Korean Skin Care Basics

Where to Start With Korean Skin Care: Masks and Sheet Masks

/ prettyniceface / 4 Comments

If you’re going to start integrating Korean skin care products into your routine, I recommend starting with one of the following categories: cleansers, essences, or masks. These are some of the most unique and impactful products that the Korean market offers, and they are available in a delightful array. Here are some of the most beloved/well-reviewed, and my favorites.

Sheet masks and sleeping packs are kind of like the dessert of Korean skin care routines: you don’t want one every night, but it’s a treat you can look forward to a couple times per week. (Also if you eat dessert every night I have nothing but respect for that. Do you, dessert-eating boo.) Sheet masks come in individual packaging and are typically cloth soaked in a serum intended to address specific concerns (e.g. fine lines, blemishes) while delivering a ton of moisture to the skin. And hello, they’re so fun.

korean sheet masks

Benton Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack $15 for 10pcs

My Beauty Diary Imperial Bird’s Nest Mask $14 for 10pcs

There are TONS of good sheet mask options, and they are growing in popularity stateside so availability is pretty good. My understanding is that the Korean brands do tend to use more highly-concentrated serums, but Sephora has some branded ones. Dr. Jart+ has some of the most beloved sheet masks on the market but they are $$$, so I’d save this for a particularly haggard skin moment (post bachelorette party, perhaps). The two I’ve listed above are my current favorites, but there are too many to stay loyal to just one: I gotta catch ’em all.

sheet mask selfie

Join in on the IG fun with #sheetmaskselfie, because aint no shame in this skin care game.

laneige water sleeping mask

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask $23

This is one of my most favorite products. It’s a sleeping mask (also referred to as a sleeping pack) that you layer on top of all your other products to really lock them in with an extra barrier of moisture. It absorbs beautifully and does not leave a tacky or sticky feeling behind, but rather a suede-y feeling as if water would bead and roll off of your face (hence the name, I think?). It’s also a great value: at 1-2 uses per week, this $23 jar pot will last a very long time. AND! The entire Laneige line is now sold at Target, so you can get your K-beauty fix while getting your Nate Berkus on!

Discover Korean cleansers and essences to add to your routine.

New to Korean skin care? Start here!

 

Where to Start with Korean Skin Care: Essences

/ prettyniceface / 3 Comments

If you’re going to start integrating Korean skin care products into your routine, I recommend starting with one of the following categories: cleansers, essences, or masks. These are some of the most unique and impactful products that the Korean market offers, and they are available in a delightful array. Here are some of the most beloved/well-reviewed, and my favorites.

Essences are really the cornerstone and defining characteristic of a Korean skin care regimen. They’re typically highly concentrated with active ingredients that are wide ranging and unique, and generally a bit off the beaten path from what we’re used to seeing at the cosmetics counter, e.g. snail slime, bee venom, fermented yeast, or bamboo sap. One thing to note is that the name “Essence” is generally generally used, and many products under that category should be used in different ways, so be sure to check descriptions and reviews.

missha time revolution first treatment essence benton benton snail bee high content essence

Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence $45

This essence is chocked full of fermented yeast extract, which helps to improve skin texture and elasticity, and I’ve found that it really reduces the visibility of redspots and blemishes. It’s applied like a toner (immediately after cleansing) and comes in a big bottle that goes a long way. I use it in the morning and at night and love the dewy base it provides for the rest of my routine.

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence $15

This essence has more of a watery-gel consistency and is one of the first products I started using that got me hooked on Korean skin care. It has snail slime and bee venom in it does wonders towards smoothing the overall texture and eveness of your skin by promoting cell turnover. It’s a very solid, very affordable product and a great way to dip your toe into a bigger regimen without breaking the bank. I use this AM and PM after my toners.

What skin care concerns are you looking to address through a new routine?

Discover Korean cleansers and masks to add to your routine.

Where to Start With Korean Skin Care: Cleansers

/ prettyniceface / 3 Comments

If you’re going to start integrating Korean skin care products into your routine, I recommend starting with one of the following categories: cleansers, essences, or masks. These are some of the most unique and impactful products that the Korean market offers, and they are available in a delightful array. Here are some of the most beloved/well-reviewed, and my favorites.

In Korean skin care, cleansing is a two-step process that starts with an oil-based cleanser. The idea is is that you’re restoring some moisture to the skin while washing away makeup and grime, and then your foaming cleanser does the rest of the job for you.

clean_it_banila_co_cleanser

Banila Co. Clean It Zero $21

This stuff is delightful. It’s a pale pink, sorbet-looking balm that melts into a luxurious oil on the skin, removing all makeup (even the oh-so-stubborn Makeup Forever Brow Gel) and the wear of the day without leaving any oily film or slickness behind. Be careful not to use too much – which can be tempting but is not neccessary – a small amount goes a long ways and at $21 you’ll want to make it last.

Sum37 Rose Cleansing Stick

Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick $37

If I had to choose just one Korean skin care product to keep forever, it would be this. It’s that great. You roll this little cleansing stick up like a deodorant (the comparison is regretable but must be made), smear it across your face, and massage warm water in to create a foamy lather that leaves your skin smelling great and feeling soft and clean but not overly dry. I use it every morning and in the evenings when I skip my oil-based cleanser, and it’s a dream to travel with. Normally I would balk at this pricetag for a cleanser, but this stick goes a long way and is worth it.

Discover Korean essences and masks to add to your routine.

Korean Skin Care: What Is It?

/ prettyniceface / 2 Comments

After sending about a dozen rambling emails to my girlfriends trying to explain my newfound love of Korean skin care, I figure it’s time to get serious and start at square one: what is exactly is a Korean skinc care routine, how does it work, and why should you care?

What is it?

While in the US we add 1 or 2 specialized products to our skin care lineup (think night cream, eye cream, retinol serum for wrinkles), Korean women use 7-10+ products as part of both their morning and evening skin care routines. The idea is that if you perfect your skin with an array of high-quality, specialized products, you can waltz out the door every day with a beautiful dewy complexion, make-up free.

Full disclosure, the first time I read about this I thought it was ridiculous. But the more I investigated the ins and outs of how it works, researched products and read more and more success stories, I started to think the whole idea might hold some water. Continue reading →