I am a skincare freak! That’s something you’ve probably already learned by now reading my articles. However, there are two sides to my obsession: One that wants to use exclusively Korean skincare products and do excessive 10-step routines, and one that prefers a simple and curated routine based on French Pharmacy products. And because I am a lover of both, I thought to myself — why not compare them and see which one would win?
Korean Skincare
Let’s start with Korean skincare, as I see that it’s currently making rounds on social media. First, let’s start there — most of the Korean products that are viral on TikTok, aren’t actually popular in Korea. But that doesn’t mean that they are inherently bad products! I love my viral K-Beauty, such as the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, the CosrX Galactomyces essence, or the Laneige lip mask. However, I just wanted to put that out there so that people reading this article don’t assume that I consider myself a Korean skincare expert. Personally, I also buy what’s viral or has great reviews.
So, the biggest difference that I have seen with K-beauty skincare products is that they are all about lightweight hydration. My combination skin never gets greasy, it just looks fresh, plump, and balanced. And that’s something that I really enjoy! Also, most Korean products are super gentle, which is ideal for my sensitive skin. I rarely had any issues with them damaging my skin barrier or causing redness and irritation. However, one downside that I have noticed is that I sometimes miss the added layer of “oiliness” that traditional moisturizers have, especially during the winter months. But either way, K-beauty is an effective, gentle, and affordable approach to skincare.
French Pharmacy
Back to my first skincare love — French pharmacy skincare. This category includes brands such as Avene, Caudalie, Nuxe, Bioderma, and more. Because I live in Europe, a lot of these brands are more affordable and accessible than they are in the US. And honestly, I loved most of the products that I have tried out! Most of them are very straightforward. One example of a French pharmacy skincare routine would include a gentle cleanser, thermal water spray instead of a toner, a serum (hyaluronic acid and/or vitamin C), moisturizer, and sunscreen. I also used the cult-favorite French pharmacy retinol -A313, which gave me AMAZING results. All in all, I was always very pleased with how my skin looked like. But there was one downside — sunscreen!
I have tried so many French pharmacy sunscreens, and honestly, none of them worked for me. They would make my skin feel greasy and icky. Also, remember how I said that I live in Europe? That means that we have more approved UV filters, which means that our sunscreens should, in theory, be a lot more cosmetically elegant. Nevertheless, I still believe that Korean sunscreens are infinitely better. So, when it comes to which routine you should go for — truthfully, what worked best for me is a combination of both. All of my essences, sunscreens, and toners are K-Beauty. While my retinol, serums, and chemical peels are French pharmacy. However, because skincare is so individual, I would encourage you to do some testing yourself and see what works best for you!
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