I am not a morning person. I roll out of bed at 7:12, need to be on a call by 8, and I am still doing my whole Korean skincare routine — because it takes four minutes and it’s the single best thing I do for my face.
Here’s what my actual morning routine looks like. Five steps, no frills, done before my coffee is ready.
Step 1: Water cleanse (or just rinse)
In the morning your skin doesn’t need a deep cleanse — you washed it last night. I use a very gentle water-based cleanser (COSRX Low pH Good Morning is the cheap classic) and massage for 15 seconds. If your skin is dry or you double-cleansed heavily last night, skip the cleanser entirely and just splash with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Hydrating toner
Pat-on toner, not wipe-on. A few drops in your palm, press into damp skin. The goal is to rehydrate before the next step. I use whatever toner I’m currently testing but Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is my forever answer when I’m tired of experimenting.
Step 3: Vitamin C serum
Vitamin C belongs in the morning. It brightens, fades dark spots, and gives you an extra layer of antioxidant protection under your sunscreen (which you’ll apply in step 5). I use a 15-20% L-ascorbic acid if my skin can handle it, otherwise I go with a gentler derivative like sodium ascorbyl phosphate.
If you don’t tolerate vitamin C — it’s a real thing, my sister can’t use it — swap in a niacinamide serum instead.
Step 4: Moisturizer
Lightweight in the morning, heavier at night. I’m in Miami so my morning moisturizer is a gel-cream — anything that won’t make my face slide off by 11am. Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic, Anua Heartleaf Soothing Cream, or Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream on drier days.
Step 5: Sunscreen
If you skip sunscreen you might as well skip everything else. All the vitamin C, all the retinol, all the $40 essences — none of it does anything if you’re not wearing SPF. Korean sunscreens are the best in the world, full stop. SPF 50 PA++++, no white cast, no greasy finish.
My current rotation: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun, SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum, and Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen. All under $20, all better than anything Supergoop makes.
What I don’t do in the morning
No exfoliation (night only). No retinol (night only). No essence unless my skin is really thirsty. No sheet masks (who has time). No eye cream unless I’m very puffy.
The morning routine is short because the heavy lifting happens at night. If you want to see that, here’s my Korean night skincare routine.