I keep hearing about the famous Korean skincare routine. As a foreigner living in Korea, how do I get start...

Great question! K-beauty can seem overwhelming but it really doesn't have to be.

For a beginner-friendly routine, in the morning go with cleanser, then toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. At night, do a double cleanse with an oil cleanser and foam cleanser, then toner, serum, and moisturizer. That's it to start with.

For budget-friendly starter brands, COSRX is great for sensitive or acne-prone skin, Innisfree uses natural ingredients and is very affordable, Etude House has fun packaging with good basics, and Beauty of Joseon makes an amazing sunscreen using traditional Korean ingredients.

The best way to figure out what works for your skin is to visit any Olive Young, which is basically Korea's version of Sephora. The staff there can do a free skin analysis and will tell you whether you're oily, dry, or combination, then recommend products accordingly. Just tell them your main concerns like acne or dryness and they'll point you in the right direction.

Start with just the basic steps for 2-3 weeks and then gradually add new products. Your skin needs time to adjust, so patience is key!