6 Korean Beauty Secrets To Keep Your Skin Glowing

6 Korean Beauty Secrets To Keep Your Skin Glowing

Want to know how Korean women take care of their skin? These 6 skin care secrets were given to me from a Korean friend of mine who, by the way, has flawless, beautiful skin. Korean beauty secrets are being revealed to ladies over here in USA and we’re listening!  This info is invaluable to me, especially in the wintertime when we need extra care and a hydrating boost from dry weather. At first, this beauty regimen may seem really thorough. And for those of us in the Western hemisphere, it is.  In Korea, it would be odd to not do it this way.

But, this is precisely why the women there have the skin of a 6-month baby butt.

Let the regimen become like a sacred spa ritual. Get in your quiet space. Lock yourself in your bathroom, maybe turn on some relaxing music..This is “your” time.

Step 1: Prep Your Skin and “Pre-Cleanse”.  This is a crucial first step in the Korean skin care routine. It’s a double cleaning method where you use a soft cleansing towelette (such Cetaphil Cleansing Cloths) to gently remove your BB cream, foundation, blush, eye makeup, etc. You may also use a gentle eye-make-up remover (such as Missha Green Tea Eye Makeup Remover) with a cotton swab or cotton ball (use a very light touch, do not rub; be gentle on the delicate skin of the eye areas).

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Step 2: The “Wash” Draw out the impurities with warm water and an oil based cleanser, such as Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil or TONYMOLY Floria Brightening Cleansing Oil. What is a cleansing oil?  Cleansing oils have recently become all the rage, and for a good reason. Cleansing oil uses the “good oils” in your skin to remove the “bad oils.” So when you apply these “good” oils to your face, they cling to the “bad” oils and all are rinsed away.  Voila!  Also, these good oils won’t dry your skin the way a soap or traditional cleanser will.  Which is way better than awesome for the winter time.

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Step 3: The Second Wash  This is where you will use a gentle cleanser (a mild cream or foaming cleanser such such as O HUI Clear Science Tender Cleansing Cream or BENTON Honest Cleansing Foam which begins as a rich cream, but transforms into a luxurious foam by lathering with water.) Use a gentle, circular motion.  Rinse well.

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Step 4:  Exfoliate  This is an important step  The best skin has zero dead skin cells present. If you have ever been to a Korean bath house, you know they are big proponents of exfoliation. So exfoliate with a gentle scrub such as a sugar mask.  Don’t do this every night.  It isn’t good for your skin to exfoliate too often, only as needed.  I use my Clarisonic Mia 1 with the sensitive face brush for my exfoliations, approximately twice per week. But I do love a good nutrient-rich face mask when I need to glow.  P.S. Don’t forget to exfoliate your lips!

Step 5: Tone and Mist Don’t use a toner with alcohol. You want something that restores the pH balance of your skin. I’ve been known to use witch hazel or raw apple cider vinegar, but if you’re not in the mood for DIY, try the BENTON Snail Bee High Content Skin Toner or Son & Park Beauty Water.  Finish with a spritz of Miracle Essence Water, which is 80% Fermented Yeast Concentrate (sounds kinda gross but it works!).  The spritz absorbs into skin instantly, repairing and nourishing on cellular level. It’s to prep your skin for, you guessed it.. the NEXT step!

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Step 6: Hydrate and Moisturize  This is where you want to pack on the layer of moisturizer. Gently pat a few dabs of moisturizing eye cream, and finish with a night cream moisturizer.  In the winter, I LOVE my Clarins creme riche. I can’t be without it.

Don’t forget your SPF daily-Rain or shine!  A good BB cream with SPF is OK, too. 

Extra DIY Bonus Tip for Winter:  Make a moisture-rich mask with raw honey and organic coconut oil.  Honey is full of antioxidants to nourish and soothe dry or rough skin. Honey is also a great natural healer with antibacterial properties! The coconut oil nourishes and moisturizes.

Directions for DIY Honey Coconut Face Mask:
Mix 1 tsp. raw honey & 1 tps. coconut oil together until well-mixed. Keep the mask on for about 15-20 minutes and rinse with warm water.

photo credits: Langelir