While watching Korean dramas, many of you may feel fascinated by the unflawed and unblemished skin of their actor/actresses. In this day and age, attaining a flawless skin has become the biggest struggle of life. Owing to the toxic environment we live in, it is ruining our skin’s protective barrier and repercussions appear in the form of premature aging, pigmentation, dull, and damaged skin. A drastic increase in skin woes has also been creating a negative impact on mental health. American psychological association has also emphasized on the role of psychologists in helping patients to deal with dermatological issues.
To protect and minimize the damage happening to your skin, following a right skin care regimen is the utmost need of the hour. Even leading dermatologists agree that the right order of skin care products help you get the most from them. Korean skin care is grabbing the attention of women throughout the world. The prime goal of this multistep routine is to maintain healthy and hydrated skin in the long run.
10 Steps Guide
- Oil Cleansing
- Foam cleansing
- Exfoliator
- Toner
- Essence
- Serum
- Sheet mask
- Under eye cream
- Moisturizers
- Sunscreen
1. Oil Cleansing
Cleansing your face is the first and foremost step of Korean skin care routine. As per Koreans, oil-based cleansers are the best ways to get rid of grime, makeup, and other deposited impurities. This step involves massaging of your face with an oil cleanser to dissolve the stubborn debris and dirt. Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist explains that cleansing oil offers the hydrating and moisturizing effects along with cleaning the skin.
2. Foam cleansing
Double cleansing is the second step that Koreans believe in adopting to attain cloudless skin. After oil cleansing, foam-based cleansers are used to get rid of sweat, pore-clogging, and acne-causing impurities. This step helps to make your skin clean without irritating the skin’s natural protective barrier. Non-comedogenic, sulphate and paraben-free cleansers are considered good for all skin types.
3. Exfoliator
Gentle exfoliation refers to removing the dead skin cells and uncovering your healthy skin. Before starting with exfoliation, it is important to know that rigorous rubbing can cause potential damage to your skin. Choose a mild exfoliator to get smooth, clear, and bright skin.
4. Toner
Skin care experts have countless good reasons to inculcate toner in your skin care regimen. Refining the enlarged pores is one of the most significant benefits of toner for skin. It helps to get rid of makeup residues and any other impurities left on your skin after cleansing. It balances the pH levels of the skin and helps to keep skin revitalized and healthy.
5. Essence
Facial essence is another important part of Korean skincare routine. The purpose of the essence is to offer hydration to the skin after cleansing and toning. Nourishing ingredients present in essence help to boost the cell turnover number, which in turn gives you a natural and youthful appearance.
6. Serum
The serum contains active ingredients to address specific skin concerns. Serums are slightly concentrated than essence and lighter than a moisturizer. They help to resolve problems like wrinkles, acne, pigmentation, and dark spots.
7. Sheet mask
Sheet masks are the latest beauty trend, which has almost become everyone’s favorite these days. These masks are cotton-based sheets, which are infused with skin vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Moisturizing and hydrating properties of these masks help to plump up your skin.
8. Under-eye cream
The skin around the eyes is the first place where signs of aging start to appear. Pampering of under eye skin with a nourishing cream can save you from the risk of early aging, dark circles, and puffy eyes. Many research findings have suggested that Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract is a powerful antioxidant that helps in skin regeneration. Besides, Hyaluronic acid is another important ingredient to look for in an under eye cream.
9. Moisturizers
Irrespective of your skin type, moisturizers play an important role in maintaining the overall health of the skin. Moisturizers not only help to lock in moisture but also help to balance the natural oils of the skin. Dermatologists emphasize the importance of understanding your skin type before investing in a moisturizer.
10. Sunscreen
Last but not the least; sunscreen is an essential step of any skin care regimen. Unprotected sun exposure makes your skin at a greater risk of photoaging, pigmentation, and skin damage. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen is considered quite helpful to protect your skin from intense UVA/UVB rays.
The idea of quickly jumping into a 10-step Korean skin care routine may not go well with your skin. Introducing too many skin care steps may create an extra burden on your skin which further ends up giving unexpected skin woes. As a beginner, it is not important to follow every step each day, for instance, a sheet mask can be used once or twice a week. Above all, being gentle and patient is the best-kept secret for beautifully glowing skin.
P.S.
Skin care products can only work best for your skin if they are formulated with skin-friendly ingredients. Many research studies have acknowledged the presence of some common harmful ingredients in skincare products. The bleaching agents such as kojic acid & hydroquinone in skin whitening creams have been found to cause skin allergies and disruption of the epidermis. On the contrary, alpha hydroxy acids are the safer alternatives to skin whitening agents, which help to improve the texture and uneven out the tone of the skin. Hence, allocating some extra effort into choosing your skin care products is highly appreciable.
