We’ve heard that we should be taking 10,000 steps a day, and yet somehow that seems less daunting than doing 10 steps of skincare.
So what’s the deal? Do we really need to do ten steps of skincare everyday, morning and night to get our ideal skin type? The simple answer is no.
So why does K-Beauty traditionally promote so many steps and products, and why do some find them beneficial? How do you figure out how many steps you actually need?
The answer is as individual as you are.
Here are the questions to ask yourself before committing to any regular regimen to see real skin improvement:
1. Looking at my skin now, what would I like to improve about it?
2. How much am I willing to spend - money and time (considering I would need to commit to whatever I incorporate everyday)?
There are also general rules to follow for everyone. We can all benefit by cleansing and moisturizing in some way each morning and night, regardless of age, skin type, gender, and lifestyle. Think of it as brushing your teeth day and night, so try to include washing face and applying some sort of moisturizer around the same time your brush your teeth.
So, how many steps do we really need? Short answer: at the least, 2 simple steps: cleanse & moisturize.
Additional general recos for all: SPF each morning, and some sort of eye serum/cream day and night, as well as lip treatment. Adding in a weekly exfoliation and face mask sesh is great for all too.
“Exfoliators” (typically used 1-2 times a week) can be chemical (can be natural and/or synthetic ingredients that breakdown dead skin cells, like glycolic or lactic acid) or physical (manually loosens and lifts of dead skin cells from surface). Facial oils are great for gliding Gua Sha or other facial roller tools on face for facial massage.
New product availability and recos being added very soon - we’re working hard to research and test out new products all the time, and you can be sure we’ll share our faves with you here!
We’ll get into specifics of exfoliation, SPF, facial tools/massage etc in separate blog posts, because as you can see, there is so much to dive into for each topic.
Now the longer answer is that your ideal number of steps can range anywhere from 2-12 steps. It really depends on your needs, budget, patience and diligence.
When you’re ready to elevate your skincare game, we recommend adding one new step / one new product at a time for several reasons: so you don’t overwhelm yourself; so you can track results; give your skin time to react and adjust; and to decide on any adjustments. For example, do you want to keep the new step and new product; do you want to keep the new step but try a new product; or would you rather scrap the whole step altogether and move on to try another?
Keep in mind that, if you do have multiple step options, they are just that - options. You don’t need to necessarily do the same steps every day and night. Note the changes in your skin, the season, reactions and results.
The infamy of kbeauty multi-step routines comes from a place of cultural rituals and norms - where it’s common to take time for self care and beauty. Investing the time and funds into taking care of yourself is completely normal, and definitely nothing new in many cultures. Consistent application of multiple products will make a difference over time for sure, but the key is consistency.
So we recommend buying products with a realistic expectation of using them regularly. And that, as you can imagine, depends completely on the person. Are you at a novice / moderate / advanced skincare level? What kind of budget are you on? How much time and patience do you have for your routine?
Regardless of your answers, take it easy on yourself. Don’t get overwhelmed with trying to keep up with every latest trend or ad. Simply identify your goals and try new things that are likely to work, one step at a time.
You can also try out one of our curated KIT based on your skincare needs and goals, so you can test out a few different products and discover what you like.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can always answer our quick QUIZ and see what is recommended based on your answers.
And if you’re still unsure where to begin your skincare journey, we’re here for you. We really want to make taking care of ourselves easy, enjoyable and real - no matter how many steps you take.
XX
Love,
Stolly & Cho