Swaps to consider when a Korean routine needs adjusting
The common substitutions are gentle: bakuchiol or peptides in place of a retinoid, PHA in place of a strong AHA or BHA, and niacinamide or vitamin C in place of brighteners you have been advised to pause. Confirm any swap with your own clinician, since advice differs.
In place of a retinoid
Bakuchiol is the substitution most often suggested — a botanical positioned as a gentler alternative. Two caveats worth having: its efficacy evidence is considerably younger than retinol's, and there is very little pregnancy-specific data on it either way, so some clinicians advise leaving it out as well. Plant-derived is not the same as studied in pregnancy. Peptides and adenosine are the other routes people are pointed toward. Whichever you are considering, put the actual product in front of your doctor or midwife before you start it.
In place of strong acids
PHA is the mildest of the hydroxy acid family, with a large molecule that works slowly at the surface. Mandelic acid is another gentle option. Both are usually treated as lower-concern than high-strength glycolic or salicylic, but this is exactly the kind of question to confirm rather than assume.
For pigmentation
Niacinamide and vitamin C are the ingredients most often kept, and azelaic acid is frequently discussed in this context. Since pigment work is slow at the best of times, the realistic aim during pregnancy is holding ground with sun protection rather than making progress.
What not to change
Sunscreen is the part worth keeping. Of everything in the routine it is both the least controversial and the most valuable, particularly if melasma has appeared. If you would rather use a mineral filter while pregnant, that is a reasonable preference and a good thing to raise at your appointment.
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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.
✍️ 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.