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Skincare routine varies.
We, the general people have always been taught the 3 general rules in taking care of our skin.
The first step is to cleanse our skin with soap and water followed by using a toner or astringent as we normally call it here in the Philippines. Lastly, we use our moisturizers. This is actually a decent routine, for Westerners that is. Westerners have thinner dermis, thus, product absorption is faster. Asian skin, like Koreans and Filipinos have thicker dermis and layering of products is more likely a need for better absorption and efficacy.
Here are the steps on Korean skincare:
Step 1: The Makeup Removal
Remove your makeup gently with good makeup remover like The Faceshop Ricewater Cleansing Oil. Make-up, although water-based have components which can never be dissolved by water alone and facial cleansers which are water-based. Even sunblocks can't be removed completely by just using a facial cleanser so it is necessary to use a good makeup remover.
Step 2: Cleansing
If you are to put on makeup for 30 minutes, cleansing too, should be a process. Let your skin breathe. Use a good facial wash. A ph-balanced facial wash to remove the residues after removing your makeup. I like using Missha's Creamy Green Tea Latte because it has milk and green tea which can really deliver good results. Oil production reduction but still leaving your skin moisturized.
Step 3: Exfoliation
Exfoliating with a natural scrub like Skinfood's Black Sugar Mask can really brighten up your skin and remove dead skin cells. Once or twice a week of exfoliation is enough as too much exfoliation will also leave your skin sensitive and it may cause more damage.
Step 4: Toning
Toning is very important and is considered to be the last step of cleansing. We must use a pH-balanced toner like Etude House's Wonderpore Freshner. It effectively balances our skin's pH-level which helps in the skin repair process.
Step 5: The Essence
Essences seem to be a mystery. For Koreans, the use of an essence is vital as it help in brightening one's skin tone and increase cell turn over. One of the best essences that I have used is Nature Republic's First Essence which is comparable to SK II Essence and yes, it did live up to its promise of delivering a clearer and smoother skin.
Step 6: The Ampoule
Ampoules are more concentrated than essences and it give your skin the much-needed and much-deserved nutrition. Missha's Time Revolution Ampoule does wonders to the skin. It does not just brighten your skin but it also act as a potent anti-aging wonder in a bottle.
Step 7: The Mask
Masks are a twice-a-week treatment. We have the sheet masks, wash-off masks and peel-off masks. Use whatever you feel like using. It is imperative that we treat our skin like QUEENS because it is afterall, the first line of defense against infection. Masks have various effects according to your skin's needs. What I like to use is Etude House's Play Therapy Spot Care Wash-off mask as it helps me in preventing break-outs and sometimes I also use sheet masks if I have more money to spare. :)
Step 9: Moisturizing
Moisturizing your skin is very important to prevent premature aging and to help prevent various skin problems. Mizon's All-In-One Snail Cream is all it takes to take care of your skin's problems. From acne to wrinkles, it will have you covered.
Step 8: The Eye Cream
The skin around our eyes is very thin and it needs special attention. Extra moisture and nourishment is what it needs. Wrinkles usually first appear around our eyes and for that, I use Etude House's Like Twenty Eye Concentrate.
Step 10: The Night Cream
Your skin needs to stay hydrated as you sleep. Night creams doesn't just moisturize nor give additional nourishment to your skin, it also acts as a "seal" to all the goodness you have fed your skin. Missha's Snail Renew Cell Sleeping mask not just seal all the goodness but also brightens and repairs your skin leaving you waking up to a brighter, glowing skin.
