Flawless Skin through Skin Care Routine

Many place Koreans high up on the beauty pedestal for their dedication to skin care routines. Though a Korean skin care routine may involve as many as ten steps, it’s worth the time and investment. If you missed the first chapter of our Beauty editor Romy’s Beauty Book column, let’s reiterate the steps here: oil cleanser and water-based cleanser for double cleansing, exfoliator, toner, essence, serum, sheet mask, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen to be applied in the morning.

Here are the extra steps to keep in mind:

First, use a cleansing oil before your regular cleanser. Oil cleansing gently melts away oil-based makeup and a day’s worth of dirt, grime and sebum production without stripping skin of its natural oils. Some cleansing oils also soothe sensitive skin and balance skin’s water-oil levels. Try PURITO’s From Green Cleansing Oil, which does all this using a combination of olive, sunflower seed, jojoba seed, sweet almond and grape seed oils.

Exfoliate two to three times a week. Using a washcloth to exfoliate skin is a good alternative to soapy exfoliators that may irritate skin and cause flare-ups. After applying your cleanser, wet a washcloth with lukewarm water, wring it out slightly, and gently massage over your face in a circular motion.

Essence is a lightweight, hydrating liquid providing extra nourishment to suit your skin’s needs. Used after a cleansed and toned face, an essence fosters absorption of serums and moisturizers that follow. When using, remember to tap the essence into your skin to boost absorption power. Choose from a plethora of essences, such as Pyunkang Yul’s Essence Toner which delivers hydration and refines complexion. This toner is formulated with 90% astragalus root extract, which is known in Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

For those with oily skin or blackheads, try a charcoal mask. Charcoal is powerful at drawing out skin’s excess sebum and impurities to help achieve clear and radiant skin. Look to Dr. Althea’s Pore-Control Charcoal Mask,  which tightens pores and eliminates dead skin cells with binchotan (a type of Japanese charcoal), and includes adenosine and amino acids for anti-aging effects. If you want something a bit quirky, PUREDERM’s Deep Purifying Black O2 Bubble Mask (Charcoal) foams up upon use for deep cleansing with oxygen, and includes orange, lemon, papaya and sugar cane extracts for extra brightening effects.

Flawless Skin Starts from Within

Still fresh into the new year, there’s no better time than now to rethink your diet. Beauty starts from within – what’s inside shows on the outside. Barley tea is a huge part of the Korean diet. This nutty-tasting tea is offered in Korean restaurants to aid digestion. For skin care, barley tea is rich in antioxidants that improve overall skin health. It also contains Vitamin C to boost skin’s elasticity and brighten complexion.