skin feels stressed, reactive, or needs a break, we suggest this hydrating lightweight daily moisturiser. Packed with a 10-Cica complex, it reduces inflammation, promotes healing whilst controlling oil production.
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345 Relief Cream
Dr. Althea
Named after its 3:4:5 ratio of blemish relief, nourishing and soothing ingredients, this moisturiser does it all – from brightening dullness and dark spots, to deeply hydrating your skin. Fragrance free and non comedogenic, this cream will leave your skin feeling good.
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By Michelle Erdene
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