Since I've got combination, acne-prone skin, I decided to add some light daily exfoliation into my Korean skin care routine. I used the popular Leegeehaam Tea Tree 70 BHA Toner, $34, which is pretty much magic in a bottle. It's gentle enough to be used every day, but thanks to all the tea tree essence and BHAs, it's dynamite at clearing and brightening skin.

After trying out the 7 skin method a few weeks ago, I'm still going strong on it (though sometimes I abbreviate to three layers of toner/essence, rather than the full seven). Each morning and night I patted on several layers of the Peach & Lily Wild Dew Essence, $39, which is a superlative product. It's almost like water, but so, so hydrating (and not at all sticky). Plus, with niacinamide sitting high on the ingredient list, it's great for calming distressed skin while refining the appearance of pores.

There's no shortage of covet-worthy Korean skin care serums, so I tried a couple during my week-long K-beauty pilot test. Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Serum, $200, is excellent, adding a burst of hydration with its pleasantly herbal-scented gel texture. I also found myself a big fan of Legeehaam Vita Propolis Ampoule, $38. It's a K-beauty favorite on Reddit for a reason: It's decadent with its moisturizing texture and faint honey-ish scent and it increased my glow factor significantly (like, to honey skin levels of glowiness).

Ever since I first discovered Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil, $46, during a particularly dry winter season many moons ago, I've been a staunch believer in facial oils for my combination skin. This time, I used the new Amore Pacific Botanical Radiance Oil, $105. It's quite the pretty penny, yes, but the experience is lovely if you can spare the cash. It's got a light floral scent and it absorbs quickly without leaving a film on your face. It left my skin feeling nourished and balanced, with nary a trace of greasiness.

I've been using Korean beauty moisturizers almost exclusively for the past few months. A few of my favorites? Well, for starters, the new Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream, $40, is divine. The pudding texture is so much fun and it's satisfyingly creamy without feeling heavy.

Now, if you need something a little more heavy duty, the Cosrx Honey Ceramide Full Moisture Cream, $26, is a great, ultra-hydrating pick. Conversely, if you're on the lookout for something lighter, the new Laneige Fresh Calming Mousse Moisturizer, $29, is quite the novel pick — it's literally a mousse, dispensing into your hand as an airy foam that quickly resolves into a serum-like texture. The grapefruit scent is refreshing and, like many of the products mentioned thus far, it's great for promoting a dewy glow.