Koreans talk of the town because of their glass , glowing and spotless skin. They invest in good skin care right in their 20s . Their power ingredient is snail slime , which they use in their maximum products. Koreans use natural products which have been extracted from the plants, animal secretions and essential oils. They are very particular in their AM and PM routine which helps them to achieve dewy skin every time.
Korean Skincare Routine
1. Make-up remover and oil cleanser
Holy grail skin care secret of Koreans is double cleansing. The first step is to double cleanse using an oil cleanser to remove makeup and dirt. An oil based cleanser is less irritating and breaks down oil based makeup.
Brands recommended: Innisfree Green Tea cleansing water
2. Foaming cleanse
Use any foaming cleanser to clear out all the leftover dirt from your face. You can also use glycerin, it will gently clean your face without drying out your skin. Choose a gentle, hydrating and low pH cleanser to sweep away any residue. These two steps will clean your skin thoroughly.
Brands recommended: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
3. Exfoliate
Exfoliating once or twice a week is healthy for skin, and also it helps to remove the dead skin cells, which further promotes skin cell turnover and repair the skin.
4. Toners
Toner will help restore pH level, hydrates and allows other products to get easily absorbed into the skin. You can use it with a cotton swab, or fingers.
Brands Recommended: Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner / I’m Rice Toner
5. Essences
Water based treatments that are lightweight and has anti-aging ingredients. They help enhance the skin.
6. Treatments
Treat your skin and get maximum benefits from serums , boosters or ampoules. It has active ingredients which have highly concentrated formulas that will help you get a healthy glow. Problems like redness, wrinkles, large pores pigmentation can be treated through serums and boosters.
7. Sheet Masks
It is said that, ‘ Where there are sheet masks, there will be Koreans’. Adding face masks to your routine help give your skin that extra boost and it rejuvenates skin .
Brands recommended: Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask
8. Eye Cream
It is designed specifically to moisturize under the eye area, where fine lines might appear. Make sure to be extra careful while applying something under your eyes because the skin is very delicate.
9. Moisturizer
Seal your skin with the moisturizer. Moisturizers come in various forms, including creams, gels, lotions, and oils. Some even contain sun protection. Moisturizers come as a last step to help lock in all the super hydrating products used before it. While it does help introduce more hydration, its main job is to prevent moisture from leaving the skin (transepidermal water loss). Many people like to use a different moisturizer in the morning than they do at night. It's common to use a lighter, gel moisturizer during the day and a heavier, more emollient moisturizer at night. What's most important is to use a moisturizer that best suits your skin type.
Brands recommended: Ceramidin Cream
10. Sun Protection
Always wear sunscreen in the morning after moisturizer. It will protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Look for sunscreen that contains UVB protection and UVA protection.
Brands recommended: Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
Some Skincare Tips.
- Use pimple patches for blemishes
- Deep cleanses before applying makeup
- Use sheet masks for improved hydration
- Mix face oil with your foundation for that dewy and glossy skin
- Use a product with snail mucin
Spilling Out Some Korean Skincare Secrets
- Use Iced cold water to wash your face in the morning. Take a bowl filled with water and ice, dip your face for 4-5 mins. You skin will thank you later for this
- Slap in your products, this will increase blood flow and allow the product to penetrate better.
- Facial massage exercises have been practiced by Koreans since years. It will make your skin wrinkle free.
- Let your face dry naturally, instead of cleaning it with a towel. You should also apply your skincare products within 10 seconds of washing while your face is still damp. This sweet spot is when your pores are most receptive and can absorb the products best.
Conclusion
Hydration is the key for good skin. They use products extracted from natural ingredients such as green tea, aloe vera and rice bran. These products have nourishing and soothing properties which are gentle on the skin and very effective. The philosophy behind their beauty standards are very different and they avoid chemicals as much as possible.
FAQs
- What makes Korean skin care special?
Experimenting with more natural ingredients like bee venom, snail slime.
- What is the secret of Korean skin?
Deep cleansing with micellar water and choose a lemon infused face wash for brighter skin.
- Why do I keep reading the words “whitening” and “brightening” on the labels?
Many Korean cosmetic products are labeled with „Brightening or Whitening“, but this doesn't mean it would bleach your skin. They are specially formulated to treat hyperpigmentation, even out skin tone, and boost your skin's radiance. Products with these labels clear your skin for a youthful and glowy complexion.
