Korean skincare: where to start and what order to use it in

How is Korean skincare different?

Korean skincare is not one product or one style. It is an approach to skincare that came from South Korea and has spread worldwide. Its best-known traits are light gels and serums, pads and masks, applied as several thin layers instead of one thick cream. Brands also put the key ingredients on the pack, so you can see at a glance what a product is built around.

Where to start: the order of the steps

You do not need ten steps. This is the simple order most routines follow:

1. Cleanse. Start with a clean face. The facial cleanser category has foams, oils and micellar waters.
2. Toner pad. Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Toner Pad comes as a jar of 70 pads. You pour the essence from the pack into the jar, wait about five seconds until the pads turn into elastic gel pads, and wipe your skin with one. The pads suit both morning and evening care.
3. Serum. Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum is a light, hydrating serum. Apply a generous amount to clean, dry skin and pat it in. Use it morning and evening.
4. Cream. The cream is the last step, for example the Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream described below. In the morning, finish with sunscreen.
5. Mask. An optional extra step, whenever you want one.

All Medicube products are on the Medicube brand page. For more serums, see face serum.

What are PDRN and peptides?

These two words appear on many Medicube packs. PDRN is a DNA fragment obtained from salmon, which suits skin well and strengthens its natural barrier. Peptides support the look of firm skin and help hold moisture. The same products also contain niacinamide, collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Zero Pore Pad 2.0 and the vitamin C cream

Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 is a jar of 70 double-sided pads with a textured exfoliating side and a soft silky side. They are suited to enlarged pores, dull and rough skin, or excess oil. They suit every skin type and can be used morning and evening.

Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream is a 55 g two-texture cream: golden vitamin C capsules and a clear gel that you mix on your palm. Use two parts gel to one part capsules for oily skin, 1:1 for normal and combination skin, and one part gel to two parts capsules for dry and sensitive skin.

Laneige lip mask for the evening

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is an overnight lip mask. It is a hydrating and softening leave-on care for the lips. It contains a berry complex with vitamin C, coconut oil, shea butter and murumuru seed butter. Apply it generously to clean lips in the evening and wipe it off gently in the morning. The Laneige lip mask is a good last step of an evening routine.

Frequently asked questions