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.

Masks are a must for a Korean skin care routine — so I indulged in several. I found myself enjoying a couple different sleeping masks (notably the gel-textured Huxley Secret of Sahara Sleep Mask Good Night, $36, as well as the pudding-textured Belif Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask, $34). I also donned the expensive-yet-amazing Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Mask, $60 for 5, on a day when I really needed my skin to look extra good.

Not everyone believes in eye cream, but I do (perhaps it's because my allergy-prone eyes are especially vulnerable to dryness and puffiness). I like Whamisa by Glow Studio Chai Tea Eye Cream, $26 — it's soothing and hydrating and its light enough that makeup layers over it flawlessly.

How much would you judge me if I told you I was a beauty writer who doesn't always remember to wear sunscreen? That said, I do almost always wear a base with SPF — and for this week of K-beauty testing, I tried to stick to Korean makeup brands. I found myself enamored of the iconic 3Lab Perfect BB SPF 40, $105. Its glowifying effects, combined with the rest of my weekly routine, were considerable and caused me to make more than one double take whilst catching a glimpse of my own reflection.

By the end of my week, this skin care experiment passed the ultimate test: I arrived to work harried, out of breath and feeling haggard (having only slept about five hours the night before). Running even later than usual, I'd dashed out the door without a stitch of makeup. But no sooner had I hurled my near-lifeless body into my chair when one of my coworkers turned to me and remarked, "Your skin is glowing. You look amazing." That could have been a fluke, but a second person quickly agreed, "You really do. Your skin looks SO good!"

(At that point, I said a silent prayer to the gods of Korean skin care.)

I've tried a lot of skin care products during my years as a beauty writer (by latest count, around 1000 in the last year alone) and I can honestly say that this is the best my skin has looked in a long time. You don't have to undertake every step of this time-consuming (and wallet-consuming) routine, but it may be worth introducing a few steps into your regimen. Be it a great double cleansing duo, several layers of hydrating toner, or even some adorable masks, any of the steps alone can make a world of difference.

Image via Imaxtree