What exactly are what is the Korean skincare routine we hear so much about today? These are the exact steps Asian women, especially Koreans, use to maintain their skin. According to the variety of, it can vary between 7 and 10 steps. None of these steps are required to be completed at night or in the morning.
Yes, as taking good care of your skin requires you to care for it both in the morning and at night. In the morning , you should prepare and protect the skin for the next day and in the evening, to remove all the dirt and impurities that have built up during the day.
STEP 1&2: Double Cleansing
The first step I consider to be one of the most crucial is cleansing. When it comes to Korean skin care, people typically employ double cleansing. What exactly is double cleansing? The practice of using two kinds of cleanser. One cleansing oil which helps remove make-up and is essential at night but is a good option in the morning. The second is cleansing with foaming cleanser, which helps remove any residue. This helps keep the skin cleansed and ready for next steps. Personally, I can recommend Etude House's Real Art Cleansing Oil Moisture Advanced for the initial step, and Paula's Choice Clam Nurishing Cleanser for the second.
STEP 3: Toner
The next step is toner. It is essential to use a non-alcoholic cleanser. Alcohol, although it does not remain much on the skin because it is quickly evaporated, it is among the most irritating ingredients to the skin, along with perfumes and fragrances. Toners are designed to cleanse the skin thoroughly to eliminate impurities and bacteria and balances its pH after the initial step. It also serves to eliminate the residues of products that have escaped the cleansers. One product I personally consider very effective to do this is Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner by Haru Haru Wonder.
STEP 4 4. Exfoliant
The next step is the exfoliant that depending on the exfoliant type and skin type can be used on a daily basis or at least every other day. For example a gentle chemical exfoliant is suitable for use daily while a mechanical exfoliant is best used is not more than 3 times per week. An exfoliant, as the name suggests, is used to gently eliminate old skin cells and dead ones from the surface where it's applied which is in this instance, the face. You can try the 2.2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant available from Paula's Choice. I have found it to be exceptional.
However, do you think it really the Korean skincare routine actually this efficient? Let's take a look at how to proceed!
STEP 5: Face Mask
Then we can look at the face mask. It is meant to be applied in the evening. It can be either a fabric mask that can be applied all day long or a clay mask if you have oily skin. In this case the second day of every week would be ideal. If you use clay masks, like the amusing Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask, it should be applied following cleansing, before applying using exfoliator or toner. If it's made of fabric, it's a good idea to use it even after and may be used in place of serum, which normally is applied after exfoliation. The mask for face is designed depending on your skin type to increase moisture in case of dry skin, or to remove excess sebum when you have oily skin.skincare coreanacan also be helpful if you have irritated skin using a mask that contains gentle ingredients.
STEP 6: Serum
The serum helps us add specific ingredients to the skin without weighing it down too much. It is an extremely versatile product that could be used by itself in cases of oily skin or with other products in case of dry skin. Many women opt to apply one of the essential oils or the serum, if you have dry skin. Both are great. One good example of this productthat I have personally tested by IUnik is Tea Tree Relief.
STEP 7: Essence
Essence is an even lighter serum that is almost watery, but it provides hydration as well as other ingredients that perhaps the serum didn't have. In the summer it's ideal if you have oily skin as when used on its own, it doesn't weight the skin but adds ingredients that aid our skin. Try your hand at the Galacto Niacin 97 Power Essence by Purito, I suggest it!
