It can be tough to stick to a skincare routine when you have a busy schedule. You either don’t have time to figure out what products work for you, you’re too tired when you get home from work or school, or you just can’t be bothered — we’ve all been there. Now that most of us are spending our days cooped up in our rooms, some of us might be letting ourselves go a little bit. You may even be shocked at the state of your skin in the middle of the day. I’ve definitely been guilty of neglecting my skin, but enough is enough!
The Korean glass skin trend has been around for years, and it’s pretty achievable if you find the right products for your skin, and you stick to the routine. Many K-beauty brands have products that can cover every step, but I personally like to mix and match products and brands to keep things interesting, and to ensure my skin doesn’t become too dependent on a certain item. The routine is typically done right before bed, but I’ve been doing it right when I wake up! Not only does it get me in the groove to start my day, but I feel like it also gives my skin more time to benefit from the routine. Here’s an introduction to a 7-step routine you might want to try out, for both day and night.
1. Double Cleanse
For any skincare routine, double cleansing is a must. After a night of tossing and turning, you might have some excess oil buildup on your face, and washing your face in the morning definitely helps to wake you up. Start your routine with a cleansing oil — if you had makeup on the day before, you might want to try a micellar water instead, just to make sure there isn’t any residue left. Follow up with a more gentle foam or gel cleanser. I like using ice-cold water to rinse off my second cleanse — while it tightens your pores, it also gives you a great wake-up call to get you going.
1 . NEOGEN REAL CICA MICELLAR CLEANSING OIL, USD52.04.
2. CREMORLAB T.E.N. CREMOR REFRESHING CLEANSING GEL OIL, USD40.54.
3. CREMORLAB O₂ COUTURE MARINE ALGAE CLEANSER, $31.38.
4. CREMORLAB T.E.N. CREMOR REFRESHING CLEANSING GEL OIL, USD40.54.
2. Exfoliate
It is extremely important to exfoliate your skin, but too much can be detrimental. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to test out various exfoliating methods to see which works best for you. Start off with once a week, and get into the routine of exfoliating 2-3 times a week, but remember to stop at any sign of irritation. I’ve recently gotten into the habit of using a konjac sponge — I use it along with a regular foam cleanser, and exfoliating with it every day hasn’t been harsh on my skin at all. It’s a natural, gentle way to exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells. Different konjac sponges may also contain different active ingredients that hold different benefits, such as charcoal, volcanic clay and green tea. Remember to soak the sponge in water for 15 minutes before the first use, so it softens and expands.
Cleansing pads are handy and convenient — they come pre-soaked and you can use several at once, depending on what your needs are. Some pads, like Neogen’s Bio-Peel pads have dual uses. One side is smooth, which is meant to be used as a cleanser, and the rough side is meant to be used as an exfoliator. These pads are also typically soaked with chemical exfoliators, such as AHAs, BHAs and PHAs — if you’re using products containing chemical exfoliators, there is less of a need to use a physical one.
1. NEOGEN REAL CICA PADS, USD34.27.
2. NEOGEN DERMALOGY BIO-PEEL GENTLE GAUZE PEELING – WINE, USD34.27.
3. NOT JUST A* KONJAC FACE SPONGE – VOLCANIC CLAY, USD18.59.
4. NEOGEN REAL FRESH CLEANSING STICK – GREEN TEA, USD29.19.
3. Tone
Toning is an essential but sometimes overlooked step in an Asian skincare routine. Depending on your skin type, it could take a while to find the perfect toner. The point of using a toner is to balance out your skin’s pH level, to create a good base for the rest of your skincare routine. You don’t want anything too harsh, as some tend to be drying, but you also don’t want a toner that’s only as useful as splashing tap water on your face. Water-based toners are very popular within K-beauty — they don’t overload your skin with too many chemicals, and they’re light enough for daily use. On top of using natural, plant-derived ingredients, they also provide intense hydration for your skin, ensuring that your skin retains its natural moisture.
1. CREMORLAB O2 COUTURE HYDRA BALANCING TONER, USD35.31.
2. CREMORLAB HYDRO PLUS SNOW FALLS VELVET TONER, USD34.
3. FEMMUE EAU DE CAMÉLIA TONER, USD51.92.
4. Essence or Serum
Typically, the two are split into separate steps. A serum is usually much more concentrated than an essence, and can target more specific areas, but I feel that going with one or the other is fine. Both products are usually made with a specific purpose — for hydration, pigmentation, tightening and so on. If you have multiple skin concerns, you could either alternate products every day, or use a combination of them at once. I prefer the latter — I apply small amounts of each product on the areas I need to target, so I have them all on my skin at once, and I’m meeting all my skin’s needs. This may not be ideal for everyone, so be sure to test out how much of each product is enough according to how sensitive your skin is, and how fast-acting the products are.
1. VENN ADVANCED MULTI-PERFECTING RED OIL SERUM, USD117.95.
2. FEMmUE LUMIÈRE VITAL C SERUM, USD101.28.
3. CREMORLAB O2 COUTURE HYDRA BOUNCE AMPOULE, USD49.69
4. FEMMUE BALANCE MOMENTS SERUM, $79.49.
5. Mask
You want to lock your entire routine in, so be sure to use a mask that doesn’t need to be washed off —you don’t want all your effort to go to waste. Have fun with this step — try out a variety of masks, and see which ones you like the best! Masks by The Oozoo in particular are quite interesting. Each mask comes with an ampoule in a syringe to be used in conjunction with the microfibre sheet. This also allows for a little customisation in terms of how much of the serum you want to use on your face, depending on your skin’s condition. You could even leave some of the solution in the syringe and use it as a separate serum altogether.
1. THE OOZOO FACE IN-SHOT HYDROLIFT MASK, USD43.85.
2. THE OOZOO FACE IN-SHOT ILLUMINATION MASK, USD43.85.
3. THE OOZOO FACE ENERGY SHOT MASK, USD43.85.
6. Moisturise
A staple in any skincare routine, moisturising in the day is just as important as moisturising at night. As with most other products, your skin can only tolerate a certain amount of moisturiser before it’s just too much. If you have more oily skin, a lightweight, gel-type moisturiser like Cremorlab’s Fresh Water Gel is probably better compared to a heavier, creamy moisturiser like Cremorlab’s Skin Renewal Cream, which is ideal for those with dry skin. The Hydra Intense Cream is a good in-between, which may be good for those with combination skin. If you’re putting on makeup, this is where your skincare routine might end.
1. CREMORLAB T.E.N. CREMOR FOR FACE FRESH WATER GEL, USD47.95.
2. CREMORLAB T.E.N CREMOR SKIN RENEWAL CREAM, USD64.08.
3. CREMORLAB O2 COUTURE HYDRA INTENSE CREAM, USD49.69.
7. Eye cream
It’s never too early to start using eye cream. I used to think eye cream was just for people who already needed help around the eye area, but it’s very important to use it as a preventive measure. The eye area is probably the most sensitive part of your face, and is more prone to premature wrinkles and dry patches. Some eye creams can also help with under-eye circles, and tightening creams can help to reduce eye-bags. Remember to use a light hand during application — harsh rubbing will be counterproductive.
1. CREMORLAB T.E.N CREMOR EYE RENEWAL CREAM, USD57.54.
2. CREMORLAB T.E.N. CREMOR SHADOW-OFF EYE CREAM, USD40.32.
All products listed are available on NET-A-PORTER.
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