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You may have heard of the Korean 10-step skincare routine, bedazzled by the flawless beauty of K-Pop idols, and bought a few K-beauty products.

But have you heard the buzz about J-beauty?

If not, Japanese skincare deserves to be in its spotlight too for it's simple yet innovative products that take the hassle out of daily routines.

Here we've spoken to celebrity makeup artist Tor Torre to give a breakdown on the similarities and differences between the two.

K-Beauty

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Famous for: The 10-step Korean skincare routine

The 10-step skincare is a carefully crafted ritual powered by products that protect your skin. Each step ensures you are getting the most out of your skincare.

“The Koreans have this 10-step process. From double cleansing, triple cleansing, to serums and masks… ang dami-dami,” Tor says.

Aside from the lengthy steps, he says that the Korean skincare routine is also famous for its ingredients.

“Seaweed plays a huge role in its products as it packs a hydrating punch making it an ideal ingredient for Korean face toners.

“Also, K-Beauty is known for using red ginseng that helps stimulate collagen production.”

The 10-step Korean skincare routine that you need

J-Beauty

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Famous for: Cleansing oils and toners

In contrast, Torre says that “Japanese skincare is all about simplicity. They only have a core number of products that they choose and they repeat.”

Their products focus mainly on hydrating and moisturizing and are known for being gentle on the skin.

Aside from its simplicity, J-beauty also focuses on key elements of the cultural past.

“They add green tea oxidants and seaweed extracts in their products. But the most common one you'll find is fermented rice water, a powerful ingredient that has been enjoyed by Japanese geishas for centuries.

“These are the things that have proven to be very effective for their skincare.”

So, what's the difference?

Both skincare rituals emphasize the protection and taking care of the skin that parents have given you. Both value soft dewy skin which is why some ingredients, like seaweed, can be found on both parties.

But there's a difference in both as J-Beauty is minimalist and focuses on detail to get the most out of your buck. While K-Beauty involves being attuned to the interactions between the steps of your routine to get the most of the ingredients.

Korean trends also come and go while the Japanese prefer a more classic beauty look by relying on tried and tested products.

So, whatever floats your boat, we're sure you'll get that picture-perfect skin you crave for when you try either one.

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