Hello friends!
Today I want to talk about something that is growing increasingly important to me, and that is… Korean skincare! As you may have gathered, I am not a high maintenance gal. I prefer to wear no makeup and do as little as possible to look presentable.
Honestly, if foregoing a complicated beauty routine means I get an extra 10 minutes in bed, I will make that sacrifice in favour of sleep. Growing up, I never really cared/knew much about beauty etc., and although I am now older and wiser, it still doesn’t mean that I enjoy slathering stuff on my face. It just doesn’t feel great!
Of course, as someone with sensitive skin, it makes finding the right products difficult and maybe that is why I have avoided/haven’t bothered with it for so long. Although that isn’t exactly true, as I have bought and partly used a number of products in Melbourne, but nothing was ever so amazing that I raved about it to anyone.
Until now.
Friends, meet my skincare dream team!
Firstly, you may be wondering: why on earth would one person need to use so many potions and lotions? Good question! Until recently, even I didn’t understand – and this was after I had bought the products. For the uninitiated, I think this is a good time to introduce the beast that is The Korean Skincare Regime! What’s involved in this thing? Take a look right here:
- Cleansing oil
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Essence/serum
- Emulsion
- Cream
Optional extras:
- Exfoliant
- Face mask
- Eye cream
- Sleeping pack
Okay, it probably sounds like I’m speaking gobbledygook at this point, so do not panic. When I first got to this country, I had no idea what the hell was going on (in many ways), and the skincare industry spooked me. It really is confusing – unless you are well-equipped to its lengthy, skin-beautifying ways and weirdly accustomed to layering your skincare products. And this, friends, is what the Korean skincare routine and the overrated Leo DiCaprio vehicle Inception have in common: it’s all about LAYERS. So, let’s go!
1. Cleansing Oil: Nature Republic Chamomile Cleansing Oil
Now, I am not usually one for smearing oil on my face, but Korea has shown me the light. This cold, dry winter has really hit home just how important moisturiser is. I have usually had problems with my combination skin being fine in parts and oily in others, and so have steered clear of anything remotely greasy, least of all oil itself. But stick with me! Many Korean women use cleansing oil to remove their makeup at the end of the day, and it really does work well as a gentle cleanser.
Cleansing oil operates on the premise that like removes like, and using oil will actually remove oil without removing too much… oil. Make sense? I should think not! Basically, you don’t want to dry out your skin too much and get that tight, sore feeling, because that will just lead to your face overproducing sebum (oil) like it’s going out of fashion. If you’re unsure, test it instore or try a sample and see how you go. In winter, cleansing oil is your best friend. This one from Nature Republic is nice and smooth and comes in such a pretty bottle too!
2. Cleanser: Currently switching between Nature Republic Royal Jelly Face Cleanser and good ol’ Cetaphil
So, once you’ve gently removed your makeup with the cleansing oil, it’s time for the actual cleanser to clean up the excess and just give your face a wash. Think of the oil as basic makeup remover, and the cleanser comes in to clean up the mess. Because this is Korea, there are obviously 1001 types of cleansers for you to choose from, and that’s cool. At least there’s no shortage of options!
Despite the fact I didn’t mention it above, my favourite foam cleanser here is Innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam. The Nature Republic Royal Jelly one just doesn’t work well with my skin, and although I’ve tried and tried, it’s giving me no love (hence the Cetaphil). So I gave it to a friend of mine with slightly less high-maintenance skin. I can highly recommend the Innisfree one though, and a review will come soon because it’s SO creamy and delicious!
3.Toner: Nature Republic (sensing a theme here?!) Bee Venom Toner
If you’re from Australia, America or anywhere else in the West, a toner refers to an astringent (usually with alcohol) which is used to ‘tighten the pores’ after cleansing. Not so in Korea. It took me a little while to figure this out, but basically a toner here is a light layer or moisture to be applied very quickly after cleansing.
Toner can sometimes be referred to as a ‘skin’ or ‘water’, and that’s because it really feels like you are just putting a thin layer of water (or skin, which sounds a bit gross so let’s just ignore that) on your face. Sometimes after washing my face, it will feel too hot and won’t be properly moisturised by a cream alone. A toner really settles it down, and this toner goes on smoothly and prepares it for step 4!
4.Essence: Skinfood Parsley and Mandarin Essence
I bought this a while ago on one of my Skinfood hauls, and I am so glad I have finally started using it. Firstly, an essence is the next step in the Korean skincare routine beast, and it is a more concentrated moisturiser. You may replace this with a serum, and this should give you the clue that essences have more active ingredients and are supposed to target specific skin concerns. Basically the layers of the routine are getting thicker and more substantial. Don’t panic if you feel like you’ve entered the twilight zone because it is confusing, and I promise we’re almost done!
This essence is made for troubled skin, and I bought it when I was having a few issues with my skin. They’ve since cleared up, but I like using this because it seems to keep small blemishes at bay. The scent put me off a bit at first, because it’s quite a strong herbal smell, but I’ve since grown to love it. I’m pretty sure it contains eucalyptus oil, if that give you an idea of its scent. Also, I really like the consistency of this essence, and it makes my face feel super smooth!
(If you’re interested in a toner for troubled skin, you can pick up the matching toner here.)
5. Emulsion: Nature Republic Argan 20 Steam Emulsion (RAVE ALERT!)
OH GOD I AM SO CRAZY ABOUT THIS STUFF. I just… there are no words. The moment I first tried this emulsion, I knew it was love. But you may be wondering, what the heck is an emulsion?! And that is a great question! Some of the silly names for these products start to sound normal to me, and when you come to Korea you just learn to roll with the punches. And when it comes to skincare, an emulsion is basically a slightly heavier layer of moisture, that feels like a face lotion. Remember: LAYERS.
So, back to this Argan Oil Emulsion. Basically Nature Republic has my heart forever with this stuff. The scent is amazing; I’m not quite sure what it is, but it’s fruity and floral at the same time and completely addictive. Even Gavin agrees! And the texture is smooth, creamy (but not too much so) and nicely moisturising. It’s perfect for this dry Korean winter and I would use it even it wasn’t because it’s just SO AMAZING! (Okay I’ll stop yelling now)
6. Cream: just finished Nature Republic’s Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream which I reviewed here, and am now using L’Occitane’s Ultra Rich Face Cream which I also reviewed here.
This is the final step in the (daily) routine and is one that is actually familiar! After you have built up the layers of moisture, and let them sink in between applications, it is time for your face cream. This will of course change depending on the weather, and because of these incredibly dry winter I am loving L’Occitane’s Ultra Rich Face Cream (which is practically Korean, anyway). It is full of 25% shea butter and feels so luxurious!
This last step is basically to seal in the moisture and provide a protective layer on your skin. That is one difference I really feel from going through this whole Korean skin care routine – it doesn’t feel like the moisture is just sitting on the top of my skin, instead it penetrates and moisturises from within. It sounds crazy, but it works!
And the results?
As someone who has never really fussed with skincare/make-up before, Korean skincare has been a huge eye-opener for me. Granted, I do need to do other things to make sure my skin is decent, such as eat enough vegetables (sometimes a problem here) and take zinc supplements (this is HUGE for me and will probably warrant a post in the future), but the effect of these Korean skincare products has been very noticeable. My skin feels so soft! And it feels so evenly moisturised and plump. I didn’t even know what plump skin felt like! But all I know now is that it feels goooood 🙂
I just took this shot now after a busy day at school, during which most of my powder would have come off (that may or may not be an opened cake wrapper on the couch behind me). Although this was admittedly taken under a bright light (and apart from a pesky but fading spot on my nose) my skin is generally pretty clear and again, smooooth! 🙂
I have also dabbled with Korean masks, wash-off packs and sleeping masks which will be covered in a later post (because mama is tired!) and which all also make my skin as soft as a peach. It’s amazing! As much as it may sound like malarky/gobbledygook/nonsense, there definitely is something to this layers thing. It may take you a liiiitle bit longer in the bathroom, but I honestly now look forward to it. Once you find the right products for you and start to see results, you may just feel the same too.
And another great thing about this is that I now can wear less face make up (usually just powder and sometimes even… NOTHING!), which is a convenient bonus!
I hope you enjoyed reading my run-down of the Korean skin care routine, and hopefully it is a bit less confusing now! Korea puts a lot of time (and money) into their products so if you’re interested, it’s worth trying them.
And if you feel like extra information, these pages definitely helped me make sense of it too:
- Lisa V Abroad: The Perplexing World of Korean Skincare
- Skin and Tonics: Asian Skincare Guide
- Saranghae: Korean Skincare Routine
- The Wanderlust Project: My Updated Korean Skincare Routine
SHOP THE POST:
Thanks for reading, see you tomorrow! 🙂
Steph x
Another great post!!! I was the same: SO low maintenance– just face wash and moisturizer and BB cream, but now I also realized we should do so much more for our skin!
I think it helps that Korean skincare actually WORKS, and quickly, too. My skin is soft and “plump,” and I don’t mind taking time to use it or spending money to buy it.
Anyway, you look amazing!^^ Can’t wait to read more and maybe try these out, too~
Yes I am officially hooked! It does work really quickly, it’s crazy and I dont know how they do it but I love it 🙂 and thank you for your kind comments! It’s made me feel so much better about my skin, which used to be pretty difficult at times. Btw your skin looks lovely too (obvs), and just so you know you’ve still got me thinking about etude house lol (uh oh!) xo
I never really tried any of these products but they sound really good!
xx
http://www.analeote.blogspot.com
Yes they are amazing, definitely worth checking out! Thanks so much for your comment 🙂
I’m such a huge proponent for the oil cleansing method now. If people would just TRY it I think they would understand why it’s so amazing. I used to think I have oily skin–since I started using the OCM and Korean skincare I don’t have oily skin anymore…just a slightly oily t-zone which is normal for most people.
Omg yes me too. Admittedly in summer its a bit trickier for me, but right now my skin is loving it. It’s calmed right down and the oil just feels so~ nice! Thanks for your comment, I was checking your skinfood review but my google+ was playing up so I will try again to comment! I really liked your review ^^
Just not with Coconut oil. Oh my god the comedones!!!!
I have heard bad things about that… it’s funny since it seems to be a miracle for everything else! But I am going to err on the safe side for my skin’s sake 😉
I used to live in Japan and they literally fly over to Korea to get their hands on this stuff. It’s starting to filter into the UK now too, the BB cream seems to be popular. Keep sparkling good luck with NaBloPoMo, I’m trying it too! http://www.leatherandabel.com – Vanessa 🙂
Oh wow I didn’t realise that happened, Japan seems pretty into skincare too but I think Korea takes the cake hehe 🙂 and oh yes NaBloPoMo is getting the best of me! But I’m gon’ keep going, good luck to you too 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
i looooove this post! you made me want to consider buying nature republic steam emulsion kk. im your new follower in blogvin
Aww thank you so much! Yes I love that product, I really look forward to putting it on everyday hehe. Definitely give it a try! Thanks for your sweet comment 🙂
This was really informative! I have been trying to figure out how on earth the Korean skincare thing works and this post really helped! Will check out some of the nature republic products – your skin is AMAZING! X
Aww thank you so much! You are very kind ^^ It is definitely confusing and I had no idea what each different product did at first, but once you fall down the rabbit hole there’s no going back 😉 Definitely try Nature Republic, there are so many products from them that I love! Although recently I have discovered Missha and am quite impressed with them too… I will be reporting back on that soon! Thanks for your comment 🙂
So much love for this post. Your skin is AMAZING X
Hey MiscBliss! I can’t figure out how to send you a private message so I’ll just post it here and you can delete it if it looks tacky 😛 I have a NEW site –> talesofatraveladdict.com. If you could kindly change that blogroll and shout-out link I’d greatly appreciate it. I have a site-redirect but for some reason I’m still getting a ton of hits on the old blog (mobile users perhaps??). I don’t know. I’m really website stupid. Anyway, that’s it.
P.S. Also, still hoping for a guest post from you! 😉
Hi Lisa! No problem, I’ll change it now. I’m glad I’ve been sending a few people your way ^^ And yes a guest post is coming! I haven’t forgotten, just had a case of ‘brain fog’ recently… I don’t know the exact ETA, but it will get to you 🙂
Awesome, thank you! And I can’t wait to read it 🙂
Awesome post! As you have mentioned that some products are best for winter ,could you please tell me what can i use instead of those during summer.In my country the weather is full of humidity.And i am confused about using products as i have not try any of those products.
It will be very helpful for me if you reply..thanx
Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂 Yes my skin didn’t do very well with this cleansing oil last summer, even though I love it to bits now. The weather gets incredibly humid here and I just can’t deal with it! A cleanser I really enjoy using (and have stocked up on) is Innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleanser. It’s quite creamy so it doesn’t irritate or dry your skin, but it also washes off nicely and doesn’t leave an oily residue. I used the Herb Day 365 Acerola Cleanser from The Face Shop and really didn’t like how it dried out my skin. Even in summer, that just isn’t cool!
For moisturisers, I can definitely recommend Nature Republic’s Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream (longest name ever) which I reviewed on here, as it has a light gel-like consistency but still moisturises so well. I am also loving Missha’s Super Aqua Essence right now – that’s a new one for me so look out for a review 😉
Also, instead of using sheet masks in the heat I recommend switching to a clay mask. I used Nature Republic’s Hawaiian Fresh Clay Pack, as any of the moisturising/nourishing type masks just leave me super greasy and slimy. Not cute. See how this goes for you, and I wouldn’t use it too often (or again risk drying out your skin, boo). Skinfood’s Black Sugar Strawberry Mask Wash Off is one I recently fell in love with and I think it would work well in summer too, as it is quite light and exfoliating but also nourishing. Plus it smells like heaven!
So that’s a few of my tips so far (in essay form)… I hope they help! Let me know how you go, I’d love to hear them work for you 🙂
Thank you sooo much for your reply 🙂 I’ll definitely use some of those products and will inform you! Bye!
Do you use this morning and night?
Yes I do – or at least I try! In the morning I don’t need the oil cleanser, although sometimes I just use it because it feels nice lol. And I might not need an extra cream in summer, as it gets so hot and sticky here. But I definitely layer my potions and lotions and I have much softer skin because of it! I highly recommend it 😉
I have a question, since I’m just starting to get into this stuff, and I haven’t seen it addressed anywhere — since you’re using different products from different lines, do you find that the smells combat each other at all? Or do you find that the final step (usually a cream) is the one you end up smelling for the rest of the day? I’m very sensitive to smells, so I’m wondering if I should just get a mix of things to try or stick to one line so all the smells match. I hope that makes sense! I don’t know if putting one scent over the other is going to be horrible.
Hmm good question! To be honest, I’ve been mixing all of my products and I haven’t noticed any adverse affects or smells from it. I have very sensitive skin and pretty finely tuned senses, and it has been fine. I would agree with you that the scent that does linger, if any, is the cream, particularly when I use L’Occitane’s super rich Shea Butter cream or Etude House’s Moistfull Collagen line (smells like lemon cake, which I don’t mind!).
I find it is best to leave some time between applying each product, so that it can sink in and absorb properly. I feel like this helps for the scents to settle, and perhaps because of this I haven’t noticed any clashing. Of course, if you are unsure, maybe try one item at a time and if you find something you like, stick to that range. I personally love the Argan 20 range by Nature Republic and would gladly smell like that all day!
I hope this helped, thanks for your comment and let me know how you go 🙂
Hi there :)! I was wondering is there any difference between your morning and evening routine? Different cream at the end etc. Thanks!
Hello! I tend to make small tweaks to my routine depending on the time of day and how my skin is feeling. For instance, in the morning I don’t usually use cleansing oil because I don’t have makeup on (although sometimes it just feels nice!), and in the evening I’ll use a heavier cream so it can work its moisturising magic overnight.
Also, as we are coming into summer now I am considering switching the cleansing oil for a cleansing cream or something lighter, but I’m not quite sure yet. Last year my skin was a lot more badly behaved and it couldn’t take the extra oil in this humidity, but it has since calmed down – thanks in large part to this Korean skincare routine! ^^
Basically I just do whatever feels good, but I really can’t live without my layering these days, especially toner actually. That first thin layer of moisture just feels right and settles everything down! Let me know how you go, and thanks for your comment 🙂
your skin looks great!! how about eye care? do you use any eye cream??
Aww thank you! No I don’t right now but I am open to that idea too haha 😉 I actually bought a Lacvert one a little while ago (and forgot about it) so I might try that soon… Thanks for the reminder! ^^
Your skin looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to try out a korean skincare routine to improve my skin because it has been terrible lately, especially with the australia winter where my skin goes crazy dry. I’m curious, whats the difference between an emulsion and a cream and do we need both of them?
Aww thank you so much 🙂 This was very flattering lighting but I promise it has improved in real life too! I have found that ever since I started this, I’ve had a lot fewer breakouts (almost wrote ‘breakfasts’ then lol, hmm wonder what I’m thinking about?!) and my skin has generally just been easier to manage. Last year I was getting quite a bit of oiliness and was recovering from some tremendous breakouts, so it is quite strange/amazing for me to have such low-maintenance (if you can call it that!) skin now.
You should definitely try the Korean skincare routine! As intimidating as it may seem, it’s just putting on different products with different consistencies in a consecutive order. That’s about it. It doesn’t take that long and you will feel much better for it! Your face will thank you! Let me know how you go, thanks for your comment 🙂
HI… i love your post.. could you tell me the best korean product for combination and acne skin.. so i can use it to my daily routine like you..thankyou 🙂
Thanks for your comment Tika! For acne-prone skin (like mine used to be), it’s important to keep the grease at bay without drying it out too much. For me, I couldn’t use a cleansing oil when my skin was like this because it just made it too oily. Instead, use a cleansing foam like Innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam which is creamy enough to keep the skin moisturised while it cleanses.
I’m really enjoying using Tony Moly’s Floria Essence right now (review coming very soon), which is quite lightweight yet moisturising, and also looks stunning too 😉 For a moisturiser, I don’t think it gets any better than Nature Republic’s Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream. Long name, amazing product. It’s a water-based cream that once again moisturises without overdoing it.
Moving away from skincare products, taking zinc supplements really works for me and could be something worth trying. Use oil blotting papers to keep the shine from your face and get lots of sleep 🙂 I hope this helps, please let me know how you go! 🙂
Hi! I love this post so much, and I also want to have a flawless skin like yours.
So, could you recommend for me some Korean products for skin whitening? My skin is not bright enough, however it does not have any acnes.
I have already bought Argan emulsion, but I wonder whether this product could be used for 22 years old or not.
Thank you so much MinhHa! You are very kind 🙂 I haven’t really used any proper skin whitening products – even when Korean products claim to “whiten” skin it generally just means “glow” or “brighten”, as you say. I have found the Tony Moly Floria Whitening Capsule Essence to be a cooling, brightening essence. Apart from that, the Argan Emulsion was a pleasure to use – it was so smoothing and smelt amazing! I think it would definitely be fine for people of all ages – try it out and let me know how you go ^_^
Hi….i already bought this products and i have already used it and i loved it…im now here in korea and you really gave me the best products..im pregnant now so my skin is not so good specially acne so i think it works for me…im just waiting a lttle more time for the results…thanks!
Hi! Wow thank you so much for your comment, that is so lovely to hear! Really glad I could help 🙂 How are you liking Korea? Let me know how it all goes, thanks again ^^
Wow thank you so much! I’ve been trying to figure out what the “skin” step meant on the back of one of my innisfree products ( it says Usage order: essence, skin, lotion, eye cream, then cream)
I was about to go by another product from them just so I could talk to an English speaking sales associate but you’ve saved me the trip.
Thank you again^^
Haha yes the whole “skin” thing can really throw a spanner in the works! That’s interesting they recommend essence first, see what works for you but I always prefer my toner/skin first. Really glad I could help, thanks so much for your lovely comment! 🙂
I completely agree- I love Korean skin-care stuff, and the make-up too! I use the Skin Food Rice Exfoliant which is awesome and for once, not too harsh on my skin! Thanks for the other recommendations.
Oh I love that stuff! It smells so good doesn’t it? And I agree it’s not too harsh, so nice and rice-y! Thanks for your comment ^^
I’ve just gotten into Korean skincare products myself. I’m 25, very pale due to being a redhead, and my skin is so hyper sensitive I once damaged my eyesight with a face cream especially for sensitive skin (from the swelling, I didn’t put it in my eyes lol). So you can imagine, I have major trust issues with anything I put on my face!
It’s really interesting how toner in Korea is just another layer of moisture, I wasn’t expecting that. I use rose water as my toner, think it would also work as my “Korean style” toner too?
I’m still super-duper-nervous about what I use on my face but today in the post I received TheFaceShop’s Mango Seed Essence and Nature Republic’s Solie Emulsion. I’m reluctant to fully embrace the whole layering system because I also have oily type skin (sensitive and oily, what a lucky girl I am!) and as a result, too many lotions make me super shiny.
I’ve book-marked your journal here because it’s so useful. Thank you for writing it! I have a lot of faith in this skincare now, I must say, because your skin looks absolutely beautiful in that picture – clear, healthy and even toned. Here’s hoping I have the same results! Thank you again, and I hope you’re having a great day. 🙂
Hi Hayley! Thanks for your comment 🙂 I totally feel you on the sensitive/fair/oily skin thing as I am a fellow redhead and have dealt with my fair share (so to speak) of skin issues! I still need to be careful with what I use, and even though my skin has calmed down it still can react to new products sometimes. So I am very wary too!
Re: rosewater for toner, I think that would be fine if that works for you. I am currently switching between an Aesop toner and a Skinfood one, and they are both just light layers of moisture, not astringent at all. I think that if you have found something your skin likes, go with it!
With the oiliness, I find that if I layer my moisturiser in light applications, it helps to keep the oil at bay. It seems sort of counterintuitive at first, but if you deprive your skin of moisture it goes into overdrive oil production instead. Sort of like how when I try to deprive myself of sugar and then I eat ALL the treats (lol). Maybe try lightly layering a few products that work with your skin and see how it goes. Also, zinc supplements work well for me, as does reducing my dairy (especially milk) intake and drinking huge amounts of water. I know it’s a lot of information, but hopefully some of it works for you!
Let me know how you go, and thanks again for commenting ^_^
great post!! have a question though. I don’t have enough money to buy all the products in the routine, which is the one product that you recommend is the most important to have?
Hmm, that’s a very good question! I would say that the most important step here is finding a nourishing, lightweight moisturiser. I really liked this Nature Republic one because it fit this description, and I’ve just started using the Aesop Parsley Seed Hydrator Fluid and that’s great too (review coming soon!).
Of course, you also need to use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils in the first place (aka I’m cheating and squeezing in two steps here!). I’m testing an illi cleansing oil right now which is great, and also the su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick is nice and gentle too. Basically, you need to keep your skin cleansed but also moisturised – so find the gentle products that work for you and see how it goes. I hope this helped and thanks for commenting 🙂
So, I’m new to these skin products. I have a question regarding the products. Like, I have oily and acne prone skin and whatnot with small pores. And I only use Clean & Clear products; but, I haven’t seen any results yet. After doing some research, I considered buying the Nature Republic Aloe Vera and the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner. And my question is: Are these all I should I get or should I get the items listed in the text above?
Hey Ace, thanks for your comment 🙂 So I haven’t tried either of those products properly (I have the Aloe Vera gel but have only used it on my body, not my face), so I can’t give you advice on them. However, I can say that the products in the post worked for me, and that the Parsley & Mandarin Essence is formulated specially for oily, acne-prone skin, so that could be a good one to start with. The Bee Venom toner is also good for acne, so that could work too!
These products are some of my all-time favourites, but you don’t have to use them all at once. Perhaps try a few out and then see how you go, and you can make a decision from there. I am always happy to help if you want any more advice 🙂
I have very oily skin . Sometimes it’s dry and I have blackheads and white heads on my chin and checks and for head I also have ance scares . What could I use to get my face looking good tys
Also when I do us America products on like a week of using the product I still break out . I have to us another product one week then go to another . So I was wording what would be the best route for my faces
I also have very small pores . This is the frist step for me . I really love Korea and anything to do korean .
Thanks for commenting, Tammy! I also love Korean products and find that there’s a lot more variety in K-beauty. If you’re finding those products too harsh, I’d suggest using a gentle cream cleanser, perhaps even an oil-based one (even people with oily skin can use them, as long as you find the one right for you). I think it’s all about balance — I used to use really harsh products and they’d dry out my skin, and make it even oilier! So now I try to find products that lie somewhere in the middle.
Off the top of my head, The Face Shop’s Rice Water Bright Cleansing Milk is nice and gentle (I wrote a review about it on here), Banila Co’s Mr Honey & Miss Flower Essence Oil is a great moisturising serum that isn’t too heavy, and Nature Republic’s Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream is a great gel-cream.
These are some of my favourites but it all depends what works for you — perhaps try them out, and please let me know how you go! 🙂
I was so intrigued when I read this article as I have been reading numerous articles about these Korean skin care products that I went ahead and ordered all of the products. In just a weeks time, I have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin. When talking with co-workers about this new regime I am trying they brought to my attention that the products may not have the safest chemicals in them as they probably don’t regulate them in Korea as much as the US. I did find a site that listed all the harmful ingredients for each of these products and became a little concerned. What is your take on al of this?
Thank you!
Hey Lisa! Thanks for commenting 🙂 I definitely notice the difference between K-beauty products and many Western products, and I’m glad you’ve had such a positive experience too!
I’m not certain of the regulation (or lack thereof) in Korean products. On the one hand, I feel like looser regulations means they’re able to be more innovative and push the boundaries. But on the other, I do think it compromises both the potential safety of chemicals, and other ethical issues — such as animal testing.
I think they are making moves to become more ethical and environmentally conscious, but this is always driven by the demand from the consumer. Soooo… I don’t think K-beauty is perfect (a lot of the beauty industry isn’t) but I do feel like it’s heading in the right direction.
For me, I just find the products that work for my skin and try and share them with the world. I’m also always happy to change direction and act upon new knowledge — I’m not particularly attached to one viewpoint or opinion. I say, find what works for you, and share your experiences with all of us 🙂
Can i ask you something? Right now i use garnier cleansing foam and suddenly i noticed my face have pores. So i want to buy cleansing and mask for pore. Can i use innisfree’s jeju volcanic pore cleansing foam and for the mask i use Nature Republic – Hawaiian Fresh Clay? And if i use that pore cleasing form do i still have to use the garnier cleasing?? ( i hope you understand what i mean T.T and sorry for my bad english)
Hey Yasmin! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I haven’t tried the Garnier Cleansing Foam, so I can’t comment on that… but in terms of the Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam, I do find that to be quite clarifying and good for troubled skin. When my skin was playing up, I found it would leave me feeling clean, but not too squeaky — plus the figments of volcanic ash were a nice exfoliant!
And the Nature Republic Hawaiian Fresh Clay mask is also great for really congested, difficult skin — I’ve used this numerous times when I’ve been going through an oily phase, and I find it helps to clean everything out.
I would say, don’t go too crazy on the clarifying products all at once — so maybe pick one to test out and try it from there, instead of using all three! If you strip your skin of too much sebum, it can overproduce anyway, so I think it’s best to ease in gently.
Thanks Yasmin! Let me know how it goes 🙂
My skin improved a looot after changing my lame excuse of a skincare routine (which consisted of washing my face daily and using a moisturizer from time to time…) for a 7-10 steps korean routine, and I don”t imagine myself going back to my old habits.
great post by the way 🙂
My Korea Obsession | Korean beauty products’ reviews, beauty tips and DIYs
It’s crazy what we used to do (or not do) to our skin, isn’t it? I shudder when I think of the astringent products I was applying to my delicate skin… no more!
I’m glad you’ve seen the light too 😉
Hi! It’s been a couple years since your post. Are you still using the same items? Or have you changed them? I’m assuming it may have changed since. Can you let us know what you are using now?
I have been looking and really can’t seem to decide what to use or try. K-beauty has so many products! Also, have you heard of Love Saranghae brand?
Hi Amy!
You’re right — it has changed a fair bit. I’ve got a few new faves (although I still love all these babies too), and would be more than happy to share them with y’all.
I haven’t used Saranghae yet, but I have a bunch of things I picked up in Korea that I’m dying to try.
Thanks for providing me with blog post inspo — and stay tuned!
Xx
How much are the products?
They’re not too pricey — everything here was really affordable.
Of course, the exact price depends on where you buy them, but the great thing about living in Korea is that there were always amazing sales!
But yes, these are all “drugstore” products, so they won’t break the bank 😉