Korean skincare is the secret to my most glowy skin yet – here are my 3 hero products (2025)

If there's one thing that'll get me to try new skincare, it's the promise of glow. Plumping up fine lines? Adding brightness? Lovely, yes. But how good is bright, line-free skin, if it's zapped of the glow that keeps us looking alive?

That glow is what Korean skincare seemed to deliver to those on my Instagram feed. And it did so excitingly, too. 'Collagen' sheet masks that made people gasp as they peeled it off, ASMR style. Rice water toners that I swear took down someone's redness on first application. Sunscreens that made faces gleam without any glitter.

So: was it filters, or genuinely brilliant skincare? I took my most pressing questions to English-South Korean aesthetic doctor, Christine Hall, to get the low-down.

What actually is K beauty and K skincare?

'In summary, it refers to the South Korean approach to skincare and beauty, which is a culmination of science, innovation, philosophy and ritual,' says Dr. Hall.

'South Koreans and their relationship with skincare goes back thousands of years; way back to the three kingdoms era (BC 37-668). Beauty ideology and standards were coined with a saying: 'young-yook-il-chi-sa-sang', which means 'Within a beauty body, rests a beautiful soul.

'During this era, people started to make homemade face powders from ground rice and millet. Ground mung beans were made into cleansers. Creams were produced with the juices of many plants.'

The country's rich beauty philosophy has continued up until today, where, says Dr. Hall, the country is estimated to be 10-12 years ahead of us in terms of the development of skincare and aesthetic treatments.

What's the general Korean skincare philosophy?

'Nourishing and protecting the skin barrier is at the core of Korean skincare, and that's the route to glowing, luminous skin,' Dr. Hall continues. 'You can think of the skin barrier as a brick wall. The bricks resemble our cells, and the cement in between them resembles the cell-holding tissue that forms the skin barrier. It locks in hydration and keeps out pollutants and infection. Routines focus largely on maximising hydration and restoring the health of said skin barrier.'

And what about the ingredients? 'There's a strong focus on natural and fermented ones,' Dr. Hall tells me. 'Western skincare practices focus heavily on actives such as vitamin C, acids and retinoids, which do often give great results, but will result in irritation and inflammation if overused. More recently, South Korea have formulated these ingredients into gentler formulations, so for consumers starting out with skincare, these are a great place to start.'

Do you think many Korean women adopt the viral '10 step' routine?

'The viral 'ten step' skincare routine people associate with Korean skincare is a marketing gimmick that exists solely outside of Korea,' says Dr. Hall. 'It was a term coined by a US beauty magazine that promoted the idea that you needed to buy ten items to get glass skin. In reality, that's way too much.'

So how many products are the Korean women with impossibly glowing skin using, then? 'Latest research suggests that the average South Korean female will use seven products,' Dr. Hall tells me. 'I think even this is changing now as we're all so busy. South Korea is actually now responsible for a new skincare term, 'skipcare', where steps to be skipped are identified and replaced with hybrid skincare products instead. Think about toners that double up as essences, and serums that behave as moisturisers.'

And what about the best Korean skincare products?

I won't pretend not to be thrilled that some of Dr. Hall's favourites were mine, too. Here, our favourite Korean skincare products for glassier, healthier skin.

Dr. Christine says: 'Dr.Jart have mastered the art of hybrid products. This one combines your toner and serum into one to create a rich, liquid moisturiser. It has ceramides and panthenol, which give maximal hydration and really restore the skin barrier. The product just glides on the skin, too.'

I say: 'I've got sensitive, reactive skin and look for products that soothe while they hydrate. This does just that. If I've got any redness or my skin is feeling a little hot, this lotion-y texture takes down heat and lends immediate relief. The whole range is stellar.'

Dr. Christine says: 'This is one of South Korea's best selling moisturisers which launched in the UK last year. It's proven to provide over 100 hours of hydration and contains encapsulated ceramides to really nourish the skin barrier.'

I say: 'I've been using this for a few months now. It's simple and unfussy, but does exactly what it needs to: give hydration that really lasts. Where before I might find my skin swallows makeup throughout the day and clings to dry patches, this has nipped that completely in the bud.'

Dr. Christine says: 'This is one of my all time favourite cleansing balms. Double cleansing is popular in South Korea, and so they have perfected the two step plan. This oil-based cleansing balm is perfect for removing make up, dirt and pollution from the day without leaving a greasy residue. It emulsifies really well leaving the skin clean, but not stripped.'

I say: 'It really is excellent, and feels like a real treat to use. The oil has a lovely 'slip' which means I can massage my face as I'm cleansing it. It doesn't leave a hazy film over my eyes, either, which so many cleansing balms do.'

Pictured above: South Korean model Yoon Young Bae, walking for Prabal Gurung.