The world of Korean beauty and skincare inspired countless brands all over the world and is responsible for the way many of us practice skincare today. Before we knew about K-beauty, we just cleansed and moisturized, but now we know better to also include toners, serums, essences and dual cleansers to keep our skin looking fresh and feeling soft and wrinkle-free. However, Korean skincare products are very popular, but their skincare routines are very complicated. If you want to only adopt a few tricks, here’s what you need to rely on:
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Steam-massage your face
Before you do anything, hop in the shower, turn on hot water to create steam and start massaging your face. When massaging, use both circular motions and tapping and rotating motions with your fingertips and knuckles. Start from the top of your forehead, then move to the cheekbones, cheeks and finish with your jaw. This steamy massage boosts circulation and provides you with that youthful and fresh look.
Follow the one-minute rule
What’s a one-minute rule in K-beauty? It refers to the way you apply your products. The basic idea is to take one minute to massage your cleanser into your skin to take all the grime and makeup from your face. Then, you will spend the next minute applying a hydrating cream. The key is to apply hydration within the next minute, otherwise, your skin will dry out so much that it won’t be able to absorb a good amount of formula.
Grab an ampoule when you’re in trouble
An ampoule is a face serum, but more concentrated and effective. It is filled with all kinds of active ingredients used for repairing, balancing and reviving skin cells quickly and efficiently. You only need to apply a few drops of this product and it will target and minimize hyperpigmentation, acne and dull complexion.
Invest in a facial essence
What is a facial essence? Many women in Korea use essences to seal all the good ingredients of cleansing and other treatments in your skin. These essences are solutions (different than toners) that contain nutrients beneficial to the skin used for hydration after cleansing. If you don’t know much about essences, you can rely on Korean beauty essence kits that will soothe and moisturize sensitive skin with their watery texture that allows quick absorption. After you apply your essence, finish up with a serum and moisturizer for maximum skin hydration.
Sleep with a face mask
During your nightly rest, your skin recovers and produces new cells, so this is the time to provide it with a lot of help. Hyper-moisturize your skin and get rid of that tired complexion by applying an intensive sleeping mask to invigorate your skin. In the morning, your will be able to remove days of skin abuse, wear and tear and look fresher than ever. If you’re leaving home early, apply some face oil to your foundation to further boost hydration—it’s one of the best-kept K-beauty secrets!
Practice mouth stretches
This trick might make you feel silly, but many Korean women and men swear that it works like a charm. Stand in front of a mirror and say all your vowels in an exaggerated way three times. It’s a quick face and mouth stretching exercise that boosts circulation and improves skin tone. Give it a try, especially because it’s free and super quick to practice.
Wear sunscreen
If you ask K-beauty starts what is the one thing they never leave their house without, many will say sunscreen. Sun protection is a scientifically proven way to reduce the physical signs of aging. If you apply a healthy amount of SPF every day, your skin will be protected from harmful UV radiation and stay wrinkle, sunburn, liver spots and cancer-free.
Eat healthily
Many Korean celebrities known for their clear complexion and youthful look told us that their secret to looking amazing lies in healthy eating. For instance, Minah from Girl’s Day eats cooked tomatoes for healthy skin, while Baro from B1A4 avoids fried food and oily ingredients to prevent acne breakouts. On the other hand, Sungyeol from INFINITE relies on lettuce concentrate to keep his skin clear. These stars might not follow the same recipe, but they all agree on one thing—eat plenty of fruits and veggies and avoid fast food and fried stuff.
See? Korean skincare doesn’t have to be super scary. Now that you know a few useful tips and tricks to focus on, you can add them to your regular skincare routine and boost your skin with some Asian beauty secrets that work like a charm.