The 10-step SKIN workout that REALLY gets results

It’s the ancient Korean facial ritual beauty experts swear by. The only catch? You need to do a LOT more than cleanse, tone, moisturise. . .

Forget cleanse, tone and moisturise, the skincare routine beauty obsessives the world over swear by is the Korean ten-step regime.

We know that women in the West want the clear, glowing complexions their Korean counterparts enjoy, but think the traditional ten- step skincare method might seem a little excessive at first.

Don’t worry — once you begin to understand what each stage adds to the routine, you’ll see it makes perfect sense.

The doubters out there are shaking their heads. i know, i know, you’d rather just slap on one all-purpose cream. Well, i hate to break it to you, but that wonder cream simply doesn’t exist.

instead, the ten-step routine i am going to teach you will tackle every single one of your skin concerns, from acne and dilated pores to dullness and wrinkles, and every step will help to improve your appearance at any age.

The steps will differ slightly depending on whether you’re doing your routine in the morning or the evening — not just because your skin has different needs during the day and at night, but also because you’re probably going to have more time in the evenings.

and while the basic steps will be the same for everyone, the exact products you use will depend on your skin type and what you’re trying to achieve. for example, if you have skin prone to spots, you might use a medicated cleansing gel, whereas if you have dry skin, you might use a hydrating cleanser.

But without further ado, here are your ten steps to the best skin of your life . . .

1 DOUBLE-CLEANSING

MOrning or evening, cleansing is the single best thing you can do for your skin, so this step should never be skipped.

The best form is a double-cleanse. You might think you already have clean skin after the previous night’s routine, or that if you haven’t been wearing make-up a double-cleanse is overkill. But after a night’s sleep, there are impurities, residues, dead skin cells and sebum to be eliminated.

Plus, the other benefit to a thorough cleanse is that it helps to activate the circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which, in turn, improves its radiance.

The first stage should be cleansing oil or balm — this will help remove any products you used the previous night. Or, at the end of the day, get rid of make-up, any cream or suncream and sebum from the skin.

Many of us are wary of using oils, but cleansing oils aren’t just good for hydrating mature skin; they reduce the sebum of oily skin and their gentle formulations work well with sensitive skin, too.

Once you’ve used the oil or balm, it’s time to use a waterbased cleanser — a foam or gel is normally best. This type of cleanser will remove any lingering impurities and also helps get rid of the fine film left behind by your cleansing oil or balm.

This means any ingredients that follow will penetrate the skin more easily and thus be more effective.

2 EXFOLIANT

ExfOliaTing is a great way of getting rid of dead skin cells and giving skin a glow. But doing it daily isn’t a good idea as it can damage skin. So stick to once or twice a week, morning or evening, it doesn’t really matter. You can exfoliate with a mechanical scrub, such as a gentle sugar polish, or a chemical exfoliant, such as alpha hydroxy acids (aHas, such as lactic acid and glycolic acid), or beta hydroxy acids (BHas, like salicylic acid).

avoid exfoliants containing seeds or fruit husks as these are too coarse for delicate facial skin and can scratch the outer layer.

Dermatologists tend to prefer chemical exfoliation as there is less chance of you doing some over- enthusiastic scrubbing, damaging the skin.

Do bear in mind, however, that chemical exfoliants can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, so use them at night, or be scrupulously sensible— as you always should be anyway — about using sun protection.

3 CLEANSING CLAY MASK

BEST used at night when you generally have more time to apply it, a mask should be included in your routine only once every seven to ten days.

Clay masks absorb impurities from the skin, helping to remove blackheads and minimise the appearance of pores.

if you’re worried a clay mask will dry out your skin, you’re probably thinking of the old school clay masks. These days, they also include hydrating and moisturising ingredients to avoid that tight feel.

Just make sure you choose one that suits your skin type.

4 TONER

THEY might have the same name, but modern Korean-style toners aren’t astringent, alcohol- heavy liquids. instead, they’re designed to hydrate and balance the pH of the skin.

another essential step, both morning and evening, they help to avoid any sensation of postcleansing tightness and will help

any products you use afterwards penetrate better.

5 FACE MASK

You might think you’ve never bought a Korean beauty product in your life, but if you have a sheet mask in your bathroom, it’s either Korean or inspired by Korea.

Best used in the evening when you have more time, Korean women use these masks at least three times a week, sometimes daily, to help hydrate the skin.

Essentially, they trap a layer of serum or essence (see below) against your skin for anything from around ten to 30 minutes.

Never wash skin afterwards. Instead, massage any remaining liquid into the face, and use cotton wool or a tissue to remove any residue.

6 ESSENCE

ThIs is a difficult step for Western women to get their heads around as essences are relatively new to Western skincare. (once you start looking, however, you’ll notice facial essences everywhere, from Boots to The Body shop.)

Think of an essence as a supercharged toner — giving extra hydration alongside a dose of vitamins and active ingredients. used in the morning, they will help other products to penetrate better, while in the evening, extra hydration will help give skin a plump and youthful appearance.

7 SERUM

sErums are your active ingredient powerhouses. This is the step where you’re focusing on any specific skin problems — pigmentation, wrinkles, dryness — or simply using concentrated ingredients to hydrate and protect the skin.

In the morning, you might use an antioxidant serum to help protect it from pollution and sun damage, while at night, your serum might contain ingredients such as vitamin C to help pigmentation or vitamin A to tackle wrinkles.

Yes, serums are expensive, but a little goes a long way: just four drops are enough.

8 EYE CREAM

somE people argue that you can use the same products on your eye area as the rest of your face. I disagree. The eye area is delicate and needs special care. In the morning, eye gel patches or an eye cream can help decongest the area, brightening sleep-puffy eyes. At night, your eye cream can help treat dark circles and fine lines.

9 LOTION AND/ OR CREAM

ThIs non-negotiable step gives a final shot of essential hydration. A lotion is the lighter version of moisturising cream and for most people that will suffice in the morning.

If your skin is very dry, use a thicker cream instead — or even as well. At night, everyone should use a cream. Although heavier, the texture shouldn’t bother you while you’re asleep and you don’t need to apply make-up over the top.

10 SUN CREAM AND SLEEPING PACK

ThINK you’re done? Not quite. You need to protect your skin from the sun every day, even if it looks cloudy and rainy outside.

When it comes to skin ageing, exposure to uV light is the single biggest external factor, so why risk it?

obviously, at night you don’t need sun protection, but you might want to use something Korean women refer to as a sleeping pack. This is essentially a gel-like mask you can use two to three times a week in place of your usual night cream.

unlike a night cream that only hydrates and moisturises, sleeping packs usually contain ingredients with regenerative properties, and often have fragrances, such as lavender, that are conducive to sleep. And no, they won’t stain your pillow!

If ten steps seems a bit daunting, don’t feel you have to do everything at once. start slowly, and build up, to avoid overwhelming your skin, and your bank balance.

Gradually building up your routine will also help you work out which cosmetics offer the most benefits and give the best results for your skin.

A good cleanser is the bedrock of your regime so start there, and then make sure you’ve also got a decent moisturising cream and a good sun cream in your routine. Get these basics in place before you start adding in essences, sleeping packs and more.

But I promise you, follow the steps and you’ll have the most radiant complexion that you’ve ever had.

AdApted by Claire Coleman from tHe KOReAN SKINCARe BIBLe, by Lilin Yang, Leah Ganse and Sara Jimenez, published by Cassell on August 8 at £10. © Lilin Yang, Leah Ganse and Sara Jimenez 2019. to order a copy for £8 (offer valid to August 16, 2019; p&p free on orders over £15), call 0844 571 0640.