I've been following the Korean skincare routine on and off for a few years now (I sometimes stop just because I'm too lazy to do it everyday lol). I have season-dependent combination skin - my cheeks are oily in the summer and dry in the winter, but my T-zone is always oily. My skin isn't sensitive though, and I actually don't experience that many break-outs or acne. My night routine steps and products used are as follow:
Oil-based cleansing (to remove makeup): Banila Co. Clean It Zero Sherbet Cleanser.
- This is an absolute lifesaver. It's a balm-type cleanser that emulsifies makeup extremely well, even the stubborn waterproof mascaras and eyeliner. I have only found one eyeliner that wasn't completely destroyed by this balm after one wash, but it only took one more oil cleanse to completely break it down. However, I have heard people saying that the ingredients in the Banila Co.'s cleanser isn't the most natural, and that the Heimish All Clean Balm is much better. I haven't tried the Heimish one yet, though.
- If you want a cheaper, more oily alternative, I would also recommend The Face Shop's Rice Water Bright. I personally don't find it to be as effective as the Clean It Zero Sherbet but it's actually a really solid product.
Water-based cleanser: The Face Shop Chia Seed Foam Cleanser.
- Honestly speaking, this isn't my favorite cleanser. It is a pretty good product, it makes my skin feel squeaky-clean and makes my pores feel tight (which is great, because I have really large pores) but I feel like there are better cleansers out there.
- Twice or three times a week, I will use CORSX's Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser to manage and prevent breakouts. Salicylic Acid (BHA) sounds pretty terrible, with the whole "acid" part, but it's really gentle on the skin and really helps to combat the zits or acne that exist under the skin.
Toner: Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner.
- I personally find this cleanser to be rather relaxing and cleans my pores very well. However, I do not recommend this for dry or sensitive skin types due to the amount of alcohol it has.
- For a non-alcohol alternative, I would recommend the Klair's Supple Preparation Facial Toner, it has a pH of 5.5 (which is great for balancing the skin's pH) and has no alcohol or parabens.
Essence: Missha Time Revolution the First Treatment Essence
- I have heard people raving about this essence from Missha for years and years, but never really got around to using it until now. After using it, I can confidently say that this is definitely not an overhyped product (at least for me it isn't). It makes my skin so soft and supple and all things good in the world. I can definitely recommend this for all skin types, and really encourage everyone to try this out. No need to buy the SKII's horrendously overpriced essence because this is the exact dupe for it.
- I have also heard people recommending Primera Miracle Seed Essence for those with sensitive, acne-prone skin due to its formulation consisting of 93.1% lotus seed extract.
Serum: -
- I skip this step all the time, because I honestly don't really feel the need for it. And I'm also too lazy to add so many steps in my daily routine.
- If you are interested in trying serums, I would recommend the plant oils, retinoids and such from The Ordinary. They don't call their product "serums" but that's what they kind of are. Their products are extremely cheap , their bottles often contain 30ml of product for less than $10.
- However, I would strongly recommend you guys do some research about different types of serums, vitamins and acids because serums are basically a treatment for specific areas of concern (e.g. redness, pigmentation etc.)
Emulsion: Skinfood Peach Sake Emulsion
- This smells so darn good and is extremely hydrating. I don't even care what it does or doesn't do to my skin because holy hell I love it so much. Once you pat it into your skin, it dries completely matte and doesn't have that sticky, gross feeling a lot of emulsions can have.
Eye Cream: Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream
- This product really helps with my undereye puffiness and dark circles. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without it. That said, however, I have read reviews of people breaking out due to this product, and of people unknowingly using a counterfeit and ruining their skin so just be careful.
Moisturizer: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
- This is basically my HG for overnight sleep mask.It makes my skin extremely supple and basically shining overnight, so yeah. Reminder, make sure to wash off every sleep mask the next morning or you will end up with a disgusting hoard of bacteria and gunk throughout the day. Sephora is selling a Laneige set with a full-sized sleeping mask along with 2 travel-sized essence and emulsion just for $3 than the price of a normal full-size sleep mask. I highly recommend you guys to buy that set.
- Laneige's mask has a really strong fragrance so if you can't stand fragrances, I would recommend the CORSX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Mask. The rice mask has a smell, but it is much less harsh than Laneige's mask.
Things I do 1-3 times a week:
Exfoliate: Skinfood Wash Off Black Sugar Mask (1x)
- In addition to using the CORSX Salicylic Cleanser 2-3 times a week, I also use a physical exfoliant once a week to remove all my dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliants are better for the skin, though, so just keep that in mind. Don't use a physical exfoliant more than twice a week or it will severely damage your skin.
Sheet Mask: Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask - Rice (3x)
- I use sheet masks on the weekends or on nights that I really need a pick-me-up. You can definitely use a sheet mask 4-5 times a week if you have the time and money. I really love Innisfree's Rice Mask, it feels so gentle on the skin all the while leaving my face super refreshed and soft; it's my absolute favorite out of all the It's Real Squeeze Masks.
Things to keep in mind:
- Morning cleansing is not that necessary, especially for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin. Excessive cleansing can actually damage your skin's natural barrier, resulting in even more acne and redness. For the morning, I would recommend washing your face with water, then applying an essence/moisturizer and sunscreen
- Before putting anything on your face, put it first on your hand or neck and wait for 10-15 minutes to see if you are allergic to it.
- Everybody's skins are different, so you have to mix-and-match products to fit your skin. DON'T blindly follow one person's skincare routine and hope it will work out for you. It may work, but often times, it will not.
- For acne-prone and sensitive skin, less is more. You are better off sticking with a 5-step night routine: cleansing (or double cleansing if you wear makeup), toner, essence and serum (add a moisturizer if you live in a dry/cold climate).
USE SUNSCREEN.
Use it everyday, everywhere, under makeup, over makeup, reapply every 3 hours. Sunscreen with PA+++ or PA++++ will protect your skin from UVA light, which can travel through glass and cause serious damage under your skin. Even when you're indoors all day, you're not safe. Use. Sunscreen. I cannot stress the importance of sunscreen enough.
- Sunscreen with an SPF of 35-50 will be sufficient for almost everybody on almost every occassion, don't waste your money for those SPF100 products with absurdly high price tags. A sunscreen with an SPF of 35 is already capable of blocking out 97% of UVB light, and SPF50 blocks out 98%. A product with an SPF of 100 will block out 99% so what's the point? Nothing can block 100% UVB light.
- For sunscreen recommendations, I recommend Etude House Sunprise Airy Finish SPF50+ PA+++, CORSX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++, Missha Safe Block Sun Cream. I personally found these 3 to have minimal whitecast and layer pretty well under or over makeup.
Seriously, use sunscreen. Sorry for sounding passive-aggressive but there is literally no point in following any skincare routine if you are not going to use sunscreen. There's really no point.
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