I Tried the 10-Step Korean Skin Care Routine On My Dark Skin – Results!

My skin type: My dark brown Indian skin has gone through months of neglect. Not only the continuous exposure to pollution made it worse but I also failed to use proper moisturizers and cleansers. (I was caregiving my paralyzed pet-rooster and my skin was the last thing I could worry about.) Currently, my skin is extra-sensitive and oily around the T-zone but is dehydrated and dry on the other places.

Skin concerns: Due to the lack of proper care, heat blisters started showing up and they left red and brown marks behind. Rough, dead-skin started accumulating in the corners of my nose and I also spotted a few blackheads. My chithi (aunt) who visits us every day started noticing the change in my skin, started pestering me to visit the parlor with her for facials and that’s when I actually realized I hadn’t paid attention to my skin in a while. It honestly looked bad. But I also don’t fancy parlor visits.

So dead cells, dehydrated skin, and hyper-sensitivity are my main issues. I wish to make my skin suppler and well hydrated. In simple words, I want my skin to look smooth and lively to look at! Did I tell you I also dread the dark circles? It somehow felt like I was developing them with my troubled sleeping routine. These days, I’m pushing myself to incorporate good skincare practices in my daily regime. I already am eating good so lack of sleep is the main culprit.

Why Korean?: While researching online on how women from different countries look after their skin, I found that K-Beauty focuses on the health and hydration of the skin. Their women believed in extra-hydration to cure the problems. I liked the concept! When I read more on the country’s skincare rituals, I came across this trending 10 Step Korean skincare routine which involves ten lengthy steps (customizable, according to the needs of your skin) but in the right order and I’m going to experiment and see for myself how it works on my dark Indian skin.

Will the Korean skincare routine work on dark Indian skin?

I don’t think there is any difference in how skincare treatments work on different skin tones; maybe the results vary according to the skin ‘type’ rather than the tone but I wanted to try this on myself because I personally don’t want to bleach my skin or alter the shade of it but rather smoothen it out (and still retain the melanin I’ve got) using moisture-rich treatments. Well, that’s how Korean skincare works – intense hydration!

Which products to use?: I don’t own any Korean skincare cosmetics other than my Innisfree moisturizers. So my version is going to be a bit Indianized! :) I’m going to be using products from my kitchen and a few that I have in my unfinished skincare kit. (I haven’t hauled skincare in a long time) If this regime seems like working out, I won’t hesitate to invest in the right products soon. I’ve got a few nice Korean brands in mind.

Step 1: Oil Cleansing & Makeup Removal

The first step in Korean skincare routine is oil-cleansing. For this step, I picked up sunflower oil since it is light-weight and I also don’t have makeup leftovers on my face from the previous day. Sunflower oil is believed to fade imperfections on the skin due to the linoleic acid content. If your skin is on the drier side or if you’ve got makeup residues, I suggest using olive or sesame oil. (My skin loves sesame oil! It’s thick and rich)

How I did it?: I poured 10-15 drops of pure sunflower oil on my skin, adding it layer by layer and massaged it in an upward motion all the way through. It’s going to draw out all the oil-based impurities and excess sebum. I let it stay on my face for 10 minutes after the massage.

Note: You can also apply this oil on your eyebrows!

Step 2: Water-based Cleanser

Double cleansing is suggested by dermatologists since it picks up the dirt and sweat residues that the oil cleanser didn’t pick initially. It is also going to help get rid of the oil-residues and prep your face for the next step. Here, I’m using this gentle cleansing milk from the brand Himalaya Herbals. If you plan to DIY this step, blend a teaspoon of cooked rice with skimmed milk and it works very effectively. (Rice is one of the main ingredients in Korean skincare cosmetics! They love using rice on their skin and hair.)

Step 3: Exfoliator

Exfoliation is my favorite step in any skincare regime. It instantly makes my skin smoother. Now, I’m using a mild scrub made of powdered eggshells and honey! The eggshell powder is basically my pet rooster’s calcium supplement. I made it at home. I’m glad it doubles up as my exfoliator. Honey acts as a binder and keeps the particles from falling off my face. Honey also is a humectant so my skin doesn’t get dry with the scrubbing.

Note: This particular scrub turned out to be a tad more abrasive for my liking but surprisingly, It has cleared away almost all the blackheads and dead skin in a single-use. I don’t recommend it if you’ve got a thin/sensitive/acne-prone skin though. And if you plan to use it, don’t use it for more than once a week.

Step 4: Toner

I am toning my face by spraying simple rose water on my skin, which is used by most of the Indian women! If your skin is acne-prone, pick up a few neem leaves, crush them in water and refrigerate the solution to make your instant anti-fungal toner. It works like a charm on active acne! (tried and tested)

If you don’t want the hassles of DIYing your toner, find something that is alcohol-free and mild enough to not hurt your skin. Toning your skin helps to remove the excess residues left by the cleanser and it also prepares the skin for the treatments.

Step 5: Essence

The essence is the heart of a Korean skincare routine. At first, I wasn’t sure what they meant by an essence so I looked for it online. I found this – Think of your skin like a sponge. When it is clean and plumped, the ingredients get absorbed and work better. This is why an essence is used in Korean skincare. An essence is lighter than the serums but slightly heavy and filled with antioxidants compared to the toner. Hence, it goes after the toner.

For my essence, I thinned out a dollop aloe vera gel using 2 drops of pure glycerin and plumped my skin by massaging the mixture for 2 minutes. It gives my skin a nice slip.

Step 6: Treatment

For the treatment part, you could use serums, ampules, and boosters which are also called as the powerhouse ingredients that will target specific skin concerns such as acne, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation.

I wanted to tackle the pigmentation on my cheeks and hence, thought to use a Vitamin C serum but then changed my mind as it can make my skin sun-sensitive. (Sparing ingredients that cause photo-sensitivity for winters)

A still effective but subtle alternative would be Vitamin E. It is rich, nourishing and works effectively on reducing hyperpigmentation. Instead of just applying the oil, I mixed it with a clay-based face pack to give myself a relaxing effect. I love face packs!

If you’ve got acne-prone skin, you can add a drop or two of tea tree oil into this treatment/pack. For tan removal, yogurt + vitamin E would be the best!

Step 7: Sheet Mask

This is the step I made a little funny. I didn’t have a sheet mask at that time and I also didn’t want to miss this step.

Following 10 steps at a time or every time is not mandatory. You could skip what you wish to. But I tried to DIY the sheet mask using an absorbable cloth wipe by soaking it in rice water (leftover water after cooking rice) and applied it to my face, over my treatment after it dried off. Though it looks funny and not like a regular sheet mask, it did the job pretty well. It helped the mask stay moist for a long time and rice also has skin-friendly properties. My skin felt extremely smooth after washing it off.

Note: When it comes to sheet masks, you’ve got numerous options to pick from, especially from some nice Korean brands. For acne, tan, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation – they make sheet masks for all skin concerns! Check out for authentic Korean skincare brands, don’t go for the dupes!

Step 8: Eye Cream

Though I’m not a regular user of under-eye creams, I can see why Koreans include this as a very important step in their skincare routine. The skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most delicate part of the face. Moisturizing it regularly helps diminsh the signs of aging. And it also prevents dark circles from appearing. (One of my main concerns!)

For my under eye area, I used my Innisfree green tea skin balancing cream. It smells very refreshing. It can be used all over the face but for today, I used it only under my eyes.

Step 9: Moisturizer

For my face, I am using this rich, classic, Nivea creme moisturizer and I trust this is going to keep my face hydrated for the rest of the day. I wanted something rich because of how my skin would have lost all the natural sebum with all that double cleansing and scrubbing.

The moisturizer leaves my skin a bit greasy but nothing that I cannot handle. I let it soak on my skin for maximum benefits.

You should pick a moisturizer that caters the needs of your skin. Moisturizers come in many forms – night creams, emulsions, lotions, sleeping masks, etc.

Step 10: Sunscreen

This is the most important step, especially if you’re following this routine during the day. A good sunscreen is going to prevent the sun damage that could ruin your new skin. I applied my Pond’s Sun Protect non-oily sunscreen with SPF 50, which leaves a white cast on my dark skin if overapplied. (I’m testing out a few sunscreens for dark skin. Let me know if you want me to write about it)

You can alternatively use sunscreen gels and sprays but do NOT skip this step or everything you follow for your skin might not be fruitful at the end.

Final Thoughts!

• How did I feel after the procedure?: My skin felt extremely soft and supple at the end of the routine. The roughness around my nose was gone and nowhere my facial skin felt dry. I totally love how it has transformed my skin in one use.

• You can see that the procedure has made my skin look a bit greasy but it’s just that I let the moisture soak in. If you don’t prefer it, use a gel moisturizer at the end.

• Include your neck while following this Korean skincare routine so that your neck will be clean and smooth (and match your face) as well. I skipped treating my neck this time because I had only exfoliated it with a strong exfoliator a day ago.

• DIYing may not be possible all the time (time-consuming) so look for brands that use natural ingredients to make their products. Neogen is one such brand that makes mild, still effective products for different skin types. What I read about their skincare line is very impressive. Their products are minimally processed and 100% made in Korea.

• Hydration is the key. Not just outside but also inside. Cut down on junk food and consume fruits and juices. Drink adequate water. It will show up on your skin in a few weeks!

• After following this routine, I shared with you how it made my skin smooth. My skin looked even more smooth and glass-like that night. I plan to stick to this routine for now and I will be customizing it for my everyday-practice. The fact that it is actually effective wants me to research more on Korean skincare. I may come up with more DIYs in the future.

So overall, it’s a YES! The Korean skincare routine I tested is equally effective on darker skin tones. If you want me to research, experiment and write more on Korean beauty culture, please let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.