Test Lab: Korean Skin Care Chronicles

Do you ever see trendy foods, beauty techniques or odd products and think “now that I have to try?” Here in the Test Lab, I’m trying one of the latest beauty crazes: Korean skin care.

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By Katie McPherson

The Claims

In Korea, skin care is introduced at an early age. And it should be—prevention is key to maintaining dewy, airbrushed-looking skin. But it’ll take you about 40 minutes a day. Using cleansing, moisture and applying all the right ingredients to combat redness, blemishes and fine lines, Korean skin care is taking the world by storm (and supposedly we’ll be all the prettier for it).

The Experiment

This routine should technically maybe probably be done using Korean brands and products. I purchased the essence and the ampoule (reportedly the two products in the Korean regimen that make the biggest difference) and subbed in my own moisturizers, cleansers, etc. (Your girl loves her skin but not as much as her bank account.) Here’s what went down, twice daily, for seven days:

1. Oil cleanser.

2. Cream or foaming cleanser.

3. Natural exfoliator, like a sugar or co ee scrub, once a week.

4. Toner/refresher. Use an alcohol-free formula.

5. Facial essence. Supposedly this is the key to the whole system, but it’s basically a spray-able ampoule, so to me it felt redundant. We’ll see.

6. Ampoule. This is like the nutrient-dense cousin of the serums we see stateside. I couldn’t read the description (hi, Korean alphabet), so I accidentally bought one made of 80 percent snail secretion filtrate. But you never see a snail without a youthful glow, so…

7. Sheet mask, only once a week.

8. Eye cream.

9. Moisturizer. You should feel like a layer cake at this point.

10. Night cream before bed, BB cream with SPF for day time.

**I recommend a quick Google search for more detailed instructions and product recommendations.

DAY 1-2: My face is visibly brighter already, but I’m tired of this 10-step business, especially before bed. It’s almost a part-time job.

The Results

I’d give the Korean skincare routine a 7/10. Most mornings I don’t want to get up any earlier to cleanse three times and moisturize another five to seven, but my pores are less visible and I’ve noticed less redness. My skin rarely felt oily all week, probably because it had more than enough moisture to work with (hi, snail juice). I’d recommend this if only to spend a little time on yourself each day and wind down. Your skin may become brighter and smoother as a result, and it’s hard to complain about results like that. You’re sure to find at least one product your skin has been missing!

DAY 3: I woke up with tons of little whiteheads, so I guess it gets worse before it gets better. I spent this day angry at snails, but my dedication did not waver.

DAY 4: I’m way over spending 20 minutes on my face before bed and feeling like a gooey layer cake, but that said, it’s nice to have a routine before bed that’s all about pampering myself. Still, my skin had better be smooth as a snail’s butt when this is over.

DAYS 5-7: Forty minutes a day on my skin is becoming the norm, and it feels like less of a hassle. But is it worth it?