Many of us, especially ladies, look to makeup hacks for covering up skin blemishes and for those days we want to look all glammed up. Years of seeing Korean idols and actresses look impeccably flawless will have you wondering how they achieve it! Yet, the secret lies not so much in their makeup routine, but more so in their skincare habits!
The signature Korean skincare look is a glowing, dewy skin that looks good even with no or very minimal makeup! What goes into maintaining such amazing skin? Let’s find out!
1. Double cleanse
For those who apply makeup often, double cleansing is a must! We’re all familiar with cleansing, but double cleansing ensures a deeper cleanse, so that the skin’s pores are cleaned of all dirt, oils, and impurities.
In the first step of a double cleanse, an oil cleanser is used. You might think an oil cleanser adds more oil to your face – but it’s just the contrary! You need an oil cleanser to dissolve the sebum and oils from makeup products and wash them off.
In the second step, use a water-based cleanser to remove water-soluble impurities such as sweat.
2. Mask up!
Koreans are crazy about facial masks! Just walk into any Korean beauty store, and you’ll understand. From volcanic ash to mud, and green tea to snail mucus, Koreans have masks made of almost any ingredient imaginable!
Of course, it isn’t just about the novelty or fad-factor. Masks are loved by Koreans due to them being a convenient way to pamper your skin. You’ll be able to find masks for almost every kind of skin concern, from those that help to absorb excess sebum, to those that intensely hydrate your skin.
Do note, however, that masks are not a substitute for your daily skincare routine! They are mainly for delivering that extra boost of nutrients to your skin, as and when you need it.
3. Don’t go out without SPF
The Korean standards of beauty hold fair, radiant skin as the ideal – but that’s not to say you don’t need SPF if you prefer a healthy tan, or have darker coloured skin. To the Koreans, sunscreen is not a product only reserved for days out at the beach; it should be part of your everyday arsenal for protecting your skin from the harsh rays of the sun.
Using a decent sunscreen every day can defend your skin from premature ageing, fine lines, and sunspots. It also helps that many Korean products like foundations and BB creams are combo formulas with SPF thrown in. So, there’s no excuse to skip the sun protection!
4. Using natural products
If there’s one thing in common across the heaps of Korean skincare products, is that most of them are inspired by natural ingredients. The belief is that nature has gifted us with so many wonderful resources that are beneficial and gentle on our skin, so why not use them?
This makes Korean skincare a fantastic route for those with sensitive skin. As a bonus, these skincare products also often smell amazing, adding to the refreshing and therapeutic experience of your daily skincare routine.
There’s plenty more to discover about the world of Korean skincare, from exfoliating to skin essences. But one thing’s for sure: being diligent about the routine will give you much better results!
It also helps to know a little bit of Korean to aid in your next K-beauty haul. Learning how to read hangul at a Korean language course can prove to be a handy tool if you wish to scour Korean e-shopping sites or keep up to date with the latest K-beauty trends! If that sounds like something you would do, why not join us at Sejong Korean Language School to get a start on your learning!