Korean Skincare For Men: Definitive Guide [2024]

Trying to find and combine skincare information from different places is hard.

And spending your precious hour’s researching, testing, and purchasing the products isn’t exactly a great use of your time.

Especially men that don’t want to do all of that.

What if there was a way to get a Korean skincare routine to take everything off your hands?

Let’s get started.

Korean Skincare Routine For Men:

1. Cleansing

Start by using a cleanser.

The most popular ones are:

Oil-based cleanser
Water-based cleanser.

These cleansers can work both ways, so how exactly do you know which one to use?

Start by looking at your skin type. Do you have oily skin or normal skin…

… once you know this, you can get started.

To keep it short:

Oil-Based Cleansers are best for removing excess sebum, sunscreen, and makeup.

Water-Based Cleansers are best for removing sweat and dirt.

Now, that doesn’t mean that you choose the other. You can also use both products, also known as “double cleansing.” This term is extremely popular in the K-beauty industry. Looking at both products, most people only need one.

For the majority of men, it’s recommended to go for a water-based cleanser. The main reason is that most men don’t wear makeup.

Here are some of our favorite products:

These are the most popular products for men that are looking to get into Korean skincare.

They also work for anyone with sensitive, irritated, and oily skin. Basically, it’s suitable for all skin types.

2. Exfoliating

The next step in this skincare routine is exfoliating.

Exfoliating is used to remove dead skin cells. This can be done by using a scrub or pad.

Why you should exfoliate at least every couple of days:

It helps with anti-aging
Provides a glowing skin
It prevents your skin from getting acne.

Now, you might be thinking…

… does this really work. And it actually does.

Here are a few scientifically-backed studies that prove all of this:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [1]
www.miamiherald.com [2]
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [3]

Knowing exfoliating actually benefit the skin in the long run.

And I have been exfoliating for over 12+ months now, and I tested more than 32+ different products over that time period. To save you time, money, and energy, here are the best ones:

Make sure to exfoliate at least 2 to 3 times a week if you’re serious about improving your skin. I’ve seen countless people do it once a month.

And boy, oh boy, that won’t get you the results you want. Take it seriously from the start, and a few months from now, you’ll thank yourself.

3. Toner

Next up is the toner. Toners are great for people with dull skin.

Are you that guy that wakes up with dull skin every single day? Well, lucky you.

Using a toner will most likely solve all of your problems. I’m not saying that you will get perfect glass skin within days, but it’ll definitely happen over a few months.

If you didn’t know already, Korean toners are very underrated.

Most people get a cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer…

… that’s all they get, and they expect their skin to improve overnight. For the 0.00001% it might, but for the majority of men, that start with Korean skincare won’t.

You can try out different Korean toners here and there, but at the end of the day, you have to test them. And to save you a bit of time, here are the toners that actually work:

These products I personally tried myself, and all of them work perfectly. Get the one that suits your skin type the most, and stay consistent with it.

4. Serum

Korean serums are the life-changing product you never knew you needed.

Using serums will enhance your skin and reduce fine lines. You’ll be able to go out without any wrinkles in your 40s. Never worry about getting old saggy skin again.

Plus, you can take advantage by using this daily. It’ll solve almost all of your skincare concerns overnight.

Best of all, Korean serums are by far the best way to get glass skin.

There are thousands of different serums out there, so how do you know which ones are the best?

Well, I had the same question, and I went down the rabbit hole of buying 10+ different ones over the next few months. Before I knew I spent $100+ on serums alone. And to save you money, here are the 3 best ones:

Keep in mind that choosing the wrong serum can cost you a lot of money and time. Therefore, you should play it safe and get one of these above.

These serums are perfectly safe for every skin type, and most of these contain hyaluronic acid. This means that it’ll massively decrease puffiness and swelling. [4]

5. Moisturizer

Moisturizers are a must when it comes to Korean skincare for men. Even though most people already have a moisturizer, it’s important that you use it in combination with the right products.

Using it with the wrong ones can drastically damage the skin. To avoid this, there are a few options.

Use one of the recommended moisturizers
Get a moisturizer that suits your skin type

This might sound very easy, but still, many people make this mistake. There have been many studies showing that moisturizers are essential when it comes to your skincare regimen. [5]

You can use this every single day, and within weeks you’ll see some big improvements. Now, keep in mind that you have to stay consistent because without…

… you won’t see any of the results.

Especially for most men that are quite lazy and don’t want to use skincare.

If you’re really serious about improving your skin, moisturizing is a must. Here are my 3 all-time favorite Korean moisturizers:

Give these a try, and one of these will most likely work for your skin type.

6. Sunscreen

Should you use sunscreen every day?

Yes, you definitely should. Especially during the winters…

…winters. Yes, sunscreen should be worn every single day. It helps the skin against UV rays, which could potentially damage the skin. Therefore it’s important to always wear sunscreen when going out.

Most people already do. However, there are some that don’t. If you’re looking for a way to improve your skin, then this is the fastest way to do it. There have been many scientific studies showing that wearing sunscreen every day is by far the best thing to do. [6]

There are many brands out there, so to find the best one, you should get a sunscreen that’s SPF 45 and above.

These sunscreens will not only protect your skin but also create a protective barrier around your face. You don’t have to worry about getting sunburned anymore.

And the best part?

Some sunscreens have a whitening effect. Make sure to give it a go. You definitely won’t regret it. Here are the three best Korean sunscreens for men:

Now that you know, you should be wearing sunscreen every day. Go do it.

7. Eye Care

Eyecare is very underrated when we look at Korean skincare for men. Now, that doesn’t mean that it should be left out.

However, eye care is also known to be the less important in this Korean skincare routine. Mainly because it doesn’t benefit the skin a lot.

At most, it’ll improve your dark circles.

I’m not saying that this doesn’t work. But, it’s not something I would personally spend my money on, mainly because I’d rather spend it on products like moisturizers, exfoliators, and cleansers.

There have been studies showing that using eye creams minimizes wrinkles and improves the overall skin condition. [7]

Given the fact that I don’t personally use it. I can’t recommend any products that I’d really like.

If you’re interested in yourself, you can always give it a go and see for yourself.

Buyer’s Guide: Korean Skincare for Men

Should Men Use Korean Skincare?

Every man should be using skincare. It doesn’t matter whether that’s Korean skincare or any other Western skincare brand.

Using skincare will drastically improve your overall look. It’s often underrated, and people don’t do it because it takes a lot of time.

To be honest… I had the same reason. However, after using it for a couple of weeks, you’ll definitely see your skin improve.

And not only that. It’ll also help with sensitive skin.

Additionally, it’s another thing to have perfect skin, unlike your friends that never start.

How To Choose The Best Products?

Choosing the best Korean skincare products for men isn’t as hard as you think,

First, look at the price range.

How much do you want to spend?
What kind of skin type do you have?

Once you have those two questions in mind, everything will come together.

Create a budget around your skincare routine, and start by purchasing the products. There are many Korean skincare websites where you can do this.

Next.

Look at your skin type and select the products that go well with your skin type. It can’t be easier than this.

Moreover, you should just get started. Most men never get started with Korean skincare and therefore never see any results.

Is Korean Skincare for Men Overrated?

Korean skincare is not overrated. In fact, most people that use Korean skincare will become lifetime customers.

Not because they’re addicted to it. But because it actually improves their overall look. Having perfect skin really does help with your confidence. It might not show in the beginning, but over time you’ll feel it.

So, give it a go and see for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do Korean men get clear skin?

By starting with a Korean skincare routine that suits their skin type and keeping it consistent.

Q. When can you expect to see results?

Expect to see results within the first 2 to 3 weeks.

Final Thoughts

After all, Korean skincare for men is immensely popular in South Korea. Overseas not really, but that’ll likely change in the future.

Make sure you get started today and not tomorrow. The longer you wait, the longer it’ll take before you get perfect skin.

Korean Skincare For Men: Definitive Guide 2024