OK — let’s just be completely honest for a minute, and all agree that Asian women have amazing skin that defies time and gravity! They take excellent care of themselves, and their skin is what is in vogue, whereas some American beauty trends are only skin deep. The root of their beauty style is skincare itself and includes fresh-faced blossoming cheeks and bee-stung lips. Let’s check out what these amazing women are using and see if we can’t pick up a few Korean beauty tips like slugging!
5 Korean Beauty Tips & Tricks
1. The 10-second rule
I know what you are thinking about the 10-second rule…but it’s not that, haha! This is a trick where you tone and moisturize your face within 10 seconds of getting out of the shower. Sound a little gimmicky? There is actually quite a bit of logic involved. Whenever you are in the shower, it acts as a sauna, opening up all of your beautiful pores. When those pores are open, primed, and ready, you are giving them the goods they want at the best time possible. Your moisturizer will travel further and be more effective this way — giving you that deep glow and important hydration. What a great way to start the day!
2. Cleanse Times 2
This little gem is a great way to rid your face of the ickiness of the day! Even if we don’t wear makeup, our skin is picking up all sorts of toxins and pollutants from the environment that can prematurely age us. We all get a little dirty and sweaty even if we don’t see it. How many times have you washed your face and toned afterward, only to pull the cotton ball away and see ALL of the grossness left behind? The double cleanse method is a surefire way to banish all the dirt and germs. With the right cleansers, it won’t dry out mature skin, as one could assume!
That’s because the first step is a cleansing oil: Wet your face and massage it in to break up all of the makeup and grime, then rinse and follow with a gentle foaming cleanser to get the rest! It is an extra step, but it can be extra hydrating, and your skin will thank you. Remember to find a Foamy cleanser that works best for your skin type.
Pros: stacked with sea algae fibers to help remove makeup, excess oil, and pollution, leaving skin feeling refreshed, soft, and supple.
Pros: It thoroughly cleanses the skin without stripping it of its natural oils to break down the most stubborn makeup (even waterproof varieties!).
Pros: Emulsifies with water to gently yet effectively dissolve even the hardest to remove makeup and impurities – without over-drying your skin.
3. Knead to boost!
Have you heard the new saying “Sitting is the new smoking”? Well, that is the same for your skin. We need movement to keep it healthy and have that intrinsic radiance shine forth! Korean ladies have come up with little face massage exercises to promote circulation, firm up skin, and keep everything moisturized to high heaven.
Take a dollop of your favorite moisturizer and add a serum for a little boost. When applying the compound, make sure you are rubbing upwards and away from the center of the face in small circles. Use your fingertips to massage pressure points in the face, temples, and in between your eyes.
There are many different ways to do these massages. If you want to add some tricks up your sleeve, there are books available like The Korean Skincare Bible: The Ultimate Guide to K-Beauty. It feels amazing and is a great way to treat yourself when starting or ending your day.
4. Let’s root for the root!
The Koreans have been using ginseng for health and beauty for hundreds of years. It is a natural antioxidant and can actually help with aging and wrinkles. It acts like caffeine for the skin, too, boosting circulation to brighten your overall complexion’s glow and even out hyper-pigmentation (bye-bye dark under-eye circles)! Puffiness? Who needs it? This stuff is also a natural anti-inflammatory. This little panacea for the face and body is exactly what we all need in our daily lives.
You can incorporate this stuff into your beauty routine in so many ways. Sheet masks, creams, face washes, even makeup! Here are a few products we love.
Pros: Naturally encapsulated Ginseng Oil helps reduce visible lines and wrinkles and creates a firmer appearance.
Pros: Helps wake up dull, lackluster, extra dry skin with 72-hour hydration.
Pros: It instantly brightens and visibly diminishes the appearance of dark circles, bags, and puffiness for a more youthful appearance.
5. Slugging
Of all the Korean beauty tips, slugging might take some getting used to. I’m sure you have noticed that a huge trend right now is in face masks. These are a great, non-messy way to add a boost of hydration (or whatever we need) to our lives. If you look at most hydrating Korean face masks, you will notice one ingredient in common: snail secretion! Snail mucin, mucus, slime…whatever you want to call it, it is in high demand right now, and it’s pretty amazing.
As it turns out, this secretion is chock-full of goodies for your skin, like peptides, hyaluronic acid, and even glycolic acid. It can really hydrate your skin and help with fine lines and wrinkles. It helps with anti-aging while having healing properties. Also, as a bonus, the snails are not hurt while they are gathering the mucus.
There is a plastic surgeon in New York who charges $400 for an “Escarglow” facial, and it is all the rage. Many local spas, though, offer snail mucus facials as well. Not wanting to break the bank? Here are some great masks to stock up on to keep your visage hydrated for the chilly months ahead!
Pros: Helps to re-plump dull and dry skin caused by stress without making it feel oily or sticky.
Pros: Each pre-moistened sheet mask comprises 66% Sinensis Leaf Water and 20% Snail Secretion Filtrate to help smooth rough, dry skin.
Pros: Gold and snail slime extract help give you healthier, firmer skin.
Wrapping Up
These Korean ladies really know what they are doing! I am so in love with how they prioritize healthy, glowing skin! It is so refreshing in the time of caked-on foundation and heavy, dark lips. Don’t get me wrong…sometimes a nice vampy lip can be just the thing I need, but your makeup will never look great until your canvas looks (and feels) great! Who knew that snails and a tasty root could be our secret weapons against aging and dullness? Incorporate these Korean beauty tips to restore your own glow. Going into the end of the summer, I hope you are all fighting the good fight against dryness, ladies! Remember to take some self-care time if you need it. Xo
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