Korean women are famous for their clear, glass-like and glowing skin. In fact, in the Korean culture women are obsessed with skin care, they are always looking for new skincare products that would deliver the results they desire, and doing everything to prevent premature aging.

Let’s take a look at some of the Korean skincare routine secrets that you can easily implement in your daily beauty routine in order to achieve beautiful, hydrated and glowy complexion.

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KOREAN BEAUTY SECRETS

Skin Health First

One of the main differences between Western beauty and Korean beauty is that we usually try to cover our flaws with makeup, while Korean women tend to focus on skincare products and treatments that get at the root of conditions. This is where the “no-makeup” look comes from – Korean women can go outside with minimal makeup and their skin still looks flawless and naturally glowing. This is due to proper cleansing, intense hydration and products that treat specific skin concerns (essences, ampoules, serums, etc.).

 

Product Efficacy is What Matters

Koreans rarely stick with one beauty brand. They are constantly looking for new products created according to latest technologies that would deliver even better results. Customers also don’t necessarily think Korean beauty products are better than others – plenty of them use products from USA, Europe, and elsewhere. Koreans tend to use those products and build routines that are suitable specifically for them. In Western cultures, we are used to buying skincare products according to our age. However, even at a young age your skin can already require stronger products (like retinol, vitamin C), and there is no need to wait 10 more years to start using them. Korean women understand this well, and they tend to look at their current skin condition and select products accordingly. They recognize when a product is working for them, and if not – they quickly replace it with another one.

 

Obsessed with Proper Skin Care 

Koreans are famous for their 10-step skincare routine. This doesn’t mean that they strictly follow all the 10 steps every day – for example, exfoliators and sleeping masks are used a couple of times per week. However, Koreans still use at least six products in their daily skincare routine. The order in which the products are used is super important – from the lightest consistency to the heaviest. Every step has a specific purpose – remove makeup, cleanse the skin, prep, treat, hydrate, or protect.

Korean morning skin care routine:

1. Oil-based cleanser
2. Water-based cleanser
3. Exfoliator
4. Toner
5. Essence
6. Serum
7. Sheet mask
8. Eye cream
9. Moisturizer
10. SPF

Korean night time skin care routine:

1. Oil-based cleanser
2. Water-based cleanser
3. Exfoliator
4. Toner
5. Essence
6. Serum
7. Sheet mask
8. Eye cream
9. Moisturizer
10. Overnight mask

 

Cleansing 

Not washing your face the right way not only causes acne and breakouts, but can also accelerate aging. Korean women are obsessed with proper cleansing of their skin because they know it’s the foundation of skin care and the first step towards the ultimate goal – soft and dewy skin. For Korean women a proper cleanse is a double cleanse which means that first they use an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup, sunscreen and excess sebum (because oil attracts oil), and then follow with a water-based cleanser.

 

Deep Hydration

As already mentioned, glowy and luminous skin is every Korean woman’s goal. This skin condition can only be achieved with proper and in-depth hydration. In addition to their morning and night skincare routines, Koreans hydrate their skin with facial mists throughout the day, and also use air humidifiers to combat dry air.

Skin care tip: if you’re suffering from dry skin, always look for moisturizers that contain several types of Hyaluronic acid. Different types of Hyaluronic acid come in different molecular sizes which penetrate outer and deeper skin layers. Best moisturizer should contain at least at least 3 types of hyaluronic acid (just like Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Face Cream), and this will ensure proper skin hydration on multiple levels.

 

Sheet Masks for a Dewy Glow

Sheet masks are one of the most effective products to give that dewy glow look that Korean women love so much. The reason why they are so effective is that the microfiber or hydrogel material helps the skin soak up so much product, lock all the nutrients and active ingredients and don’t let them evaporate. The best thing is that your skin looks dewier, plumped and rejuvenated the moment you remove the mask.

This Secret Key Rose Essence Sheet Mask is infused with Provence rose water which hydrates the skin and boosts its elasticity, and galactomyces ferment filtrate which refines skin texture and promotes clear skin.

This COSRXAdvanced Snail Mucin Power Sheet Mask contains snail secertion filtrate, which contains high levels of moisturizing hyaluronic acid and other active ingredients that are beneficial for the skin.

 

Sunscreen

Korean women really protect their skin from the damaging UV rays. They tend to stay out of the sun, or even use protection of sun umbrellas, and of course – lots of SPF. After all, the sun’s UV radiation is responsible for 80% of facial aging signs such as wrinkling, dryness, sagging and pigmentation. (SOURCE)

What’s important to remember is to always use a sunscreen that contains both UVA and UVB protection because UVA and UVB rays affect different skin layers. UVA rays have a longer wavelength than UVB rays. They can enter the middle layer of your skin called the dermis. ‌UVB rays have a short wavelength that can only reach the outer layer of your skin called the epidermis. (SOURCE)

Always use SPF50 for your face, big sunglasses to protect the skin around the eyes, and don’t forget products with SPF for your lips and hair!

 

This post was all about Korean beauty secrets.

Suggested reading:

No. 1 Korean Skincare Secret for Glowing Skin

Best Korean Toners and Why Your Skin Needs Them