Around October last year, I decided to kick my skincare game up a notch. I’ve never had really bad skin, but as I’m pretty sure everyone does, I focused on my flaws and what made it imperfect. Some of my biggest pet peeves about my skin were (and still are) its oiliness and enlarged pores across the nose and cheeks, and I decided towards the end of 2018 that enough was enough, and I was gonna make my skin perfect! (Yes, yes, forgive 2018 Rhianna – she was bold and hopeful). That resolution led me to Korean skincare, otherwise known as K-Beauty, and I quickly became hooked. (Check out my starter guide for K-Beauty newbies here!)
South Korea has an embedded culture of good skincare. From the moment you’re born to the moment you die, taking care of your skin is a given, whether you’re 5 or 95, male or female. It’s not vain, it’s not “girly”, it’s not silly or frivolous – it’s on the same level as taking care of yourself through a healthy diet and lifestyle. Skincare is almost the equivalent of going to the gym, but for the face!
So what have I learned over my six months with K-Beauty so far?
Not all skincare is created equal
I’ve always been interested in skincare, so I knew the basics – don’t use SLS on your face, avoid comedogenic ingredients, avoid alcohols – that kind of thing. But what I’ve begun to learn over the last six months is what ingredients actually are. This means that when I’m navigating the skincare minefield of high street beauty stores, I can say confidently whether a product is good for the skin or not just by reading the chains of long chemical names listed on the back of it.
How did I do this? To start off with, my boyfriend (who has unwittingly also become some kind of amateur dermatologist these past few months) found a great website called CosDNA, where you can type in a product and it will list the ingredients with a traffic light system for how good they are for the skin, and also tell you what each ingredient actually is. So for example, I now know that the Tremella Fuciformis Extract in my Neogen Real Fresh Form Green Tea Cleanser is a moisturising ingredient, and comes from mushrooms! It’s so useful!
Ingredients order
This sounds pretty obvious, but I didn’t actually realise that the order things are listed on the back of the products are based on highest to lowest quantity within the product. Learning this means I can get the best quality versions of what I’m looking for – coupled with learning the chemical names from the point above, I now know that if I’m looking for a moisturiser with a high vitamin C and hyaluronic acid content, I need to be looking for sodium ascorbate/ascorbyl/ascorbic acid and sodium hyaluronate listed in the first two lines of ingredients!
Not all alcohols are bad alcohols
I always thought alcohols were an absolute no-no in skincare, and would put a product back on the shelf if it listed it. However, some alcohols are actually good for the skin. These are known as fatty alcohols. How do you spot the good from the bad? Well, the good ones are cetyl, stearyl and cetearyl alcohol. These are usually derived from fruit or plant sources, and are very nourishing for the skin. On the other hand, denatured alcohol (listed commonly as alcohol denat), SD alcohol or isopropyl alcohol are bad. To quote Paula’s Choice; “these types of volatile alcohols give products a quick-drying finish, immediately degrease skin, and feel weightless on skin, so it’s easy to see their appeal, especially for those with oily skin. But those short term benefits end up with negative long term consequences.
When you see these names of alcohol listed among the first six ingredients on an ingredient label, without question they will aggravate and be cruel to skin. No way around that, it’s simply bad for all skin types. Consequences include dryness, erosion of the surface of skin (that’s really bad for skin), and a strain on how skin replenishes, renews, and rejuvenates itself. Alcohol just weakens everything about skin.”
Find out more about alcohols for skin in the full article from Paula’s Choice here.
Blackheads vs sebaceous filaments
For years, I’ve had what I thought were blackheads on my nose. I tried strips, scrubs, powders, masks, you name it, and it did not work. They weren’t super obvious blackheads so it could be worse, I reasoned with myself. But since they bugged me, I got a blackhead extractor tool and gave it a go to NO AVAIL. Cue a Google search and a revelation – I don’t have blackheads! In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had one! I have sebaceous filaments. These are little things that carry sebum through to the surface of the skin. They’re literally meant to be there, and blackhead extraction won’t work because, well, it’s not a blackhead!
Because my skin is oily, mine were slightly more obvious. To decrease the appearance of sebaceous filaments, I just needed to focus on oil control. Since doing this, they’re basically invisible. I can go out with no make up on and not care! Wahoo!
Want to know more about the difference between blackheads and sebaceous filaments? Check out this handy article.
The importance of layering, not just for K-Beauty but for skincare in general
Your skincare products should go on from lightest to heaviest, hence why you start with a toner and end with a moisturiser (or an SPF if we’re going outdoors ;)) This means the products can work the best way they can, enhance the effectiveness of the next product you layer on, and penetrate your skin most effectively.
SPF, its ratings, application frequency and how it can be convenient to reapply
Now, I was already aware of the importance of SPF, not just for anti-aging but for skin health, but what I didn’t realise was how often you need to reapply it. When I turned 20, I had a strange mini meltdown about being “old” and discovering that wearing daily SPF was touted as the way to keep your skin smooth and youthful. I’d whack it on in the morning before my make up and that’d be it all day. Since starting K-Beauty, I’ve discovered that really, you’re supposed to apply it every 2 hours if you’re gonna be in the sun. But who wants to smear their make up around their face every two hours?!
Not me! But luckily, there’s a way around it! Korean make up companies usually have a cushion compact in their ranges – a foundation compact that combines foundation with moisturiser and SPF 50 PA ++++ sun protection! It goes on like a foundation and voila, you’ve topped up your make up and protected your skin! Since I work an office job, I just reapply before I head out for lunch since I’m indoors the rest of the time. (I use a Missha compact in shade 23, which is right for my skin, which is on the paler side of olive. My friend who is blonde and paler than me uses shade 21)
Another thing I learned was about SPF ratings. I already knew you should look for broad spectrum sun lotions with a star rating of 4 or 5 at least, but I had no idea what PA was. Commonly used in Asian sunscreens, PA measures the UVA rays (the ones that penetrate deeper into the skin and cause aging), whilst Western sunscreens measure SPF based on UVB (the shorter rays that hit the surface layers of the skin and cause burning). Ideally, you want a sunscreen that has both SPF and PA ratings (with the highest being ++++!)
You don’t have to look super matte all the time – K-Beauty loves dewiness!
The mention of cushion compacts above brings me to this point – healthy skin doesn’t have to be super matte! As someone who struggles with oiliness, it’s almost second nature to me to blot my nose with oil blotting wipes or some tissue at the vaguest hint of oil formation, but being so focused on this meant that I didn’t realise what dewiness was.
Dewiness comes from having healthy skin. Your skin looks plump and glowy, but not super matte. If you touch it, it’s not oily, but it has a slight shine to it. It’s almost like natural highlights. And guess what? That’s good! It means your skin is in tip-top shape! Koreans even have a term for it – “chok chok”! They strive to have this natural dewiness, so any foundations they use tend to have a dewier finish than Western ones, which tend to make you matte. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can always dust over your face with some finishing powder after you’ve applied!
Oiliness doesn’t mean your skin is moisturised
Who else mistakenly thought this? I grew up thinking that my oiliness meant I didn’t need to moisturise, when in fact, I probably needed to moisturise more than most. Oil is your body’s way of saying “there’s no moisture in this skin! I’ll push some sebum through to help moisturise it!” If you want your body to stop doing that, you need to put the moisture on yourself. I moisturise morning and night, and top up with hyaluronic acid serums, sheet masks and sleeping packs, and my oiliness has reduced considerably. I find I get slightly oily around the sides of my nose by lunch time, then I just blot and I’m set for the rest of the day. Makes a change from having to blot pretty much every two hours!
Pay attention to what your skin is telling you
I was always quite guilty of looking in the mirror, observing that I had a spot/oily patch/dry patch and going: “How annoying! I hope that goes soon!” before carrying on with the exact same cleansing routine. Totally nonsensical, when you think about it! I now have a selection of cleansers and moisturisers on rotation, and I switch depending how my skin is day-to-day. I start the day with a gentle, sensitive skin cleanser (Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam, if you’re interested!), then in the evening, I use either a cream-based cleanser if my skin is drier, or a foam-based cleanser if it’s oilier. I then adjust the rest of my routine accordingly – dryness means sheet masks, sleeping packs, moisturisers with ingredients like shea, coconut and collagen, whilst oiliness means lighter formulas to deliver moisture without enhancing oiliness.
The 10 step K-Beauty routine doesn’t have to be time consuming
If I tell people I follow a 10 step skincare routine, they look at me like I’ve just said I’m married to Mr Bean and I think the Queen’s a robot. They either think I’m supremely vain, or have too much time on my hands. I’m here to tell you that I’m neither!
A 10 step routine from cleansing to nourishing to moisturising does not have to take very long, and is there as a guideline – you don’t need to do every step each day. The component steps of the 10 step K-beauty routine are:
- Oil cleanser
- Water cleanser
- Exfoliator
- Toner
- Essence
- Serum
- Sheet mask
- Eye cream
- Moisturiser/sleeping pack
- SPF
(Check out my starter guide to K-Beauty here).
Realistically, on a daily basis, my routine looks like this (the ones in italics are the ones I plan to do every day, but can be kinda lazy about…):
Morning
- Water cleanser
- Toner
- Moisturiser
- Eye cream
- SPF
Evening
- Oil cleanser (to get rid of make up)
- Water cleanser (to actually wash my face)
- Toner
- Essence
- Serum
- Eye cream
- Moisturiser
Then about twice a week, I try to do a sheet mask and a sleeping pack. All in all, the morning routine takes me about 15 minutes tops, then the evening one I kind of dawdle with as I use it to relax before bed…but realistically, I reckon I could do it in about 15 minutes too. So really, it’s half an hour out of your day, and if you consider it the equivalent of going to the gym for your face, is it really a waste of time?! So that quells the myth that I have too much time on my hands. And as for anyone who thinks I’m vain, a) skin is the largest organ in the human body so I’m gonna take care of it, and b) we’ll see who’s calling me vain when I’ve pulled a Paul Rudd and not aged since I was 25 😉
The joy of double cleansing
This is something that I’d never heard of, and even if I had, I wouldn’t have got on board with because I always thought oily skin meant staying away from oils for the face. Nope! Oil cleansers are fab for oily skin. I use an oil cleanser to get rid of any leftover make up, dirt or SPF on my face, and it’s so gentle you can even use it around your eyes to remove last traces of mascara. Then I wash it off and follow up with a water-based cleanser. Cue contented sighing and stroking of your clean, smooth face!
The serenity of a sheet mask (and face point masks)
I had used sheet masks before discovering K-Beauty, but not religiously. I now use them once to twice a week, and they make my skin feel so healthy! I’ve also been using Mediheal’s BT21 Face Point Masks, which yes, I mainly bought because they were affiliated with BTS and had cute packaging, but have actually been saviours for the dry patches on my combo skin! The face point masks are like little stickers around two inches high, and you can just stick them over dry patches like targetted mini sheet masks. I’ve also forayed into making my very own mini sheet masks, which you can view some super easy recipes for here!
Korean Italy Towels
Omg, these are a REVELATION. They don’t look like much, but you scrub your body down with one of these then apply some moisturiser and your skin will feel baby-soft. Honestly, my skin’s never been this smooth in all my life! (Do NOT use these on your face though, they’re far too abrasive!) These are the ones I bought!
K-Beauty is highly affordable – and super cute!
Because skincare is considered something that everyone should do, Korean companies make their packaging so cute you’re dying to use it! From cute characters to collaborations with Disney, chocolate bar brands and more, I’ve been tempted to buy products purely based on their packaging waaaay too many times! And if you shop in the right places, Korean skincare is super affordable and oftentimes cheaper than its Western counterparts. I personally use YesStyle or Amazon for my K-Beauty purchases!
I am obsessed with skin care and I’m always trying new things! I suffer from oily and acne prone skin and in the past 5 months I have really got it under control with new techniques. Thanks for sharing this! Very useful!
Same! Ooh, what techniques have you tried? I’d love to give them a go too! Thanks for stopping by – glad you found it useful!
Great post! I find the chemistry behind skincare fascinating. We have the exact same morning and night routines and my skin has been in such good shape since starting them. The only exception is essence, I’ll have to look into it!
Caitlin | budgetbreaks.org
Me too! I kind of want to do a dermatology course, just for fun 😂 ooh really? Twinning! With essence, I can’t say for sure if I’m a definite convert, but I’ve only tried one brand so far so we shall see!
None of this is new to me but it was an enjoyable read none the less! So informative for those that are new to kbeauty!
http://mayanirvana.co.uk
Ooh, are you a kbeauty fan then? What are your holy grail products?!
That cosDNA site sounds brilliant – I’ll need to give that a go ❤️ Also it’s definitely true that healthy skin doesn’t have to be matte! I prefer a nice glow for myself xx
It’s honestly SO helpful! And right?! I spent years trying to mattify my face and half of it wasn’t even oil, it was just healthy shine! Xx
Oh this post is perfect for me! I’ve ALWAYS struggled with my skin (from a teenager to even still now) I am always looking to invest in new products but never know what, why or how. I love the headings you have put this post into! I think it’s great that you say “it’s ok to not always look matte” I am always trying to make my skin look perfect and that’s maybe not what it’s entirely needs!
Thank you so much for this! Glad I found your blog 😊
Ashleigh x
http://www.thestoryofashleighdavis.com
Oh wow, I’m so very glad you found it helpful! Yes, I totally agree! There’s so many things out there and it’s so hard to know what would work best for you individually!
I’m glad you liked it! Yes, I spent so long focusing on the tiniest amount of shine as if it was the devil but my skin looks so much healthier with a bit of glow!
Thank you so much! You’ve made my day! 😘
I’m very much a lover of Korean Beauty! There are so many amazing brands, and there are lots of it is vegan and cruelty free options
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Me too! So true! It’s illegal to test on animals in South Korea, so Korean companies are all cruelty free (unless they sell in China, in which case it’s illegal to NOT test on animals, for some horrible reason!) X
Skincare is so important. i’m getting in the habit of being more responsible with the cues my skin leaves behind. Now that it’s getting warmer, my skin is starting to become more oilier which means I need to do something different from my winter routine. I need to invest in more face masks, particular sheet masks. I’m glad I read this because now I know the difference between sebaceous filaments and blackheads. I want to check out that site CosDNA, that seems super helpful for identifying ingredients. Thanks for the tip about alcohol, it’s a good way to put it, it just awakens the skin!
Natonya | https://justnatonya.wordpress.com/
It really is! It tells us a lot about our bodies. Yes, it’s so true slot the weather changes – mine gets drier in winter and oilier in summer.
Ooh, I love sheet masks! I hope you enjoy them!
And right?! I didn’t even know sebaceous filaments existed before!
CosDNA is so so useful! Honestly, I ruin everything through it nowadays!
This is such an interesting post. I have oily skin and I still do use oil based products as I know my skin needs them. Skincare is so important and I think that so many people out there have no idea what products to use. I went for a skin consultation which massively helped. K Beauty sounds very interesting and I’ve always wanted to try out I think I’m going to do my research and pick some bits up!xo
Thanks so much, Alice! Yes, me too, though I never used to! I used to avoid oil products like the plague!
Yes, it’s so true. For some reason, we’re not really taught how to look after our skin – we all just kind of bumble along working it out for ourselves!
Ooh, where was the consultation? I’d love to have one!
K Beauty is amazing, honestly! If you want to get into it, I’d strongly recommend The Little Book of Skincare by Charlotte Cho! 💜
This was an important read!!! It’s so important to have happy skin!
Thanks so much! It’s so true, isn’t it? Skin can totally change how we feel about ourselves!
You’ve got some really great tips here! Unfortunately, it took a lot of trial and error (and a lot of wasted money) before I even started to listen to what my skin was trying to tell me the whole time!
Thanks Britt! Oh yes, me too! The amount of money I spent on blackhead treatments alone, only to discover I’ve never actually had a blackhead in my life! 🙈
I think you’ve just blown my mind. I have no idea what I want to focus on first!! The possibility that maybe my blackheads aren’t blackheads. Or that my gentle cleanser probably isn’t actually removing my make up the way I thought it was and I probably need to really up my game there… This was so interesting, it’s full of fantastic advice, thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your lovely words, Lindsey! Omg, if yours are sebaceous filaments too, it will be a revelation for you!! Honestly, since I realised and just left it alone, they’re basically invisible and just look like pores! I can’t believe how much time and effort I spent trying to tackle blackheads, when I didn’t even have any! 🙈
Ooh, definitely give an oil cleanser a go! If nothing else, they’re super nice to massage into your face after a long day!
Thank you so much, I’m really happy it helped you! Let me know if you try anything! 💜
I love this whole list of things you’ve learnt! I’m a little bit obsessed with skincare so this post made me super happy because I related to a lot of it. I also completely agree with the importance of layering (and the order) and it baffles me how some people don’t have proper routines because I agree, you can use quite a lot of products which really help the skin without it being too time consuming!
Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
Thanks Soph! I’m exactly the same! I always think there’s never gonna be a point in my life when I look back and go “oh, I wish I’d never taken care of my skin”, so I’m more than happy to spend my time and money on my skincare!
Yes, totally agree! My friend told me about someone she knows who doesn’t even wash her face earlier. I was astounded – I mean, sure, there’s a bunch of confusing skincare routines but come on, you’ve gotta wash your face, right?!
Yeah, exactly! It doesn’t have to take much time at all! x
I loved reading this. I used to read dermatology journals when I was younger. Because my skin is so so so sensitive, I had to learn what literally every ingredient did to stop my face from burning all the time. Okay, not stop all the time, it reacts to even the nice ‘gentle’ ingredients too. I love the Korean approach to skincare, they have such value in it and it makes me soooo happy. I use cosDNA sometimes too if I can’t be bothered to look up an ingredients list for myself 😂. You sound like you’ve learnt a lot in 6 months!! Loved reading this x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
Thanks so much, Sophie! I’m genuinely considering a dermatology course just for fun, though I’m not sure my budget will allow it 😂
Ouch, that sounds intense! Have you managed to build a basic routine that doesn’t irritate your skin? Oh I totally agree with you – the word “gentle” for one skin type can be the opposite to another! Especially depending on your skin’s pH levels.
Me too! They really value it. I wish it was more like that over here!
Haha, it’s so handy! If I’m stuck dithering in a shop, I’ll quickly CosDNA the product and see if I approve if there’s anything I’m unsure of!
I really have! Thanks so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it! x
Wow your post it’s very usefull and wonderful, thanks for sharing many info, i did not know about fatty alcohols, very interesting, i should read more, I dislike clinique products because of the alcohol, i think the toner hurts. I want to search more of the korean beauty routine, looks great. have a very good week. 😀
Thank you for stopping by! I’m really glad you found it useful! Yes, I totally agree with you! I never buy Clinique products as they don’t seem to have good ingredients, and even if they did, the price is so much higher than it needs to be!
If you’d like to try k-beauty more, I’d definitely recommend The Little Book of Skincare by Charlotte Cho! 💜
I definitely learned a lot reading your post! I totally agree – not all skincare is created equal and oiliness doesn’t mean your skin’s overmoisturized – I have a really bad skin care routine and hardly put anything on and my face is so oily, bummer.
☼ cabin twenty-four
Thanks Eena! Yes, definitely! Ooh, definitely try a nice foam cleanser and a light moisturiser! I find they really help!
Omg thank you for this post! I’ve been looking to better my skincare routine, so it’s really helpful that you not recommend certain products but also detail what to look out for! I’ll be checking out your starter guide 🙂
Aww, thank you Cam! I’m really glad you found it helpful, and I hope you enjoy the starter guide too! Good luck on your skin journey! 💜
Wow! This post has just confirmed how little I know about skincare. I definitely need to pay more attention to my skin. I did purchase a new set of skincare products in March that I’m really enjoying though, which are Vegan and CF which is a HUGE bonus. But I could definitely up my knowledge still!
Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
It’s a constant ongoing learning curve, don’t worry! I don’t think anyone ever knows it all! Ooh, what products were they? They sound lovely! Animal testing is illegal in Korea so it’s pretty much always cruelty free in kbeauty (unless a product is also sold in China – then it’s illegal NOT to test on animals for some horrendous reason!)
omg Rhianna I feel like I’ve been staring at Kbeauty products I have wishlisted in my YesStyle account LOL! I love YesStyle, I’ve gotten quite a few items from there, skincare related items and even clothes hahaha. I still have yet to get myself straightened out with what I need for a proper skincare routine. I am so relieved that oil cleansers are ok for us oily skinned people! I have a sample and I’ve been hesitant with using it. I LOVE the BTS masks they are so cute!! I do agree that they’re really affordable. I think you can buy a mask on YesStyle for like $1-2.50? it’s so nice!! I didn’t realize how often you needed to apply that SPF moisturizer.. i had not been doing my share of skin protection and just recently started using it! This was super informative and I loved reading it 🙂 Thank you for sharing lovely!! xx
Geraldine | https://geraldinetalks.com
Haha omg, I feel you – there’s literally hundreds of items on my YesStyle wish list 😂 ooh yes, same! I always get compliments on the YesStyle clothes too!
Ah, it’s hard to work it out, right? Yes, oil cleanser is definitely okay for us! I think it’s actually decreased my oiliness!
Omg ikr?! I want more of them 😂
Exactly! Honestly so cheap but such high quality!
Well, I’m glad it wasn’t just me who didn’t know how often to reapply! 🙈
Thanks so much for stopping by, Geraldine! 😘Xx
really lovely post! i love how much information you put into this! taking care of your skin is so important, especially when you wear makeup on a daily basis like i do. I can already tell the toll it’s taking on my skin and i have a good skincare routine! i can’t imagine how it’d be if i didn’t! thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us xx
mich xx
simplymich.com
Thanks so much, Mich!
Yeah, exactly! Skincare is almost like vitamins for the face! And yes, it’s so important!
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle! 😘Xx
Such a super thorough article! I loved reading about the good and bad alcohols. Whenever I see alcohol listed I get scared because I have really dry skin. But that part was super helpful and definitely something worth knowing.
Thanks Shea! Yes, I had the exact same thoughts as you – I’d immediately put it back thinking it would dry out my face and make my oiliness kick into overdrive to compensate! But it’s bizarre thinking that some alcohols are actually good for the skin! Hope it helps you find some great products! 🙂
I have not heard of K-Beauty but I would consider it. I have heard that Korean skincare products work well and women use them daily. I did not know that the men also value skincare as an everyday routine. I love you very informative post on skincare.
It’s definitely working wonders for my skin! I feel like it’s a very healthy approach to skin that replenishes and nourishes it for long-lasting results without harsh chemicals etc. 🙂 Yes, it’s funny how different cultures can be, isn’t it? I’ve heard it’s quite common for men in Korea to wear tinted moisturiser and that sort of thing too – having good-looking skin is very important in Korea!
Thanks Deb 🙂
I have incredibly oily skin – this post is super helpful to me! Especially your information regarding sebaceous filaments – like you I have been squeezing ‘blackheads’ for years to no avail! Like you, I’m going to try a new skincare routine – thank you so much for the help xxx
Ashley
https://lellalee.com
Aww, I’m really glad it helped, Ashley! Omg, I hope that part helps you – I was so frustrated for years that my “blackheads” wouldn’t go! Have a look at the article I linked and you can see the difference, and you’ll immediately tell if you have sebaceous filaments instead of blackheads from the pics! I hope your new skincare routine helps! 🙂 xxx
Whoa! That is very detailed post. I never knew so much about Korean makeup. Now I can differentiate between Blackheads & sebaceous filaments. Next time whenever I buy any beauty product I will remember to check everything you have mentioned in this post. Thanks for this 🙂
Haha, I hit publish then thought of even more things as well! I’ve learnt a LOT in six months, haha! Yes, I’d never even heard of a sebaceous filament before! I hope this post helped! 🙂
This article is so incredibly interesting! I will be using that website to check my products from now on as like you I am conscious about what I put on my skin.
I have sensitive dry skin and struggle to find proudcts that does not make my skin flare up.
Thank you for sharing!
Alyssa
THESACREDSPACEAP.COM
Thanks so much, Alyssa! Yes, CosDNA is a saviour! So useful for quickly seeing what’s good for the skin in your products! Korean make up is also lovely for sensitive skin – maybe you could see if that works for you 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I have never heard of Korean skincare before. I didn’t even know it was a thing! And I am definitely one of those people who thought all skincare was the same, so thanks for sharing this!
It’s becoming really popular nowadays, alongside Japanese beauty! I love both, but have definitely explored Korean beauty more! Oh, I hope it helps! 🙂
That’s cool 🙂 I am eager to read more about it.
Thanks Megan! If you’re interested, I did another post on the Korean beauty routine when I first started it! 🙂 https://tsundokugirl.com/2018/10/11/the-10-step-korean-skincare-routine-for-beginners/ x
This is so interesting! I like reading about other people’s skincare. Thank you so much for sharing x
Thanks Lauren! I hope you found some interesting new things to try! 🙂 x
Great post! Just like you, I’ve started looking into all the ingredients listed on products before I purchase now. Love Korean products and use them everyday! Which brand eye cream do you recommend?
Thanks so much, Tammy! Oh yes, it’s a must! Ooh yay, you’re already a convert then! What are your favourite everyday products? 🙂 For eye creams, I recommend Erborian, Milky Dress and Etude House for K-Beauty brands I’ve tried, and for non-K-Beauty, I’ve got some on my list from La Roche Posay, Origins, Sukin, CeraVe and Simple! 🙂
Thanks I will check those brands out! I love CosRx Birch Sap moisturizer, Blithe 8 Bean Essence, Blithe Yellow Citrus & Honey Splash Mask
Ooh, I just bought my first CosRx product! I haven’t tried it yet, but it was the essence and I very nearly bought that moisturiser! I’ll have to get it next time! Ooh, I haven’t heard of Blithe – thank you for letting me know! 😎
I finally realized the importance of laying and using SPF. Doing does two things really helps to prevent aging and damage. Thank you for providing so much information on Korean Beauty products because I really want to try more products!
It really does! I always think prevention is better than cure, and I think a good skincare routine like this is good prevention!
Let me know if you try anything!
This is a super post! So informative. I didn’t know that you could get compacts with SPF factor 50 in to keep your SPF topped up, great idea! I end up redoing my face during the day to keep on top of it, but I will be doing this now. Thanks for the great tips!
Thanks so much, Jo! Oh yes, they’re game changers! Honestly, so much easier and so good for the skin! I hope you like it!
I love this post! I’ve been getting really into skincare lately as well and trying to learn more about different ingredients. I can’t wait to read some of the articles you linked! I also want to try some K-Beauty, because I mostly get my stuff from Sephora. Thanks for this detailed, insightful post!
Thanks so much, Caroline! There’s so many ingredients to get your head around, isn’t there?!
I hope you enjoy the articles! Ooh yes, I’d definitely recommend kbeauty! So lovely! Hope this post was useful!
I need to keep up with skincare more! I love masks and face stuff but never really pay attention to the ingredients (I look at them to make sure there’s nothing bad) but I didn’t know all this stuff! I need to look at that website! That’s awesome !
Ah honestly Melissa, CosDNA is a saviour! You don’t even need to properly look as you can double check on there! So helpful! 😍
I love this blog post, ever since you told me about the Charlotte Cho book I’ve been becoming more and more obsessed with K. Beauty! My skin has always been problematic and I’ve always been one for a full coverage matte foundation and the Korean idea of a more healthy dewy finish is becoming more appealing. Thanks for the recommendation of the cushion foundation, I think I’ll be checking that out xxx
Charlotte is amazing! 😍 Ah yes, I didn’t think I’d like it but I actually do! I think it makes me look healthier, less made up and also gives me a bit of a natural highlight! Oh definitely try the cushion compact, as they’re so cheap and awesome coverage! Xxx
I agree with you about skincare. Certain products don’t work as well as others for people with certain skin. It is interesting to learn about sebaceous filaments. I love doing deep cleanses – makes you feel fresh! Thanks for sharing these tips!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
Wow! This is super informative. I totally bookmarked that cosdna site too. You are now my unofficial dermatologist 😂
oh my gosh, so much great skincare info! I’ve really been needing to step up my game.. bookmarking this!