10 Korean Beauty Secrets Every Woman Needs to Know

Forget K-Pop, K-Beauty, aka Korean beauty, is going to be a big buzzword for this year.

It's the nation that brought us sheet masks and oil cleansing, as well as being adamant we need at least nine steps in our nightly beauty regime.

Known for their flawless skin, Korean women spend on average 20-30 minutes prepping their skin before bed. Their nightly skincare ritual is their very own self-care slot, an opportunity for some personal down-time. What's more, Korean women view their skin as the ultimate investment for youthful, blemish-free skin and spend more money on skincare and cosmetics than anything else.

So, to help you follow suit, here are our top tips to get glowing skin and the all-important Korean beauty tips to achieve it:

1. Oil Cleansing

This is the first step to the good skin care routine. Cleansing oils are ideal to remove makeup and also dust particles from the face. Oil-based cleansers are more effective than regular makeup removers as they remove all the makeup when you massage your face.

Dab the product in a cotton ball and remove the makeup completely. Use multiple balls if necessary. Massage it over your dry face and then add a splash of lukewarm water and rinse everything off.

2. Water/ Foam Based Cleanser

Once you’re done with cleansing with a oil based cleanser, you need to cleanse your face with a foam based one to remove all the impurities and to remove the excess oil from your skin. This method is called double cleansing. Massage thoroughly just like a face wash for a minute or so and rinse it off.

3. Exfoliator

To get rid of dead skin cells, it’s important to exfoliate your skin, and to allow the next set of products work by opening up the pores. Exfoliation should be done once a week. But according to steps in Korean basic face care routine, it’s important to exfoliate twice a week. So, choose what works best for you. Personally, I would recommend once a week if you have sensitive skin.

Gently massage a tap of exfoliant for a couple of minutes into your skin and then rinse off. Do not massage harshly. Use circular motions, going over the sides of nose, temples, cheeks and chin thoroughly.

4. Toner

After exfoliating your skin, it’s important to rehydrate it. This is the reason you need to damp it with a toner to maintain your skin pH levels and remove any impurities that the cleansers didn’t clear. You can sprinkle on your hand and dab directly or soak a cotton ball and then apply it to your face. Sprinkle on to your hands or on a cotton pad and gently swipe around your face outwards.

5. Essence

Take a button-sized amount of essence (combination of toner/ serum) and apply it to freshly toned skin.

6. Serum/ Ampoules

Face serum or boosters or the Korean ampoules are the concentrated version of essences. They are target specific and focus on major skin problems like dull skin, wrinkles, large pores, pigmentation's and wrinkles. Gently tap on your skin after essence. Massage ampoules for a minute.

7. Sheet Masks

Korean face masks are what meditation is to mind and exercise is for body. These face masks are filled with concentrated vitamins that the skin absorbs, unlike the natural face masks that dry out.
Wear it for 15-20 minutes and chill. You can wear them while working, watching TV and in fact when you’re on your work desk, too, as you don’t need to wash your face afterwards. Sheet masks are literally the coolest steps in facial cleansing.

8. Eye Cream

The area around your eye is very sensitive and requires extra hydration. Gently dab around your eye area without touching the water line. Avoid rubbing the product. Using eye cream morning and night makes the area around your eyes younger and brighter.

9. Moisturizer/ Face Cream

To seal in all the moisture, a face cream is very important. The face creams can be in any form gel, emulsion or lotion. Choose that suits your skin. Pat the moisturizer on face and neck every morning. If your skin tends to be too dry at night, switch the Korean night cream with sleeping masks.

10. SPF

A sunscreen is necessary even if you’re stepping out of the house for a few minutes. This is the most effective way to prevent anti-aging. In fact, Korean girls start using a sunscreen when they are 11, and even wear it when they are indoors. So, it’s a crucial product in Korean morning skincare routine. It’s important to protect your skin from harsh UV rays even when it’s cloudy. Apply it every morning and reapply throughout the day.

How Long Does It Take Korean Beauty Routine to Show Results

Ideally, it should take a week or so to see changes in your skin. It may take a longer time, too, depending on your skin. So, be patient and choose the products that work well for you.