Ask anyone in the industry what the beauty buzzword of today is, and they’ll all give the same answer: Korea. Korean women have long known the importance of caring for their skin, and one thing we’ve learnt to be true; achieving that healthy, radiant glow is never something to be rushed.
As a Korean beauty and lifestyle blogger, Vicky Lee knows a thing or two on how to achieve a flawless complexion. Born and raised in Korea and now residing in London, Vicky, a 40 year old mother of 4, defies the years of time due to her investment in an optimum skincare regime, which for Korean women, is instilled from a very early age.
Going far beyond the generic cleanse, tone and moisturising routines that the majority promote, Vicky, for the first time, tells us her Korean beauty secrets on how to keep the complexion healthy, hydrated and in its best possible condition morning and night.
THE KOREAN MORNING BEAUTY ROUTINE
Step 1: Cleansing
First thing in the morning, cleanse your skin with water. Water removes the few impurities that settle on the face during the night, and keeps skin hydrated, too.
Step 2: Toner
To balance the skin’s pH levels, it’s important to apply toner; otherwise the skin can become dry and dehydrated. Toner further helps to absorb the next products you apply.
Step 3: Essence
Essence is a hybrid between a toner and a serum. It works perfectly to hydrate the complexion, aiding cellular turnover for a youthful appearance.
Step 4: Ampoule
Similar to serums, ampoules actually comprise an even higher number of active ingredients to target specific skin care concerns. They’re used for a finite amount of time as a booster when your skin badly needs the extra help.
Step 5: Serum
Concentrated formulas with an unprecedented amount of active ingredients, serums target specific skin concerns like wrinkles, dark spots, and dehydration.
Step 6: Eye cream
Smooth a light eye cream across both the brow and socket bone moving from the inner to outer corner of the eye. Here, the skin is at its thinnest as there are no sebaceous glands to produce natural oils, so it’s important to keep this area hydrated and protected all day long.
Step 7: Moisturiser
Next apply a soothing moisturiser in a light layer across the skin for long lasting all-day hydration.
Step 8: Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen shouldn’t be reserved for the summer holidays. Protecting the skin on a daily basis from UV rays will avoid the development of dark spots, wrinkles and fine lines.
Vicky’s Top Tip! Always keep a face mist in your purse. Whatever the weather, it’s the ultimate skin saviour!
THE KOREAN NIGHT TIME BEAUTY ROUTINE
“Korean skincare is all about layering. Toner, essence, serum, ampoule, moisturizer… 10 steps sound like a lot, but each one has its own important job to do to keep skin young, healthy, and glowing.” – Vicky Lee
Step 1: Oil-based Cleanser
For the evening, select an oil based cleanser to start with as this will work to remove oil- based makeup and impurities from the skin.
Step 2: Double-Cleansing
Following the oil cleanser, use a water-based cleanser to gently remove the oil residue and water-based impurities from the day.
Step 3: Exfoliate
Twice a week use a gentle enzyme or bead-based exfoliator to remove the dead skin cells that can make the complexion appear lack-lustre whilst blocking pores and preventing key product ingredient absorption.
Step 4: Toner
In the same morning manner, next apply a toner to balance the skin’s pH levels.
Step 5: Essence
Apply your essence to hydrate the complexion…
Step 6: Ampoule
By applying this super charged serum at night, your skin will be able to absorb all the hydration it needs following a long day’s work.…
Step 7: Serum
Following which the serum should then be worked into the specific areas of concern.
Step 8: Sheet Mask
The sheet mask is a Korean beauty favourite – a cloth saturated with skin loving ingredients! Perfect for all skin types, everyone can benefit from these masks which deliver a deeply hydrating and anti-ageing treatment.
Step 9: Eye Cream
Once the skin has absorbed the ingredients from the sheet mask, apply an eye cream to protect and hydrate the delicate eye area.
Step 10: Moisturiser
Select a night time moisturiser to keep those skin loving ingredients locked in, allowing you to wake to a beautifully rejuvenated complexion.
Step 11: Sleeping Mask
The very last step, a sleeping mask is applied at night and washed off in the morning. Very hydrating, it helps skin retain moisture while you sleep.
“Hydration is the key to flawless, radiant skin. Layering hydrating products helps them better penetrate the skin, making them more effective. You will instantly see the results: plumper, younger-looking skin and a natural glow exuding from within,” says Vicky.
