Skin Care Routine: The Korean Way

Korean and Japanese women are known to follow a 5-step skin routine.The 5-Step Skin Care Routine is Korean women’s biggest beauty secret to flawless skin. 

Here’s the 5-step routine: 

1. Double cleansing —> 2. Massage & mask —> 3. Tone —> 4. Essence —> 5. MoisturizePhew! Let’s find out in detail what each step is all about.

1. Double Cleansing 

Thoroughly cleanse your skin with makeup remover and cleanser before going to sleep. Never ever go to sleep with your makeup still on! 

Have you heard of Cleansing Oil? It is a washable oil that is emulsified with water to quickly remove all makeup, grease and dirt. One very famous brand is the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil . It removes all traces of makeup gently yet effectively as well as other types of pore clogging dirt while maintaining skin’s natural sebum levels 

2. Massage & Mask 

Facial massage is the secret to glowing skin. Apply a massage pack or cream and massage your face. You could even use a gentle scrub. It is exercise for your skin. 

A facial massage improves blood circulation and is a great stress reliever!Facial massages also stimulates the flow of oxygen and nutrients to improve the elasticity of your skin. The skin temperature rises, opening pores and pushes out the dirt embedded deep within the skin. Your skin will look visibly fresher, younger and glows after a massage.

Incorporate a facial massage into your beauty regime at least 2 – 3 times a week for visible results. A word of caution for those with acne or oily skin, massaging will agitate the oil glands and increase oil secretion. So refrain from massaging.

On the days you do not indulge in a facial massage, apply a mask on your face. There are many types of masks out there in stores, but the two that are most important are clarifying mask(deep cleanses the skin) and moisture mask. Facial masks should be applied 1 – 2 times a week, after cleansing and preferably at night.

3. Tone 

Some might think that toners are useless. But toners actually remove dead skin cells and residue from cleansers. Choose a toner that is suitable for your skin type. 

4. Essence/serum 

Essence or serums are very light, liquid concentrated treatments to correct skin problems. Essence is easier absorbed and penetrates deep into your skin, better than regular moisturizers.For best results, wait 5 minutes after applying serums before applying your moisturizer to allow maximum absorption. Because of their concentrated affects, serums are generally more expensive. 

5. Moisturize 

Choose a moisturizer suitable for your skin and use it diligently.I am not one who is blessed with flawless skin, but i have learned that no matter what your skin type, you could make it better by paying extra attention to your skin care routine.

Whoa! It looks too much ,Isn't it? But hey!  Look how beautiful their skin is. I can see just a 'lil difference on their routine and mine. I am not fond of using cleansing oils, I use other make up remover. Also, I can't afford to buy and use serums, they're so expensive. I tried essences before, I saw good results so I guess I'll stick to it. I exfoliate my face using facial scrubs, so I think it's almost the same with facial massage hahaha. (I still massage my face while scrubbing!). I have no issues with facial masks. I use clarifying mask or  moisturizing mask once a week. Toning and moisturizing is on my list.


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Other article for Korean Skin Care Way

hello! these are some of the stuff my korean friend and her mom taught me that i'd like to share with you. i've been following this regimen and the tips for months now and i noticed major improvements on my skin! i don't break out anymore. my skin has become lighter and my acne scars have gradually faded, too. i'm really happy with the results i got so i hope these can help you as much as they helped me~ ^ ^

BASIC KOREAN SKIN CARE REGIMEN:

• double cleanse - use cleansing cream at night especially if you wore make-up during the day. cleansing creams moisturizes your skin while gently melting off make-up. follow up with washing your face with your usual facial cleanser.
• toner - use toner to remove any excess soap residue after washing your face.
• emulsion - this is basically a light moisturizer. use it after applying toner to retain your skin's moisture before applying anything else.
• essence/serum - a serum or essence is a specialized treatment for your individual concerns(acne marks, wrinkles, visible pores, etc.). some are applied before moisturizers and some are applied as the final step of a beauty method.
• moisturizer - a moisturizer is an essential part of the recommended 1-2-3 beauty regimen that is used after cleansing and balancing to protect the skin as well as offer moisture-retention benefits encouraging a healthy complexion.
• eye cream - eye creams or eye treatments are important because skin around the eyes is very delicate, thin and apt to show signs of age.

EXTRA:

• facial masks - use this every 2-3 days. their main purpose is to provide nourishment your skin needs from the outside. when you put it on your face for a specific time, it does not allow your skin to breathe. the mask's nutrients are absorbed by your skin. facial masks can be in the form of essence soaked sheets, cream, peel-off, sleeping packs, etc. most korean beauty brands offer masks that cater to your skin's concern.
• exfoliate - exfoliating both the face and the body weekly helps get rid of the dead top layers of skin. this allows moisturizers and serums to better penetrate the skin.
• rice water - the use of rice water in skin care is very big in asia. washing your face with rice water makes your skin very soft and it also helps in improving the complexion.
• ice facial - do this every morning. ice facials are very popular in asia. korean actresses swear by rubbing ice cubes on their face to achieve that beautiful radiant glow. this will help reduce morning facial swelling and help constrict large pores without using chemical toners.
• bb cream - it can be worn alone as a tinted moisturizer, over serum and moisturizer as a regular foundation, and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage. koreans don't consider bb creams a make-up, they consider it as a skin care product(because of its skin care properties such as skin repair, anti-aging, whitening, etc.). whenever celebrities say they are barefaced, they most likely still have bb cream on.
• sun cream/sun block/sunscreen - it is necessary to apply sunscreen on a daily basis no matter what the weather is like. it is also very important to use sunscreen underneath your base make-up. even if your foundation or bb cream has a high amount of spf in it, you would need to apply at least 1tbsp. of the product on each part of your face to get the full sun protection it offers(yikes!). koreans use a lot of sunscreen to prevent premature aging. it is a very important part of their skin care routines. ideal amount of spf for face is 30.
• green tea - drink at least two cups of green tea everyday. its benefits for skin have long been treasured as an anti-aging secret in asia. other main benefits for skin are clearing out acne, prevents skin cancer, protection from the sun's rays, and naturally treat warts, dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, and other skin ailments.
• get facials. may it be just cleaning or for more specific treatments, it is very important to get them at least once a month.
• avoid taking in too much caffeine, sweets, powdered juice, oily food, and dairy products.
• try to sleep before midnight.
• drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
• avoid touching your face.
• eat less fast food and opt for healthier home cooked meals.
• avoid stressful situations.

CELEBRITY SKIN CARE TIPS:

Go Hyun Joong

• avoid salty and spicy food to maintain clear skin
• wash your hands before applying skin care or make-up. avoid facial interaction with your hands apart from when cleansing and applying skin care.
• when washing your face, mix foaming cleanser with warm water and work up a foam the size of an egg. start from behind the ears and the jawline, and once the cleanser is warmed up, move towards the center of your face.
• breakouts can be treated naturally by washing affected areas with salted lukewarm water to sanitize the area and prevent it from worsening.
• skincare should be applied from the center then outwards. for neck cream, start from the jawline down to the decolletage in an outward 'c shape' motion.
• apply skincare once it is warmed up in your hands, and press both palms onto your face to improve absorption.
• discard skincare after two months of use for hygiene.

Song Hye Gyo

• stay away from chocolates, sodas, black tea, caffeine, and junk food. eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• she applies egg white and honey mask, every fortnight, to whiten her skin.
• to brighten and reduce fine lines on her skin, she applies honey with water every fortnight(alternates it with the egg white and honey mask).
• she washes her face with milk.
• to make her face smaller, she massages her face with ice cubes.

HOME MADE FACIAL MASKS/SKIN CARE: 

• half a tomato + 1/2tbsp. lemon juice + 1tbsp. organic yogurt/whipped cream = helps lighten acne scars and brightens skin.
• 1 avocado + 1 banana + (optional/for moisture) olive oil = helps hydrate and brighten dull and dry skin.
• 2tbsp. rice flour + 2tbsp. honey + 1tbsp. green tea = oil control and acne treatment.
• 1 uncoated aspirin + water + honey = acne treatment.
• 1 egg white + honey = tightens pores, helps dry pimples, and whitens skin.
• 1 egg yolk = moiturizes skin.
• 1/3 of a banana + half a small spoon of honey + small spoon of lime juice = for 'ulzzang' pale skin. also helps in reducing dark circles.
• 1 mashed avocado + 1 cooked and mashed carrot + 1/2 cup heavy cream + 1 beaten egg + 3tbsp. honey= helps skin rebuild collagen, fade age spots, and improve skin tone and texture.
• 1 tea bag of green tea + olive oil = acne treatment and hydration.
• 다시마(dashima/tangle weed) = whitens skin for 'ulzzang' pale skin.

쌩얼메이크업(KOREAN NATURAL MAKE-UP): 

*apparently this is how koreans do their 'natural' make-up.. they still put on a lot of products on their faces tho! this is why double cleansing at the end of the day is very important.

베이스 메이크업(Base Make-up)

• skin care routine.
• apply sun cream.
• apply make-up base.
• apply primer.
• apply bb cream.
• apply concealer on problem areas.
• settle with powder.
• dust off higlighter on t-zone and c-zone.
• apply blusher.

아이 메이크업(Eye Make-up)

• groom eyebrows(if you have bangs that cover your eyebrows you may skip this step, but if you don't have bangs, it is necessary to groom your brows because they help in framing your face.).
• apply eyeliner.
• curl lashes.
• apply mascara.
• apply clear mascara.

립 메이크업(Lip Make-up)

• apply lip concealer(only if your lips are heavily pigmented. if they're naturally pale then you may skip this step.).
• apply lip tint.
• finish off with clear lip gloss or lip balm.