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You’ve probably heard of the famous 10-step skincare routine. Its origins can be traced back to Asia, where longer skincare regimens are the norm. However, after recently becoming popularized due to the rise in K-beauty-inspired trends, the 10-step routine is now one that many people all over the world are following.
The big question is…is the 10-step skincare routine actually worth it, or is it just an overhyped technique promoted by skincare brands in an attempt to sell more product? To get to the bottom of this, join Lionesse as we take a closer look at each of the 10 steps involved in this much-loved skincare routine to see how necessary each one really is.
Steps 1 & 2: The Double Cleanse
The first two steps of the 10-step skincare routine consist of cleansing; double cleansing, to be precise. It goes without saying that cleansing your skin before applying any other skincare products is non-negotiable. However, do you really need to do this twice?
Yes and no. There’s no denying that double cleansing can be extremely beneficial. Using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser ensures that both oil- and water-based impurities are thoroughly removed from the skin in a way that a single cleanse would struggle to accomplish.
However, it’s definitely not needed twice a day. For most people, double cleansing even once a day could prove to be problematic. Why? Because it increases your chances of over-cleansing your skin. The skin barrier damage that can occur due to this can take months to heal. If you have dry or sensitive skin, double cleansing should only be done occasionally as opposed to being a regular part of your skincare routine.
If you decide to give double cleansing a try, make sure that both of the cleansers you use are gentle. The Lionesse White Pearl Facial Cleanser, which is infused with a blend of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, would be a great option for the water-based portion of your double cleanse.
Step 3: Exfoliation
Just like cleansing, exfoliation is an important part of caring for your skin. It’s usually listed as step three of the 10-step skincare routine, which can be slightly misleading. Skincare newbies often assume that this means that, just like double cleansing, exfoliation should be done every day, or even twice a day!
However, this isn’t the case at all. No matter your skin type, exfoliating twice a day will be way too much for your skin. You’ll end up stripping away your skin’s natural protective barrier. This then leads to a whole host of problems, from redness and sensitivities to flakiness and small pimples.
Instead, this stage of the 10-step skincare routine should only be carried out a few times a week at most. If you have oily skin, you may need to exfoliate up to three times a week, whereas those with dry skin may only need to exfoliate once a week.
Even then, take care not to cause too much disruption to your skin’s natural barrier. Find a gentle exfoliant that will clear away dead skin cells and unclog your pores without contributing to irritation or inflammation, just like the Lionesse White Pearl Facial Peeling.
Step 4: Toner
We’re now onto step four of the 10-step skincare routine, which is applying a toner. However, if you follow the advice we’ve given you above in terms of sticking with a single cleanse unless your skin needs a double cleanse and not exfoliating every day, this will actually only be step two of your regular daily skincare routine.
So, what’s the deal with toning? Is it really necessary?
When it comes down to it, this isn’t an essential step in the way that cleansing is. However, a toner can be very beneficial for a few reasons. Firstly, it will help to get the pH level of your skin’s surface back into balance. This is often thrown off after cleansing (and exfoliating). Restoring normality to your skin’s pH will leave your skin feeling much more receptive to the other products that you apply.
A toner is also a great way to add an extra layer of hydration to your skincare routine. At the same time, it will also soothe your complexion post-cleanse. So long as you pick a non-astringent toner, like the Lionesse White Pearl Skin Toner, this is a skincare step that’s worth following.
Step 5: Essence
Now, let’s talk essences. In terms of consistency, these products fall somewhere in the middle of a toner and a serum. They are water-based products that are designed to provide yet another splash of hydration. They also leave the skin feeling replenished and ready for the more potent products in your skincare routine.
While essences are a big deal in the K-beauty world, they haven’t had quite the same impact on the global skincare market as, say, toners or serums. Yes, they can be beneficial but, at the same time, they aren’t strictly essential.
So, should you bother with this step? If your skin is particularly dehydrated, applying an essence could be helpful. However, for everyone else, it’s not a must. So long as the other products in your skincare routine offer an array of hydrating ingredients, they will most likely be sufficient when it comes to keeping your skin’s moisture levels topped up.
Steps 6 & 7: Serums
The next two steps of the 10-step skincare routine are usually grouped together because they both consist of the same product type; a serum. Why do you need to include two serums in your skincare routine? You don’t – in many cases, one serum is plenty. However, the famous Korean skincare routine is all about layering, and this can be better achieved with two separate serums.
One of the two serums that you use should, ideally, be focused on hydration. Look for one that offers a selection of different hydrating ingredients, just like the Lionesse Opal Sheer Collagen Serum.
In addition to a hydrating serum, an antioxidant serum is also utilized in a classic 10-step skincare routine. There are plenty of antioxidants out there to choose from. However, vitamin C is known for being one of the best. This is why we created the Lionesse White Pearl Vitamin C Serum. It features the superstar antioxidant along with a few other skin-loving ingredients. Together, they’ll help to keep your skin feeling safe and protected when faced with environmental aggressors.
Step 8: Eye Care
It’s now time to focus on the skin around the eyes. Why does the eye area deserve its own step in the 10-step skincare routine? Because the skin here is quite different from the skin on the rest of the face. How? It’s much thinner and also more delicate. Sure, you could go ahead and apply your toner, essence, and serums to your eye area but you’ll likely see better results if you opt for dedicated eye care products.
The Lionesse Amber Eye Serum is a great example. With sodium hyaluronate, peptides, vitamins, and botanical extracts, it will target a few different visible skin concerns. Whether you’re dealing with the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, or crow’s feet, this serum will give your eye area all that it needs.
If you’d prefer to use an eye cream, the Lionesse Amber Dark Circle Eye Cream would be a good choice. Although primarily designed to lighten the look of dark circles, it will also help with hydration and the appearance of wrinkles.
Step 9: Moisturizer
Now that we’re nearing the end of this skincare routine, it’s time to turn to the thicker products in your skincare arsenal. While some of the steps that we’ve mentioned above are optional, moisturizing is crucial and shouldn’t be neglected.
The key to moisturizing successfully is to pick a moisturizer that’s compatible with your skin type. If you have oily skin, you don’t want to use an overly rich cream. Why? Because this will only leave you with clogged pores and breakouts. Instead, you need a lighter yet super-hydrating blend, like the Lionesse Morganite Reinforcing Cream.
On the other hand, if your skin is dry, a rich cream is exactly what you need! The Lionesse Black Onyx Cream, which is infused with a blend of moisturizing plant oils and extracts, will leave your skin feeling infinitely softer. It’s a great product to use both morning and night.
Step 10: Sun Protection
Although sun protection may be the last stage of the 10-step skincare routine, it is, without a doubt, the most important step of all. Why? Because if you don’t protect your skin from UV rays, then not only will you be drastically speeding up the rate at which your skin ages (let’s not forget that 80% of the wrinkles that develop on the face are down to sun exposure) but you’ll also be leaving yourself at risk of skin cancer.
When it comes to choosing a sunscreen, SPF 30 is what’s recommended for most people (those with sensitive skin may want a higher SPF). Make sure that the product you choose provides broad-spectrum protection. This means that it will protect against both UVA and UVB rays, both of which cause serious damage to the skin.
Of course, SPF only needs to be applied as part of your morning skincare routine (along with regular top-ups every couple of hours throughout the day). This means that this final step can be excluded from your evening skincare routine.
Conclusion: Is the 10-Step Skincare Routine Worth Buying Into?
As you may have gathered, the famous 10-step skincare routine doesn’t often involve 10 separate steps in a single routine. Do a single cleanse, skip the exfoliant (unless your skin is due to be exfoliated), and leave out the SPF in the evenings and you’re already down to seven steps. Plus, not all of those steps are essential either.
In the end, it’s important not to get caught up in how many steps your skincare routine consists of. Instead, the focus should be placed on your skin’s individual needs. Use products that your skin actually requires rather than adding in unnecessary steps just to reach the count of 10, and your complexion will look all the better for it.
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