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Bare Seoul
Hannah Reid
Routine, cleansing, sunscreen and reactive skin

Hannah Reid

Hannah writes the routine side of Bare Seoul — the order things go in, what to drop when a routine has got out of hand, and what to do about skin that reacts to everything. She is not a dermatologist and does not play one.

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The routine

A Korean skincare routine for mature skin, from cleanser to retinoid

A Korean skincare routine for mature skin starts with a mild cleanser, a moisturizer and daily sunscreen. Once those are a habit, add one gentle retinoid at night, and give it a few months.

The routine

A Korean skincare routine for acne-prone skin, step by step

A short Korean skincare routine for acne-prone skin: a gentle cleanser, a light moisturizer, sunscreen and, at most, one exfoliant. Here's the order to put them on, and when to stop adding more.

The routine

A Korean skincare routine for dry and dehydrated skin

Skin that feels tight isn't always short on oil — often it's short on water, and the two want different fixes. Here's the Korean way to layer hydration, and the step that stops it evaporating before the morning's out.

Sun & SPF

What SPF and PA ratings mean on a Korean sunscreen label

Korean sunscreens carry two ratings you won't find on a US bottle: an SPF number and a PA rating in plus signs. One covers the rays that burn, the other the rays that age skin — here's how to read both.

The mask step

Korean face masks: sheet, clay and sleeping, and which you need

In a Korean routine the mask is an occasional boost, and it turns up in three forms: sheet, wash-off and sleeping. Here's what each one does, and which your skin will get the most from.

The routine

A Korean skincare routine for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin does best on fewer, gentler steps — the barrier-first approach Korean skincare is known for. Here's how to build a calm routine around ingredients like centella and heartleaf, and what to leave out.

The routine

Where does sunscreen go in a Korean skincare routine?

Sunscreen is the morning step people most often get out of order. In a Korean routine it's the final layer — on over your moisturizer, once your skincare has sunk in — and reapplying it is half the job.

The routine

A Korean skincare routine for combination skin

Combination skin is really two skins on one face — an oily T-zone and drier cheeks. Here's how to build a Korean routine that treats each zone for what it needs, instead of fighting the whole face at once.

The routine

A Korean skincare routine for oily skin

Oily skin does best on a gentle, layered routine — the approach Korean skincare is known for. Here's how to build one that hydrates, balances oil and keeps shine down without drying your skin out.

The cleanse step

Korean double cleansing: do you really need two cleansers?

Double cleansing — an oil wash, then a water-based one — is the cleanse step Korean skincare carried furthest. What each wash is for, when you need both, and how to do it without stripping your skin.

The routine

How to build a Korean skincare routine

The famous ten-step Korean routine comes down to three or four steps that matter. A plain-English guide to building one for your skin — in the right order, and built around the one step that matters most.

Rich cream vs gel-cream

Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream vs Round Lab Birch Juice Cream

Two Korean moisturizers for the same step. The Dynasty Cream is rich, for skin that gets dry and tight. The Birch Juice Cream is a lighter gel-cream for skin that finds a full cream too heavy.