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Sometimes you don’t want to go through the whole K-Beauty 10 step skincare routine. You just want something simple, minimal, effective and you are on the go. This is why I created this blog post to give you the best minimalist skincare routine to make your skin glow without having to go through too many steps.
This is a 5 basic step skincare routine that takes you through each layer of the skin. When you understand how the skin layers work, then you can create your own personalised skincare routine. I will always recommend that you simplify your skincare routine so you don’t over-indulge your skin.
This post ensures that every step you take in your skincare routine has a reason why. Also, there is a bonus step at the end of the post. Make sure not to miss it. Now let’s go through each step one after the other.
1. Skin Layer One – The Epidermis
This is the first skin layer you see when you look into the mirror; the epidermis. The epidermis is slightly thicker on our palms and the soles of our feet. It is a mixture of glycerine, salt, cholesterol, ceramides, fatty acids, squalene and triglycerides. All these combined together serve as a protective film against harmful bacteria and fungi.
How To Protect The Epidermis
The First Step Is To Cleanse
Cleansing is the first step to protecting the skin layers and is the most basic form of skincare. Cleansing helps to rid the epidermis of dirt, pollutants, makeup and excess secretion such as dirt and sebum. Cleanse gently and not too often such that the skin becomes dry and sensitive.
Look for cleansers that are mild and close to the skin’s natural PH and choose cleansers that work best for your skin condition. I particularly like these cleansers, you can check them out.
The Second Step Is To Exfoliate
Yes, exfoliation is the next step to protecting the skin layers. Although the skin does exfoliate itself. But without our assistance, it might not slough off dead skin cells properly. Removing the dead keratinocytes improves the skin’s surface, making it look clearer and smoother
For this reason, exfoliation is important and should be done every week or two. Ensure you are not exfoliating too much, as this may cause depletion of the skin’s natural oils.
There are several ways to exfoliate, you can either go the mechanical way or the chemical way. This depends on your preference.
The Third Step Is To Tone
I hear people say toners are not that necessary, don’t listen to them. Toners are amazing if you want that moist and well-hydrated feeling. Toners will not only remove leftover residues from cleansers but will also prep and repair your skin barrier for moisturizers. Aside from these benefits, toners also lower the PH of the skin after cleansing.
Be careful the kind of toners you buy, I personally don’t like astringent toners because some are made too harsh for the skin. But if you have really oily skin, you might have to look out for astringent toners made with gentle ingredients.
The hydrating toners help with dry skin. They are packed with humectants that hydrate and refresh your skin. Check these ones out!
2. The Dermis
The dermis is the second skin layer. It is a thicker layer compared to the epidermis and it performs its own magical functions. The dermis controls our body temperature, it supplies oxygen and nutrients to the epidermis and has a significant role in the immune system.
The dermis is that layer that gives us healthy youthful skin because you find collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid there. As we age, there is a decline in these protein activities which is a normal process. However, this normal process can be accelerated a hundredfold with factors such as poor diet, excessive alcohol, smoking, pollution, and dangerous level of sun exposure to name a few.
How To Protect the Dermis
The Fourth Step Is To Moisturize
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! Moisturising is not just hydrating otherwise we will all just take a shower and call it a day. Moisturising is helping your skin to retain moisture, hydrate and rejuvenate and to do that, we would need ingredients that helps keeps the skin plump and healthy. While moisturizing, give your skin a gentle massage – this helps to increase penetration and effectiveness.
The Fifth Step Is To Use Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the best protection against the sun. Without that, the sun will continuously break down enzymes within the dermis leading to wrinkles, discolouration, saggy skin and uneven skin tone. There are no other benefits sunscreen provides aside from sun protection.
3. Hypodermis
Hypodermis is the third skin layer and the deepest layer of the skin. It is also referred to as the subcutaneous layer. It is designed to protect us from cold. The hypodermis contains a large number of fat cells, blood vessels, nerves and lymph nodes.
The hypodermis is the home of cellulite. In fact, 85% of women have cellulite. This is common in women because men have thicker skin and it is a completely natural phenomenon.
How To Protect The Hypodermis
The Bonus Step – Live a healthy lifestyle.
The food you eat affects your skin. Eat food that contains fibre, fibre is a prebiotic and that is an excellent source of food for good bacteria. You can find fibres in food such as onions, garlic, unripe bananas, beans, and cold boiled potatoes.
In addition to prebiotics, eat food containing probiotics as well. Probiotics contain live bacteria. You can find these in fermented food such as yoghurt, kimchi (Korean cuisine), and tempeh (gotten from fermented soybeans).
Lastly, get good sleep, exercise, drink lots of water, relieve stress, have a get-together and basically do things you enjoy and do things your skin will thank you for. Read more about how to get clear skin without products here
Conclusion
In summary, the best minimalist skincare routine is to cleanse, exfoliate, tone, moisturize, wear sunscreen and eat healthily. Following these steps ensures your skin is well taken care of.
Skincare is not just one way, it’s holistic. It has to be done from the inside as well as the outside. I know a lot of people treat the skin itself as a separate entity but that would not always address the root problem for a true resolution to occur.

This is such an important and helpful post!! I love all of your tips and know they’ll be useful to a lot of people x
Thank you for your kind words
This is such an educational post, thank you for sharing, I’ve learnt a lot. It has really opened my eyes as to how to care more for my skin 😊
This is such good information. I know people who don’t believe in skin care and think it’s the same like wearing makeup. Taking care of your skin is so essential and needed.
Thank you for reading, appreciate it
This is a really helpful post with lots of great information and tips. Thank you for sharing.
Glad it was helpful
So good to have you back. Missed your helpful hints and tips self care. Thanks for this one. Hope you’re well xx
I love how you talk through the steps and give recommendations!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
This is such an informative post. I think you forget thre are different layers to your skin that need different products.
Always love the tips and information you share…now onto protecting that skin!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
These tips are just what I needed…let me start taking better care of my skin
So glad this was helpful, thank you for reading
This is so informative and helpful! Thanks so much for sharing all this. A lot of it I did not know!
Such helpful info! Love how you described the skin layers ‘smart’ and explained their function and relation to the other skin layers. Didn’t know half of it! Thank you so much for sharing.
http://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com
I’m glad you found it helpful, thank you for reading
This is such a helpful post. Its really interesting to see how each step helps a certain layer of your skin.
Very useful information! Thank you for sharing. I have never seen the point of a toner but I have been using it anyway 😀 Now I am glad I have!
Thank you so much Jenni, I’m so glad you found the post helpful
Very useful and interesting informations about the skin. I love your post, well done 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Thank you Didi 🤗
This was such an interesting read! I had no idea the skin renewed itself every 28-30 days x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
I’m glad you learnt something new. Thanks for read
Fab tips! This looks like such a great minimalist routine, I’ve never established much of a skincare routine as it seemed so long winding but this looks very manageable. Thanks for sharing x
This was such an interesting and helpful read! The tips are all on point and oved to learn more about the skin. I agree that we need to take care of everything as a whole to solve problems on the skin and not to think about it as something of its own! Thanks for shairng x
Fab tips and a really helpful read, how you broke it up into the different levels of your skin! I love La Roche-Posay for sunscreen – I use their age protect 50spf and it’s great!
Oh wow! These are amazing steps!! I don’t have a skincare routine but I really need to establish one! Cerave is my fav! Thanks for sharing x
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thanks for all these recommendations. I’m going to be in my 40’s soon. I need to be on top of my skincare.
~Michelle
https://michellescrazybusylife.net
This is a fantastic basic list – one of my favourites that you shared is the rose water by fresh! I love this post as some days I’m so rushed and don’t have time for an entire skincare routine so I’ll definitely go back to this while trying to find a modified version for those quicker days.