Korean Skincare Trends
Around the world, people are paying attention to the cutting-edge beauty trends emerging from South Korea. Popularized by K-pop stars and beauty influencers on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Korean beauty (or K-Beauty) skincare routines are gaining global interest. Particular looks, such as the Glass Skin trend and beauty routines, like the 10-step Korean skincare routine, provide patients with smooth, luminous, clear, youthful-looking skin. But with the multi-step skincare process and many K-beauty products and skincare ingredients to choose from, how do you know where to start? That is why the best first step when embarking on a new skincare routine is to schedule a consultation appointment with an expert board-certified dermatologist, such as Dr. Michele Green.
New, innovative products are always emerging from Seoul, with K-beauty brands optimizing their formulations, active ingredients, and ease of application. However, the multi-step process of the Korean skincare routine stays constant, though the most popular K-beauty products may change from year to year. The skincare routine begins with the double cleanser step, where patients clear the skin of dirt, makeup, and other debris. Patients then apply toner to prepare the skin for the essences, ampoules, and serums that come next to address specific skincare concerns, like acne blemishes, dry skin, and areas of pigmentation. Moisturizer is also key to maintaining skin hydration, and the routine always finishes with the application of sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher for sun protection throughout the day. Layering skin care products helps to create hydrated, balanced, smooth, and clear skin, and the specific products used can be adjusted based on your skin type (dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, or sensitive skin). Schedule your appointment with Dr. Green today to determine which products suit your skin type most effectively.
Experienced, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green has been expertly treating patients in her Upper East Side New York City office for more than 25 years. A master at various cosmetic and medical skincare treatments, Dr. Green is highly adept at creating unique, effective skincare plans for each patient. With her proprietary line of skincare products, MGSKINLABs, Dr. Green can provide patients with recommendations for the highest quality creams, lotions, and serums. Well-known for high patient satisfaction, Dr. Green has been voted one of the best healthcare providers in New York City by such publications as Castle Connolly, Super Doctors, and New York Magazine.
What is the latest trend in skincare in Korea?
South Korea is at the forefront of beauty trends with skincare products and routines that are gaining popularity worldwide. Unlike many Western countries that emphasize makeup, the Korean beauty industry emphasizes skincare for a naturally smooth, clear, dewy, luminous look to the skin. The tried and true K-beauty method for achieving naturally youthful-looking and glowing skin is the Korean skincare routine, which is a 10-step routine for cleansing, repairing, moisturizing, and protecting the skin. The most popular products to use within the Korean skincare routine may change year over year, but the structure of the routine will stay the same. One of the key components of the routine is the application of serums, face masks, and ampoules for hydrating the skin, erasing blemishes, eliminating discoloration, improving skin tone and texture, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sunscreen application is vitally important for protecting the skin, and this year, in K-beauty trends, more and more people are applying sunscreen patches that cover areas of the body that are most exposed to the sun, including the cheeks, nose, and shoulders. Sunscreen patches are not a replacement for sunscreen. Rather, they can be used together for enhanced protection.
What are the most popular Korean beauty trends, aka K-beauty trends?
Many people look to K-pop stars to determine the most popular Korean beauty trends of the moment. One such trend is the application of matte products rather than lip gloss or lipstick to color the lips. Matte lip stains provide excellent tint to the lips without fear of bleeding beyond the lip line. Additionally, K-pop stars are turning back to Y2K trends—or beauty trends that were present in the early 2000s—such as shimmery highlighter and turning to nostalgic beauty brands like Skinfood and Etude. Laser treatments for skin tightening, correcting hyperpigmentation, and erasing fine lines and wrinkles, such as Thermage radiofrequency laser treatment and Helios laser treatment, are also gaining in popularity. These treatments are most effective when performed in the office of a board-certified dermatologist, such as Dr. Michele Green.
What is the Glass Skin skincare trend?
Glass skin is a term coined by the founder of the beauty brand Peach & Lily, Alicia Yoon, who says glass skin is about maintaining your skin at its healthiest. Characterized by dewy, glowing, luminous skin, glass skin is so clear and smooth it looks like it could be made of glass. One goal of the skincare trend is to make it look as though you are wearing highlighter when, in fact, you are not wearing makeup at all. The key to achieving glass skin is plenty of hydration—keeping the skin moisturized is essential to creating a dewy look.
How to get glass skin like a K-pop star
Patients keyed into South Korean pop culture are likely familiar with K-pop stars, who are often symbols of the beauty industry with smooth, glowy, blemish-free skin—a trend known as “glass skin.” Most patients must follow a disciplined, multi-step skincare routine to achieve the glass skin look. The process involves a double cleansing face wash morning and night, the application of serums, boosters, moisturizing lotions and creams, and strict sun protection with sunscreen every morning. The key to achieving the characteristic dewy look of glass skin is to hydrate the skin thoroughly. Even if you have naturally oily skin, moisturizing and nourishing serums, sheet masks, and lotions will help to control the over-production of sebum if you choose the right products. Determining the right skincare products for your skin type can feel daunting, so the best way to get started is to consult an expert dermatologist like Dr. Michele Green.
In some cases, skincare products are not effective for achieving a glass skin complexion, and many people turn to in-office treatments to revitalize their skin. The Helios 785nm laser is a popular non-invasive procedure that can be used to treat uneven skin tone and texture, discoloration, sun damage, and remove tattoos. The Helios 785nm laser is a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser that combines both Nano and Pico technologies to brighten the skin. This laser has undergone many clinical studies and has been proven to be safe and effective on many different skin types and tones, even sensitive Asian skin. There is little to no downtime associated with the Helios 785nm laser, making it an excellent treatment option for achieving glass skin. Multiple treatment sessions spaced two to four weeks apart are required for optimal results, depending on the exact skin concern being treated. Dr. Green recommends patients engage in regular treatment sessions to maintain and enhance the results.
What is the most popular skincare in Korea?
By far, the most popular skincare trend in Korea is the 10-step Korean skincare routine. The Korean skincare regimen involves a 10-step process of cleaning the skin of debris such as makeup, sunscreen, excess oils, and dead skin cells, infusing the skin with antioxidants, vitamin C serums, and hyaluronic acid, treating skincare concerns such as acne blemishes, fine lines, and dark spots, applying a sheet mask, moisturizing, and repeated application of sunscreen throughout the day. The results are smoother skin, increased elasticity, brighter complexion, and a more even skin tone and texture. For the Korean skincare routine to be the most effective, it is essential to apply products in the right order. However, the specific products that are used can vary depending on each patient’s skin type, skin tone, and individual skin concerns. In 2024, K-beauty experts are also talking about hair care as a part of the routine to condition the scalp and create a smooth, thick, luscious look to the hair.
What is the Korean skincare craze?
Korean skincare works on the principle of creating hydration and balance, which keeps the skin feeling smooth and prevents signs of the natural aging process, such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and rough skin texture. Korean skincare products contain a range of ingredients, such as antioxidants, niacinamide, humectants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and peptides, that work together to protect the skin barrier, moisturize the skin, target dark spots and blemishes, boost collagen production, and increase skin cell turnover. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on practicing strict sun protection to prevent potential damage from UV rays and free radicals, which can create pigmentation on the skin’s surface and emphasize fine lines. Korean skincare works best when products are applied regularly, generally following a twice-daily routine.
While the 10-step process can be shortened to five or seven steps, the full treatment regimen is as follows:
- Oil-based cleanser
- Water-based cleanser
- Exfoliation
- Toner
- Essence
- Boosters & Serums
- Sheet mask
- Eye cream
- Moisturizing cream or lotion
- Sunscreen
Why is Korean skincare so popular?
According to the founder of Peach & Lily skincare and the woman who originated the term, Alicia Yoon, glass skin, which is achieved with the help of the Korean skincare routine, is “your skin at its healthiest.” The goal of following the Korean skincare routine is to create balance by using a combination of products that moisturize, exfoliate, protect, and hydrate the skin. Yoon also recommends finding gentle skincare products and avoiding over-exfoliation of the skin, which can cause skin irritation and occurs when you exfoliate too frequently or combine vitamin C products with AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids. The K-beauty trend also emphasizes sun protection as a cornerstone of your skincare routine, which helps to prevent aging, dark spots, and more serious skin concerns like melanoma. Korean skincare is so popular because it helps patients maintain healthy, balanced, youthful-looking skin.
Is Korean skincare the best?
American patients often wonder, “Is Korean skin care better than American?” The Korean skincare routine is a highly effective way to reverse signs of the natural aging process and keep the skin looking clear, smooth, and naturally youthful. Following the full skincare regime requires commitment and dedication, but many patients feel that the results make the time and care for the skin fully worth it. If you are just getting started with Korean skincare, it is best to begin by adding one product at a time and letting the skin adjust for several days before adding the next product. This way, you can find out which products work best for your skin.
What are the most popular Korean skincare brands?
The K-beauty industry is ever-expanding, and every year, new K-beauty brands appear in the market. Some enduring popular Korean skincare brands are as follows:
Cosrx is a Korean skincare company founded in 2013 that serves over 140 countries worldwide. One of its most popular products is its Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence, which can reduce the appearance of pigmentation, improve skin texture, and hydrate the skin.
Beauty of Joseon is another popular K-beauty brand with a wide range of products that can be used across multiple steps of the Korean skincare routine. One of the most popular products is the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum for patients who struggle with acne breakouts.
Dr. Jart is a K-beauty company with many beauty products available online. One staple of the Korean skincare routine is sheet masks, which are often applied at night and left on to hydrate the skin while you sleep. Dr. Jart’s Tiger Grass Sleepair Intense Mask soothes and moisturizes the skin while you sleep.
Laneige is a Korea-based beauty company that also provides patients with high-quality sheet masks. One of the most popular products is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, which is specifically applied to the lips while you sleep. The sheet mask contains vitamin C, coconut oil, and sea for smooth, hydrated lips.
Haruharu Wonder is a Korean beauty product company that creates all-natural, all-vegan products containing its patented black rice and bamboo shoot park blend. Currently, one of its most popular products is its Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner, which hydrates the skin and prepares it for additional skincare products.
What is the best sunscreen for the Korean skincare trend?
Sunscreen application is an essential step in any skincare routine, and Dr. Green recommends applying sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher as the last step of your morning routine. One of the best ways to achieve clear, smooth, youthful-looking skin is to take preventative measures when it comes to sun protection. When the skin is exposed to the sun’s rays without protection, the UVA and UVB rays can damage the tissue, leading to dark spots, pigmentation, decreased skin elasticity, increased visibility of fine lines and wrinkles, and even pre-cancerous lesions. One popular K-beauty sunscreen is the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50, which protects from UVA and UVB rays while keeping the skin moisturized throughout the day. The product contains ginseng, rice extract, and niacinamide for extra protection and hydration. In 2024, one sun protection trend that continues to rise in popularity is sunscreen patches, which can be applied on areas that receive the most sun, such as the cheeks, nose, and shoulders. Sunscreen patches are not a replacement for sunscreen but can help provide additional protection.
What are the best Asian beauty brands and beauty products for smooth skin?
Many beauty brands in Asia create safe and effective skincare products for smooth skin, making it challenging to choose a brand and to know which individual product will be best for your skin type. That’s why the best first step is to consult with an expert dermatologist, such as New York City-based Dr. Michele Green. If you are looking to begin the Korean skincare routine, Dr. Green will start by examining your skin to determine your skin type and discuss any skin concerns you might have. From there, Dr. Green will recommend specific brands and products that will best meet your aesthetic goals. Often, Dr. Green will recommend products containing ingredients such as niacinamide, which is a form of B3 that reduces inflammation, strengthens the skin barrier, and improves skin texture; Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that boosts collagen production, improves skin elasticity, and reduces the appearance of pigmentation; and hyaluronic acid, which improves skin hydration, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and fills in lost volume.
Where to buy Korean skincare in the US
If you are looking to buy from any of these Korean beauty product companies, their products are all available online through their websites and can be shipped around the world. Many Korean products use plant-based natural ingredients, which makes them coveted globally. However, you do not need to use all Korean beauty products to follow the 10-step skincare routine. For recommendations on the skincare products that will be best for your skin, schedule a consultation with dermatologist Dr. Michele Green.
Are Korean skincare products safe?
Many Korean skincare products are safe and effective for creating smoother, clearer, brighter, more youthful-looking skin. With a wide range of beauty products available from Asia, patients can find products that are most effective for their skin type, whether they have oily, dry, combination, or sensitive skin. However, any skincare or beauty product that is acquired online from outside of the United States is not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that it is often difficult for consumers to know if the product is fully safe. That is why it is advisable to consult with a board-certified dermatologist, such as Dr. Green, before ordering products from abroad.
Does Korean skincare work? How to get started with effective skincare today
When it comes to skincare, it can feel difficult to know what products to use and what regimen to follow to get glowing, clear, glass skin, which is why many people are turning to the globally trending Korean beauty skincare routine. The Korean skincare routine is a ten-step regimen (that can be simplified to as few as five steps) with skincare products that contain natural, nourishing ingredients that work to hydrate, brighten, and smooth the skin for a glass skin look. When beginning any multi-step skincare process, it can be difficult to know which skincare products will work best for your skin type. That is why the best first step in achieving glass skin is to consult with an expert dermatologist, such as Dr. Michele Green, who can recommend safe and effective products for you.
Dr. Michele Green is an internationally renowned board-certified dermatologist with over two and a half decades of experience providing her patients with the best non-invasive treatment options. Dr. Green takes a holistic approach and embraces a less-is-more philosophy, creating customized skincare routines and treatment plans that cater to her patient’s unique concerns and aesthetic goals. She is consistently identified as one of New York’s best dermatologists by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and Super Doctors for her dedication to her patients and expertise. Please call us at 212-535-3088 or email our New York City-based office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michele Green and determine how you can achieve a glass-skin look today.