Perfecting the ideal skincare routine has never been as relevant as it is now! Getting the best products to make your skin look exactly how you want seems like it should be easy, but with the massive array of products, it can feel overwhelming.
Standing above other global industries, French and Korean skincare have proved their dominance with their proven effectiveness and chic marketing. French beauty brands like Bioderma, Nuxe, and Vichy as well as Korean skincare like Laneige, Sulwhasoo, and innisfree, are massive names in the skincare industry.
But with both countries gaining success, they are often pitted against each other.
The question is often raised, what is better: French or Korean skincare?
While you can easily answer this based on bias, what is more productive is to see what defines skincare in France and Korea. This way you can see which country’s style of skincare suits your style and skin type better and choose products and routines based on this.
But before I get to distinguishing between the countries’ styles of skincare, what do they have in common?
What Do They Have In Common?
The biggest factor which French and Korean beauty routines share is the priority focused on skincare over makeup. So while both French and especially Korean skincare routines may seem overly extravagant to some readers, this is often done to balance out a more simple makeup routine.
While some may find this approach different from what they are used to, the worldwide success of both the French and Korean beauty industry is proof of its effectiveness.
With this mutual focus on skincare over makeup, there can be extra bonuses over just aesthetics. By prioritizing skincare, you are prioritizing your skin’s health and keeping your face feeling refreshed and lightweight.
While prioritizing makeup can have aesthetic bonuses and can often have more creative results, the healthier feel of a skincare focused beauty routine is preferable to many.
Other than the preference for skincare over makeup, French and Korean skincare are both globally renowned for their effectiveness. But other than this, this is where the styles’ major similarities end.
So what sets French and Korean skincare apart?
French Skincare
The main factor French skincare has over Korean is its simplicity. While some French skincare routines can seem complicated to beginners, in essence, they’re much more simple than the Korean alternative.
French skincare routines focus on natural beauty. Skincare is just a tool to enhance and accept the natural ‘imperfections’ we all have to present the best version of ourselves. There isn’t much of a focus on instant gratification or correction. Instead, the emphasis is on creating a simple routine that can be done quickly on a daily basis to make your skin healthier on a permanent level.
The French approach is defined by minimalism and making sure none of the ingredients in your skincare products counteract each other.
This is a preferable direction as opposed to only focusing on skincare as a reaction to ‘problems’ e.g. buying strong, often damaging products to deal with small ‘imperfections’ like spots.
By creating a tailored beauty routine with reliable French skincare products, French skincare promotes healthier skin in the long term and this comes with aesthetic benefits too.
So what makes a typical French skincare routine?
Typical French Skincare Routine
The first step to a typical French skincare routine is a cleanser. Generally speaking, French skincare devotees aim to use a gentle cleanser so as to not damage their skin. This lessens the chances of irritation or the feeling that you are scrubbing your skin of any essential natural oils.
A good choice for a well-recommended French skin cleanser is the Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser for a nice gentle cleanse to kick-start your skincare routine.
If you want to avoid the shiny finish which can come with creamier cleansers, the Bioderma Sensibio H2O is a micellar water alternative.
The next step is a good toner for priming the skin for further skincare treatments and resetting the potentially off-balance pH levels of the skin. Typically, French skincare lovers use distilled water with floral essences, most traditionally rosewater.
While this can sound overly simplistic, the benefits of these ingredients are numerous. The water can contain multiple important vitamins and help stop inflammation by soothing the skin.
A great affordable option for this step is the Caudalie Vinoclean Moisturizing Toner with Rose Water which focuses on refreshing the skin.
An important step of a French skincare routine is an eye cream to focus specifically on this sensitive area of the face. This area of the face is the focal point for premature aging and is generally the first area where wrinkling can appear.
If you are aiming to slow down this process, an eye cream is probably the most significant step of this process.
The best general choice for this stage is the La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Eye Cream with its hyaluronic acid being an effective key ingredient. But if you are attempting to solve any specific issues, going to a pharmacist is usually the best option.
The final stages of the routine involves a good moisturizer to keep moisture in the face and to keep that refreshed look for the entire day.
For a daytime moisturizer, this is the best place to implement SPF into your routine. Doing a long skincare routine just to not protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV would be a waste.
It is hard to recommend just one type of moisturizer for everyday use since they are so customizable and often need to adapt to your environment or season. For example, focusing on avoiding drying skin during winter. The better moisturizers also vary by skin type, say you have oily skin, finding a moisturizer with more hyaluronic acid is vital.
A highly recommended moisturizer, especially for those with more sensitive skin prone to irritation, is the Avène Skin Recovery Cream.
The Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre is also a great French moisturizer that doubles as a primer that helps your makeup go on smoothly.
While not always a daily necessity, exfoliating on a slightly less regular basis greatly aids the skin’s health while not irritating it by over-exfoliating.
Typical to most stages of French skincare, the French take a much more gentle approach by avoiding harsh chemicals. Instead, they tend to opt for a gentle scrub on a monthly basis or see a professional for a full cleanse for a more luxurious option.
While exfoliating is important, I can not overstate the importance of not over-exfoliating, it can damage the natural defenses of your skin and can lead to an unnaturally drier look and feel.
For a good gentle exfoliation, the Embryolisse Exfoliate Cream is a great choice, but if you prefer using a mask the Caudalie Vinoperfect Glycolic Peel Mask works amazingly as well!
Korean Skincare
The stereotype for Korean skincare is often that the process is overcomplicated, requiring a lot of time. I think this is an overly negative approach that ignores the benefits of a more multi-stage process; how customizable it can be!
Korean products are generally more lightweight and have a focus on layering within their design. While many other products can claim to fix everything in one tube (probably lacking effectiveness), Korean skincare products aim to fix specific issues with each product while cooperating with other products.
This approach is perfect for those who are looking to solve specific issues or retain a specific look. This level of customization is why Korean skincare has become so popular!
With Korean skincare being as popular as it is currently, the industry is constantly innovating! If you want to find the newest, most effective resolution for a skincare issue, it is likely there is a Korean skincare product for you!
While I have emphasized the customizability of Korean skincare, I will highlight a typical multi-stage Korean skincare routine. Keep in mind that all of these stages are not always necessary, and the process is meant to be tailored to suit your needs!
Typical Korean Skincare Routine
Firstly, Koreans tend to use an oil-based cleanser to help counteract the oilier impurities in the skin. Water-based cleaners can work but often aren’t as effective as a first step.
BANILA CO Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm comes highly recommended for this stage or if you want a simpler process Solved Coconut Oil Cleansing Pads also work effectively.
After this, a water-based cleanser works best as a second stage by removing leftover less-oily impurities in the skin. By using a gentler cleanser, usually with a foamier texture, the skin is refreshed for the rest of the process.
The Hada Labo Tokyo Gentle Hydrating Foaming Facial Cleanser is a great foaming option for this step, but if you prefer a gel texture, the luxurious D’alba Piedmont Gel Cleanser works amazingly. The innisfree Pore Clearing Facial Volcanic Cleanser works great.
Not a daily step, more intended for maybe once or twice a week is a gentle exfoliator to help clear pores.
Try the Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea to remove dead skin cells and treat impurities. The innisfree Mugwort Clay Mask is a good option for those who prefer masks.
A toner is next to help reset the skin’s pH before layering on any more steps.
The COSRX Hydrium Watery Toner is a great simple choice for this step. The Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Toner Pads are perfect for a padded option.
Uniquely named within Korean skincare, essences (more globally known as serums) are oils intended to hydrate the skin and add a protective layer.
The COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence uses its unique ingredients to protect the skin and soothe it.
The Hanskin Hyaluronic Skin Essence is a great choice for those with more dry skin.
Next is a treatment (also another offshoot of serums) more focused on solving specific problems based on the user.
For a less specific option for this step, the Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Advance Serum helps brighten more dull skin.
7) Similar to exfoliating, sheet masks are not intended for daily use, generally more of a weekly process (depending on the product).
The Round Lab Mugwort Calming Sheet Mask is perfect for those with sensitive skin prone to inflammation.
Like French skincare, eye cream is important for Korean skincare too! This problem area can be prone to discoloration and puffiness, and Korean products are designed to counteract this.
The Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb is amazing for hydrating sensitive eye areas.
Moisturizer is the perfect penultimate stage for locking in the previous treatments in a refreshing shield, helping to encourage previous products to soak in.
Dr Althea Azulene 147HA is an effective boost to skin hydration, and the baba bomb 24hr hydrating moisturizer is a great vegan option.
Arguably the most essential step is SPF to protect the skin from the damage of UV. While some products you’ve chosen from previous steps may include SPF, topping up at the end to make sure it is enough for you is vital to not undermine your effectiveness.
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Water Cream is a good lightweight finish. The same company also offers a shimmer option to further brighten your skin with the Sun Project Shimmer Essence.
Which Is For You?
So after all that, which country’s skincare will suit your lifestyle best?
To summarize, French skincare is generally a simpler process, with fewer products, with said products being more multi-focused aiming to fill multiple roles. This fits the minimalist approach of French skincare with a focus on accentuating natural features.
This type of skincare is best suited for those wanting to take a more casual approach to their skincare but who are still willing to commit to a routine.
By sticking to a French skincare routine, your skin will be enhanced by the simple ingredients and protected from the majority of issues.
The Korean skincare approach is generally more high-maintenance, but with this comes a more specific approach to skincare where you can tackle specific issues you want to overcome.
With the use of more specific skincare products, you are more likely to get more effective results. This style of skincare will also be better for those who enjoy a more therapeutic routine but are willing to shift stages in and out based on their needs.
Whichever culture’s style of skincare you choose to adopt, you are guaranteed to see results if you commit and tailor the routine to your skin type and skin goals!
