I’ve long heard glowing praise for Korean skincare. For some, K-beauty is considered the gold standard, renowned for its forward-thinking formulations, cutting-edge technology, and signature ingredients like snail mucin, centella asiatica, and ginseng. The routines often unfold across three to ten steps, guided by a minimalist philosophy that includes only what the skin truly needs. In short: everything that speaks to me.
Years ago, when I was living in London, I had an American friend with the most radiant complexion; smooth, luminous, utterly flawless. She used to tell me about the wonders of Korean skincare. If only I’d listened. If only I’d asked what she was using, back then, I was battling adult acne and could have saved myself so much time :).
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Just a month ago, the French skincare brand Aime (which I also wholeheartedly recommend, especially for their delicious marine collagen drinks) sent me their latest release to try: The Daily SPF, SPF 50 UVA + UVB, co-developed with a Korean laboratory specializing in photoprotection. I always make it a point to only share what I’ve truly tested and loved, and this one immediately stood out. It’s a completely invisible SPF that melts into the skin like a day cream, nothing at all like a traditional sunscreen. It brought back my friend’s advice from all those years ago… and sparked a renewed desire to finally explore the world of Korean skincare for myself.
My French Skincare Routine Routine, Reimagined
So, I finally took the leap, I’ve officially given my French skincare routine a Korean twist :). If you’ve been reading for a while, you might remember this article where I shared my current French routine: the skincare mistakes I’ve made, what I’ve learned over the years, and the products I keep returning to. I’ve kept the same basic structure, one that works well for my skin, six or seven steps in total:
- Double cleansing with a cleansing oil or balm to remove makeup and SPF, followed by a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin (in the evening only; in the morning, I simply use a gentle cleanser).
- A hydrating toner to replenish the skin immediately after cleansing (used in the morning; in the evening, I go straight to the exfoliating lotion after double cleansing).
- A gentle exfoliating lotion, this step has truly been a game changer in my routine. I now only use this kind of exfoliation, no more harsh scrubs or strong acid peels (evening only).
- A hydrating, soothing, protective essence, almost like a milky lotion, light enough to be worn alone when the weather is very warm.
- A serum, depending on my skin’s needs at the moment (evening only).
- A day cream that nourishes and hydrates, and a richer night cream to help repair the skin overnight.
- SPF, of course, to protect and prevent premature aging caused by UV exposure (morning only).
For each step, I’ve tried to find Korean products that echo the ones I already love and have recommended many times before. A few examples:
- Violette_FR Boum-Boum Milk — A hydrating spray-lotion packed with fermented birch sap, glycerin, squalane, and sunflower oil. I use it almost like a serum. it’s enriched with soothing botanical extracts and gives the skin a dewy, balanced finish.
- Violette_FR C’est la Cream — One of my favorite moisturizers: glycerin, squalane, hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5, vitamin E, and a stable form of vitamin C for radiance and anti-aging. It’s also infused with soothing botanicals. The texture is silky but never greasy, it leaves the skin glowing and healthy-looking.
- Biologique Recherche Lotion P50W — The exfoliating toner that transformed my routine. It combines exfoliating acids (AHA, BHA, PHA), purifying actives like niacinamide and vinegar, and calming botanical extracts. It’s the product I credit most for improving my skin over time.
The Korean Skincare Products I’ve Been Loving
And now, here are the Korean products I’ve tested and loved, and which I’ve been using daily for over a month. (Needless to say, this post isn’t sponsored in any way, I purchased all these products myself.) Further down, you’ll find a more detailed description of each one: why I chose it, how it fits into my routine, and what I truly think. If you’re based in the US, you can order most of them via Ohlolly, Soko Glam or Stylevana (just be sure to check shipping times depending on product availability). If you’re in Europe, I ordered mine from Korean Skincare and Little Wonderland, both offer fairly quick delivery.
Heimish All Clean Balm — I love this balm. It melts instantly into the skin, has a light and pleasant scent, transforms into a milk upon contact with water, and rinses off effortlessly.
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser — An ultra-gentle cleanser that never leaves my skin feeling tight or dry. I use it both morning and evening.
By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water — A gentle exfoliating toner that’s truly changed my skin. Unlike traditional exfoliants, this one is mild enough to use several times a week. I adore this formula, which contains mandelic acid (an AHA known to be gentler than others like glycolic acid, making it less likely to cause irritation). My skin feels smoother, clearer, firmer, and less red, especially on the cheeks. I now use it almost every evening, though if you’re new to acids or have sensitive skin, start with once or twice a week and observe how your skin reacts.
Dr. Ceuracle Pro Balance Biotics Toner — A wonderfully hydrating toner, formulated with water-soluble moisturizers and six probiotic ingredients to give the skin a hydration boost before applying moisturizer.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence — I’m obsessed with this essence. I love applying a milky hydrating layer before my cream. This one is formulated with a five-ceramide complex and five fatty acids, giving a deeply moisturizing, nourishing, and plumping effect.
Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum (Propolis + Niacinamide) — I use this serum in the evening whenever I feel like a breakout is on the horizon. With 60% propolis extract, 2% niacinamide, and 0.5% BHA, it’s ideal for acne-prone or imbalanced skin types.
Etude House SoonJung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream — I really love this cream (sunflower seed oil, shea butter, and panthenol). The texture is light but still very hydrating, and it reminds me a lot of C’est la Cream. It’s an excellent makeup base and doesn’t leave a greasy finish.
RNW Der. Special Ceramide Cream — My go-to night cream with anti-aging benefits. It’s packed with ceramides (which help strengthen the skin barrier, retain moisture, and protect against external aggressors), D-panthenol (soothing and anti-inflammatory), fatty acids, a three-layer hyaluronic acid complex for deep hydration, and Oligopeptide-1 to smooth skin texture.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh (Rice + B5) SPF50+ PA++++ — Possibly one of the best SPF50+ products on the market in terms of value. It applies just like a regular day cream, no white cast, non-sticky, non-greasy, and layers beautifully under makeup (powder or foundation). This version is lighter than the classic formula and ideal for normal to combination or oily skin.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun (Rice + Probiotics) SPF50+ PA++++ — The same excellent formula, but more nourishing and hydrating. I’d recommend it more for dry or mature skin types.
A Routine I’m Truly Happy With
Since my last blog post about my skincare routine, a few things have changed. I no longer use micellar water in the mornings, instead, I simply cleanse with the Dokdo Cleanser, which is gentle and never leaves my skin feeling tight. And for over a month now, I’ve been double cleansing every single evening, whether I’ve worn makeup or not. My skin feels so much cleaner. I’ve also become much more consistent with daily SPF, though I tend to skip it if I’m staying indoors or if it’s raining here in Amsterdam ;).
What I’ve Noticed After One Month
After just one month of using these products daily, I’ve seen real improvements:
- my skin texture is smoother,
- my complexion is more even and radiant,
- breakouts have become rare, I hardly get any anymore,
- and the redness on my cheeks has noticeably diminished.
Where I used to have dehydration lines (around the eyes and nasolabial folds), the combination of hydrating toner + essence + day cream has made them nearly disappear. I also find that my skin absorbs products almost instantly now, with no greasy residue left behind. By the end of the day, my skin still feels fresh, never oily.
This little experiment has left me completely inspired to keep exploring the seemingly endless world of Korean skincare, to keep refining my routine and, as always, to share only the crème de la crème with you :). More to come in the next episode…
