K-beauty summer edition — which steps of your 10-step routine to keep for summer
Fewer layers, the same K-beauty principles — and better results in summer.
8 min readwritten for women
The classic 10-step Korean routine is brilliant. But it was created for a different climate and skin type than European skin. In summer in Warsaw, the same strategy that gave you glass skin in winter may result in oily skin. Discover which steps to keep and which to adapt. Find out how one salon treatment each month can reduce your routine to a minimum without compromising results.
10-step Korean routine — a quick recap for the uninitiated
The full classic Korean skincare routine has 10 steps. Each has its purpose. It is worth knowing them before you start adapting them.
Oil cleansing (oil cleanser) — dissolves SPF, make-up and sebum.
Exfoliation (1–2x/week) — a chemical or enzyme peel.
Toner — restores pH and prepares the skin for the next steps.
Essence — lightweight, concentrated hydration.
Serum/ampoule — active ingredients targeted at a specific concern.
Sheet mask (several times a week) — an intensive dose of active ingredients.
Eye cream — care for the eye area.
Moisturiser — seals the barrier and locks in hydration.
SPF (in the morning) / Sleeping mask (in the evening) — protection or overnight regeneration.
This routine originated in South Korea — a country where skincare is an art form, and “glass skin” (clear, translucent, flawless skin) is a national beauty ideal. This is where the problem with copying it uncritically begins.
Summer in Seoul vs summer in Warsaw — why they are not the same
The Korean routine is designed for the Korean climate and Korean skin type. Before copying it 1:1, it is worth looking at the differences.
Which steps to KEEP for summer (non-negotiable)
Which steps to LIMIT or modify
“Glass skin” in summer — a new definition
Korean “glass skin” is skin so radiant and smooth that it looks like glass. In winter, you achieve this effect with layers: toner, essence, serum, ampoule, cream and sleeping mask. In summer, the same strategy may give an “oily skin” effect rather than “glass skin”.
Healthy hydration (from within and outside) — water, electrolytes and lightweight layers with hyaluronic acid.
SPF — glass skin does not exist without UV protection. Hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone are anti-glass.
Fewer layers — 5–6 steps instead of 10. Skin can breathe and products do not build up.
A healthy barrier — do not overdo acids and retinols in summer. The lipid barrier is your natural filter.
A salon treatment as a “turbo step” — HydraFacial once a month
The best-kept secret of Korean skincare: Korean women regularly have salon treatments. Your home routine is half the success — the other half is professional intervention.
HydraFacial is a treatment that fits perfectly into summer K-beauty minimalism. In one session, it combines several routine steps into one professional treatment:
Cleansing and exfoliation — replaces weekly at-home peels.
Extraction — removal of blackheads using a gentle acid peel and vacuum — without squeezing or mechanical trauma.
Hydration — infusion of hyaluronic acid, peptides and antioxidants.
Protection — replenishing the skin with active ingredients.
Summer K-beauty plan — your week at a glance
What to avoid in summer (anti-list)
Rich, occlusive creams — may clog pores in hot weather.
Strong acids (AHA above 10%, TCA) — make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Physical peels (seed scrubs) — may irritate the skin in summer and increase the risk of post-inflammatory discolouration.
Coconut oil on the face — highly comedogenic and not recommended in summer.
Skipping SPF “because it is cloudy” — a significant amount of UV passes through clouds.
Layering 8+ products — your skin needs space in summer.
