Korean Skincare for Beginners: COSRX and VT Cosmetics

Korean Skincare for Beginners Without the Ten-Step Routine

Whether you've been following Korean skincare on social media or have been put off by the idea of a ten-step routine every evening, we have good news for you: it's much easier to start. Videos featuring long routines where toner, essence, several serums, ampoules, masks, and creams are applied to the skin are more inspirational than prescriptive. In a typical day, these are hard to achieve for most of us—and they're not necessary.

Korean skincare is based on several principles that can be incorporated into a shorter routine: a gentle approach to the skin, emphasis on hydration, consistency, and the gradual introduction of new products. You don't need to overhaul your entire skincare shelf. Simply add three to four products to your existing cleansing and sun protection routine, each with a clear purpose. Such a routine can be managed even on days when you only have a few minutes for skincare, making it easier to identify what suits your skin and what doesn't.

In this article, we'll focus on two Korean brands from our catalog. COSRX is known for its simple, targeted products—each focusing on a specific skin need, making them easy to mix and match. VT Cosmetics has gained popularity mainly with its Reedle Shot serum, which piques curiosity with its unusual texture, even among those who haven't used Korean cosmetics before.

We will gradually show you:

• how the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid liquid exfoliant works and when to incorporate it into your routine,
• why hydration is the foundation of Korean skincare and the role of ceramide cream with hyaluronic serum in it,
• what to expect from the Reedle Shot 700 serum and how to thoughtfully integrate it into your routine,
• how to create a simple morning and evening routine from the presented products.

A quick note to start: cosmetics don't deliver overnight results. Skin needs time to adjust to new products, and any changes manifest gradually—more in weeks than days. Therefore, we recommend adding products one at a time and observing how your skin reacts. If you have sensitive skin, this gradual approach is even more important.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid: Gentle Exfoliation for Clearer Pores

If your skin feels tired, the pores on your nose and chin are more noticeable, and makeup doesn't apply smoothly in some areas, it's often due to dead skin cells and sebum accumulating on the skin's surface. This is where exfoliation comes in. At COSRX, the most renowned product for this is the liquid exfoliant COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, one of the most sought-after products in our catalog.

Chemical or Mechanical Exfoliation?

There are two ways to exfoliate the skin. Mechanical exfoliation uses small grains to remove dead cells through friction. Chemical exfoliants work without scrubbing – the active ingredients release the bonds between dead cells, making it easier for them to detach from the skin's surface.

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid belongs to the second group. It contains a BHA component derived from salicylic acid. BHA substances are lipid-soluble, allowing them to penetrate pores where sebum accumulates, helping to clear them. The result can be a smoother, more even skin surface and less noticeable blackheads.

Why Liquid Form is More Beginner-Friendly

Grainy scrubs can tempt you to scrub your skin harder than necessary – especially when you're eager for quick results. In contrast, a liquid exfoliant is simply applied to a cotton pad or your palms and gently spread without pressure or rubbing. This makes it easier to gauge the amount needed and avoids unnecessary mechanical irritation. Its light consistency resembles a facial toner and absorbs quickly, allowing you to continue with your skincare routine without a long wait.

How to Introduce an Exfoliant Gradually

With acids and similar substances, less is more at first. The skin needs time to adjust to a new component, so we recommend starting cautiously:

• Initially, use the exfoliant only two to three times a week, and only in the evening.
• Apply it to clean, dry skin after your usual cleansing routine, before serum and cream.
• Avoid the eye area and lips and monitor how your skin reacts.
• If you experience tightness, redness, or stinging, reduce the frequency. If your skin tolerates the product well, you can use it more often after a few weeks.
• Always hydrate your skin adequately after exfoliation.

Sun Protection is Essential Every Morning

Exfoliation removes the layer of dead cells from the skin's surface, making the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, using a BHA exfoliant requires a morning product with SPF, even in winter or cloudy weather. Choose a high SPF sunscreen and apply it as the final step in your morning routine.

Suitable for Which Skin Type

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is most effective for combination and oily skin – where more sebum is produced, pores tend to be enlarged, and blackheads appear, typically on the forehead, nose, and chin. It is also appreciated by those with normal skin who want to occasionally brighten and smooth their complexion. If you have very dry or sensitive skin, start even more cautiously – perhaps once a week – and consult a specialist if you have any concerns.

Hydration as the Foundation of Korean Skincare: COSRX Cream and Ampoule

While exfoliation is the step that renews the skin, hydration is the step that restores its comfort. Korean skincare is based on the idea that well-hydrated skin appears more balanced, more elastic, and better tolerates active products. You don't need to immediately assemble a long line of tonics and essences – to start, you can manage with two complementary products: a light ampoule and a more nourishing cream.

COSRX Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule (30 ml) is a lightweight ampoule with propolis extract, applied to cleansed skin before the cream. It has a liquid consistency and absorbs quickly, so it doesn't weigh down the skin even when combined with other steps. Just a few drops, spread in your palms and gently pressed into the skin, are enough. It's perfect for times when your skin needs hydration but you don't want to layer anything heavy.

COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream (100 ml) is a nourishing cream with hyaluronic acid – a substance prized in cosmetics for its ability to retain water. The cream has a richer texture than the ampoule and serves as the final caring step in your routine: it helps retain moisture in the skin and leaves it pleasantly supple. The larger packaging will last you a long time, even with daily use in the morning and evening.

Layering from the Lightest to the Thickest Consistency

The order in which you apply products is not random in Korean skincare. The basic rule is: from the lightest consistency to the thickest. Light, watery products are applied first to reach the skin directly, and thicker creams cover them afterward. If you reversed the order, the cream would create a layer through which the ampoule would absorb less effectively.

• Cleansing – prepare your skin with your usual cleansing product.
• Ampoule – a few drops of COSRX Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule.
• Cream – COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream as the final layer.

Allow your skin a moment between each layer to absorb the previous product. You don't need to measure minutes – just wait until your skin is no longer damp to the touch.

Why a Moisturizing Cream Belongs with Exfoliation

A moisturizing cream is a natural partner to exfoliation. Liquid exfoliants with acids release dead cells from the skin's surface, and the skin can feel more sensitive or drier, especially in the first few weeks. A nourishing cream with hyaluronic acid provides comfort and balances the active step of the routine. That's why exfoliation and hydration almost always appear together in Korean skincare – one renews, the other cares.

Observe how your skin reacts to new steps and adjust the amount of products according to how it feels. Hydration should be pleasant, not heavy.

Reedle Shot Serum by VT Cosmetics: How to Incorporate It into Your Routine

If you've ever read about Korean skincare on social media, the name Reedle Shot is probably familiar to you. The VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot 700 serum is one of the most popular products from the brand in our catalog – and it's also one where it's worth knowing in advance what to expect and how to use it.

What Are Micro-Needles and Why Does the Serum Tingle?

The serum contains tiny microscopic particles of an elongated shape, which the manufacturer calls micro-needles. These are not actual needles or a procedure like those you know from a beauty salon – they are part of the serum's texture itself and are invisible to the naked eye. When you massage the serum into your skin, the particles gently rub against its surface, which is why you feel a light tingling or tickling during and shortly after application. According to the manufacturer, the number in the name indicates the intensity within the range: the higher the number, the more pronounced the sensation. Version 700 is one of the more noticeable ones, so it's good to start cautiously.

A mild tingling is normal with this type of serum and usually fades within a few minutes. However, if it turns into burning, unpleasant itching, or if the skin remains significantly red, wash off the serum and postpone further application.

How to Gradually Introduce the Serum

• Test first. Before using it on your entire face, apply a small amount to a smaller area, such as near the jawline, and observe how your skin reacts.
• Start slowly. In the first weeks, it's enough to use the serum once or twice a week in the evening on clean and dry skin. Increase the frequency only when your skin gets used to it.
• Less is more. Just a few drops are enough, which you spread with your fingertips and gently massage in. Strong rubbing or using a large amount won't improve anything, it will just intensify the tingling.
• Avoid the eye area and lips. The delicate skin around the eyes and on the lips is too sensitive for this type of texture.

What to Pair Reedle Shot With and What to Avoid

Reedle Shot should not be used in the same evening with a BHA exfoliant. Both products work on the skin's surface, and layering them could cause irritation. It's wiser to alternate them on different evenings and give your skin time in between.

After the serum, always follow with a moisturizing cream to soften the skin and help retain moisture. In the morning, don't skip daily sun protection – for products that work on the skin's surface, this is a step without which the routine would be incomplete.

A Mask for Calmer Evenings

On evenings when you're taking a break from the serum, a face mask like the VT Cosmetics TX-toning Special Mask, one of the brand's new additions in our catalog, is suitable. It fits into the routine as a pleasant change, for example, once a week; follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging when using it. Just don't combine it on the same evening with Reedle Shot – each product has its own place in the routine.

How to Build Your First Korean Skincare Routine in Three to Four Steps

Korean skincare doesn't have to mean a new bathroom shelf. If you already have your trusted cleansing gel or micellar water, just add three to four products and give them a set order. The basic rule of layering is simple – from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. Each layer should be allowed to absorb briefly before adding the next.

Morning Routine

1. Cleansing – your current gentle cleanser, or just lukewarm water if your skin is on the drier side.
2. COSRX Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule – press a few drops into your skin with your palms. This light ampoule prepares your skin for the cream.
3. COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream – a thin layer of cream seals in the moisture.
4. Sun Protection – a high SPF product as the last step, even in winter or cloudy weather. If you use an exfoliant or microneedling serum at night, daily protection is an essential part of your routine.

Evening Routine

The evening routine changes depending on the day. Alternate active products and never use them on the same night:

• Exfoliation Night: cleansing, COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid applied with a cotton pad or fingertips, allow it to dry, then follow with COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream.
• Serum Night: cleansing, a small amount of VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot 700, and then again COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream.
• Calm Night: cleansing, propolis ampoule and cream, or optionally VT Cosmetics TX-toning Special Mask as per the instructions on the packaging.

Initially, use each active product two to three times a week and include calm nights in between. If your skin reacts with burning or significant redness, reduce the frequency and give it a few days with just hydration.

Where to Start Based on Skin Type

• Combination and Oily Skin – the first active step could be COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, which is particularly suitable for pores in the T-zone.
• Dry and Normal Skin – start with hydration. The propolis ampoule and hyaluronic acid cream form the base to which you can later add one active product.
• Sensitive Skin – first try just hydration. Introduce the exfoliant and Reedle Shot serum only after your skin gets used to it, and always test them on a small area first.

Overview of Products for the First Routine

• COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid – liquid exfoliant for exfoliation nights.
• COSRX Full Fit Propolis Light Ampoule – light ampoule for both morning and evening layering.
• COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream – cream that appears in the routine every day.
• VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot 700 – microneedling serum for non-exfoliation nights.
• VT Cosmetics TX-toning Special Mask – mask for calmer nights.

COSRX products are in the mid-price range, so you can try them without a major expense. The Reedle Shot serum is slightly more expensive, so it makes sense to add it only when you know that the basic hydration works for you. You don't have to buy everything at once – start with one or two products and add more gradually. This way, you can more easily notice how your skin reacts to each one.