The Korean skincare routine is all the rage in the beauty world, and for good reason. The 10-step process involves using a variety of products to deeply cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize the skin. It’s a bit more time-consuming than the average skincare routine, but the results are worth it.
If you’re interested in giving the Korean skincare routine a try, here are the steps:
1. Start by cleansing your face with a gentle facial wash, like a green tea face wash or one that’s packed with antioxidants.
2. If you have combination skin, exfoliate using a facial scrub containing glycolic acid. If you have oily skin, exfoliate with an acid toner that contains salicylic acid. Use the glycolic face wash or acid toner once a week.
3. Use a facial mask that contains alpha-hydroxy acids to tone and firm the skin.
4. Next, wash the face with a moisturizing facial wash. (Make sure the face wash contains ingredients to calm skin inflammation.) Then apply sunscreen to the face and neck.
5. Apply the product of your choice to the face. Finish by using a gentle eye cream.
For a more thorough breakdown of each step, take a look at our in-depth look at the Korean skincare routine.
What the Korean Skincare Routine Can Do for Your Skin
The Korean skincare routine gets its name because it combines 10 steps that can take anywhere from 10 minutes to more than an hour to complete. But what good is doing all these steps for a skincare routine if you’re just hitting the surface? And what about the benefits? Let’s take a look at the benefits of these steps.
1. Cleansing. In order to be effective, your face should be exfoliated on a daily basis. Most people don’t have the luxury of time to do that. This is one step that you can include in your routine. A gentle facial wash with ingredients like glycolic acid or alpha-hydroxy acids, like lactic acid or salicylic acid, is the easiest way to get a clean, but gentle, face.
2. Exfoliation. It sounds daunting, but exfoliation is really important in your skincare routine, especially if you have oily skin. Exfoliating the skin is the best way to remove dead skin cells and increase circulation to the skin. It also prepares the skin for the toner and moisturizer steps that follow. In this step, you’re using an exfoliating scrub that contains glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or alpha-hydroxy acids.
For more on exfoliation, check out this step-by-step guide.
3. Toners. Toners should be used once a week, and you should use a toner that contains salicylic acid or alpha-hydroxy acids. A toner containing a combination of both of these ingredients can help to even out skin tone and fight against dark spots and acne.
In this step, you’re applying a toner to your face after cleansing it. It’s also a good idea to put the toner on your neck and chest, too.
4. Moisturizer. While a lot of people think the steps in the Korean skincare routine are done in order to moisturize your skin, this isn’t always the case. In fact, some people like to moisturize their skin before the glycolic face wash is even applied. This can make things complicated for some people, but it can also help to prevent acne if your skin is on the oily side. There are two types of moisturizers: one containing moisturizing ingredients and the other containing natural ingredients.
Some people like to mix a moisturizer with a hydrating eye cream to moisturize their skin and prevent fine lines from forming.
5. Eye creams. The last step is an eye cream. Eye creams can be helpful for any skin type and may also help to fight fine lines.
One of the best ways to use a facial mask is to cleanse and exfoliate your face then apply a mask containing alpha-hydroxy acids to tone and firm the skin. If you have oily skin, you may choose a mask containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid to exfoliate your skin, but choose a mask containing at least one of the ingredients and apply it to the face with the fingertips.
Remember, the whole idea behind the facial mask is to gently remove excess oil without stripping the skin. If you do this, you won’t see dramatic results and the end result will be quite normal-looking. However, you’ll be improving your skin’s appearance.
Another way to use a facial mask is to apply it to the neck and the chest and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off. This can also help to improve the look of your skin.
6. Treatments. After cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing the skin, it’s a good idea to try a treatment. Depending on your skin type, you may apply an intensive serum, moisturizer, or toner.
Serums have natural or synthetically derived compounds that can penetrate the skin to stimulate cell growth and provide nutrients that promote the production of healthy, smooth, and supple skin. They can also treat various skin problems, including skin dryness and redness, for example.
A moisturizer can be applied after cleansing and exfoliating and can be used to keep your skin soft and hydrated. Toners are used at the end of the routine and can be used to help keep your skin moisturized after cleansing.
As with the other steps, it’s a good idea to do treatments once a week.
7. Moisturizing. Skin care products like lotions, creams, and oils are what keep your skin looking its best. A lotion will hydrate the skin, and cream will act as a shield against UV rays. Sunscreens should also be included in the regimen.
Some people apply sunscreen to the skin and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing off. This can help to protect the skin from UV rays before any other product is applied.
8. Makeup. Last but not least, you’ll need to apply makeup to your skin. You can use the steps above to apply your moisturizer and face mask, and your toner and eye cream can be used as a base. But other steps may be applied after this. For example, some people like to apply sunscreen in the morning and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing off. Some people use a cleansing oil like the oil of Olay, but others prefer to use cleansing lotion or foam. For the final step, some people like to cleanse with a cleansing oil like the Olay oil of Olay Cleansing Oil.
9. Aftercare. Once the routine is complete, you’re done. But make sure you have some time to let your skin breathe. Don’t overdo it with an intense face scrub, and exfoliate with a cotton ball. The result should be smooth, clear skin.
Also, don’t skip the sunscreen. As the Korean skincare routine suggests, you’ll want to get some sun exposure to even out your skin tone. In fact, people who don’t spend a lot of time in the sun usually see a decrease in their skin tone, resulting in discolored, uneven skin.
10. A word about side effects. Sometimes, a little bit of time and effort can go a long way in terms of keeping your skin looking its best. In fact, that’s how the Korean skincare routine was created in the first place.
The process was developed in Korea in the 1930s to treat women whose skin was often red or inflamed after a month or so of using traditional skin care products. The 10-step routine was developed to help the skin’s natural healing properties and prevent skin conditions and problems from forming.
Although Korean women have traditionally used this process to treat their skin, men and women alike have started to find the routine helpful for their skin.
This post discusses the best Korean skincare routine for teenage girls. By following the tips in this post, you can help keep your skin healthy and acne-free. Please share this post with your friends and followers on social media.
Photo credit: Yan Krukov
By Sarvan
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