5 mistakes to avoid with Korean skincare
and how to fix them

Do you make do with just one cleanser in the evening? Big mistake. Sunscreen, makeup and pollution form a film on your skin that water alone can’t remove. The result: clogged pores, a dull complexion and skincare that doesn’t absorb properly.

The double cleanse is THE foundation of K-beauty. First an oil to dissolve anything oily (makeup, sebum, SPF), then a gentle water-based cleanser to purify deeply.

Dear Klairs — Step 1: OilGentle Black Deep Cleansing OilApply to dry skin, massage to dissolve all oily impurities, emulsify with a little water, then rinse.View product

Benton — Step 2: Combination/oily skinTea Tree Balancing Foaming CleanserA gentle tea tree foam that purifies without stripping. Ideal for combination to oily skin.View product

Benton — Step 2: Sensitive skinGoodbye Redness Centella Powder WashA centella asiatica cleansing powder, ultra-gentle for reactive and sensitive skin.View product

Want to try everything at once — AHA, BHA, vitamin C? Stop! Bombarding your skin with strong actives without preparing it is the perfect recipe for irritation, redness and a rebound effect.

In K-beauty, a gradual approach comes first. Introduce one active at a time, at least 2 weeks apart.

Benton — Getting started with acidsPHA Peeling TonerPHAs are the gentlest acids — perfect for getting your skin used to them. Start here before moving on to AHA/BHA.View product

COSRX — Next step (after 2–3 weeks)AHA 7 Whitehead Power LiquidA gentle AHA to refine skin texture and clear whiteheads. Introduce gradually after the PHA.View product

So focused on your anti-blemish serums that you skip hydration? Bad idea. Dehydrated skin produces more sebum, heals less well and ages faster. Even oily skin needs hydration.

Korean layering is built on stacking light layers of hydration. Hyaluronic acid is the ultimate hero: it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

Dear Klairs — Hydrating tonerSupple Preparation Unscented TonerPreps your skin to absorb the products that follow. Fragrance-free, suitable even for the most sensitive skin.View product

COSRX — Hydrating serumTriple Hyaluronic Moisture Ampoule3 molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for hydration at every level of the epidermis.View product

Vitamin C in the morning + retinol at night + AHA three times a week? Some combinations of actives cancel each other out or, worse, irritate your skin.

Combinations to avoid:

• Vitamin C + AHA/BHA on the same day (too harsh)
• Retinol + exfoliating acids (guaranteed irritation)
• High-concentration niacinamide + pure vitamin C (can cancel each other out)

Alternate smartly and favour gentle, stable formulas.

COSRX — Evening exfoliantAHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment TonerCombines AHA and BHA for thorough yet gentle exfoliation. Use 2–3 times a week, in the evening only.View product

This is the most serious mistake. All your efforts with brightening, anti-ageing or exfoliating serums are CANCELLED OUT if you don’t protect your skin from the sun. On Reunion Island, where the UV index is often extreme, it’s even more crucial.

Korean women NEVER go out without SPF, even on overcast days. Sun protection is considered the most powerful anti-ageing product there is.

COSRX — SPF50+ PA+++Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+A light texture with no white film, enriched with soothing aloe vera. Suitable for sensitive skin, perfect for our Reunion Island climate!View product

Mist — SPF top-upsTime Is Running Out MistKeep it in your bag to refresh your skin before reapplying your sunscreen. Handy for touch-ups during the day.View product