Your Skincare, Made Simple
10 steps? It doesn't have to be.
At GLOWBOX, we cut through the clutter, curating only tried-and-tested K-Beauty essentials so you can enjoy real results without the guesswork.
If you’re new to K-Beauty, start simple. Diving straight into a full 10-step routine loaded with actives can stress out your skin and even cause breakouts. Add products one at a time, giving your skin space to adjust while making it easier to see what really works. Once your skin is comfortable, you can gradually layer in extra steps to level up your glow.
Our foolproof K-Beauty blueprint?
Cleanse → Hydrate → Treat → Protect
Think of this as the foundation of every great routine. In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step with expert tips and GLOWBOX-approved picks—from gentle cleansers and hydrating toners to targeted serums and SPF—so you can build a routine that’s simple, effective, and truly tailored to your skin.
Step 1: Cleanse
A good cleanse is the foundation of great skin. In K-Beauty, that means double cleansing—first with an oil cleanser, then with a water-based cleanser.
1.1 Oil Cleanser
Melts away makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil. Perfect for prepping your skin for the next step.
- Best Overall: BANILA CO Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm
- Sensitive Skin: BEPLAIN Mung Bean Cleansing Oil
- Oily Skin: ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
1.2 Water-Based Cleanser
Lifts away any remaining residue while keeping your skin’s natural balance intact.
- Best Overall: Beplain Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam
- Sensitive & Acne-Prone: ISOI Acni Dr. 1st Black Deep Cleansing Foam
- Oily/Combination, Acne-Prone Skin : ANUA Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam ; Jumiso Pore Purifying Salicylic Foaming Cleanser
1.3 Exfoliate
Exfoliation is like a refresh button—it sweeps away dullness, smooths texture, and helps your serums and creams absorb more effectively. However, this step should be tailored to your skin type and condition. Start slow, exfoliating 1–2 times per week if your skin tolerates it. ⚠️ Over-exfoliation can damage the skin barrier and increase sensitivity.
Skin-type guide:
- Dry / Sensitive: Once a week, gentle formulas
- Normal / Combination: 2–3 times a week
- Oily / Acne-Prone: Up to 3 times a week (if not irritated)
- Mature Skin: 1–2 times a week
💡 Listen to your skin—tightness, redness, or stinging means take a break. Skip exfoliation if irritated, peeling, or recovering from breakouts.
Top-Rated Exfoliators:
- Gentle (all skin types): Dr.G Brightening Peeling Gel
- Chemical: COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
- BHA Pads: CELIMAX Ji Woo Gae Heartleaf Peeling Pad
- Pore Care (oily/combination skin) : MEDICUBE Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Step 2: Hydrate
Instead of one heavy cream, K-Beauty layers lightweight hydration—starting with toner, then essence (if you want to use both)—to deeply hydrate, prep your skin for treatments, and let each product absorb fully. (Read more about Korean skin flooding techniques here).
Top-Rated Toners
- COSRX 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum Toner: (Best for all skin types) Boosts elasticity and smoothness
- Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner: (Best for all skin types) Brightens & Hydrates
- MEDIHEAL Madecassoside Blemish Pads (Best for Sensitive & Blemish-Prone Skin) Hydrates and calms
-
SKINFOOD Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad: (Best for Combination, Irritated, Overheated Skin) Soothes, cools, and hydrates
- HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner: (Best for Normal to Dry Skin) Hydrates, soothes, and rejuvenates dry skin
Top-Rated Essences
- COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: (Best Overall) Repairs and boosts elasticity
- HARUHARU Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence: (Best for Dry Skin) Provides intense hydration to dry, sensitive, or stressed skin
- I'M FROM Mugwort Essence: (Best for Oily/Combination skin) helps reduce redness, irritation, and inflammation
Step 3: Treat
Target concerns—fine lines, dark spots, acne, dryness—with concentrated formulas like serums, ampoules, or creams. When using multiple products, apply from thinnest to thickest consistency (Serum → Ampoule → Cream)
Concern: Blemish Care
Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Tea Tree Oil, Centella Asiatica
Top-Rated: NOSCA9 Trouble Serum, CELIMAX The Real Noni Energy Ampoule, Dr. Acni 1st Speedy Spot, Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Cream, Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream ,ACNON Cream
Concern: Brightening
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Niacinamide, TXA, Glutathione
Top-Rated: GOODAL Green Tangerine Vita C Serum, ANUA Niacinamide + TXA Serum, CELIMAX Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Cream
Concern: Glow-Boosting, Anti-aging & Wrinkle Care
Key Ingredients: PDRN, Retinol, Retinal, Peptides, Centella Asiatica
Top Rated:
Top-Rated:
- CENTELLIAN24 Madeca Cream Time Reverse
- REJURAN PDRN Dual Effect Ampoule
- MEDITHERAPY Retinal Skin Booster Serum
- MEDICUBE PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
- MEDICUBE PDRN Pink Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cream
- REJUVENEX PDRN Cream
Concern: Dry/Flaky/Itchy Skin
Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatica, Ceramides
Top-Rated: AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream, ILLIYOON MD Red-itchy Care Cream, CENTELLIAN24 Madeca Cream Time Reverse
Step 4: Protect
Night: Seal everything in with a nourishing cream and/or mask for overnight skin regeneration.
Day: Sunscreen—always, even indoors. Korean sunscreens are lightweight, breathable, fast-absorbing, and makeup-friendly. Look for SPF 50+ PA++++.
Top-Rated Sunscreens
- SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
- d’Alba UV Essence Waterfull Tone-Up Sunscreen
- Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream
- BEAUTY OF JOSEON Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics
- CELIMAX Pore+ Dark Spot Brightening Care Sunscreen
🛡️ Sun protection is the best anti-aging step you’ll ever take—never skip it.
Read more about our top sunscreen picks for every skin type here.
Find Your Perfect Routine
Ready to build your own K-beauty routine? Take our FREE Skincare Curator Quiz for personalized recommendations based on your skin type and goals.
👉 [Start here]
