Essentially the Korean Skin Care Routine is a process where you layer on different creams and toners that if done right will keep your skin hydrated and healthier. The number of products that you use depends on the person, but most go from 5-10 depending on how many essences you use (mine has 6 steps with about 15 products I alternate depending on the day/what I feel my skin needs). I know it is a lot, but so far it has worked great!
My skin is looking better and I have gotten a lot of compliments from family and friends when they see me. Plus, it is turning into a relaxing nighttime routine that winds me down form my day and gets me ready for bed. Because I am not sure about you, but after I pamper myself, I always feel more relaxed!
My skin and I have always had a love-hate relationship. I hate really bad break outs of acne as a child and teenager and it was not until recently that I have gotten my skin clear and blemish free. My skin was also what some would consider combination (oily and dry in patches), so I decided to switch up my face cleaning routine and it has really made a difference. For the most part, I just used a face scrub in the shower and would apply vitamin E oil when my skin was dry. I still use the vitamin E oil and a face wash, but I have added some more steps:
1. First I use a make up remover oil (this one had green tea extract) to really get off all the make up on my face. I find that the oil is not as harsh as other make up removers and also moisturizes my face wile it gets off almost all of the day's make up.
2. Next I use a face wash to get the rest of my make up/dirt/grime off my face. Depending on the day/what I think my face needs, I will either use the apricot scrub or the volcanic pour cleansing foam, and if my skin really needs it, I have a blackhead specific volcanic clay pour foam that I use on my nose and T-Zone.
3. Number three is turning out to be one of my favorites so far. This is a mask made of organic honey and sugar and really helps to smooth and hydrate my skin. I have been putting it on and leaving it one as I clean/blog/watch dramas/talk to friends/anything really, since the longer it is on your face the more it hydrates and smooths. After I have had it on for a while, I will go back to the bathroom and wash it off with warm water.
4. Next is a Facial toner. This one is really nice since it is more of a water than a toner. For me, western toners tend to be very harsh and leave my skin feeling striped and way too dried out. But with this one, my skin feels more awake and clean, rather than feeling like it was cleaned with a harsh chemical.
5. Essence time!! Essence are pretty cool things if I do say so myself. They are kind of like light lotions that you layer on, but the cool thing about them is that they are all specified to do a specific thing. Sometimes I use all four, or I only use one or two. Plus they smell awesome and make my skin feel really soft!
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| Rose: Face brightening and helps skin elasticity |
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| Acai Berry: antioxidants that help slow the aging of skin/helps prevent wrinkles |
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| Green Tea Seed: antioxidants to keep skin youthful, moisturizing, redness prevention |
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| Snail Mucin (mucus): surprisingly lightweight and really helps with super moisturizing my skin, helps with roughness and keeps my skin feeling baby soft. |
6. "Skin" toner
The skin toner is a little heavier toner than the first one I put on in step 4. Instead of cleaning my skin of any toxins that may have survived from my washes, this one is formulated to renew the "dewiness" in my skin. Essentially it helps keep my skin looking hydrated and works as a good layering agent between my essences and my final step.
7. My final step is to seal everything in for the night with a lotion/night cream. I have three different ones I use depending on how I feel and how dry it is outside. Since it is winter (and Korea has really dry winters which is not good for my skin AT ALL), I tend to use the heavier creams and will only use the oil in the summer.
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| My good old Vitamin E oil from home! I have had this for about 3 years now (a little goes a long way) it is a great way to hydrate your skin without putting on heavy creams and lotions. I like to use this one in the summers or if I just want a lazy night where I wash my face but want to not do all the steps (aka steps 1 and 2 only). |
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| You are never too young to start working on preventing wrinkles. This cream smells AMAZING and is specially formulated to help prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. |
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| This cream is the heaviest and most "traditional" out of my night creams. It has a light mint smell and tingles when you put it on. Like the other two, a little goes a long way. This one is specially made to help reduce the appearance of pores and to (again) help with the appearance of wrinkles. |
It might seem like a lot, but after a while it becomes less daunting and, as I said earlier, very relaxing to do at night before bed. Plus my skin looks and feels more hydrated and healthier!
Bonus:
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The wonderful aloe vera, but in a smaller "on-the-go" tube. This one comes with roller balls, so it also massages the area as it releases the aloe. I tend to use this one under my eyes to massage away and puffy eye bags or dark circles, while at the same time moisturizing the area which (once again) helps prevent/slow the signs of wrinkles and aging.
So that is everything I am doing for my skin nowadays. It was a hard change and I need to remember to make myself do it, but it has definitely been worth it!
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