How do I start a Korean skincare routine as a foreigner in Korea?

Starting a Korean skincare routine is exciting, and living in Korea gives you access to the best products at great prices. Here's how to get started:

The essential routine (start here): Cleanser: Wash morning and night. Foam or gel type is standard. Try: Innisfree Green Tea Cleansing Foam, COSRX Good Morning Gel Cleanser. Toner: Apply after cleansing to prep skin for moisture. Try: Round Lab Dokdo Toner, Klairs Supple Preparation Toner. Moisturizer: Lock in hydration. Try: Laneige Water Bank Cream, Belif Moisturizing Bomb. Sunscreen: Every morning, rain or shine. This is THE most important step. Try: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+, Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Sun Gel.

Finding products for your skin type: Visit Olive Young (Korea's biggest beauty store). Staff can help, and there are testers for everything. Download the Hwahae app: Free ingredient analysis, reviews by skin type, product rankings. Oily skin: Look for lightweight gel-type products. Dry skin: Look for cream-type products labeled high moisture. Sensitive skin: Look for low irritation or gentle products.

Optional steps to add later: Essence/serum: Targeted treatment for specific concerns (brightening, anti-aging, pores) Eye cream: For the delicate under-eye area. Sheet masks: Use 2-3 times per week. They cost just 1,000-3,000 won each. Exfoliant: Once or twice a week to remove dead skin.

Where to shop: Olive Young: Best for browsing and testing. Frequent sales. Locations everywhere. Coupang: Often cheaper, especially for bulk buys. Daiso: Affordable beauty tools (cotton pads, sheet mask covers, etc.) Myeongdong: Still great for beauty shopping with lots of free samples.

Pro tip: Don't try to do all 10 steps from day one. Start with the 4 basics for 2-3 weeks, then add one product at a time so you can see what works for your skin.