If you had told me a month ago that I’d be religiously slathering, dabbing, patting, and massaging my face with ten different products every morning and night, I’d have laughed in your dewy, sunscreen-coated face. Like most people in their mid-40s who are forced to adult, I barely have the wherewithal to brush my teeth most days. That said, my skincare routine is what you’d imagine: sparse and haphazard. Think face wash, a moisturizer if the stars align, and sometimes sunscreen. I know. I know.
Historically, I’ve always devoted more time to applying my makeup than on skin prep. But then came a tempting opportunity to go full-on Korean beauty guru, complete with scalp treatments, body scrubs, and layers upon layers of creams and essences. Why not? My skin has been losing its signature luster, and my daily dopamine fix usually comes from doom-scrolling through TikTok or online browsing for vintage clothes on Etsy.
Time for a change—and apologies to the 1950s silk opera coat that’s been sitting in my cart for weeks.
What's behind Korean skincare’s magic.
Before we get into how my face (and every other external inch of me) faired, we need to talk about why Korean skincare is worth the hype. Enter Charlotte Cho, founder of Soko Glam and one of the women who brought the “10-step skincare routine” Stateside. It's a routine that went viral faster than you can say “glass skin.” Soko Glam began in 2012 as a passion project aimed at making a positive impact, but it soon blossomed into a thriving business rooted in the Korean “skin first” philosophy. This mission expanded with The Klog, an educational platform that launched the same year, and later The Klog skincare line in 2020. Charlotte also introduced Then I Met You in 2018, a premium skincare brand inspired by the Korean concept of jeong—“a deep connection that encourages empathy and generosity, while creating a sense of belonging.”
During our chat (which easily could’ve lasted hours because she’s that delightful), Charlotte shared that in Korea, “Skincare isn’t a chore. It’s about daily maintenance, hygiene, and self-care.” She described how her time in Korea transformed her perspective on skincare—from thinking it only mattered when wrinkles appeared to seeing it as essential as brushing your teeth. “It’s this idea of getting to the root of the issue rather than covering it up,” Cho explained to me. “People there learn about double cleansing and wearing SPF as kids the same way we’re taught to wash our hands.”
And, oh, it doesn’t stop at your face. Korean beauty provides love to your entire being. Scalp care isn’t just shampoo and go; it’s exfoliation, essences, and treatments. Body care incorporates scrubs, massage, and hydration to keep every inch of your skin thriving. She even mentioned Korean bathhouses, where exfoliation and all-over-care are the standards.
Clearly, I was slouching in the skincare department. (Maybe this is also why every member of BTS is prettier than me.)
My modified routine.
The 10-step Korean skincare routine is iconic for a reason. Each step has a purpose, and boy, does it layer hydration in ways I didn’t think possible. Here’s a snapshot of what I used into:
- Cleansing Balm: Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm
- Exfoliating Cleanser: Hanskin Vitamin C Glow Powder Cleanser
- Toner + Treatment Pads: Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Pads
- Essence: Then I Met You The Giving Essence
- Eye Cream: HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
- Moisturizer: Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream
- SPF: Thank You Farmer Sun Project Soothing Sun Lotion SPF 30
- Shampoo: CKD Guaranteed Amino Biotion All Powerful Shampoo
- Hair Treatment: La'Dor Keratin Power Glue
- Body Scrub: Arencia Fresh Cloud Scrub
Turns out, it’s not strictly 10 separate steps every single day and night (thank the skincare gods). Some products multitask (as you can see on steps 2 and 3), meaning the entire routine didn’t require an hour of my life. Also, good news: Charlotte assured me there’s no need to awkwardly hover in your bathroom waiting for each layer to dry. You can pat on that essence right after your toner, and so on.
My skin is in pretty decent shape (shoutout to European genes and an aversion to the sun), but thanks to constant stress and midlife hormones staging a coup, it’s been dull, a tad dry, and sporting fine lines like badges of exhaustion. Add in my ADHD and GAD, both of which love to turn my brain into a chaos tornado, and I was excited about the idea of adding some therapeutic structure to my routine. After all, my mornings already function as a sanctuary (I even wrote about it).
Could a twice daily practice of mindful skincare offer the same grounding effect? Keep reading, girl.
How I worked the steps into my life.
The first couple of days left me slightly frazzled as I learned the order of products. But by the end of week one, it became muscle memory. And honestly, it didn’t seem to add much time on either end of my day. Here’s how it went:
Face
That double cleanse really works. Between the silky balm (which has an amazing citrusy scent) and sudsy cleanser, my skin felt soft and clean—the foam wash gently exfoliates in a way that’s kind to sensitive skin. If my pores could talk, they’d have been sighing in relief.
The Some By Mi toner pads are delightfully minty and refreshing when smoothed over my face after the double cleanse. Next, I’d pat on some Then I Met You The Giving Essence followed by the HaruHaru Wonder Eye Cream, Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream, and the Thank You Farmer Sunscreen (only in the a.m.). Aside from the cleansing balm and toner pads, none of the other products are scented, which I prefer. As much as I love toiletries that smell delicious, I’d rather not go to bed with a handful of different smells floating around me.
Scalp
Korean scalp care? Where have you been all my life?! I subbed in CKD Amino Shampoo with my regular brand, and oh my gosh. First of all, it says on the bottle “All-Powerful Shampoo.” Initially, I bristled at this flex. I mean, who did it think it was, the Kanye of hair? It promises “a revitalized scalp, lustrous locks, and is a powerful protein solution for hair loss.” Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not. That’s because it contains biotin for strengthening and nourishing hair from root to tip and amino acid for enhancing scalp and hair health. I can honestly say my tresses have never felt fuller, healthier, or shinier than they do after using this. It’s so good, it’s expletive worthy (but alas, I’d be censored).
The La’Dor Hair Power Glue initially scared me—probably because of the word “glue.” I waited a week or so before striking up the courage to try this leave-in treatment. I didn’t realize it contained snail mucin, which is found in a lot of Korean skincare products. But because they’re focused on full-body care, you’ll find some of the same ingredients in their hair products as well. The snail mucin strengthens hair and provides extra protection from heat. This product also contains keratin, moringa seed oil, and collagen, which deliver protein, shine, and smoothness. It’s kind of like one of those vitamin IVs for your hair. It left mine feeling incredibly soft, glossy, and rejuvenated.
Body
The Arencia body scrub also doubles as a scalp treatment, but I just used it on my body. After one use, I could feel the texture of my skin smoothing out. I applied it all over with an exfoliating sponge, and it made me baby soft. The mix of pear and lavender isn’t as sweet as you’d imagine but a bit more subtle and soothing, which I appreciated.
Taking the time to apply a myriad of balms, essences, and creams to my skin has been grounding in the same way painting my lips red centers me in the morning. Unlike mindlessly scrolling through my phone, this was a hands-on practice that I looked forward to. My ADHD brain found the tactile nature of each step incredibly satisfying. And in a world that often drains my energy, this act of self-love proved restorative and brought me a lot of peace.
Writer Lauren Brown, before and after her immersion into Korean skincare for eight weeks.
The results I experienced.
Over the course of a month, my skin transformed from Cinderella pre-Fairy Godmother to “glass skin” royalty. (Is that an excessive metaphor? Yes, but it’s true.) My skin’s texture is smoother, my fine lines less pronounced, and a healthy glow has replaced any dullness. I even pared back to an abbreviated version for hectic mornings, sticking to cleansing, essence, moisturizer, and SPF.
Would I keep all 10 steps twice daily? Truthfully—maybe. It never felt like a chore. If I do fall off the wagon, the base routine has earned a permanent spot on my bathroom shelf. On self-care Sundays, I might break out a sheet mask or do a 20-minute scalp exfoliation to boot. But if the thought of such a rigorous regimen has you making that face right now (don’t roll your eyes, you know you’re doing it), you could simply adopt this routine every now and again when your skin needs some extra attention. It—and you—deserve it.
The bottom line: My skin's never felt so fresh.
Charlotte wasn’t lying when she said Korean skincare emphasizes holistically addressing the skin’s needs. It’s not just about achieving a perfect complexion but taking time to care for the organ holding your whole self together. Plus? It’s a heck of a lot better than doom-scrolling yourself into panic over the latest political headline. Trust me.
Was it worth it? Heck yes! My skin looks and feels healthier, and I’ve integrated moments of calm into my routine I didn’t know I needed. There’s something powerful about making yourself a priority in even the smallest ways. And hey, if it means turning off TikTok and turning on some TLC for your face, your body, and yes, even your scalp, then I’d say that’s a self-care upgrade well worth the effort.
Lauren Brown
Lauren Brown is a writer, creative dynamo, and self-proclaimed Virgo overthinker. She has spent her career turning ideas into words that stick. Whether she's crafting messaging for major campaigns or scripting national commercials, her knack for storytelling brings emotion and meaning to the page, the screen, or wherever ideas live. With a love for all things beauty, she believes in the kind of confidence that comes from the perfect red lip and a story that feels personal. She lives in the middle of the woods in a rural New England town with her husband, stepchild, and three naughty cats.
