Skincare Expert Reveals How to Build an Effective Korean Beauty Routine without the Overwhelm
Korean skincare has captured the attention of beauty enthusiasts across the UK and America, with ‘Korean skincare’ and related terms generating over 185,000 average monthly Google searches in the US over the past year. In the UK, social media feeds overflow with K-beauty content, and influencers constantly introduce new serums, essences, and elaborate multi-step routines. But with so many options flooding the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed rather than empowered. That’s where Dr. Kevin Hayavi, Medical Director and Managing Partner at Beverly Hills Physicians, a premier medical group offering comprehensive beauty and wellness services across Southern California, steps in. “The appeal of K-beauty lies in its innovation and results, but you don’t need twenty products to achieve healthy, radiant skin,” says Dr. Hayavi. “What matters most is understanding what your skin actually needs and building a routine around those specific goals.”
Below, Dr. Hayavi breaks down five tips to help you cut through the clutter and create a simple, effective K-beauty routine that delivers real results without the confusion.
5 Essential Tips For A Streamlined K-Beauty Routine
1. Start With Your Skin Type, Not Trends
Before adding any new product to your routine, identify your skin type and its current condition. Is your skin oily, dry, combination, or sensitive? Are you dealing with acne, hyperpigmentation, or fine lines?
“People often buy products because they’re popular on social media, but what works for someone with oily skin might wreak havoc on dry skin,” explains Dr. Hayavi. “Understanding your baseline helps you filter out products that aren’t right for you, no matter how much buzz they’re getting online.”
Once you know your skin type, you can focus on formulas designed to address your specific concerns rather than collecting every trending item.
2. Learn Your Active Ingredients
K-beauty products are famous for unique ingredients like snail mucin, centella asiatica, and propolis. While these sound exotic, understanding what they actually do makes product selection much easier.
Snail mucin hydrates and repairs skin barriers. Niacinamide brightens and minimises pores. Hyaluronic acid provides deep moisture. Centella soothes inflammation and redness.
“When you recognise key ingredients and their benefits, you can spot redundancies in your routine,” says Dr. Hayavi. “If you’re already using a niacinamide serum, you don’t need a second product with the same active ingredient unless you’re layering strategically.”
Reading ingredient lists becomes less intimidating when you know what to look for and why it matters for your skin goals.
3. Define Your Core Routine First
A solid K-beauty routine doesn’t require ten steps. Start with the essentials: cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen. These three products form the foundation of healthy skin.
Once your basic routine feels comfortable and your skin responds well, you can gradually introduce targeted treatments like serums or essences that address specific concerns.
“Think of your routine as a pyramid,” Dr. Hayavi advises. “Your base products protect and maintain your skin’s health. Treatment products at the top tackle individual issues. You need a strong foundation before adding speciality items, or you risk creating problems instead of solving them.”
This approach prevents product overload and helps you evaluate whether new additions actually improve your results.
4. Avoid Harsh Ingredient Combinations
Not all actives play well together, and mixing certain ingredients can irritate your skin, reduce product effectiveness, or cause unexpected reactions.
Retinol and vitamin C, for example, can be used in the same routine but typically work best at different times of day. AHAs and BHAs shouldn’t be layered with retinoids without proper spacing. Some actives need specific pH levels to function properly.
“One of the biggest mistakes I see is people combining too many exfoliating acids or using multiple strong actives at once,” notes Dr. Hayavi. “Your skin needs time to adjust to powerful ingredients. Patience and spacing prevent the redness, peeling, and sensitivity that make people think K-beauty isn’t working for them.”
Research ingredient compatibility before mixing products, and introduce new actives one at a time so you can monitor how your skin responds.
5. Consistency Beats Complexity
A simple routine you follow daily outperforms an elaborate routine you can’t maintain. Five products used consistently deliver better results than fifteen products used sporadically.
“I tell patients that skincare is a marathon, not a sprint,” says Dr. Hayavi. “Your skin cells turn over approximately every 28 days, so you need to give products time to work. Constantly switching products or skipping your routine undermines your progress.”
Choose products you genuinely enjoy using and that fit realistically into your schedule. If a ten-step routine feels burdensome, scale back to what you’ll actually do every morning and evening.
Dr. Kevin Hayavi, Medical Director and Managing Partner at Beverly Hills Physicians, tells YCB:
“Smart skincare involves selecting the right products for your individual needs. I see patients who’ve spent thousands on K-beauty products but haven’t seen results because they’re using incompatible formulas or skipping the basics.
“The most successful routines focus on skin health fundamentals: gentle cleansing, adequate hydration, sun protection, and targeted treatments for specific concerns.
When you understand your skin and choose products intentionally, you’ll see better results with fewer products. Quality and consistency matter far more than quantity.”