Hey beautiful people!
Have you noticed the beautiful and clear skin of Asian superstars? Well, here's how you can achieve a similar flawless look. Read on...
A lot of us can barely manage to wash our faces twice a day, but our sisters (and brothers) in other Asian countries - especially Korea, take their skin care VERY seriously. So seriously that sometimes they have ten, yes, TEN steps and sometimes even more, in their skincare regimen. The key here is to layer products one by one, addressing specific concerns and needs.
Before we start off with the actual steps, we should also remember that HOW we apply the products is as important as WHAT we apply. It is very important to wash your hands thoroughly before you start your skincare routine. Asian skincare specialists recommend putting product in your hand and then patting it onto your face in gentle, but firm motions. once the product has started to sink into your skin, you can also use your fingers to pat in the product further. Try to imagine that you are playing a piano and drum your fingers on different parts of your face until the product seems to be fully absorbed into your skin. This is important because when you apply product on your face very quickly without helping it to sink in, most of the product does not penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, but dries or evaporates on the surface when in contact with air.
Also, while TEN steps may seem excessive, we must remember that Korean and Japanese products are very lightweight and are designed to sink into the skin easily, and are rarely heavy or oily while being extremely moisturizing.
NOTE: All links are click-able. Click on the links for details of products mentioned!!
Here's a simple breakdown of the Ten Step Routine.
STEP 1. Makeup Remover and Oil Cleanser: This can be one or two products, depending on the type of product you use. This is to remove surface dirt and makeup. A product such as Banila Clean it Zero is popular. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is another popular product.
STEP 2. Water-based Cleanser/ Foaming Cleanser: This is the second step in the double cleansing routine. To clean any leftover oil, dirt, and makeup, the face is washed again with a water-based cleanser (facewash). Foaming products (Mizo: a phuan chi) are considered more gentle and less harmful on the skin. The product is first made to foam on the palm of the hands or on a sponge, and then applied to the skin. Massage it gently and wash off with lukewarm water. Here are some examples of foaming cleansers.
STEP 3. Exfoliation: We had talked about the importance of exfoliation in an earlier post here so I won't go into too many details. Basically, this step is to get rid of old, dry, and flaky skin so that (a) new, smooth skin can resurface and (b) the skin is prepared to absorb all the other good stuff you are going to apply on it. Exfoliators are either chemical or physical, or a combination of both. Chemical exfoliators often contain AHAs or BHAs (google the terms!) and use gentle acids to slough away dead skin and make way for new skin. Peels come under this category.
Physical exfoliators are those that contain micro beads and granules, are grainy, and you have to physically use your hands to exfoliate the dead skin from your face, and are commonly known as face scrubs. Just be gentle with the rubbing! Here are some popular exfoliators. Skinfood's Black Sugar Mask is a particularly well-loved physical exfoliator, and doubles up as a mask too.
STEP 4. Toners, Skin Softeners, Refreshers: These products smooth, refresh, calm, and soften the skin, and they also clean up whatever might still be remaining on the skin after your double cleanse. They also balance the ph level of the skin for better absorption of skincare products. When you wash your face, much of the moisture is stripped away. These toners replenish the lost moisture at an immediate level. These are some examples of products in this category. These are typically applied with cotton and swiped on the face.
[Mizo]
Tun tum chu a vaiin kan let lovang. A sei dawn lutuk, ka peih lo :) Korean leh Japanese ho vun nalh em em chhan hi an vun enkawl hi an ngaihpawimah em em vang ania, hna takah an nei a, an uluk a, hun leh tha pawh an seng taima. I duh ve chuan han chhiar zel teh le. A chunga steps zawng zawng khi a indawtin tih vek tur a nia. Blog la chhiar thang lo tan, thumal a sen (red) anga awm khi han click ula, link dangah a hruai che u anga, product ka sawi ho hi in hmu thei ang.
Taihmak ve angai a, hun pawh a duh ve deuh a, mahse tih hram hram peih chuan a manhla em em a ni. Rei lo te ah i vun ah danglamna i hmu nghal ang. A step zawng zawng khi tih peihloh pawhin a then tal khi tih theih chuan a la zia tho.
A hnawih dan hi a pawimawh em em a, hnawih tawk tawk te, hnawih thuak te hian a thawh tur angin a thawk lo thin. I hnawih thuak a i duh tawk chuan i vun a in hip lut lo khan, boruak ah tamtak chu a ro mai mai dawn a, a chhunga lut tur chuan i kut silfai sar hnu khan na vak si lovin han nam deuh la, emaw i kutzungtang khan piano tum ang deuhin i hmai ah khan han ti la, product a lut kim tha tih ah chauh a step dawt leh ah i kal dawn nia.
SPF awm, sun protection nei products hi a pawimawh bon top! Eng ang pawhin in uluk la, ni zung lakah i inven loh chuan a ti chhe tho tho ang. Khawchhiat ni pawhin UVA rays hi engmah in a dang lova, chuvangin chhun a nih hrim2 chuan inchhung ah pawh sunscreen hman reng a tha. Korean leh Japanese sunscreens hi an mawm ve hmuk vak lo a, makeup hnuaiah pawh hman an hrehawm lemlo tlangpui.
Tih hram hramna hi a pawimawh. Thatchhiat chuan vun a nalh theilo a, vun a nalh loh chuan incheina dang engmah a nalh tak tak theilo bawk! :)
Some places to shop for Korean and Japanese products:
Yesstyle
Wishtrend
Instagram
Strawberrynet
Have you noticed the beautiful and clear skin of Asian superstars? Well, here's how you can achieve a similar flawless look. Read on...
A lot of us can barely manage to wash our faces twice a day, but our sisters (and brothers) in other Asian countries - especially Korea, take their skin care VERY seriously. So seriously that sometimes they have ten, yes, TEN steps and sometimes even more, in their skincare regimen. The key here is to layer products one by one, addressing specific concerns and needs.
Before we start off with the actual steps, we should also remember that HOW we apply the products is as important as WHAT we apply. It is very important to wash your hands thoroughly before you start your skincare routine. Asian skincare specialists recommend putting product in your hand and then patting it onto your face in gentle, but firm motions. once the product has started to sink into your skin, you can also use your fingers to pat in the product further. Try to imagine that you are playing a piano and drum your fingers on different parts of your face until the product seems to be fully absorbed into your skin. This is important because when you apply product on your face very quickly without helping it to sink in, most of the product does not penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, but dries or evaporates on the surface when in contact with air.
Also, while TEN steps may seem excessive, we must remember that Korean and Japanese products are very lightweight and are designed to sink into the skin easily, and are rarely heavy or oily while being extremely moisturizing.
NOTE: All links are click-able. Click on the links for details of products mentioned!!
Here's a simple breakdown of the Ten Step Routine.
STEP 1. Makeup Remover and Oil Cleanser: This can be one or two products, depending on the type of product you use. This is to remove surface dirt and makeup. A product such as Banila Clean it Zero is popular. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is another popular product.
STEP 2. Water-based Cleanser/ Foaming Cleanser: This is the second step in the double cleansing routine. To clean any leftover oil, dirt, and makeup, the face is washed again with a water-based cleanser (facewash). Foaming products (Mizo: a phuan chi) are considered more gentle and less harmful on the skin. The product is first made to foam on the palm of the hands or on a sponge, and then applied to the skin. Massage it gently and wash off with lukewarm water. Here are some examples of foaming cleansers.
STEP 3. Exfoliation: We had talked about the importance of exfoliation in an earlier post here so I won't go into too many details. Basically, this step is to get rid of old, dry, and flaky skin so that (a) new, smooth skin can resurface and (b) the skin is prepared to absorb all the other good stuff you are going to apply on it. Exfoliators are either chemical or physical, or a combination of both. Chemical exfoliators often contain AHAs or BHAs (google the terms!) and use gentle acids to slough away dead skin and make way for new skin. Peels come under this category.
Physical exfoliators are those that contain micro beads and granules, are grainy, and you have to physically use your hands to exfoliate the dead skin from your face, and are commonly known as face scrubs. Just be gentle with the rubbing! Here are some popular exfoliators. Skinfood's Black Sugar Mask is a particularly well-loved physical exfoliator, and doubles up as a mask too.
STEP 4. Toners, Skin Softeners, Refreshers: These products smooth, refresh, calm, and soften the skin, and they also clean up whatever might still be remaining on the skin after your double cleanse. They also balance the ph level of the skin for better absorption of skincare products. When you wash your face, much of the moisture is stripped away. These toners replenish the lost moisture at an immediate level. These are some examples of products in this category. These are typically applied with cotton and swiped on the face.
STEP 5. Essence: Essences are watery lotions that are neither toner nor serum, but a hybrid of both. They deliver active ingredients deep into the skin and often contain hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and other natural extracts for an immediately hydrated and comfortable feel.
Sk II makes a very popular but expensive essence, but other alternatives are the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence, Innisfree Green Tea Essence, Etude House Moistfull Collagen Essence, Hado Labo (Japanese) Hyaluronic Essence and so on. Here are more choices. Pour some essence into the palms of your hands and gently press it into your skin; you do not need to use cotton.
STEP 6. Serums, Boosters, Ampoules: These treat specific skin concerns and are in highly concentrated forms. They are usually packaged in small bottles, but you do not need big amounts; a little goes a long way. Choose your serum with your personal skin needs in mind. These are some examples. Innisfree's Green Tea Seed Serum is a super popular one for general use.
STEP 7. Sheet Masks: What would Korean/ Asian skincare be without sheet masks? There are so many choices for any type of skin concern, and are usually made of either paper, tissue, or gel-like masks with holes for the eyes, nose, and mouths. You've probably seen them. Put it on your face, relax, wait for 15-20 minutes, and then pat in the excess moisture on your face. These masks are infused with serums and other good things and saturate your face. Tip: Put your masks in the fridge and use them for a super cooling effect during hot summer months! Check them out here.
STEP 8. Eye Cream: The skin around the eyes is sensitive and easily wrinkled. This is where fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles are easily formed. Take a small amount of eye cream on your ring finger (because it is the weakest and therefore most gentle), rub it between both your ring fingers and dab on eye area in gentle motions, massaging it gently. Some eye creams here.
STEP 9. Moisturizers: Like the name implies, these moisturize the skin. Korean moisturizers are not typically heavy or oily. There are multiple choices geared towards different skin types and skin concerns.
STEP 10. Sun Protection/ Sleeping Masks or Night Creams: Depending on the time your last step is an SPF product that will protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays during the daytime. The sun is the cause of a huge percentage of skin damage, so sun protection is a must. Everything you have worked so hard for may be useless if you do not protect your skin against the sun. At night, as your last step, you can use a sleeping mask or a night cream to seal in everything you have applied on your face. During the night, while we sleep, the skin is hard at work regenerating itself. These night creams help in the process so that you wake up with fresh, beautiful, dewy skin! Click here, here, and here for some examples of popular sunblocks.
It is IMPORTANT to remember that after every step you should wait for the product to sink in, and you can help by patting your face with clean fingers softly to help each product sink in. This is a process that may take up some of your time, but if you consider it a long-term investment, it is so worth it!
Until next time.... Stay beautiful!
[Mizo]
Tun tum chu a vaiin kan let lovang. A sei dawn lutuk, ka peih lo :) Korean leh Japanese ho vun nalh em em chhan hi an vun enkawl hi an ngaihpawimah em em vang ania, hna takah an nei a, an uluk a, hun leh tha pawh an seng taima. I duh ve chuan han chhiar zel teh le. A chunga steps zawng zawng khi a indawtin tih vek tur a nia. Blog la chhiar thang lo tan, thumal a sen (red) anga awm khi han click ula, link dangah a hruai che u anga, product ka sawi ho hi in hmu thei ang.
Taihmak ve angai a, hun pawh a duh ve deuh a, mahse tih hram hram peih chuan a manhla em em a ni. Rei lo te ah i vun ah danglamna i hmu nghal ang. A step zawng zawng khi tih peihloh pawhin a then tal khi tih theih chuan a la zia tho.
A hnawih dan hi a pawimawh em em a, hnawih tawk tawk te, hnawih thuak te hian a thawh tur angin a thawk lo thin. I hnawih thuak a i duh tawk chuan i vun a in hip lut lo khan, boruak ah tamtak chu a ro mai mai dawn a, a chhunga lut tur chuan i kut silfai sar hnu khan na vak si lovin han nam deuh la, emaw i kutzungtang khan piano tum ang deuhin i hmai ah khan han ti la, product a lut kim tha tih ah chauh a step dawt leh ah i kal dawn nia.
SPF awm, sun protection nei products hi a pawimawh bon top! Eng ang pawhin in uluk la, ni zung lakah i inven loh chuan a ti chhe tho tho ang. Khawchhiat ni pawhin UVA rays hi engmah in a dang lova, chuvangin chhun a nih hrim2 chuan inchhung ah pawh sunscreen hman reng a tha. Korean leh Japanese sunscreens hi an mawm ve hmuk vak lo a, makeup hnuaiah pawh hman an hrehawm lemlo tlangpui.
Tih hram hramna hi a pawimawh. Thatchhiat chuan vun a nalh theilo a, vun a nalh loh chuan incheina dang engmah a nalh tak tak theilo bawk! :)
Some places to shop for Korean and Japanese products:
Yesstyle
Wishtrend
Strawberrynet
A must read for Korean skincare lovers...moreover the last paragraph is very important XOXO
ReplyDeleteA must read for Korean skincare lovers...moreover the last paragraph is very important XOXO
ReplyDeleteHaha very important! We've all been guilty of being lazy :) Thanks for reading this.
DeleteA van tha thin ve o.....sunscreen product Korean skincare a lar deuh ka van hre chak
ReplyDeletea lawmawm thin. A man hniam lam deuh ah chuan Etude House te, Missha te ho siam hi an duh a, a sang ah chuan Shiseido a cover blue kha an duh tawp. Shiseido hi Japanese brand a nia. Chuan O Hui, CNP Laboratory, Laneige, Neogence ho siam te pawh hi a to deuh hlek naa an fak.
DeleteA van tha thin ve o.....sunscreen product Korean skincare a lar deuh ka van hre chak
ReplyDeleteA va tha ve..clap clap
ReplyDeletethank you, thank you. Products hi i chah duh takin links ah khian ka chah na thin ka dah e.
Delete