Korean Facial Steps: What Happens, Step by Step, in a Clinic Facial Session in Seoul

I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director and lead physician at Delphic Clinic in Gangnam, near Sinnonhyeon Station. I trained at Korea University Medical Center and I am a member of the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Medicine and the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology & Hair. Lifting, laser and anti-ageing care are my main work, and clinic facials are often the first treatment international visitors try with us.

Before a first appointment, visitors often ask me to list the Korean facial steps so they know what will happen when they lie down. It is a fair question; not knowing makes people tense, and tense skin flushes more. Here are the steps of a clinic facial in the order we usually do them, with what each one is for.

Before step one: the skin check that decides the menu

The most important step happens before anything touches your face. I look at congestion, dryness, redness and any recent treatments, and ask about your travel dates. That decides whether you need a deep cleanse, a gentle hydrating peel, extraction, or mainly calming.

If you are still deciding between a clinic facial and a spa one, the difference starts here; a spa follows a set menu, a clinic adjusts it. I explain that in clinic facial vs spa facial in Seoul.

The Korean facial steps, in the order we do them

1. 1

   1. Cleanse

   Makeup and surface oil are removed so the peel solutions reach the skin evenly.

2. 2

   2. Peel

   Aqua Peel uses AHA and BHA solutions to lift debris, sebum and dead skin from pores. LHALALA Peel is an option in our packages.

3. 3

   3. Extraction, only if needed

   Blackheads and clogged pores are cleared gently. Dry or sensitive skin often skips this.

4. 4

   4. Calm and hydrate

   LDM uses high-density ultrasound in a hydration, acne or redness mode to settle the skin.

5. 5

   5. Modelling mask

   A setting mask holds moisture against the skin and cools it after the earlier steps.

6. 6

   6. Protect

   A light moisturiser and sunscreen before you step back outside.

An Aqua Peel on its own takes around 30 to 40 minutes. A first-timer's walk-through of the peel itself is in my Korean facial treatment guide.

Why the mask comes last, and why it is not decoration

After peeling and extraction, the surface is clean and slightly more permeable, and it loses water easily. The modelling mask sets over the face and holds moisture there while the skin settles. It is the step people think is for comfort, and it is also the one that makes the finish look even.

Steps you can skip, and steps you should not

A facial is not better because it has more steps. It is better when every step has a reason.— Dr. Hyunji Kim, Delphic Clinic

Aftercare steps for the evening and the next day

• Keep the evening routine simple: gentle cleanser, moisturiser, nothing exfoliating.
• Skip scrubs, strong acids and retinoids for a day or two.
• Avoid saunas and very hot showers on the day.
• Wear sunscreen the next morning, even if you stay indoors near windows.
• If redness lasts or stings, message the clinic rather than adding more products.

Who should not book a facial this week

• Anyone with sunburn or freshly irritated skin.
• Someone who had a peel or laser in the last few days.
• Active inflamed acne or a cold sore in the treatment area.
• Anyone hoping a facial will lift or tighten. It won't, and I would rather say so now.

Our Seasonal Glow packages put the peel, LDM and modelling mask together in one session. These are the real prices, the same for international and Korean patients.

If you are timing a facial before a wedding, photoshoot or flight home, I set out when to book it in my glass skin facial timing guide.

If you would like to know which steps your skin needs, start with a free one-to-one consultation. I will check your skin, explain each step before we begin, and leave out anything you do not need. English and Chinese interpreters are on site, international patients pay the same price as Korean patients, and we are one minute from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station.