Korean Skincare

Why is it so trendy?

All of a sudden - there has been an explosion of Korean skincare on the scene - in our local shops, on our Instagram feed and now skincare specialists are utilising the benefits of Korean skincare in their clinics - so you may find, no matter where you turn - Korean skincare is everywhere !

So whats the Big Deal?

So why, is there such a huge interest in Korean Skincare? Why is it different to what we have been using for the last few decades - what makes it so ….. intriguing ?

Korean skincare, often referred to as K-beauty, has its roots in centuries-old traditions that focused on gentle, layered rituals using natural ingredients like ginseng, green tea, and rice water. Historically, the ideal of clear, luminous skin was deeply tied to notions of health, self-care, and even status in Korean culture. Preventative measures to ensure the skin ages as gracefully as possible is a priority - one, I am sure we are very familiar is that Koreans do not expose their skin to the sun. They will actively avoid the sun when it is at it’s strongest during the day and use a parasol to protect their skin. SPF is an absolute must, at all times of the year.

Not something we are prone to doing here in the UK !

You will often also see Korean women wearing gloves to protect their hands ( something I see quite often ageing of the hands and neck - we put so much focus onto our faces, and neglect our hands and neck which are also exposed to the elements quite frequently. )

Alongside this sun safe practice, Koreans will invest time and money into using skincare that predominantly looks after their barrier ( the delicate outer layer of your skin ). It’s interesting to me that there is minimal to no physical scrubs, harsh or high percentage acid formulations - instead, gentle enzymes and ingredients that offer a slow releasing exfoliating agent, giving the skin less discomfort or aggravation during the process.

The Power Multi Step Ritual

We are all familiar at this stage of the 10 step routine that derived from Korean culture and practice - was this just a

new Tik Tok trend to sell more products to the masses, or is there actually some history behind it all ?

Well, yes, in fact - Korean women traditionally did not see skincare as a chore but more of a ritual - really taking their time to massage in each and every oil and ointment slowly and purposefully. This layered approach has now evolved into what we now know as the ‘‘10 step Korean routine’’ designed to hydrate , nourish and protect the skin.

The Philosophy Behind Korean Skin

What I love, as it really ties in with what I believe in as an advanced skin therapist, is the focus on nurturing the skin health over a long period of time. There are no quick fixes - there is a real emphasis on preventing for the future of their skin health. Wheras, here in the UK and Ireland, we traditionally have treated our skin rather poorly.

Hawaiian Tropic oil on a blazing summer’s day and a bottle of St. Ives to scrub the life (and top layer of skin) off at night — totally acceptable skincare practices when I was growing up. Honestly, it’s a miracle any of us still have a functioning skin barrier at all ……

Prevention, hydration and barrier repair are at the foundation of Korean approach - where the ‘‘Glass Skin’' term originated from. I find this term being overused in this industry and courses being sold to budding therapists promising to give their clients the ultimate in skin health - the Glass Skin effect, when in fact all they are being taught is how to dermaplane ( a mechanical form of exfoliation that rids the skin of peach fuzz) and layering the skin in an oil, blasting on a good old ring light and voila…..Glass Skin.

Completely losing the true meaning of glass skin ……

Innovation Meets Tradition


For many years Korean women have been admired for their luminous skin and it’s not just about vanity -it’s viewed as a form of self respect and health maintenance, not just an aesthetic concern. A clear hydrated, balanced skin is a sign of good living and reflects inner well-being. Fast forward to today and we are seeing many Korean influences enter the Western domain - and the professional skincare industry is sitting up and taking note.


For decades, clinics worldwide have championed aggressive exfoliation, harsh actives, and the constant chase of 'fixing' skin — think ZO by Dr. Obagi, where peeling, purging, and pushing the skin to its limits became the norm. But Korean skincare flipped that script — showing us that maybe the real secret lies in working with the skin, not against it. Less trauma, more support. Less stripping, more strengthening. And suddenly, what was once dismissed as “fluffy” or “too gentle” is proving to deliver long-term, glowing results.

Korean skincare innovations are still utilising the traditional formula of focusing on the barrier and preventative skincare - there are now even more incredible innovative formulations that target the skin with extreme precision. Korean skincare is continuing to push the boundries while staying rooted in their philosophy of balance and respect for the skin barrier.

Gua Sha - traditionally used to scrape the body ( generally the back of the neck, limbs or back) to release toxins and promote healing.

Today we have a much gentler adaption that aids with depuffing, sculpting and lymphatic drainage.

Why I chose Korean Skincare

After many years working in the beauty industry and in many different countries - I have had the pleasure of working with a large number of brands, from Elemis ( and yes, my favourite body oil to date is the Frangipani Monoi Body Oil, absolutely divine !) to more science driven skin solutions like SkinCeuticals. I can safely say what brands I really enjoy working with, to the brands that quite simply don’t really align with my beliefs as a skin therapist.

I know, for me, I get a lot of enjoyment from products that smell beautiful ( functional aromas - not overpowering fragrances ) while also delivering incredible results. The whole experience of using skincare needs to be enjoyable. All the senses should be activated - if you are not enjoying your products - you simply won’t use them !

When the Korean range came on my radar - I have to say, I was immediately interested. The focus on preventative skincare solutions and nourishing the skin in multiple ways really appealing to me. Also….. it’s exciting ! As a therapist, I like to make sure i’m enjoying the experience as much as you are - and I like choice, options, to be able to have fun when I’m creating a facial treatment. I have worked in many a place where you have the same three masks for every client and after a while - this can become repetitive and under stimulating.

The choice of home-care and professional solutions are endless and have so far given my clients a lot of satisfaction .

The facials that can be offered is vast and I had a really hard time choosing the most appropriate solutions to offer my clients - the term ‘‘like a kid in a candy store’’ could not be more appropriate for the way I felt when working my way through all the options. I had a lot of fun with the facial names ( Silk Skin Reset and Goddess of Seoul ……) how gorgeous ( if I do say so myself !)

I get a lot of enjoyment from new and exciting skincare and I really cannot wait to share this with you all.

The official menu launch will happen on the 30th of June 2025- I cannot wait for you to experience it.

Much Love,

Éasa x





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