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I’ve always been a bit of a beauty maximalist—constantly testing new launches, mixing high-tech actives with old-school classics and swearing by a handful of products I’ve used for years. My routine is usually chaotic but a well-meaning mix of French pharmacy brands, dermatologist-prescribed drugstore brands and new, of-the-moment homegrown brands. But lately, my skin had been feeling…off. A little dull, a little dry, a little unpredictable. So, in the spirit of skincare experimentation, I decided to go all in on something new—or rather, something that’s been trending for years: K-beauty.
For one full month, I swapped out my entire routine for a lineup of Korean skincare bestsellers. I wanted to see if this notoriously hydrating, glow-boosting and barrier-loving approach to skincare could bring my skin back to life. Spoiler: it did.
Here’s how it went.
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This sunscreen redefines sun protection with its lightweight, non-greasy formula that blends seamlessly into the skin. Enriched with rice extract and probiotics, it hydrates, nourishes, and brightens, making it more than just a sunscreen. With no white cast, it’s ideal for all skin tones and a dream under makeup.
Pro tip: Use a two-finger length for optimal coverage and reapply every two hours for maximum protection when outdoors.
The first thing I realised? K-beauty isn’t about layering an excessive number of steps for the sake of it. It’s about thoughtful, skin-first formulations that prioritise hydration, nourishment and resilience over quick fixes. While I was already familiar with toners, serums and double cleansing, the K-beauty approach made me rethink how I used these.
I’ve always double cleansed (a concept popularised by K-beauty), so I just doubled down. I switched my tried-and-true cleansing balm for the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, which melted away sunscreen and makeup without stripping my skin. I followed it with the Axis-Y Sunday Morning Refreshing Cleansing Foam, a lightweight, skin-conditioning cleanser that left my face feeling fresh but never tight.
Toner goes next. While I love hyaluronic acid and acid-based toners, I wanted to try an ingredient popular in Seoul. Galactomyces is a type of fermented yeast rich in amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants that helps brighten, hydrate and improve skin texture. The Mixsoon Galactomyces Toner Pad enhances skin barrier strength and reduces the appearance of pores.
Here’s where K-beauty’s ingredient magic truly shined. I layered Beauty of Joseon Revive Ginseng + Snail Mucin Serum (another popular K-beauty ingredient) which had my skin looking instantly dewier—and yes, it’s worth the hype. For nights when my skin needed extra soothing, I used the Skin1004 Centella Ampoule, a calming serum that felt like a reset button for irritation.
I have super dry skin, so I needed to find a moisturiser that nourished my skin without feeling heavy or greasy. The COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream served perfectly for this—it deeply hydrated my skin while locking in all the goodness from my serums. My skin felt soft, bouncy and comfortably moisturised throughout the day.
I’ve always used K-beauty sunscreens because they’ve been the most elegant formulation that promises no white cast. The real MVP? Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+. This sunscreen felt like a serum, left zero white cast and gave my skin an effortless glow. I would buy it in bulk if I could.
By the second week, my skin looked undeniably healthier—brighter, smoother and more even. By the end of the month, I had fewer dry patches, almost no irritation and a glow that I didn’t have to fake with highlighter. My skin was 'thriving'.
On week three, though, my skin started breaking out. I think it was the perfect storm of new skincare formulas, that time of the month and vacation-induced sugar and carb loading. When my zit got big and angry and red, I found myself really missing my salicylic acid, retinol and benzoyl peroxide—ingredients that aren’t the most popular in K beauty.
While K-beauty worked wonders for hydration and overall skin health, it wasn’t the best at targeting pigmentation or breakouts. The soothing and reparative formulas created a great environment for healing, but didn’t pack a big enough punch for when I really needed to treat a zit.
What really worked, though? The healing bit. After the active phase of my zit subsided, all the hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, ceramides and centella asiatica significantly accelerated the healing process. These ingredients worked synergistically to deeply hydrate my skin, promote cell regeneration and restore the skin barrier, effectively reducing post-acne marks and soothing any lingering redness. The result was smoother, more even skin that felt resilient and nourished.
The first thing I realised? K-beauty isn’t about layering an excessive number of steps for the sake of it. It’s about thoughtful, skin-first formulations that prioritise hydration, nourishment and resilience over quick fixes. While I was already familiar with toners, serums and double cleansing, the K-beauty approach made me rethink how I used these.
I’ve always double cleansed (a concept popularised by K-beauty), so I just doubled down. I switched my tried-and-true cleansing balm for the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, which melted away sunscreen and makeup without stripping my skin. I followed it with the Axis-Y Sunday Morning Refreshing Cleansing Foam, a lightweight, skin-conditioning cleanser that left my face feeling fresh but never tight.
Toner goes next. While I love hyaluronic acid and acid-based toners, I wanted to try an ingredient popular in Seoul. Galactomyces is a type of fermented yeast rich in amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants that helps brighten, hydrate and improve skin texture. The Mixsoon Galactomyces Toner Pad enhances skin barrier strength and reduces the appearance of pores.
Here’s where K-beauty’s ingredient magic truly shined. I layered Beauty of Joseon Revive Ginseng + Snail Mucin Serum (another popular K-beauty ingredient) which had my skin looking instantly dewier—and yes, it’s worth the hype. For nights when my skin needed extra soothing, I used the Skin1004 Centella Ampoule, a calming serum that felt like a reset button for irritation.
I have super dry skin, so I needed to find a moisturiser that nourished my skin without feeling heavy or greasy. The COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream served perfectly for this—it deeply hydrated my skin while locking in all the goodness from my serums. My skin felt soft, bouncy and comfortably moisturised throughout the day.
I’ve always used K-beauty sunscreens because they’ve been the most elegant formulation that promises no white cast. The real MVP? Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+. This sunscreen felt like a serum, left zero white cast and gave my skin an effortless glow. I would buy it in bulk if I could.
By the second week, my skin looked undeniably healthier—brighter, smoother and more even. By the end of the month, I had fewer dry patches, almost no irritation and a glow that I didn’t have to fake with highlighter. My skin was 'thriving'.
On week three, though, my skin started breaking out. I think it was the perfect storm of new skincare formulas, that time of the month and vacation-induced sugar and carb loading. When my zit got big and angry and red, I found myself really missing my salicylic acid, retinol and benzoyl peroxide—ingredients that aren’t the most popular in K beauty.
While K-beauty worked wonders for hydration and overall skin health, it wasn’t the best at targeting pigmentation or breakouts. The soothing and reparative formulas created a great environment for healing, but didn’t pack a big enough punch for when I really needed to treat a zit.
What really worked, though? The healing bit. After the active phase of my zit subsided, all the hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, ceramides and centella asiatica significantly accelerated the healing process. These ingredients worked synergistically to deeply hydrate my skin, promote cell regeneration and restore the skin barrier, effectively reducing post-acne marks and soothing any lingering redness. The result was smoother, more even skin that felt resilient and nourished.
The first thing I realised? K-beauty isn’t about layering an excessive number of steps for the sake of it. It’s about thoughtful, skin-first formulations that prioritise hydration, nourishment and resilience over quick fixes. While I was already familiar with toners, serums and double cleansing, the K-beauty approach made me rethink how I used these.
I’ve always double cleansed (a concept popularised by K-beauty), so I just doubled down. I switched my tried-and-true cleansing balm for the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, which melted away sunscreen and makeup without stripping my skin. I followed it with the Axis-Y Sunday Morning Refreshing Cleansing Foam, a lightweight, skin-conditioning cleanser that left my face feeling fresh but never tight.
Toner goes next. While I love hyaluronic acid and acid-based toners, I wanted to try an ingredient popular in Seoul. Galactomyces is a type of fermented yeast rich in amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants that helps brighten, hydrate and improve skin texture. The Mixsoon Galactomyces Toner Pad enhances skin barrier strength and reduces the appearance of pores.
Here’s where K-beauty’s ingredient magic truly shined. I layered Beauty of Joseon Revive Ginseng + Snail Mucin Serum (another popular K-beauty ingredient) which had my skin looking instantly dewier—and yes, it’s worth the hype. For nights when my skin needed extra soothing, I used the Skin1004 Centella Ampoule, a calming serum that felt like a reset button for irritation.
I have super dry skin, so I needed to find a moisturiser that nourished my skin without feeling heavy or greasy. The COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream served perfectly for this—it deeply hydrated my skin while locking in all the goodness from my serums. My skin felt soft, bouncy and comfortably moisturised throughout the day.
I’ve always used K-beauty sunscreens because they’ve been the most elegant formulation that promises no white cast. The real MVP? Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+. This sunscreen felt like a serum, left zero white cast and gave my skin an effortless glow. I would buy it in bulk if I could.
By the second week, my skin looked undeniably healthier—brighter, smoother and more even. By the end of the month, I had fewer dry patches, almost no irritation and a glow that I didn’t have to fake with highlighter. My skin was 'thriving'.
On week three, though, my skin started breaking out. I think it was the perfect storm of new skincare formulas, that time of the month and vacation-induced sugar and carb loading. When my zit got big and angry and red, I found myself really missing my salicylic acid, retinol and benzoyl peroxide—ingredients that aren’t the most popular in K beauty.
While K-beauty worked wonders for hydration and overall skin health, it wasn’t the best at targeting pigmentation or breakouts. The soothing and reparative formulas created a great environment for healing, but didn’t pack a big enough punch for when I really needed to treat a zit.
What really worked, though? The healing bit. After the active phase of my zit subsided, all the hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, ceramides and centella asiatica significantly accelerated the healing process. These ingredients worked synergistically to deeply hydrate my skin, promote cell regeneration and restore the skin barrier, effectively reducing post-acne marks and soothing any lingering redness. The result was smoother, more even skin that felt resilient and nourished.
