If you’re a skincare fan, you’ve most likely heard about K-beauty. Short for Korean beauty, K-beauty is best known for multi-step skincare routines that focus on a focus on hydration, product layering, barrier support, and long-term skin health. This skincare philosophy emerged about a decade ago and it’s shown no signs of slowing down—in fact, it’s gaining traction.
Vogue reports that searches for K-beauty are up more than 20% over last year, and best-loved beauty retailers like ULTA are increasing their selection of K-beauty products, with more than 1,000 currently available. If you want to try K-beauty (or want tips on how to make the most of your current K-beauty routine), hop in! We’ll tell you what K-beauty is all about—and share a secret that will help you get even better results from your Korean skincare routine.
What Does K-Beauty Mean?
K-beauty refers to Korean skincare and beauty routines that prioritize deep hydration, skin barrier support, strategic layering of products, and daily sun protection. Instead of treating skin harshly, Korean beauty typically emphasizes a “kinder, gentler” approach to skin health. K-beauty formulas soothe, moisturize and protect the skin—while also addressing common skin concerns like uneven skin tone, rough texture, acne, and signs of aging like wrinkles and loss of firmness. And while achieving “glass skin” (the smooth, ultra-dewy skin popular on social media) can be a goal of K-beauty, it’s more about getting your healthiest skin.
Korean skincare took the beauty world by storm thanks to its innovative approach:
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Lightweight formulas intended for layering
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Advanced delivery systems that boost performance of active ingredients
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Formulas that blend modern actives (such as ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid) with traditional ingredients such as centella asiatica, snail mucin, mugwort, ginseng and rice extract
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K-beauty is also at the forefront of emerging skincare science. Korean sunscreens, for example, are known for their advanced UV filters that protect skin without feeling heavy or greasy. K-beauty is also why you’re starting to see more products with PDRN and exosomes. Both of these ingredients are cutting-edge biomedical actives with skin-regenerative and collagen-boosting properties.
At DERMAFLASH, we love innovation in skincare, and our founder is a fan of K-beauty. “I’m a skincare junkie and I’m obsessed with Korean skincare,” says Dara Levy. “There are so many brands that I love.”
What Is the 10-step K-Beauty Routine?
So, what are all the steps in the famous 10-step Korean skincare routine? Before we break it down, there’s one thing you need to know: You do not need to do every step every day. It’s more of a “pick and choose” approach, depending on what your skin needs:
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Step 1 - First cleanse (oil-based): Remove makeup and SPF with a cleansing oil or balm.
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Step 2 - Second cleanse (water-based): Use a gentle gel or cream cleanser to remove any remaining impurities.
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Step 3 - Exfoliator: K-beauty uses gentle exfoliating liquids or pads with mild acid blends, not harsh or irritating acids.
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Step 4 - Toner or mist: This step preps your skin for better absorption of subsequent products.
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Step 5 - Essence: These watery liquids help deliver additional hydration.
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Step 6 - Serum or Ampoule: These concentrated treatments address specific concerns (brightening, anti-aging, acne, etc)
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Step 7 - Sheet Mask: Use a sheet mask a few times a week for an intense hydration boost.
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Step 8 - Eye Cream: Delivers extra hydration and care for the delicate eye area.
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Step 9 - Moisturizer and/or sleeping mask: This step seals in your previous layers.
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Step 10 - Sunscreen (a.m. only): SPF every morning is a non-negotiable!
Is there a shorter K-beauty routine I can do?
Absolutely. Like we said, there’s no need to do all 10 steps every day—or at all, if you prefer a more streamlined routine. The philosophy behind K-beauty is about skincare as a self-care ritual and treating your skin gently—both things we believe in at DERMAFLASH.
For an example of a streamlined K-beauty routine, you could do the following: Double cleanse at night, then apply a gentle exfoliating toner like Botanical Ketoacid Toner (this combines your exfoliating + toning step). Follow with a serum, then layer on your moisturizer. In the morning, you only need to cleanse once (with your water-based cleanser), and you can add sunscreen as your last step.
Can I dermaplane with K-beauty?
Yes, dermaplaning is regularly performed in Korea, where it’s known as “skin planing.” It’s a popular and widely used practice to boost product absorption and get an instant “glass skin” glow. Dermaplaning gently removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells and peach fuzz that can block skincare absorption, which allows your skincare products to penetrate more effectively. "Dermaplaning is the secret to improving results from any skincare routine—that includes K-beauty,” says licensed master esthetician Billie Jo Bond.
Using LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning once a week is a gentle, dermatologist-recommend way to safely dermaplane at home and enhance the results of your K-beauty routine (whether it’s the full 10 steps or a more streamlined routine).
“When you remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz, your skincare products will work better because you are removing the barrier to penetration. All the beneficial active ingredients can sink right in and do what they are meant to do," Levy says. “Plus, when you apply your essences and serums to freshly Flashed skin, the glow is like nothing else. I’ve been dermaplaning for years, and I’m still blown away.”
Ready to start your own K-beauty routine or boost the results of your current routine? Sonic dermaplaning will give you glowing results and improve skin health long-term—safely and gently.
