Korean skincare for melasma & stubborn patches
Symmetrical, map-like patches — often on cheeks, forehead or upper lip — that darken with sun and heat.
Ingredients to look for
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Start gentle, introduce one active at a time, and always finish your morning routine with SPF.
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🙋 People also ask
What is the 10-step Korean skincare routine?
The 10-step Korean skincare routine is a layered framework popularized in Korea: oil cleanser, water cleanser, exfoliant, toner, essence, serum or ampoule, sheet mask, eye cream, moisturizer and sunscreen. It's a customizable menu, not a daily mandate, and most people use only the steps their skin needs.
What is a good Korean skincare routine for beginners?
A simple beginner Korean routine is a gentle cleanser, a hydrating toner, a lightweight moisturizer and daily sunscreen, adding one targeted serum once your skin adjusts. Introduce actives slowly, one at a time, and patch-test, following the Korean principle of gentle, barrier-friendly care over many steps at once.
How many steps should a Korean skincare routine have?
As few as three: cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen. The ten-step routine was a Western marketing frame rather than a Korean rule — most Koreans use a handful of products daily and add extras occasionally.
How often should you exfoliate in a Korean routine?
Once or twice a week for most people, up to three times for oily and resilient skin. Frequency matters far more than strength — a mild acid used consistently beats a strong one that forces you to stop.
Related
⚪ Tranexamic Acid for melasma🧫 Niacinamide (B3) for melasma🫐 Alpha-Arbutin for melasma🌾 Azelaic Acid for melasma🫚 Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza) for melasma🍊 Vitamin C for melasma✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-23.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.