With Korean beauty flooding new markets, blasting out new products and reaching new heights – it’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed. Googling “how many steps in Korean beauty routine” results in the alarming number of “10” which can feel pretty overwhelming to a newbie. And it’s really not true. Not many of the average people are using 10 products and, worse, you are more likely to end up wasting extra product if you are layering them unhelpfully on top of other products. 

So, if you are new to Korean brands and the beauty world – consider this your easy, plan-by-numbers guide on stepping out, getting your own little set of products and seeing how you go! We hope this guide helps you feel more confident and gives you a steady hand on how to make your skin really glow. 

This might seem deceptively easy, but we promised we’d start small. If you ever get confused, try to stick between oily vs dry and most products you pick will help balance your skin.

Dry – if you feel like your skin is tight, you struggle with flaking, have dull skin, get itchiness or general redness, chances are you have a dry skin type. This means you want to pick out your products to highlight hydration, soothing and layering is your friend.  
 
Ideal ingredients: panthenol, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, natural oils, glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, rosewater. 

Oily – if you feel heavy on the face, have a general shine, feel sticky, tend to not like touching your face and absolutely do not relate to the dryness criteria on any part of your face, you likely have an oily skin type. You want balancing products that help wick away excess sebum and good cleansers to clear away excess skin cells. 
 
Ideal ingredients: salicylic acid (BHA), AHA, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, kaolin clay, retinol, papaya, rice bran, centella, green tea, mugwort, camellia, heartleaf. 

Combination – Did the above confuse you? You feel tightness, have flaky skin sometimes, redness, but also oiliness you can’t shake. Welcome to combination skin. You have the ultimate balancing act – you need to ensure you have a good cleansing step to remove excess sebum in oily zones, but also a good moisturizer to ensure you don’t dry out in your dry zones. Most combination types report an oily ‘T’ zone – the forehead and nose region, which you can target. 
 
Ideal ingredients: matcha, tranexamic acid (TXA), allantoin, panthenol, rice extract, willow extract, snail mucin, red bean, kombucha/black tea, probiotics. 

Sensitive – Why are you all separated out? Well sensitive skin can have an oily or dry base – but just refers to your skin’s reaction to its environment. If you often have ‘reactions’ to products – gain dreaded redness, itching, breakouts or dry and flaking – you are likely to have sensitive skin. It can be really tough to find a routine perfected for your own skin, as there’s no guarantee you won’t react to a single ingredient or additive in products.  

It’s very important to add products to your regime one and a time, always do a patch test (trial it out on the back of your hand first) and carefully note how your skin reacts. You’ll also want to avoid strong agents that are more likely to upset your skin barrier – such as retinol, vitamin C, high-dose niacinamide, heavy essential oils (i.e. tea tree) and chemical sunscreens. 
 
Ideal ingredients: ceramide, panthenol, niacinamide, aloe vera, honey/propolis, heartleaf, chamomile, papaya, oat, witch hazel, collagen, rice extract. 

Acne-Prone – The skin type that built a K-beauty empire. Being acne-prone comes with varied degrees of severity, affects up to 80% of the general population (yay, us) and it feels like an uphill battle. If acne does affect you to a strong extent, affects your well-being or how you feel about yourself – make sure you consult a GP or get a dermatology referral (they are there to help!) But if it's just the usual, annoying battle with your skin – read on and find the top K-beauty products that might just finally slay the beast. 
 
Ideal Ingredients: mugwort, green tea, noni extract, salicylic acid (BHA), AHA, PHA, niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, centella, heartleaf, tea tree extract, calendula, propolis, cica.

Normal – This may feel like the hardest to define, but really if you don’t get overly oily skin or don’t feel the tightness of dry skin, congratulations. You are normal! It means you don’t have to pick products or be wary of ingredients for your skin type – but can focus on individual elements to target with your routine. 

This is the goal of what you want to reduce in your skin. Once you are selecting items that blend well with your skin type and produce balance, you can focus on individual problems that you are facing and select ‘treatments’ and ‘serums’ that address this.  

We’ve created a base 5-step routine that you can add to or take-away, as per your preference: 

You should always select your cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen based on your skin type – these are vital to ensure balance of oils and moisture. It also limits the possibility of reactions to products. Then, you can select a toner and serums (or multiple as some do) based on treatments you need – i.e. acne, scarring, pigments. 

There are a few causes of acne, which require different treatments. The core of it is that the pores in your skin are being blocked by excess oils/dead skin cells, which bacteria love to eat and they end up venturing into your pores, triggering inflammation and an angry, closed off pore (i.e. a whitehead). 

It can be due to hormones (i.e. high testosterone which causes acne breakouts and other symptoms), which need to be managed with medication and GP input.  

It can also be due to stress, which triggers a similar body pathway to high testosterone and leads to high sebum output and inflammation. If you always get a breakout in times of stress, this is likely why.

It commonly also occurs just simply due to the sebum on your skin not being cleared enough; which is where a great cleansing regime can help. It’s also important if clearance is your problem to make sure you cleanse twice daily (with non-harsh cleansers), have a clean, cool pillow case for a good night sleep (at least once a week) and pick up a weekly treatment to reduce sebum (i.e. kaolin clay mask or AHA peel). 

Reducing the appearance of pores involves a lot of the same products as acne care – as it involves deep-cleansing of pores and soothing irritation so they happily shrink in size. It’s also important to ensure you are using daily sun-protection (reducing irritation and damage) and moisturizing with a skin-compatible moisturizer (again, based on your natural skin type).

Wrinkles and fine lines are a natural part of aging and life. It’s most commonly due to repeated exposure to our environment over time, with the loss of collagen and elastin in our skin cells. It can be sped up by increased sun exposure, smoking or pollution. They can also happen with repeated facial expressions, such as smile or laugh lines (which only indicates you're a delightful person to be around). 

It can make people a little self-conscious, so there are a few ingredients that can reduce appearance and bring a little boost of radiance to your everyday look. Although you can’t completely prevent wrinkles, you can ensure you feel your best with good hydration, eating well, avoid smoking or pollutants and by always, always being sun safe! 

Dark spots and pigments throwing off your smooth look? Increased pigment most commonly occurs after damage or repeated inflammation. It is a natural, protective mechanism our skin conducts to shore up skin and prevent future damage, but it can be a sore point if you want clearer, more uniform skin. There are two main points of treatment; topical products that help regenerate skin and nourish cells and peels to help refresh older, rougher skin.

If you know a little about Korean skincare, you’ll have heard about the double cleansing phenomenon. It has exploded across the internet and it's sworn by – but do you really need two cleansers every day? Again, it bubbles down to your skin type and the needs of your skin.  

If you have a dry skin type – chances are, a single cleanser is fine. You want to pick out something hydrating and gentle, such as a foaming cleanser. You’ll likely only need to cleanse once a day in the evening, followed by a soothing toner and moisturizer that meets your skin’s needs. 

If you have an oily skin type and are finding excess oils, breakouts or irritation – double cleansing might just change your life. You should try to aim to cleanse twice a day (when you wake up and as part of your evening routine) but keep an eye out that you aren’t overdoing it and your face isn’t dry or tight. 

Double cleansing involves the use of two types of cleansers to provide an ultimate, deep cleanse. Most routines start with an oil-based cleanser, which is fatty and bubbly and draws the sebum out of your skin. It should be applied on dry skin and gently massaged to allow deep interaction with your pores. After a minute, splash water on your face and keep massaging until the oil cleanser is milky. Then rinse thoroughly.

After you’ve washed and rinsed off the oil-based cleanser, you can wash with a cream or foam cleanser, that helps clear away skin cells and leaves you with a fresh face. Once the oils have all been drawn to the surface of your skin with the first step, this step helps wash it away and will give you a perfect cleanse each time. 

It’s important to test out what works best for your skin type – if you are more sensitive, you might find a single, soothing cleanser once a day to be perfect. If you are struggling with blackheads and lots of excess sebum, you might double cleanse morning and night. Take the time, evaluate as you go and build up the amount of cleansing as you need. 

Korean skincare toners are some of the best in the world. They are designed to be natural, balancing and deeply soothing and are actually an important final step in cleansing. We did a deep dive on toners in this article, so to be brief – it’s important to select your toner based on your natural skin type. They are the last step before applying serums and moisturizers, so help prepare your skin cells to absorb new treatments.

If you have dry skin – you are looking for a hydrating, nourishing toner. Milky toners are your new best friend, as they can add a boost to your skin, plump up cells and give you a natural glow throughout the day. You also want to seek out toners that naturally have moisturizing properties; such as ceramides, hyaluronic acids, peptides and panthenol. 

If you have oily skin – you are looking for a balancing toner. There are a variety of excellent toners to help soothe and relief acne (containing centella/cica or tea tree oil) - and also milky toners that can help absorb excess sebum from your skin and leave you feeling balanced and smooth. 

At the end of the day, toners are most important to help finish cleansing skin and prepare you for your other products, so if you select one that is great for your skin type you should be ready to go!

Simply put, skin serums are concentrated products that deliver a treatment directly to your skin cells. K-beauty fans love a good serum as these are often the source of a dramatic result.  This is where treating a specific skin concern lies best (i.e. acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation) as you can apply it directly to your face. It goes on after a toner and is covered with a soothing moisturizer to protect you during the day. 

Look back through the ingredients above and, if you are looking for a serum to add to your routine, keep an eye out for those key ingredients for either your main skin type or any skin concern you have. 

1.  Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum 30ml 
2.  Axis Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum 50ml 
3.  Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Relief Ampoule 100ml 

1. Beauty of Joseon Revive Serum (Ginseng + Snail Mucin) 30ml 
2.  Medicube PDRN Pink Exosome Shot Serum 2000 30ml 
3.  Some by Mi Galatomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum 30ml 

1. Missha Vita C Plus Spot Correcting and Firming Ampoule 30ml 
2.  Numbuzin No.5 Goodbye Blemish Serum 50ml 
3.  Nineless B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum 30ml 

The good old moisturizer has been used by humans globally since ancient times to protect, soften and relieve skin. It’s an important step not to miss and especially in the evening, can help your skin maintain its plumpness and glow. You’ll want to pick a moisturizer that suits your skin type, not use too little or too much and ensure it has ingredients that are not causing any problems.

1. Mary and May Collagen Booster Lotion 120ml 
2.  TIRTIR Ceramic Cream 50ml 
3.  Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream 110ml 

1. Dr Althea 345 Barrier Cream 
2.  Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream 100g 
3.  Tonymoly Aloe 99% Chok Chok Soothing Gel 250ml 

The number one way to protect and have luscious, beautiful skin is absolutely always sun protection! It’s important to always make sure when you are venturing outside to make sure you are wearing enough and being sun-safe (wearing a hat, not standing in direct sunlight too long or taking risks). 

Especially in Australia, where UV radiation is at its most dangerous and it does not correlate to heat – meaning you might not even notice your skin is crisping up! Apart from just keeping you young, it protects your skin, reduces the risk of pigment and spots and protects you from cancer – so all round, good sunscreen is an important choice. If you only pick one item of skincare from the Korean beauty routine – let it be a harmonious and protective sunscreen! 

1. Tocobo Vita Tone Up Sun Cream Deluxe 50ml 
2.  Beauty of Joseon Aqua-Fresh Rice + B5 50ml 
3.  Some By Mi V10 Hyal Antioxidant Sunscreen 40ml 

1. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics 50ml 
2.  Axis Y Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen 50ml 
3.  Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream 50ml 

We hope you’ve found this informative and has helped you dip your toe into the world of Korean beauty – with some ideas of where you’d like to try. Don’t start stressing over a 10-step routine or how many toners you need to buy – start small, select things carefully with your individual skin in mind, keep an eye on ingredients and fragrances and only introduce one product at a time to your skin.  

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our range on Arktastic! And read our blog for more beauty tips, such as ‘Best Moisturizers for Acne’ and ‘Top 25 K-Beauty of 2025.’ 

Why are there so many products in each routine? 
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of items recommended online – especially by professional influencers who can be up to 20 daily products that they recommend. If you only use 1-2 skincare products at the moment, that’s a great place to start. You should only introduce one product at a time and everybody’s skin is unique – from type to environment to hydration levels to problems. What works for some people won’t work for you – so it's important to be open, try new things and acknowledge when things aren’t working. 

Should oily skin use moisturizers? 
Yes, it’s very beneficial to use a good moisturizer, even if you have oily skin. It’s important to find the balance for your skin – and to ensure you aren’t over-moisturizing or under-moisturizing. Many oily skin treatments can leave you feeling tight and dry, so having a moisturizer you swear by, that can help you feel balanced is important.  

Should I stop using products that make me purge? 
This is a common conundrum with trying a new product. You buy it, it arrives, you’re excited then boom! A ton of red spots due to skin reaction. You need to evaluate if it is indeed the new product causing the problem (the best way is to stop using it and then try again in two weeks). If it is, is it something your skin will adjust to – like a serum or treatment? If so, you can slowly build up your skin tolerance (always start small) and see if your skin adjusts.  

If not (think moisturizer, toner or sunscreen) - you are out of luck. It’s not a good sign to have purging due to moisturizer or sunscreen and it's likely to cause you issues down the track – so it’s best to stop and think about which good friend might like it, instead.