Korean 7-Skin Method

A short while back I wrote a post about the 10-step Korean skincare routine. While this is the most mainstream routine in Korea, there is a trend that’s getting more and more hype, called the ‘7 Skin Method’. When I read about this, I was very intrigued, because this new skincare routine only involves 1 skincare product. I thought ‘how can a Korean skincare routine only include 1 product?’ I would love for this to work because using only 1 product means it’s cheap!!!
So I decided to try this method out for myself to see if it can provide my skin what it needs with just 1 product, and if so, how does it compare to the regular 10-step skincare routine? 

What is the 7-skin method?

The 7-skin method is a way of increasing and maximizing hydration and plumpness by layering up to 7 thin layers of toner (or a watery essence) onto the skin. The idea behind this is that by layering your toner multiple times, your skin gets to absorb more of the hydrating ingredients, leaving you with that healthy, radiant, glowing skin. By using this method, your skin gets to soak up the toner in 7 small portions, instead of 1 large amount, drenching your skin with hydrating goodness.
Btw, this method is called the 7-skin, because in Korean the word for toner also means skin, so a 7-toner method.

How to do the 7-skin method?

So how exactly do you do a 7-skin method?

Step 1: Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser as you normally would.
Step 2: Let your skin air dry and when it’s only slightly damp, apply the first layer of toner using a cotton pad or your hands. Pat the toner into your skin on your face and neck. Let it absorb.
Step 3: For layers 2-7 you don’t need a cotton pad, it would be too abrasive for your skin. Pour a dime-size amount (not more, you only need small amounts for this method) of toner into the palms of your hands and press the toner into the skin. Wait for your skin to absorb the product and move on to the next layer.
Step 4: if you find that your skin is hydrated and moisturized enough after the 7^th layer of toner, you can leave it at that. If you find that your skin can benefit from a light layer of moisturizer, you can also apply a thin layer of moisturizer after the 7-skin method.

You can start by only applying 3 layers of toner and see how your skin reacts to it. If your skin is agreeing with this method, you can work your way up to 7 layers (or more). I know that
applying toner 7 times can be quite time consuming, even for Korean skincare, but you don’t need to do this method every day. Some do the 7-skin method once a week, some do it every other day. Personally I do the 7-skin method 2-3 a week, or whenever I have time on my hands, but trust me, the results are worth the time. Your skin will be so hydrated and will look so glowing after using this method! My mom even commented on how great my skin looked. She said I looked transparent XD. Also, if you’re scared you will run out of toner 7x faster, don’t worry, this method actually takes only 3-4x more toner than regular routines, because every application takes less product than it would if you’d only do 1 layer.

What products to use for the 7-skin method?

You can use any hydrating toner or lightweight essence that you like. Just make sure that it doesn’t contain any alcohol or fragrance that could irritate your skin. Also those toners that have cleansing properties, like a 2-in-1 toner-micellar water, are not appropriate to use in a 7-skin routine, because those can strip your skin of oil and be irritating when applied too many times. I personally used my favorite essence, the Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive Moist.

Other suggestions according to your skin type:

-Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner (Deep rich) for normal to dry skin. 
-Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner (Original) for normal to oily skin.
-Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin for acne prone skin.
-Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner for sensitive skin.
-Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner for all skin types. 

Review & Comparison with Regular Routine

Now how does this routine compare to a regular 10-step Korean skincare routine that I usually follow? It definitely takes more time, as mentioned earlier, but it really does make your skin more plump and glowing (or transparent to quote my mom). However, I don’t see myself doing this every day, I wouldn’t recommend others doing that either, because your skin needs more than only hydration. But it’s a very good spa-like treatment you can give yourself a couple times a week. I’m definitely going to keep doing this weekly because it really works and I love how my skin looks after!

Have you tried the 7-Skin method? What toner did you use and what did you think of the results?