K-Beauty for beginners
Koreans are known for their radiant skin, which many seem to believe is due to genes. However, it is a completely unique skin care process that involves up to 10 steps, which can seem a little scary! We help you demystify this and have taken everything down in steps to make it easy to understand. The idea is that everyone can adapt the steps to their own skin and how it feels. In winter (when the skin is often very dry) you may need several steps and in summer two may be enough. If you are unsure of the order, take the product with the thinnest, most watery consistency first and finish with the thickest.
In the end, it will help you get radiant skin all year round. It is worth spending a little extra time and when you see the result you understand why!
Step 1) Double wash.
Step one: Oil-based washing
To remove all oil-based makeup, sunscreen and impurities, start with an oil wash. It is good to start with because water repels oil. Pump out some oil and massage your face with gentle, upward circular motions. Then add water to the face and massage again (if the oil now looks milky, you are doing the right thing). Rinse with lukewarm water.
Step two: Water-based washing
To remove the water-based dirt that may remain, use a foam or cream wash. After rinsing off all the oil, put foam or cleanser on your face and massage with gentle upward circular motions. Rinse with lukewarm water. Repeat every morning and evening!
A skin care myth is that oil washing causes pimples. They actually do the opposite, they are very gentle and help get rid of acne.
2) Toner
The toner forms the basis of your other skin care products. You do not need cotton pads, just pour some toner in your hands and pat the skin with the palms of your hands all over your face until everything is absorbed. Traditionally, here in the Western world, toner is used to remove residual dirt. In Korea, it is used both to restore pH balance, a little to cleanse, but most of all to provide nutrients (such as antioxidants) and soften the skin. It prepares the skin for the remaining steps and locks in moisture so that the skin does not become dry after washing.
3) Essences used to be a little more liquid and less concentrated than serum. Their main purpose is to further moisturize the skin and to prepare the skin for serum.
4) serum and ampoules
These are formulated with active ingredients that are tailored to specific needs according to skin type, such as fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and dehydration. So this step is important to adapt to your particular skin type.
5) Eye Cream - The skin around the eyes is thinner and dries out more easily, so it should be treated with a cream specially formulated to protect and nourish
6) Moisturizer - A moisturizer designed for your skin type creates a barrier that will lock in all the products you have already used, instead of evaporating from the skin.
7) Peeling
Use a mild, non-irritating peel 2-3 times a week to promote cell renewal, dissolve clogged pores and allow the products you use to absorb more easily.
8) sheet masks or sheet masks
Disposable sheet masks are soaked with the same active ingredients found in serums and essences, but are more of an "a la carte" version that you can use when needed when you feel you need extra moisture, for example. It is therefore good to have some masks with different orientations. After putting the sheet over your face and having it for between 10-20 minutes, you just take it off and let everything sink into the skin.
9) Sleeping masks
This cream, which is filled with active ingredients, leaves you on your skin all night. Use them 2-3 times a week instead of your usual moisturizer to get your beauty sleep (literally).
Do not forget to always put on sunscreen and bb-cream in the morning before going out. The sun is the biggest culprit when it comes to wrinkles and pigment spots, so be sure to protect your skin!