Before any layering can begin, you need a clean canvas. A gentle cleanser removes the debris of the day (or night) without stripping the natural oils your barrier depends on. You're not trying to squeaky-clean — you're creating a neutral starting point.

If you wore SPF or makeup, a double cleanse is worth doing: start with an oil cleanser to dissolve sunscreen and surface buildup, follow with a gentle foam or gel cleanser to clear the rest. If you're cleansing without SPF or makeup in the mix — a morning cleanse, for instance — a single mild foam is all you need.

Not sure where to start? IUNIK's Calendula and Centella Double Cleansing Duos pair the right oil and foam together by skin type, making it easy to get the double cleanse right from day one.

Toners have evolved. The astringent, alcohol-heavy formulas of the 90s have largely been replaced by hydrating, skin-conditioning preparations that do far more than strip residue.

A well-formulated toner serves two purposes: it restores the skin's pH balance after cleansing, and it begins the first layer of hydration — priming the skin so that the products that follow absorb more effectively.

IUNIK Tea Tree Relief Toner — Lightweight, calming, and ideal for prepping sensitised skin.

The essence step is quintessentially K-beauty — and it's one of the most effective yet underrated parts of a routine. Essences are typically thinner than serums, focused on deep hydration and supporting skin renewal at a cellular level.

Think of the essence as the first real act of nourishment. Its job is to flood the skin with lightweight moisture and active ingredients before the more concentrated serum layer.

IUNIK Beta-Glucan Lacto Barrier Milk Essence — Packed with beta-glucan and probiotics to reinforce the barrier and deliver lasting hydration — exactly what this step is designed to do.

If the essence is broad nourishment, the serum is targeted treatment. Serums are typically more concentrated and formulated to address specific concerns — and this is the step where you choose based on what your skin actually needs right now.

Because serums are designed to penetrate deeply, they need to go on before any heavier creams or oils that might impede absorption.

IUNIK Tea Tree Relief Serum — For blemish-prone or congested skin.

IUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum — For dehydrated or sensitive skin.

IUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum — For dull, nutrient-depleted, or barrier-compromised skin.

IUNIK Rose Galactomyces Synergy Serum — For uneven tone and texture.

IUNIK Black Snail Restore Serum — For signs of ageing or loss of elasticity.

Moisturisers do a different job to serums. Rather than targeting a concern with concentrated actives, their role is to lock in everything you've applied, restore the lipid layer of the skin barrier, and provide lasting comfort.

Even oily or combination skin types need a moisturiser — the goal isn't to add more oil, but to ensure the barrier is supported so it stops overproducing sebum in compensation. Choose your formula based on texture preference and skin type.

IUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream — A lightweight gel-cream for oily, combination, or sensitive skin.

IUNIK Centella Relief Sorbet Cream — A whipped, sorbet-texture cream for skin that needs soothing relief.

IUNIK Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream — For normal to combination skin that wants reliable daily hydration.

IUNIK Beta Glucan 3X Barrier Cream — For dry or barrier-compromised skin.

SPF is the non-negotiable step that most routines undervalue. UV damage is the single largest driver of visible ageing, pigmentation, and long-term skin barrier degradation. Without it, everything else you're doing is working against the tide.

SPF goes last in your morning routine because it needs to sit on the surface of the skin to do its job properly. Applying anything on top of it will disrupt the protective film.

IUNIK Beta Glucan Barrier Sunscreen — For dry, dehydrated, or mature skin.

IUNIK Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen — For sensitive, reactive, or acne-prone skin.

This step applies to morning routines only. At night, replace SPF with your targeted serums, a heavier moisturiser, or an occlusive if you practice slugging (more on that in our guide to slugging and barrier care).