Being a South Asian, Korean beauty standards have always fascinated me since I was a kid. And as I grew older, especially recently, it’s everywhere. From 10-step skincare routines to hydrating toners to essences and sheet masks, Korean skincare has made the dream of getting a ‘chok chok glow’ a possible reality. One of such popular skincare trends by Korean skincare is the 7 skin method. Some people swear by it, some people have denounced it completely. What is it, and where do I stand about it?

The 7 Skin Method involves applying seven layers of toners. The promised result is deeply hydrated, soft, and bouncy skin – some even promise a ‘glass skin’ once you have completed the remaining steps of your skincare.

TL;DR

• The 7 Skin Method is a Korean beauty technique that involves layering hydrating toner or essence on the skin up to 7 times to improve skin hydration and plumpness.
• To begin with the 7 Skin Method, first cleanse and exfoliate your skin, and then apply the toner that you use seven times in a row, keeping an interval of two to three minutes between each application.
• The 7 Skin Method can improve skin hydration, enhance skin barrier function, improve product absorption, provide a plumper, more youthful-looking skin, soothe and calm the skin, and is customizable to individual skin needs.
• Some recommended toners for different skin types include Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner for dry skin, COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner for oily or acne-prone skin, Etude House Moistfull Collagen Toner for sensitive skin, and Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner for combination skin, Plum Green Tea Alcohol-Free Tonerhis for acne-prone skin and The Face Shop Rice & Ceramide Moisturizing Toner for mature/aging skin.
• The efficacy of the 7 Skin Method varies from person to person, and it’s important to listen to your skin and adjust your routine accordingly.

But why 7 layers?

Honestly, there’s no logic to it. There’s no study that shows that seven layers of toner are the optimum number to achieve the glass skin. The 7-skin method just became an easy way to remember the technique. Also, it became popular since Korean actress Lee Ha-Nui claimed that the secret to her glow was seven layers of toners. And since Koreans call toners and essences ‘skin’, the 7-skin method was born (or rather popularized).

In real life, people variate the number of toner applications from three to ten, depending on how your skin feels.

How do I begin with 7-skin method?

While beauty gurus recommend using the 7-skin method during both AM and PM skincare routines, I find it more viable to use it during my AM skincare. Follow these simple steps for the 7-skin method –

Cleanse and Exfoliate: First off, cleanse and exfoliate your skin. Don’t forget your neck and decolletage. For cleansing, whatever you choose is fine – oil cleansing, cleansing balm, foaming face wash, micellar water, or double cleansing – you know what your skin needs. However, do NOT exfoliate daily. Once, or twice a week exfoliation is good enough. Use chemical exfoliation or enzyme peel in favor of physical exfoliation. Trust me, you and your skin will thank me later.

Now, the star product – the toner: Apply the toner that you use seven times in a row, keeping an interval of two to three minutes between each application. Typically, 7-skin method recommends the usage of hydrating alcohol-free toners. But I have mixed and matched and used both exfoliating and hydrating toners for my routine. Ideally, when I am in Maharashtra and the weather is too hot and humid to handle, I alternate an exfoliating/mattifying and hydrating toner for layering. The idea is not to soak up my skin with too much hydration and look like a wet chicken in that weather but to have skin that’s plump but not too sweaty/shiny. Layering an exfoliating/mattifying toner between the hydrating toner helps me achieve and maintain that balance.

A lot of people also get confused about the right technique of using the toner. If it’s a spray mist, go and spritz it on. But most toners have a flip-top or a cap-type dispenser. You can either use a cotton ball /cotton pad or just dab the product directly onto the skin. Personally, I find using the cotton ball or cotton pads wasteful. By directly dabbing the product, you minimize the product wastage as well as environmental wastage.

To figure out how many layers of toner application do you really need, experiment around a bit. Everyone’s skin is different and it reacts differently to different products and methods. For me, 5 layers are enough. And honestly, I don’t even have the patience for more. With a three-minute wait time between each application, you really need to have patience.

My personal favorites are hyaluronic acid toners from Chemist at Play and Tonymoly, and milky toners from Laniege and The Face Shop.

And, the rest of it: Once the last layer of toner has settled in, you can continue with the rest of your skincare, however simple or elaborate it may be. Two things that I would never skip on are moisturizer and sunscreen. You can add in your serums, actives, eye creams, and makeup, as you like.

What can you expect?

With the 7-skin method, you can expect your skin to be fully saturated with hydration. You can get supple, soft, bouncy, youthful skin that is the star standard of K-beauty. You can get that ‘glowing from within’ look if you layer the rest of your skincare routine properly.

Which toners to use for 7-skin method?

When choosing a toner for this method, it’s essential to consider your skin type, ingredients, and consistency. Here are some recommendations for different skin types:

1. For dry skin:

Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner: A gentle, fragrance-free toner that’s suitable for sensitive skin and provides ample hydration.

2. For oily skin:

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner: This toner exfoliates and clears the skin, making it ideal for oily or acne-prone skin types.

3. For combination skin:

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner: This toner has different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, ensuring deep hydration without feeling too heavy on the skin.

4. For sensitive skin:

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Toner: With soothing ingredients like panthenol and madecassoside, this toner is perfect for calming and hydrating sensitive skin.

5. For acne-prone skin:

Plum Green Tea Alcohol-Free Toner: This toner is infused with green tea, glycolic acid, and niacinamide, which help to unclog pores, exfoliate the skin, and soothe inflammation. It is also free of alcohol and other harsh ingredients that can irritate acne-prone skin.

6. For mature/aging skin:

The Face Shop Rice & Ceramide Moisturizing Toner: This toner is enriched with rice extract and ceramides, which help to nourish and hydrate the skin. It also has anti-aging benefits, as it helps to improve skin elasticity and firmness.

There are multiple options for each skin type, head over to my big fat compilation of Indian toners to take your pick!

What Are The Benefits Of 7-Skin Method?

Some popular benefits of the 7-skin method include:

• Improved hydration: The 7-skin method can help to deeply hydrate the skin, which can improve skin texture and radiance. It can also help to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Enhanced skin barrier function: By hydrating the skin, the 7-skin method can help to strengthen the skin barrier, which can reduce moisture loss and protect the skin from environmental stressors.
• Better product absorption: Layering toner or essence multiple times can help to improve the absorption of other skincare products, such as serums or moisturizers, that are applied afterward.
• Plumper, more youthful-looking skin: The 7-skin method can help to improve skin elasticity and firmness, which can result in a more youthful-looking complexion.
• Soothing and calming: The repetitive application of toner or essence can have a calming and soothing effect on the skin, which can help to reduce redness, irritation, and inflammation.
• Customizable to individual skin needs: The 7-skin method is highly customizable, as you can use different toners or essences depending on your skin type and concerns, and adjust the number of layers based on your skin’s needs.

How Often Should You Do The 7-Skin Method?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should do the 7 skin method as it depends on your skin type, concerns, and the products you are using. It’s important to listen to your skin and adjust your routine accordingly.

In general, you can do the 7-skin method on alternate days if you have dry or dehydrated skin. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you may want to do it less frequently, such as once a week, to avoid over-hydrating your skin.

It’s also important to pay attention to how your skin reacts to the 7-skin method. If you experience any irritation, sensitivity, or breakouts, you may want to reduce the frequency or stop the method altogether.

So, it’s best to start with once a week and gradually increase or decrease the frequency based on your skin’s needs and response.

Should I Do The 7-Skin Method In AM Or PM?

The 7-skin method can be done in both AM and PM skincare routines, but it’s generally recommended to do it in the PM routine more often. This is because the skin repairs and rejuvenates itself during the night, and the 7-skin method can help to hydrate and nourish the skin during this time.

In the morning, you may not need to do the 7-skin method as your skin may still have some hydration from your night skincare routine. Also, since you have to wait three minutes between each ‘layer’, you might not have the time. However, if you have particularly dry or dehydrated skin, you may want to try doing the 7-skin method in the morning as well.

Ultimately, the best time to do the 7-skin method depends on your personal preferences and schedule. You can experiment with doing it in both AM and PM routines and see which works best for your skin.

Do You Use 7 Skins Before Or After Retinol?

It’s generally recommended to use the 7-skin method before applying retinol. This is because retinol can cause irritation, dryness, and flaking, especially when used on damp skin.

The 7-skin method helps to hydrate and plump the skin, which can minimize the potential for irritation and dryness when using retinol. Applying the toner or essence multiple times can also help the retinol penetrate more deeply and evenly into the skin.

However, it’s important to wait a few minutes after completing the 7-skin method before applying retinol. This allows the toner or essence to fully absorb into the skin and helps to prevent any potential interactions between the two products.

How does the 7-skin method work?

By layering a hydrating toner multiple times, you ensure that your skin is completely saturated with the hydration it requires. Once you seal it up with an emollient moisturizer, the magic begins. Since your skin is now both fully hydrated and moisturized, it emanates a healthy glow, a soft youthful appearance, and a radiance that many of us are striving for.

Does the 7-skin method really work?

I am still divided about the efficacy of this method. While in Maharashtra, the 7-skin method helped my skin look better and in control during the humid and unruly monsoon, I did not notice the glow that many claims it provides. Also, after using it religiously for a month and not noticing the claimed results, I realized how time-consuming the whole process was is. Even if I am using only one layer of the toner (hydrating/mattifying, depending on the weather), I can get similar results, provided I follow the rest of my skincare routine properly.

That being said, it’s my personal opinion. A lot of people still swear by the method. And that’s the first and foremost thing I have learned about skincare – everyone’s experiences vary.

Have you tried the 7-skin method? Did it work for you? Chime in the comments section below!

Key Takeaways

• The 7 Skin Method is a Korean beauty technique that involves layering hydrating toner or essence on the skin up to 7 times to improve skin hydration and plumpness.
• There is no study that shows that seven layers of toner are the optimum number to achieve glass skin, but the method has become popularized due to Korean actress Lee Ha-Nui’s claim that the secret to her glow was seven layers of toners.
• The number of toner applications can vary from three to ten, depending on how your skin feels.
• The 7 Skin Method can be done in both AM and PM skincare routines, but it’s generally recommended to do it in the PM routine more often to help the skin repair and rejuvenate itself during the night.
• To begin with the 7 Skin Method, first cleanse and exfoliate your skin, and then apply the toner that you use seven times in a row, keeping an interval of two to three minutes between each application.
• Experiment with the number of toner layers to find what works best for your skin. It’s also important to choose a toner that’s suitable for your skin type, ingredients, and consistency.
• The 7 Skin Method can improve skin hydration, enhance skin barrier function, improve product absorption, provide a plumper, more youthful-looking skin, soothe and calm the skin, and is customizable to individual skin needs.
• Some recommended toners for different skin types include Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner for dry skin, COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner for oily or acne-prone skin, Etude House Moistfull Collagen Toner for sensitive skin, and Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner for combination skin.
• The efficacy of the 7 Skin Method varies from person to person. While some people swear by it, others may not notice any significant difference in their skin. It’s important to listen to your skin and adjust your routine accordingly.