Korean women experiment with their beauty products and push the boundary of what’s accepted. As a result, some of their beauty hacks are truly outstanding.
There’s an emphasis on beauty in Korea. It often centres around having impeccable, flawless skin. Truly taking care of your skin goes a long way to avoiding breakouts, minimising the signs of aging, and looking great.
These quick hacks give you some Korean-beauty style tips that you can use today to get that flawless, clear skin that you want.
1. A steam massage in the shower
We know that steam can help to open pores and loosen dirt, so take advantage of your steamy shower to give your skin an extra bit of TLC. Use your fingertips to gently rotate and tap over your face, starting at your forehead and working your way down to the jawbone. Massaging encourages blood flow, taking away waste products from your skin and giving you that youthful glow. Use an oil cleanser to provide a frictionless massage and to help with hydration.
Korea also gave us the double-cleanse routine. How often do you wash your face, only to see half the mascara still intact afterwards? A double-cleanse is the way to get every scrap of dirt from your face. Use two different cleansers, and try to use a gentle oil-based cleanser (see this one from Okana Skincare) so that you’re not eradicating all the sebum from your face.
2. Exfoliate with a facecloth
Use warm water and a facecloth to gently exfoliate your skin. Use an upward motion in circular strokes. Make sure you do this gently, and you can use a mild cleanser as well to keep the area lubricated. Once done and washed, apply your serums and/ or moisturizer in a similar way, using the fingertips in a slow circular motion.
3. Charcoal sheet masks
The current must-have product is charcoal. Grab some sheet masks with charcoal, simply let them sit on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes while you watch TV. It detoxes and exfoliates your skin while you relax. Charcoal can dry out the skin though, so don’t do this too often.
4. Blur for perfect skin
If you’ve ever looked at yourself in the mirror and felt like there’s more imperfections than skin, this is for you. This blurring technique uses a variety of coverage products and a makeup brush to blur out any imperfections. Use a moisturizer, primer, and try to get an air-cushion foundation that can go from sheer to total coverage without ever looking heavy. Basically, the technique is about blurring out any imperfections.
5. Apply a facial essence
A skin essence is a mild, nutrient-packed solution that hydrates the skin. Layering products is the key to success here. Wash your face, and apply a serum or moisturizer. Then apply your skin essence, and then the top layer is moisturizer to lock in the hydration and keep your skin supple and smooth.
6. Enhance your natural lip color
By emphasizing your own natural lip color, you’ll look younger and more vibrant. Our lip colour tends to fade as we age, so this way you’re literally just bringing your youthful lip tint back. So find your lip colour, just a shade more vibrant, in your favorite lipstick brand.
7. Try a lip oil
Lip oils are packed full of nutrients, and glide on like butter. They give a great burst of color and unlike lip gloss, there’s no stickiness. Try one based on rosehip oil or avocado oil for maximum plushness.
8. Try an overnight sleeping mask
Sleep is the time when your cells renew and recover. Take advantage of this to intensively moisturize so you wake up refreshed and renewed. A sleeping mask keeps on working, even when you’re not.
9. Barley tea FTW
If you’ve even gone to a Korean restaurant and been served a nutty flavored tea, it is likely to have been barley tea. The barley is barely roasted, and then served. It’s supposedly given to babies in an effort to help their skin and overall wellness.
The science behind it is that it’s rich in antioxidants, and can improve blood circulation.
10. Skin SOS calls for a special treatment
When your skin needs TLC, it’s time for a serum. When it’s in serious distress, it’s time for an ampoule of goodness. These highly concentrated ampoules have targeted active ingredients that repair and recharge skin cells in super-quick time. Simply apply a few drops after washing your face for some serious love. Choose a treatment that suits your needs, whether it’s acne, dullness, pigmentation or something else.
Whether you use one, two, or all of these hacks, it’ll make a difference. A bit of time and effort is rewarded – so get double-washing, buy some special treatments, and get that crystal clear skin you’ve always wanted.
