The skin of many Korean women is youthful and beautiful even in adulthood. It is very interesting to observe such a picture: on the one hand, what you see causes delight, on the other – bewilderment. Then the question arises: how to achieve a similar result, what is the secret of Asian youth, how do Korean women take care of their faces. This will be discussed in this article.
The Korean care system helps to preserve the youth and beauty of the skin for a long time
Facial care
Regardless of the specific methods of caring for the dermis, this process always includes the same basic steps, the features of which and the choice of products depend on the skin type. There are four of them in total:
- Dry. It is characterized by a feeling of tightness, peeling, and the presence of narrowed pores.
- Fat. As a result of intense sebum secretion, it has a shiny surface. It is also characterized by the presence of enlarged pores. This dermis is susceptible to various inflammations and skin diseases in the form of comedones, acne, etc. Most often occurs in adolescence.
- Combined. It is characterized by oiliness in the T-zone and dryness in other areas.
- Normal dermis. Does not have the above problems.
Almost no type of skin is found in its pure form.
Any type of dermis can have certain problems, which allows us to give another classification of facial skin:
- Sensitive. Reacts painfully to external irritants (redness, inflammation, etc. may appear).
- Fading. Characterized by sagging and the presence of wrinkles.
- Problematic. Has acne, pimples, etc.
- Cooperose. It has a clearly visible capillary network.
Having determined your skin type, you can proceed to the selection of caring cosmetics and directly to the procedures themselves. Home facial care includes the following steps:
- Hydration. It is necessary to wash your face at least 2 times a day and also consume plenty of fluids.
- Skin nutrition. Using special creams twice a day, as well as masks – once a week.
- Cleansing. Scrub the dermis once a week.
When to apply the mask
Treat yourself to a mask 1-2 times a week, or apply as needed. For example, the “rescuer” masks of the Skin Rescuer series are intended for emergency care. When an unexpected pimple or blemish appears, or just urgently get yourself in order.
According to the canons of 10-step Korean skin care, a fabric mask is in 7th place:
- cleansing
- exfoliation
- toning
- essence
- serum
- emulsion
- mask
But I recommend doing the mask immediately after the essence or toner. Only in extreme cases, when you need to charge your face to the maximum, apply it after the serum.
There is no need to wash your face after using a Korean sheet mask. Remove it, massage, pat your face so that the hydrogel is completely absorbed. Finally, apply emulsion or cream.
Moisturizers, such as creams and emulsions, create a dome over the skin. Thus, the nutritional components obtained from the mask do not evaporate and continue to nourish the skin all day.
About the Korean skin care system
Facial skin care products
The main secret lies in the fact that Koreans spare no time, effort and financial resources to take care of the beauty of their faces. Nightly skin care includes several complex manipulations related to cleansing and moisturizing the dermis. Such procedures have long taken the form of a kind of ritual and become part of the national culture of Korea.
Daily facial care regimen
The average Korean woman's cosmetics set is quite impressive: it can include up to 20 different facial care products. Each of them is applied in a strictly defined sequence. Such abundant use of cosmetics contributes to a complete and effective effect on the outer and inner layers of the skin.
Step #9: Moisturizer
Our pirouettes with cosmetics are meaningless without moisturizing. This is the main stage that should not be skipped.
I wrote at the beginning of the article that skin is a sponge. You have cleaned it, soaked it with extracts, vitamins and nutrients from masks, serums and essences. But if you leave it in this state, the nutrients will evaporate and the efforts will come to naught.
The cream has a dense texture and “seals” the nutritional components, preventing them from evaporating. But the main task of the cream is moisturizing.
Moisturizers also contain special substances that protect the skin. For example, ceramides in facial cosmetics restore the epidermal barrier. Such products protect not only from dryness, but also from adverse environmental factors, city dust and bacteria.
Korean care system "424"
It is a new way of washing that promotes deeper cleansing of pores and effectively eliminates open comedones (blackheads).
Facial skin care in autumn
The “424” washing system is a type of double cleansing of the skin and is the first step in the 10-step Korean facial care system. Cleansing includes several procedures at once:
- Rub hydrophilic oil into the skin for 4 minutes.
- Wash with foam for 2 minutes.
- Washing with hot (2 minutes) and cold water (2 minutes).
Thorough washing helps remove fat, dirt, dead skin cells, and most importantly, enhances the effect of care products.
The step-by-step washing procedure according to the Korean system is as follows:
- Hydrophilic oil is applied to dry skin. The product should be rubbed in with massaging movements for 4 minutes. The oil absorbs makeup residue, dirt and grease.
On a note. First, it is recommended to apply a few drops of the product to the sponge and use it to remove mascara and lipstick, only then move on to other areas.
Such a long facial treatment is explained by the fact that:
- During this time, blood circulation improves.
- Facial muscles relax.
- The dermis softens, the pores expand.
Massage movements help smooth out wrinkles, activate collagen production, tone and strengthen muscles.
The product should be rinsed off with warm water and the face thoroughly wiped.
On a note. The hydrophilic oil Holika Holika Soda Pore Cleansing Deep Cleansing Oil, specially designed for deep cleaning of pores, has proven itself very well. The product contains ingredients such as baking soda, argan oil, and mineral water.
- A water-based cleanser needs to be foamed and applied to dry dermis in the form of a mask. Cosmetics should be rubbed in with massage movements for 2 minutes. The dry surface of the face promotes a gentle peeling effect. Among the recommended Korean foams are products from Secret Key and Holika Holika.
- The foam is washed off with hot water for 2 minutes. At this stage, intensive removal of blackheads occurs. Also, in the process of washing, acne decreases, pimples and acne disappear. Next, you need to wash your face with cold water for 2 minutes. A sharp temperature change helps narrow pores, tones the skin and improves complexion.
Korean washing technique
At first, the Korean care system should be used daily, 2 times a day (morning and evening). After a week, care can be reduced to a single cleansing of the dermis every night.
Recommendation. After the procedure, it is advisable to apply a toner or other moisturizer to the skin (for example, Holika Holika Good Cera Super Ceramide Toner). This cosmetics restores the pH of the dermis and strengthens its protective layer.
The Korean care system “424” is suitable for any skin. Race, gender, age don't matter. However, the type of dermis (combination, oily, dry, normal) plays an important role - specific care products should be selected for it. For example, for dry and sensitive skin, it is recommended to use a toner. It should be applied not with a sponge, but with your palms. For oily skin, foams based on bamboo, green tea or aloe juice are suitable (for example, Holika Holika Daily Fresh Bamboo Cleansing Foam).
Stage 1 - Hydrophilic oil
Hydrophilic oil is a real find in the field of cosmetology. It is very different from regular oil. Even its name speaks for itself: “hydrophilic”, which means loving water. Unlike regular oil, it is easily washed off with water without leaving a greasy feeling on the skin.
Hydrophilic oil - 1st stage of cleansing
An interesting way to use it is to apply it directly to cosmetics, on top of mascara, powder and foundation. They rub it, smearing all the makeup over the face (very soon this won’t seem so strange). Then leave it on the face for a while. During this time, hydrophilic oil can be absorbed into the pores and when we wash it off with soap or foam, it will “wash” all the cosmetics out of the pores, leaving the skin incredibly clean.
10-step Korean facial treatment
Facial skin problems
The first and second stages - double cleansing - were described in detail in the previous paragraph. The 10 stage system includes the following steps.
Step #3 – peeling. The Korean procedure is characterized by a gentle effect on the skin. The fact is that peeling products do not contain chemical additives that injure the dermis. In addition, the Korean scrub procedure includes facial massage, which improves microcirculation and also accelerates the process of cell and tissue renewal.
Peeling allows you to:
- Get rid of dead particles of the dermis. Dead cells clog the pores, thereby impairing blood circulation. As a result, the skin becomes pale and ages faster.
- Lighten the dermis, reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- Activate the cell renewal process.
- Stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, as a result of which the skin acquires tone and becomes more toned.
The scrub is applied to clean skin and massaged in circular movements for a minute. In this case, the areas around the eyes and lips are not affected. The peeling is washed off with warm water. The procedure should be carried out 1 or 2 times a week.
Recommended cosmetics – Mizon facial peeling gel with lemon extract.
The fourth stage is toning. In this case, the “3-second rule” applies: after cleansing, the skin must be moisturized as soon as possible. A Korean toner with a pronounced moisturizing effect is perfect for this. The product is applied with gentle patting movements. It is recommended to use it daily in the morning and evening.
In the Korean cosmetics market, Deoproce moisturizing tonic is a great success among customers.
Step #5 – essence. The purposes of application are to moisturize the skin and saturate it with nutrients. The product is able to penetrate deeply into the dermis, moisturize and improve its general condition. This cosmetics is a viscous, colorless liquid with a light texture. The composition of the Korean essence includes melt water, lotus extract, snail mucin, etc.
The product is applied every day in the morning and evening with light patting movements.
The recommended product is CosRX essence.
Step No. 6 – ampoule or serum (serum). The latter has a denser and thicker consistency compared to essence. Whey also contains more beneficial substances. Ampoules are characterized by the highest content of vitamins and other useful microelements. Serums and ampoules are available in glass jars.
It is recommended to use the products in courses of 1.5-2 weeks.
Popular Korean products of this type include:
- Anti-aging serum The Saem.
- Maxclinic collagen ampoule.
Multi-step Korean facial skin care (evening)
Step No. 7 – mask, massage, patches. The next stage should be started 10-15 minutes after applying the ampoule or serum.
Korean masks come in the following types:
- Fabric.
- Ampoule.
- Alginate.
- Hydrogel.
All masks, regardless of type, have a moisturizing effect on the dermis. They contain various caring components (this can be aloe extract, hyaluronic acid, collagen, etc.).
In the evening, a 5-minute massage should be included with the mask (the procedure improves microcirculation and promotes better penetration of the beneficial ingredients of the mask). Instead of a massage, you can make patches to smooth out wrinkles around the eyes. This product is a gel pad that fits tightly to the face. Due to close contact with the surface of the face, the patches react to the temperature of the dermis and “transfer” beneficial substances to the deeper layers of the skin.
Patches are applied to clean, dry skin around the eyes, as well as on the lips and kept for 20-30 minutes.
Recommended products:
- Anskin mask with vitamin C.
- LUKE patches against wrinkles under the eyes.
Step #8 – eye cream. Korean remedies of this type usually include:
- SYN-AKE peptide, derived from snake venom.
- Mucin – activates the production of collagen and other similar substances.
- Ginseng root.
The cream is applied to dry, clean skin by patting the fingers in the direction from the inner corner of the eye to the outer.
Recommended product: Secret Key Night Eye Cream.
The ninth stage is emulsion (facial lotion). Helps retain moisture in skin cells. Its consistency resembles a liquid cream, but, unlike it, it has a lighter texture. The emulsion lies on the skin in the form of a thin film that protects the dermis from moisture loss and exposure to adverse external factors. The product is well absorbed and does not cause a feeling of tightness.
Recommended products – The Saem Facial Emulsion.
Step number ten – nourishing cream or night mask. The skin is restored most intensively during sleep, so night cream and night masks are of great importance for facial care.
Korean cream is applied in a thick layer - during sleep, the skin will absorb as much product as it needs.
The night mask, like the cream, is applied throughout the night. Unlike the latter, the mask has a more intense effect due to the nutritional components it contains. The mask is applied no more than 2-3 times a week.
Recommended products:
- Night cream Mizon for face.
- Night face mask Tony Moly.
The ten-step skin care described above refers to the evening “ritual”. Morning eliminates the use of hydrophilic oil. The final accord is a light cream (those with oily skin can use an emulsion).
Skin care products
It is very important to understand what the best Korean cosmetics are - facial care requires the most competent approach. Among the most popular and high-quality products are the following.
Hydrophilic oil HolikaHolika
Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Cleansing Foam
Holika Holika Good Cera Super Ceramide Toner
Holika Holika Daily Fresh Bamboo Cleansing Foam
Mizon facial peeling gel with lemon extract
Tonic Deoproce
Essence CosRX
Collagen ampoule Maxclinic
The Korean facial skin care system is complex, strictly ordered and requires a lot of time, effort and money. The invested resources will be justified only if you select cosmetics correctly (according to your skin type) and follow all the rules and recommendations for care.
