A Korean skincare routine does not have to contain 10 products. Soko Glam’s own FAQ says following all 10 steps is optional. The useful idea behind the framework is not product quantity; it is assigning each step a job, layering from lighter to richer textures, and adjusting the routine to your skin.
What are the classic 10 steps?
Soko Glam organizes the traditional framework as oil cleanser, water-based cleanser, exfoliator, toner, essence, treatments, sheet masks, eye cream, moisturizer and sun protection. Think of that as a menu rather than a daily checklist. Exfoliation and sheet masks are optional treatment steps, and many people do not need a separate eye cream or essence.
A practical morning routine can be five steps or fewer
- Cleanse or rinse: choose the least aggressive option that leaves your skin comfortable.
- Optional toner or essence: add this only if you like the hydration or texture.
- One targeted treatment: use a serum only when it addresses a real goal that your moisturizer does not already cover.
- Moisturizer: match texture to your skin and climate.
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen: this is the step that should not be displaced by optional layers.
What changes at night?
If you wear makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, an oil or balm cleanser followed by a gentle water-based cleanser can help remove residue. If one cleanser removes everything comfortably, double cleansing is optional. After cleansing, use one treatment if needed and finish with moisturizer.
Where do exfoliants and sheet masks fit?
They are optional. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that masks can support hydration or include exfoliating ingredients, but the wrong mask can also irritate the skin. More frequent exfoliation is not automatically better. If your routine already contains retinoids, acids or acne treatments, adding a separate exfoliating step can increase irritation.
Active at DestGlow. Treat a sheet mask as an optional comfort or hydration step, not a required route to “glass skin.”
What does a Missha- or K-beauty-inspired routine really teach?
Brands such as Missha helped popularize categories like essences, ampoules and lightweight layered hydration, but a brand name does not determine whether a step belongs in your routine. Start with function: cleansing, hydration, treatment, moisturization and sun protection. Add categories only when they solve a specific problem or make the routine more enjoyable without causing irritation.
Keep lip care simpler than social media makes it look
Dry lips generally do not need an elaborate multi-step routine. Avoid aggressive scrubbing, use a comfortable leave-on lip product, and add a more occlusive layer when needed. Repeated exfoliation can make cracked or irritated lips worse.
Active at DestGlow as a leave-on lip-care option.
How to decide which steps to keep
Keep a step when you can name its job and your skin tolerates it. Pause a step when it duplicates another product, creates persistent irritation, or makes the routine so complicated that you stop following the basics. “K-beauty” does not guarantee that a formula is fragrance-free, acne-safe, gentle or better for every skin type; the full ingredient list and your own response matter more than country-of-origin marketing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need all 10 Korean skincare steps?
No. Soko Glam explicitly describes the full routine as optional and recommends choosing what works for your skin.
Is double cleansing mandatory?
No. It is useful when you need extra removal power for makeup or water-resistant sunscreen. One effective gentle cleanser may be enough on other days.
Can a sheet mask replace moisturizer?
Usually it is better treated as an optional treatment step. A moisturizer is a more dependable leave-on step for reducing water loss and supporting the skin barrier.
