9 IMPORTANT FAQS IN KOREAN SKINCARE PRODUCTS and ROUTINES

In order to understand the Korean Skincare better, we added questions and answers which could be a good help

1.  There are 10 Routines in the  Korean Skincare Regimen! Do I have to follow all of the steps?

• Well, no! Unless you want to. Choose the right routine that is best compatible to your lifestyle and fits your skin needs. There are of course, many people who even use more than 10 steps but there are also people who only use maybe 3-4 routines. 

• But it is important to know, that Pre Cleansing which removes makeup and other skin impurities acquired from the day, is a must step to do. And then you can follow it with your Water Based Cleanser. This step is called double cleansing. A popular night time routine in Korea, to make sure skin is free from dirt before using the rest of the skincare routine

• You can follow this with Toner to balance your skin's pH and then end it up with Moisturizer. These steps are the most important to follow. IF you have special skin concerns like treating acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or enlarged pores, then you can opt to add Essences, Serums, Exfoliates and or Mask specific for your problems

• And never ever skip your sunscreens, whether it is sunny or rainy or cloudy. This is a MUST! 

Like I said, it is up to you. Maybe you have some dark circles around the eyes that you want to correct? Then  grab yourself an eye cream too. The good thing is, you don't have to use the whole 10 skincare routine in one day. It is only called 10 because it sums up the whole skincare products you might be possesing, but the order on how to use a product or products, could either be:  only at daytime, and or only at night time, could even be one to three times a week only or once per month. Sheet masks for example, can be used for 1-3 times a week, or exfoliating is done in the evening, once per week or once a month. 

Korean Skincare routine is a concept of layering different toners, essences, serums and moisturizers to give the skin the best nutrients it needs. It works to prevent and solve each unwanted skin problem by giving each problem a solution. Not just an all in one cream for all skin problems! This is what makes it different from the Western skincare routine. You mix and match different products , you add or skip a certain product according to your current skin condition, which is ever changing depending on the weather, your hormones, your health and your lifestyle

2. Do I have to use exclusively Korean Products for my skincare routine?

• Not necesarrily. You can mix and match it with what you already have. If you think the Korean mask sheets would help your skin get a boost of nutrients, try that or if you think, your currrent moisturizer is not working, try something new.

• Just be aware that you should at least patch test your skin when introducing a new product to prevent irritation or breakouts

• and give yourself 2 weeks to 1 month to see the best result before jumping to a new product.

3. So how do I know which product is good for my skin?

• First of all, you should know which skin type you have. Do you have normal, oily, dry or flaky skin, combination of dry and oily or a sensitive skin? From here on, search skincare product that matches your skin type. Read here about skin types.

• Knowing your skin type,  is a very important step to make,  to avoid aggreviating conditions or problems  of your skin

• Note that, each product could still react differently from yours even if it works and effective to others, because each of us has different skin needs. It would help to read research and read reviews

4. I am not Asian, is the Korean cosmetic compatible to me?

• Yes, the Korean beauty products are compatible to every race or ethnicities and equally good for men and women, for the young and mature skin. It is more important to know which skin type you have or skin concern you want to treat or prevent. Your age does not matter either, because there are mature or older people who have lesser wrinkles and there are younger adults fighting against wrinkles in their early age. 

• But as far as Korean makeup is concern, shades are quite limited to choose from.

5. I keep reading, the words "whitening" and "brightening" on the labels, I don't want to bleach my skin!

• Many Korean cosmetic products are labeled with „Brightening or Whitening“, but this doesn't mean, it would bleach your skin. They are specially formulated to treat hyperpigmentation, even out skin tone, and boost your skin's radiance. Products with these labels clear your skin for a youthful and glowy complexion.

6. It is confusing,  what are freshener, emulsion, milk etc. in the labels?

• Koreans are creative in labeling their products which is sometimes really confusing.

• Freshner/Boosters/Skin/ Skin refiner: these words refer mainly to toners/Gesichtwasser. They are important in balancing your skin pH (which was disturbed after cleanser) and bring moisture back to skin (right after the cleansing step). It also prepares the skin to increase absorbtion of additional skin products that follow.  This is the astringent counterpart of the West, just that toners in Koreans are gentler and friendlier to skin. 

• Emulsion: this is a moisturizing product, which has a lighter consistency compared to a cream. This is good to wear in summer and for people with oily skin

• Cream: This is a thicker moisturizing formula. Good in winter or dry climate or people with dry skin

• Essences: lighter consistency and lower percentage of active ingredients compared to serum. Has many variations targeting your skin concersn, like an essence for acne, wrinkles, oil control, brightening, moisturizing etc.

• Serum: has thicker consistency than Essences and also come in all variations to treat your skin problems.

  Night serum: thicker and more nourishing than the morning serum counterpart.

• Ampoule: has the thickest concentration compared to serum and essence. The skin absorbs it faster because of its light consistency and it gives faster skin result. 

• Milk (Milk cleanser) – other term used for cleansers.

7. I am not sure which product to appy first?

• After finishing your Pre Cleanser/Oil Based Cleanser/Makeup Remover and Water Based Cleanser, follow this rule: the lighter consistency (liquidy, watery) should come first. The thickest cream should come last. And the lighter the consistency, the faster it also dries and the faster it is absorbed in the skin. You can use these rule of thumbs when applying your skincare products and to know how much time to wait before adding a new layer.

8. How important are sunscreens? Is it enough to wear moisturizers or BB creams with SPFs?

• The fact that the sun is the number one cause of aging skin and it causes skin cancer, therefore it is important! The UV Rays dry out the skin, breakdown the collagen and results to skin cancer. We don't want that of course.

• The SPF incorporated in your moisturizers or BB creams are not as concentrated compared to a standalone sunscreen products. If you're working or staying inside most of the time, then your BB cream with SPF would be sufficient, but when you spend many times outside, look for higher SPFs.

• There are sunscreens that really combine good with your skin type and blends properly with your makeup. Look for the one that fits you. 

• Note that Sunscreen is a must routine in Asian/Korean beauty routine. 

You’ll find products for all skin types and a range of concerns, from acne and sensitive skin to wrinkles, pores, and sun damage in BoOonBox.

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