A Korean skincare routine for beginners: 5 products, under $60, all rebuy staples

2026-09-17 · 5 min read · written in Busan

The '10-step Korean routine' was a Western magazine invention. Walk into an Olive Young and ask the staff what to start with and you get five things: oil cleanser, foam cleanser, toner, one serum, sunscreen. A moisturizer if your skin is dry. Here is that list with the products Koreans rebuy, not the ones being launched.

The five

1. Cleansing oil (night) — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil. Dissolves sunscreen and makeup. Dry hands, dry face, one minute, then water.
2. Foam or gel cleanser — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser for oily skin, Beplain Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam for sensitive.
3. Toner — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner. Splash or soak a cotton pad. This is the step that makes the routine feel Korean.
4. One serum — Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Hydration only, no actives. Add actives later, one at a time.
5. Sunscreen (morning) — Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++. The only step that is not optional.

Dry skin: add AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream at night. That is the whole routine Korean dermatology clinics hand out on a printed sheet.

Cost

On Amazon US today the five run roughly $75–95. From a Korea-shipping retailer using this week's Olive Young bundles (Torriden 50+50 ml, Round Lab 1+1) it is closer to $60 for more product, with a two-week wait. Outside the US, Olive Young Global gives you the Korean bundle prices directly.

What to skip for now

Sheet masks (fun, not essential), essences (a second serum), eye cream (use the serum), exfoliating pads (week four, not week one). Add one product every two weeks so you know what did what.

Some links are affiliate links; see disclosure. Not medical advice — if you have a skin condition, a dermatologist beats any routine.