The 10 Step K-Beauty Regimen ~ Seriously Effective Beauty Secrets

Anyone who is vaguely aware of what’s going on in the beauty industry has realized, trends go in and out of style. Right now some of the hottest beauty trends are: contouring, highlighting, draping, and of course, “K-Beauty” (Korean beauty/skincare products). We’ve heard about the wonders of French and Japanese skincare products, but it hasn’t been till the last few years, that Korean skincare and beauty products have been making a splash in the U.S. However, as with all trends the U.S. embraces, this trend has hit beauty retailers and beauty followers hard, and for good reason.

By: Nicole Kirichanskaya

K-Beauty and skincare is extremely extensive; between the dozens of hundreds of products being introduced to the market every year, and the daily 10 + step beauty routine, Korean skincare covers essentially every beauty concern out there in the market, from oiliness to aging to dry skin. The extensive skincare routine comes with the mindset of not only maintaining healthy and beautiful looking skin, but also devoting a portion of your time simply for taking care of yourself, something that in our ever-moving society, we sometimes forget to do. But Korean-inspired beauty routines doesn’t stop with skincare alone.

While there are dozens of differences between Korean beauty standards and American ones, to put it somewhat simply; Korean make-up has a softer effect to it than American make-up styles (whereas Americans focus more on an intense, dramatic make-up look, bold lipstick, thick eyeliner, contouring, etc.), Korean make-up has a softer, fresher look to it (typically with softer toned lips, eye-shadow palettes, and a focus on a dewy, fresh-faced look).

Only last year I discovered Korean skincare and beauty products while shopping with some friends in New York City’s very own K-Town (located on West 32 St. between Fifth Ave and the intersection of Sixth Ave and Broadway), and after going into one store (TonyMoly) and being floored by the cute packaging of their products (such as an pore-cleaning soap in the shape of a carton of eggs or collagen cream in an adorable pig-like packaging), I became intrigued. After going into the other stores dedicated to beauty and skin care in K-Town, such as The Face Shop and Nature Republic, and trying out some of the products I bought, I got hooked.

Acne, oily-feeling skin, boredom with skincare routine were problems I continually had trouble with in the past, and while the acne hasn’t gone away completely, it and the oily-ness have improved and with the fun packaging of many Korean skincare products (though not all of them are quite so cutesy as TonyMoly’s), I keep up my skincare routine more consistently simply because of how much more fun (a word I never previously would associate with skin care) it is.

Although there are several make-up brands creating products inspired by Korean ones, such as with make-up cushions. To put it simply, a make-up cushion is a liquid foundation that comes in the shape of a powder compact, and helps provide light-to-medium coverage and adds a very natural-looking, dewy glow to your skin. While Korean make-up cushions typically have a very low range of shades, several make-up companies available in the U.S., such as L’Oreal or Lancôme, are now offering make-up cushions as well, in shades suitable for their wide range of customers.

So, if you’re interested in dewy, youthful-looking skin or are simply interested in finding out what the hype is about, check out your local K-town beauty shops, or even a Sephora’s, which also stocks several Korean beauty and skincare products, and try the products for yourself. We have also compiled a list of top beauty brands and products for sake of convenience that you can use to get the job done. Without further ado, here are at least ten basic steps of a daily Korean skincare routine break into, with variations that can be altered based on personal preference and skin type (such as dry or oily):

• Use a make-up remover and oil free cleanser to remove make-up and other oil-based leftovers such as sunscreen or dirt.
  

  La Prairie Cellular Cleansing Water Eyes & Face

  

  

  • • • Water-based cleanser, usually one that foams, is used as a second step in the process to remove impurities like sweat and dirt; using two cleaners, one oil-based and one water-based, cleaning your face entirely.
        

        Sisley Paris Phyto Blanc Lightening Cleansing Milk

        

      • After you’re done cleansing your skin, use something, such as wipes or a pad, to exfoliate your skin, which will help clean off clogged pores, scrape off dead skin, and leave your face skin fresher and brighter looking. The amount of times you exfoliate per week depends on your skin type; if your skin is more sensitive limit the amount of times you exfoliate, and vice versa if you have a tougher complexion.

Anthony Glycolic Exfoliating & Resurfacing Wipes

• • Use a toner. To explain, toners are a way of cleansing your skin and adding a layer of hydration, without messing with the pH balance of your skin as many soaps is liable to do. Toners can be applied by using a cotton pad, or with your own hands if you’re interested in not wasting any liquid.

Amorepacific Time Response Skin Renewal Toner

• • Essence is an incredible beauty step brought to us by Korea; essentially, essence is essentially a lightweight and less concentrated version of serums and is used to add another layer of hydration to the skin.
    

    Sk-ii Facial Treatment Essence Holiday ’16 Limited Edition Green, 7.7oz

    

  • Boosters, serums, and ampoules are basically products used to confront a direct issue, such as acne or dry skin, and the type of product or how many you use during this part of the process depends on your skin type and what you are trying to accomplish.

Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Corrective Serum 1.69 oz.

• Sheet masks are the most recognizable, and easiest, part of an extensive (by American standards) beauty routine. The goal of a sheet mask (such as for rejuvenation or cleansing) and thickness of a sheet mask vary depending on brand, but sheet mask is simply a damp, sheet you place over your face for 10-30 minutes or so (again, the length depends on the mask you use) and is simply a really relaxing thing to do if you’re simply lying around the house.
  

  Sk-ii Facial Treatment Mask, 1 Sheet

  

  • Eye-cream. Doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager, or you’re in your fifties, eye cream is an essential process in Korean beauty routine, a large part of the reason why many Korean women, and men, still look like they’re in their twenties and thirties when they’re actually a few decades older in reality. Eye cream is meant to be dabbed, never rubbed, on the area under your eye without getting too close to your tear-line.
    

    Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Eye & Lip Cream

    

  • After you’re finished cleansing, scrubbing, and hydrating your face, your skin could use a little softer TLC, so here’s the part where you moisturize. Once at night, and once in the morning, on your face and neck to help hydrate your skin and keep it feeling soft and smooth.
    

    Shiseido Bio Performance Advance Revitalizing Cream 2.5 oz.

    

    • While in America, there are many people who love a good tan; there are very few people who enjoy premature wrinkles from lying in the sun too much. A very large majority of Korean skin care products, such as their make-up cushion (a brief explanation on that later), contain an SPF of at least 30 or higher, and sunscreen is simply used as a way to protect your skin not only from UV rays, but from premature aging or skin damage as well.
      

      Kiehl’s Since 1851 Super Fluid Uv Defense Sunscreen Spf 50+ 4.2 oz.

      

    So if you’re looking to do something some major therapy for your skin, without involving laser treatment or surgery, and are willing to put in a little extra time into your daily routine, this skincare routine works miracles.

     

    -NK