Korean Honey Ritual: What Honey Skin Is and How to Do It

If you have scrolled past a video of someone with skin that looks lit from within, glossy but not greasy, there is a good chance it was captioned honey skin. In Korea the word is kkul-gwang, and the routine that gets people there is often called the Korean honey ritual. Here is what it actually means, the steps, and how to adapt it to Australian weather.

The Beauty Desk  ·  K-Beauty Routines  ·  6 minute read

We sell the Beauty of Joseon Honey Skin ritual, so read this with that in mind. Product details below come from our product pages.

What is the Korean honey ritual?

Kkul means honey and gwang means glow. As the term is commonly used, honey skin is a look: plump, hydrated, softly luminous skin with a healthy sheen. The ritual is the layered routine used to get it, built around gentle cleansing, layers of hydration and a cream that seals everything in. It is a skin look and not a medical outcome, and results vary from person to person.

It also helps to know that it is not only about honey. Several of the products in the set use ginseng, rice and snail mucin, which are traditional Korean skincare ingredients, and the brand uses the word hanbang for its approach, which refers to traditional Korean herbal medicine.

What is in the Beauty of Joseon Honey Skin ritual?

The five-step Hanbang Honey Skin option on our product page includes:

1. Ginseng Cleansing Oil (night only): applied to dry skin to dissolve sunscreen and makeup. The brand says it does this without stripping natural lipids.
2. Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser (morning and night): a lathering second cleanse.
3. Glow Replenishing Rice Milk (morning and night): a hydrating step. Shake well before use.
4. Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin (morning and night): two to three drops on the face.
5. Dynasty Cream (morning and night): the sealing step, which our product page says includes honey extract, niacinamide and several forms of hyaluronic acid.

The second option, Glass Skin Recovery, adds a sixth step: a Centella Asiatica Calming Mask, used twice a week for 15 to 20 minutes, for days when skin feels red, stressed or dry.

At the time of writing the five-step ritual is $149.95 and the six-step recovery option is $179.95. Stock changes, so check the product page for availability.

How to do it, step by step

1. Evening: start with the cleansing oil on dry skin, then the green plum cleanser, then the rice milk, serum and cream.
2. Morning: skip the oil. Cleanse, then rice milk, serum and cream.
3. Finish every morning with sunscreen. Cancer Council Australia recommends SPF 50+ daily when the UV index is 3 or above. See our sunscreen collection.
4. Use the mask twice a week if you have the recovery option, not daily.

If you want the bigger picture, our glass skin routine guide explains how this look compares with glass skin, and our guide to ceramides and the skin barrier covers why a sealed barrier matters for hydration.

Who the honey ritual suits

It suits dry, dehydrated or tired-looking skin that wants comfort and a soft glow. It is a layered routine, so it can feel like a lot if you prefer two or three steps. Oily or congestion-prone skin may prefer to use the lighter steps only. Start gradually and patch test, especially if your skin is sensitive.

If you have a known allergy to bee products, honey or snail-derived ingredients, check each ingredient list before you buy, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, show the ingredient lists to your doctor or midwife first.

Around Australia

In humid Brisbane, Darwin, Cairns and the Gold Coast, use the lightest layers and keep the cream thin through summer. In Sydney and Newcastle, the full routine suits most of the year, with extra attention to sunscreen. In Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra, the extra layers of hydration are welcome through winter heating. In Perth and Adelaide, hot dry summers mean sunscreen matters more than any other step.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Korean honey ritual?
A layered Korean skincare routine aimed at hydrated, glossy skin, known as honey skin or kkul-gwang.

What does kkul-gwang mean?
Honey glow. It describes skin that looks hydrated and softly luminous.

Is honey skin the same as glass skin?
They are close cousins. Glass skin is clear and smooth, while honey skin is warmer and glossier.

Does the ritual contain real honey?
Our product page says the Dynasty Cream includes honey extract. Check each product's ingredient list for the rest.

How many steps are there?
Five in the daily ritual, plus a calming mask twice a week in the recovery option.

Can I do the honey ritual in the morning?
Yes, but skip the cleansing oil, which is for evenings, and finish with sunscreen.

Is it good for sensitive skin?
Patch test first and introduce one step at a time.

Is it safe in pregnancy?
Show the ingredient lists to your doctor or midwife first.

How long until I see results?
Hydration can look better within days, but allow a few weeks, and results vary.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you notice a new or changing spot, see your doctor for a skin check. Product details come from our product pages and may change.