Basic 10-step Korean skincare:
Step 1: Makeup Remover Make sure you get to remove all your make up right before you sleep, or even once you get home (and sure you won’t be going out and simply stay home and do nothing any more). It is one of the most important steps that you’ll have to consider in your routine, because make-up may cause clogged pores which are one of the main reasons for acne.
I swear by using Clinique take the day off balm (or oil) because it removes my entire make-up including eye (mascara & eyeliner) and lip products. When removing make up, I usually take a pea size (or more depends on you) and massage it on my face. When I massage it, it usually takes me a minute or two to make sure all make-up is all ready removed. I usually use tissue (and sometimes cotton towel) to remove my makeup remover.
Personal Tip: I’d like to share what I call “triple cleanse” that I have been doing on days I have heavy make-up on J
Step 2: Cleanse After removing all your make-up, we still need to freshen up our face by washing I using soap cleanse. Others use miscellar water on this step, but I’d still like to consider that I need to use a soap cleanser to end the questioning of “is there still make up residue on my face??”
Step 3: Exfoliate Exfoliating only needs to be done once a week or a few times a month depending on your skin’s condition. Exfoliation takes away dead skin cells and blackheads built up on the face and neck.
Im not a big fan of exfoliating since I over exfoliated and damaged my skin’s outside layer. If you exfoliate very often as every day, you can also damage your skin leaving it a very thin layer that could also result to acne breakout, however not exfoliating can pile up dirt, dead skin cells and blackhead on your face. So take things in moderation.
Personal Tip: I’d be also posting how I do my 2-1 making-exfoliating J im not a fan of scrubs, so I find my way to still “exfoliate every now and then.
Step 4: Toner Toner is a skin balancing technique that we take for granted. I’ve learned that our face wash should be around 5.5 to 6.5pH to say it’s good for our skin, however most of our cleansers have pH balance of until pH of 14, which is very acidic. In order to restore the skin’s pH balance after cleansing, we not then need to use toner. Besides its pH balancing, toner also helps the skin absorb products and hold it in.
Dear, Klair’s is my favorite toner, I pour some on my hand and tap it on my face until fully absorbed. Some would like to use the help of cotton ball or pads, but I’d like to just use hand to maximize my products.
Step 5: Essence Koreans consider this as one of the most important step in their routine. Essence is a hybrid between a toner and a serum. It works perfectly to hydrate the complexion, aiding cellular turnover making skin smoother and brighter for a youthful appearance.
Step 6: Ampoule
Similar to serums, ampoules actually comprise of concentrated active ingredients to target specific skin care concerns. They are boosters when your skin badly needs one – they help brighten skin, fade sun spots and acne scars and smoothen fine lines and wrinkles. Step 7: Sheet Mask Sheet masks is a cloth packed with essence and serum that targets your specific types of skin conditions. They are perfect for all skin types and has tons of different kinds depending on what you want to focus on. Currently its not just plain cloth like it used to be before, they have managed to make different types, and one of my favorite is hydro gel type or something like jelly looking.
The cotton fabric of the sheet mask forces your skin to absorb the nutrients and moisture before they have a chance to evaporate. After masking, your skin will immediately see the results of a plumper and brighter skin. Honestly, using sheet masks are extremely addicting, they are my current obsession and I’m still on my journey on discovering the perfect sheet mask – always look for masks that will most benefit your skin since there are TONS of brands that offer and lots of different varieties to choose on!
Step 8: Eye Cream The skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most fragile in which they are very delicate and most obvious when not being taken care of. After using sheet mask, gently tap (and not rub) the cream under and around the eye area.
Personal tip: I’ve read that you should use your ring finger to apply eye cream, since it has less muscle there and it would be less pressure, this can lessen the tugging that causes wrinkles and lines. Step 9: Moisturizer Use a moisturizer that you feel like can keep all those skin loving ingredients locked in on your face. Gently rub moisturizer and massage it in an upward stroke (to lessen the skin sag). This is just as important as the other steps since moisturizers keep the skin from developing dry patches. Step 10: Night Cream / SPF After everything, your face definitely feels heavy already. BUT to some (like me) putting on a night cream is the major lock in for my face. Compared to a moisturizer, night creams are heavier and thicker. If you feel like your moisturizer is thick enough, then you can skip this.
Be sure to sleep looking up and not let your pillow enjoy all your skin care products! Or maybe let it rest in your face for a while before going to bed. Read a book, watch k-drama, write something or check instagram haha!
In the morning, don’t forget to put on moisturizer!! This is something I took for granted especially I still don’t see the effects (YET). In my opinion ( for people who lives in places like PH) choose a light weight SPF or tinted SPF for a instant base for your make up – putting heavy SPF might spoil your whole look.
*I’d also share my fave SPFs in my next posts! Especially im super choosy with this, I normally skip this but since it is as important like every other steps, I have tried to look for my favorite SPF as years went by (though I’m still on search, so comment if you have ideas!)
Routine may seem to be extremely long, and YES IT IS. It usually takes me and hour or more to basically reach 75% of it. I love the 10-step however if you feel like it is already too much, always learn how to stop and not just use it because everyone says so. Know your skin more than anyone else’s comments; make sure to always take care of your skin in the best possible way you personally know.
Let me know how you also do your routines, I’d love to hear from everyone!
