How to create the ultimate at-home spa day with our Korean skincare range

Before getting anywhere near your skincare, create a space that makes you want to slow down.

You don't need to transform your entire bathroom. Start small. Clear the products from around the sink, grab a fresh towel and soften the lighting. A favourite candle or home fragrance can help make the space feel a little different from your usual morning rush.

Put on music, an audiobook or a podcast you enjoy. If your phone tends to lead to “just one quick scroll” that somehow becomes an hour, pop it somewhere out of reach.

It can also help to have everything ready before you start. Gather your skincare, a headband or hair clip, clean face cloths and anything else you want to use. That way, once you're settled in, you can stay settled.

Most importantly, forget about what a spa day is supposed to look like. Twenty quiet minutes can feel just as worthwhile as an entire evening.

Cleansing is a simple way to mark the beginning of your spa time. Rather than quickly washing your face before bed, take a little longer and enjoy the process. Tie your hair back, run some lukewarm water and give yourself a few quiet minutes to focus on your skincare.

If you're wearing makeup or sunscreen, you might like to start with an oil-based cleanser before following with your usual face wash. This two step approach can help remove makeup, sunscreen and other impurities before you move on to the rest of your routine.

Whatever cleanser is already part of your routine can work here. The point isn't to add more steps for the sake of it. It's simply to slow down and give yourself a little more time. Take your time as you cleanse, using gentle circular motions rather than rushing through it. When you're finished, rinse with lukewarm water and gently pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel.

A face mask is one of those little things that's easy to skip during a busy week, which is exactly why it feels right when you've set aside some time for yourself.

There are plenty of different types to choose from, including sheet masks, clay masks and wash-off formulas. Make sure you choose one that suits your skin and what it needs, whether that's hydration, soothing or a refreshing boost.

Always follow the instructions on the pack. Then, once it's on, resist the urge to start doing chores.

Make a cuppa. Put your feet up. Read a few pages of your book. Close your eyes and listen to music. The washing can wait.

An at-home spa evening is a good opportunity to pay a little more attention to your skin and how it’s feeling.

Skin can feel different from one day to the next. It might feel dry after a long day, a little sensitive at certain times, or simply in need of some hydration. Rather than adding lots of new steps to your routine, think about what your skin needs at that moment.

Take a look at the products you already use and read the directions before applying them. An at-home spa night doesn't need to involve an elaborate skincare routine, sometimes taking a little more time with your usual routine is enough.

And if there is a skincare ingredient or format you've been curious about, do a little research before introducing it. Skincare is personal, and something that works well for one person may not suit another.

When introducing a new product, always follow the instructions and patch test first.

Take your time with hydration

One of the nicest things about an at-home spa day is that you're not racing through your skincare before running out the door or falling into bed.

After your mask, take your time applying the next stages of your usual routine.

Depending on your skin and the products you use, that might mean toner followed by a serum and moisturiser. Korean skincare often uses lightweight layers to build hydration, but your routine doesn't need to contain a certain number of steps.

You could use one hydrating step or several. What matters is choosing products that suit your skin rather than trying to reach a magic number of steps.

Finish with your usual moisturiser, then give everything a moment to settle in.

Your face might get most of the attention in a skincare routine, but an at-home spa day is a good excuse to give the rest of you a little care too.

Apply a hair mask and leave it on while you do your skincare. Spend a little extra time moisturising your hands and body. Give your feet some attention, particularly if you've been on them all day.

Even a warm shower followed by fresh PJs and body moisturiser can feel wonderfully restorative when you aren't rushing through it.

This is also where your spa day can become completely your own. If painting your nails helps you unwind, add that. If you'd rather spend 20 minutes doing your skincare and then curl up with a book, do that instead.

Self-care doesn't need a checklist.

Once the skincare is done, try not to rush straight back into your usual routine.

Make your favourite warm drink. Put on fresh PJs. Read, listen to music or simply enjoy doing very little for a while. If you've spent the day looking at screens, giving your eyes a break can be a nice finishing touch too.

And remember, the ultimate at-home spa day isn't really about how many products you use.

It's about creating a little space in your day to slow down and enjoy taking care of yourself. Whether that means trying a Korean sheet mask you've been curious about, taking more time with your usual skincare or simply enjoying a quiet cup of tea afterwards, make the moment yours.

Because sometimes the nicest plans are the ones that don't require leaving home.