Have you ever wondered how those Korean women get so beautiful, flawless, and dewy skin? They’re so famous for that that their skincare routine has changed the beauty industry. For the follow-up of The Beginner’s Guide to Korean Beauty Products the beautiful Alice, owner of e-commerce site W2Beauty, is back with a rundown of her beauty routine. Let’s just say this is the beginner’s guide to the Korean skincare routine. [Note: The transcript below has been edited and condensed.]
This is my current routine, but it’s subject to change since I’m always on the hunt for great new items. I do enjoy trying out new products so that I can better help you with recommendations.
Step 1: The Makeup Removal
I use Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil for removing my base makeup and Apple Juicy Lip & Eye Remover for point makeup. These are among my favorites. Sometimes, when I’m really lazy, I use cleansing tissue or cleansing water, though I believe cleansing oil is the best item for removing makeup because most of the makeup products are produced with an oil base. When I use the oil, I can actually see how much BB cream or foundation I put on my face that day. A good sign isn’t it?
There is also the super popular Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick that I’m enjoying nowadays, but for a better review, please read Kerry’s – it is really the best you can find!
Step 2: The Cleanse
After removing makeup, it’s time for cleansing. These days I focus on peeling since during winter, the dead skin builds up on my face and it makes my skin tone duller. I use Leaders Yogurt Cleansing Mousse for cleansing. It comes out in a really soft, thick mousse foam that contains AHA. Apply the foam to the face and roll it softly. When I put that foam on my face, I wait for 20-30 seconds as you would with a pack, then wash off with water. It’s not drying, so I fell in love with this!
I also use many cleansing foams for testing, such as the Mamonde Lotus Micro Mild foam, but I always come back to Leaders Perfect Clearing Foam Cleanser, and Leaders AC Stop Foam Cleanser. When I have some troubles, these are the best items for helping my skin to recover.
I always use a “bubble maker.” There are two types of bubble makers: bubble web and bubble ball. I prefer a bubble ball since it helps me to get much thicker foam. When using the bubble foam, I try not to rub my skin too hard. I just feel the movement of the foam.
When I will be wearing light makeup, I use IOPE Enzyme Powder Wash. It has small exfoliants so it also works for daily peeling. For this powder wash, using the bubble ball is really helpful since the exfoliations can hurt your skin. Bubble ball helps to melt it enough for sensitive facial skin. I also use Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Clay Mask and Skinfood Black Sugar Mask once a week for deep cleaning pores.
Step 3: The Exfoliator
After cleansing, I either use the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener, Benton Aloe BHA Toner, or the IOPE Bio Essence Intensive Conditioning, depending on my mood. The first two help to clean waste and dust from facial skin and moisturize my skin. Benton Aloe BHA Toner also helps calm skin. When I have some skin troubles, I use Leaders AC Stop Toner. After wiping with cotton pad once, I soak 4 cotton pads with toner and place them on my face, forehead, cheeks, and chin like mask pack. [Laughs] It really helps to calm my skin.
Step 4: The Skin Boost aka The Essence
[Ed Note: This is considered the most important step to Korean women, yet still a mystery to many.]
For the skin-boosting, I use my lovely A’pieu Essential Source Snail Cream and Hera Cell Essence. Apieu Snail Cream is for calming my skin when I had a hard day. Hera Cell Essence is a new item I’m testing. I feel that my skin texture is a bit better than before. If I use more than 20 days, then I can give a more specific review for it, but for now, it is really promising!
Regarding my pore concerns, IOPE Pore Clinic Tightening Essence is my favorite essence currently! When I use this essence, it’s like I cast a spell-like “make it smaller, smaller” – and it does work. There is also the Innisfree Green Persimmon Pore Essence I use currently, and it does work quite nicely as well.
Step 5: The Moisturizer
For moisturizing, I use Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum. I like to use emulsions in the winter season because it makes an oil barrier, so sharp winter wind doesn’t hurt me. This past winter, I loved using Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Emulsion. Since it’s becoming warmer now, I need to change to a “fresher” one!
For the cream, I use Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream and IOPE Ultimate Hydro Cream. For the winter I needed to protect my skin, so I used the moisture type. Now it’s time to change to Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream. It’s really good to have the renewed version!
I use Laneige White Plus Eye Cream and Innisfree Eco Science Wrinkle Care Cream.
To be honest, I don’t use all these products every day. It depends on how I feel and what my skin is doing, and I kind of adjust accordingly. When I feel like I need more moisture, I add more. When I feel tired, I just put some mist on my face and apply a cream. I like Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Mist or Innisfree Green Tea Mist (you might have noticed… I kind of love Innisfree).
Step 6: The Sunblock
When the weather is becoming warmer, the most important item is sun block! It’s not only to prevent darkening, it’s also for anti-aging. I think sun block is like clothes for the skin. We don’t go out without any clothes, naked! [Laughs] So it’s really important to have some sunblock too.
Currently, I’m using two sunblocks. When my skin is sensitive, I use Leaders UV Moist Sun Gel. For normal days, I use The History of Whoo Gongjinhyang Seol Whitening Essence Sun. When I tested this sunblock at the shop, I just bought it without thinking, I really liked it like a crush. It’s really moist and gives me a natural glow from within. There is also the Hera Sun Mate Leports that would be a safe choice for you if you are looking for a good sunblock.
-Alice of W2Beauty
*This post was updated on July 14, 2020. W2beauty has rebranded and renamed “Beauty Tap”. Alice is no longer affiliated with the company.
Photo source: Skin & Tonics