Asian beauty can be innovative and creative, but also simple and down to the bare necessities. Two popular skincare routines that seem to reflect these two styles are the Korean and Japanese routines, respectively.

The former typically involves a high maintenance routine that is incredibly well worth the effort. Whereas the latter routine follows a more minimalist philosophy, that cuts the lauded 9 to 10-step Korean routine down to five. This routine might be more doable in a time crunch, yet producing equally amazing results. These two beauty-conscious countries both lead the industry with innovative and powerful products, but it’s all a matter of how they’re applied into a routine that works for the individual. We’ve laid out the basics for each routine above, and the best part? In the end, each routine is highly customizable to your needs and time.