The Korean Skincare That's Worth the Suitcase Space (And What Isn't)
The 10-step routine is a marketing invention. Here's what's actually worth the suitcase space — and what goes viral but isn't.
Partly personally verified — Daniel checked some of these in person
How we verify →·Updated Aug 2026·5 min read
Let's deal with the "10-step routine" first: it was never a Korean thing. A US brand founder built it as a marketing frame, and she's said as much in interviews. If anything, Korea has been trimming steps lately ("skip care"). So if you're buying skincare in Seoul, the move is not a set — it's picking the individual products that are actually worth it.
Worth the suitcase space
- Sunscreen. This one isn't up for debate. Korean sunscreen costs two to three times more abroad. In Seoul, bought on sale as a 1+1 bundle, you're looking at roughly ₩45,000 for three. The Korean strength here is real — no white cast, no sting, applies like a lotion. If you buy one skincare thing on this trip, make it this.
- Sheet masks, in bulk. Don't buy them one at a time — get a box of 10 to 30. The per-mask price drops sharply, a dud costs you nothing, and they pack flat.
- One light moisturiser — a toner or essence. Hydration is what Korean skincare does best, so this category is good value. But this one is personal, so instead of running a new experiment mid-trip, pick something in the same texture family as whatever you already use.
Skip it (or be careful)
- The 10-step set. Putting ten unfamiliar products on your face while travelling is an irritation experiment.
- "Snail everything," "this one ingredient does it all." There's a wide gap between what goes viral on TikTok and what Koreans repurchase every month. Don't chase the trending ingredient — buy the boring staple with a high repurchase rate.
- Aggressive exfoliants. An unfamiliar peel or scrub used on a trip can cost you a few rough days.
If you remember one thing
The best skincare is the one you'll actually use consistently. Not the number of products — the consistency. In Seoul, buy the thing that's boring but you'll keep using, not the thing that looks fun.
A Note From Daniel — our real human editorMy wife and I have done this every night for years: shower after work, a sheet mask straight from the fridge, something on the TV. It's the most reliable ten minutes of the day.
The "10-step routine" is Western marketing, not Korean. What's clearly worth buying in Seoul: (1) sunscreen — 2–3x cheaper than abroad, and 1+1 sale bundles are how locals buy it; (2) sheet masks by the box; (3) one light moisturiser in a texture you already know. Skip: the 10-step set, chasing trending ingredients, unfamiliar exfoliants. Olive Young posts sale dates to its app 2–3 weeks ahead.
