The Korean face care routines… We are increasingly hearing about this “system”, there are a lot of articles and videos dedicated to it on the Internet. However, due to the abundance of surging information, clearly understanding its essence has become even more difficult.
First, you need to understand if you are ready to follow this notorious Korean care system? We’ll warn you right away that this daily multi-stage ritual requires patience and detail, but the result will not keep you waiting long.
Secondly, in the Korean care system, each stage is important and carefully thought out, it is not a desire to empty your wallet, but a real philosophy. It will help you achieve so beautiful and almost perfect skin that by spending money on care products, you will decently save on decorative.
Stage 1 — Cleansing
Koreans divide cleansing into 3 steps: cleansing the skin with hydrophilic oil and cleansing the skin with water-based products, then regular peeling.
The cleansing procedure (it is important to note that both steps!) Is carried out twice a day. Let me assume that you are now wondering: “Why also wash so thoroughly in the morning?” After all, I did not use makeup. “
The answer is simple: at night, the skin intensively released toxins, you could apply an excessive amount of cream, your skin secretes sebum 24 hours a day, which at night comes into contact with bacteria on the pillow and remains on the skin.
Are you convinced that morning cleansing is no less important than an evening? Then we will explain in detail why we need two tools at once.
The first is hydrophilic oil. This is a real treasure for the skin! Your skin releases sebum (sebum), which is mixed with talcum powder and dirt from the environment, in addition, many decorative products are made on an oil basis. Removing them with water-based cleaning products does not work, they are powerless here.
It is hydrophilic oil that acts as a “magnet” and draws all oil contaminants from the pores. In addition, you should not think that hydrophilic oil will bring you discomfort. Leave in the past the prejudice that this is the oil that will leave the film. When you have performed facial massage with oil (by the way, this is an additional plus of its use, since massage improves blood circulation and, as a result, complexion), it must be washed off with water in the future.
This is where the magic begins! Oil, reacting with water, turns into white water, which is very easily removed from the surface of the skin.
Then you need to move on to the use of water-based products – these are various foams and gels. They will already help to completely remove water-soluble elements: sweat, dirt.
Also one of the steps of the first stage is peeling. Online articles are full of headlines that for oily skin need tough scrubs and for dry delicate peels.
Your skin, regardless of its type, will not approve of rough exposure. To rid the skin of the stratum corneum from dead skin particles, it needs a more intense effect than foam or oil – this is true. However, large abrasive particles will only harm her.
The ideal means for exfoliating are peeling rolls. Especially enzymatic (with fruit or berry acids) or with lactic acid. They are most effective, but at the same time very carefully cope with this task without harm and stress to the skin. Peeling is recommended to be done 1-2 times a week, after cleansing with oil and foam.
Stage 2 — Normalization of pH
Potential hydrogen, or pH, refers to the acid-alkaline ratio of a substance— including the food you eat, the skincare products you use, or your skin itself. The natural pH level of your skin falls between 4.5 and 5.5 on the pH scale where 0 is the most acidic, 7 is neutral and 14 is the most alkaline.
The use of absolutely any means shifts our natural pH of the skin towards acid — in this case, the skin becomes oily faster, or towards alkali — in this case, it becomes more tight and dry. To normalize this problem, we need toner.
The toner will help restore the necessary balance to the skin, and also retains moisture in the skin cells; it works as a conductor, or rather, helps the useful components of the following products in the chain to penetrate the skin faster and better absorbed by it. Used toner 2 times a day – morning and evening.
Stage 3 — Treatment
If the only thing that worries you is dryness or a little greasy shine, please accept our sincere congratulations. Feel free to skip this step! However, if it is not so simple with your skin, then we will continue.
At this stage, the toner is replaced by the essence, which was invented precisely in South Korea. * Its main task is healing or treatment.
The essence is a highly concentrated liquid texture product that allows you to quickly rid your skin of acne, age spots, peeling or wrinkles. It is used 2 times a day.
Serum, serum or treatment – their older colleagues, they are more concentrated in composition, are also suitable for long-term use.
An ampoule is an SOS agent with the highest concentration of therapeutic agents, it is considered to be therapeutic and is usually used in courses of 1.5-2 months. Then you can go to the essences.
Stage 4 — Moisturizing
To restore the moisture level in the skin cells, you can choose a moisturizer or emulsion. The emulsion is best used in the spring and summer, so as not to overload the skin. While the cream is ideal for the autumn-winter season when more intense and deeper hydration is required. In case your skin is dry, you can use both.
Stage 5 — Additional care
Life situations are different. Late back home and absolutely no strength to care for your skin (the main thing is to wash your face and remove makeup!), Was there a long flight or do you need to restore your skin before a date? Korean cosmetologists have a solution to these problems, the main thing is not to overdo it.
In cases where you need to quickly save and nourish your skin with the necessary micro and macro elements, you will be saved by three faithful Korean friends — night, hydrogel and fabric masks. All of them are used after the cleaning and toner steps. However, night masks, as the name implies, are recommended to be used before bedtime, namely from 23:00. From this time until 2:00 in the night, our skin most quickly removes toxins and is ready to take new useful elements in doubled volume.
The night mask is more concentrated than cream and copes with its tasks more efficiently. But if you use it every day, your skin will only earn problems, since in any case, it absorbs just as much as it needs; and all surplus (which will be more each time) will accumulate on the surface of the skin and turn into acne and irritation. Therefore, it is recommended to use night masks 1-2 times a week.
Hydrogel masks differ from tissue masks in concentration — the first is higher, as well as the time of use: fabric masks are applied for 15-20 minutes, hydrogel masks for 30-40.
These products perfectly moisturize the skin, soothe and fight wrinkles, but they cannot boast of intense skin nourishment. Therefore, if you use them every day instead of a cream, the skin will become less elastic and more elastic, and it will come out an order of magnitude more expensive in terms of money. Hydrogel masks are best used 1-2 times a week, tissue can be up to 3 times a week. It is important to note that after them you do not need to apply the cream!
Also, to become a true connoisseur of the Korean care system and achieve effectiveness from it, the following rules should be noted:
- At each stage, you can use the funds of different brands, using the whole line of one brand is often a marketing move.
- More does not mean better – apply funds in a thin layer, with gentle patting movements.
- Do not use hydrogel masks twice – this way you will only earn new inflammations and irritations.
- Always rinse off your makeup no matter how tired you are. Otherwise, the consequences cannot be avoided, as in the third paragraph.
- What is suitable for your girlfriend is not necessarily suitable for your skin. We are all individuals! Try a new one — find your remedy.