Just like your fitness and exercise routine, your everyday makeup and skincare routine could probably use some updating with warm weather approaching. Spring and summer bring a whole host of new selfie opportunities, like beach days, parties, vacations, backyard barbecues… the list goes on and on!
But, if you’re anything like the rest of us, you’ve probably been neglecting your skin all winter. And, who needs to wear a full face of makeup when you’re just going to be snuggled up on the couch trying to stay warm all day? Well, it’s time to come out of hibernation and get your glow on!
If you’ve done your research, you know that following a Korean beauty (K-beauty) routine will get you looking gorgeous in no time! Korean women are known for their glowing, glass smooth, dewy skin. That’s what we all want, isn’t it? The great thing about Korean skin care and beauty is that, although the routine can be extensive, it’s fully customizable based on your skin type and how much time you want to invest.
By now, you might have even gone out and purchased everything you need to get started with a Korean skincare routine- oil cleanser, foaming cleanser, toner, essence, serum, moisturizer… and don’t forget the face masks! Or, maybe you want to try a CC cream and some other makeup from a K-beauty brand you’ve heard about. You go, girlfriend!
Incorporating Your New Products Safely
But, here’s the thing. If you put all of those new products on your face at the same time, you’re probably not going to get the results you’re going for. Instead, you might wake up in the morning with blotchy, red, irritated skin. Or, halfway through the day at work or school, all that new makeup might cause a dreaded breakout. No matter how tempted you are to try all those beautiful new products at once, don’t! Instead, follow these tips for safely incorporating K-beauty products into your everyday makeup routine.
Choose the Right Products for Your Skin Type
The first step to incorporating any new beauty product safely is choosing the right product for your skin type. Grabbing any random moisturizer or foundation off the shelf could be a recipe for disaster. Instead, start by figuring out what your skin needs. If your skin is oily or prone to breakouts, look for non-comedogenic ingredients. If it’s dry, go for the heavier moisturizers. If your skin is irritated, choose products made for sensitive skin.
Here are some suggestions that will work for most skin types:
- Matcha Pudding Anti-Oxidant Cream: This moisturizer is suitable for all skin types. It provides intense hydration but doesn’t feel heavy or leave a greasy finish.
- S-energy Resiliance Cream: If you’re looking for a powerful anti-aging moisturizer, this one’s for you! It makes a great everyday moisturizer for mature, dry skin, but it is also wonderful as a night cream for anyone who wants to slow down the signs of aging.
- Mizon All-In-One Snail Repair Cream: This innovative cream hydrates and reduces the appearance of fine lines, but it also helps to reduce blemishes and acne scarring. It’s ideal for normal, oily, or acne prone skin. Dry skin types may need to add a more intense moisturizer over top.
Korean beauty offers an amazing variety of products that are suitable for all skin types. Spend a little time researching each product before you buy it. Does the product address your skin’s specific needs? Check the ingredients list and read the product descriptions carefully. What is the product meant to do? If you’re still unsure about a product, most K-beauty websites have product reviews that can help you decide.
Test One Product at a Time
The great thing about K-beauty is that it’s full of natural ingredients that are gentle and nourishing to the skin. But that doesn’t automatically mean that every product is going to work for your skin. Even if you’ve done all your research and bought the best products for your skin type, there’s still a chance that something in the ingredient list might not work for you. If you introduce a bunch of new things at once, there’s no way to know which product is causing an issue.
When you get ready to incorporate your new products, start by introducing one new product at a time. If you’re adding new skin care, start with your new cleansers first and work your way through the routine, introducing a new product every few days if there’s no reaction. With new makeup, start with your new foundation makeup first and slowly add in other products. Or, if foundation always breaks you out, try a lightweight CC (Color Correcting) cream and skip foundation altogether. Eco Your Way CC Cream has a light texture, but still provides full, long-lasting coverage.
If you do have a problem and suspect it was caused by a specific product, try removing the product from your routine for about three weeks. If you have the same reaction a second time, you can be pretty sure it was caused by something in the product, rather than hormones or something you ate.
Patch Testing Your New Products
If you cringe at the idea of slathering a new product all over your face, you’re not alone! Patch testing is a great way to find out if a product works for you without risking a reaction on your face for all to see. To do a patch test, apply a small amount of the product you want to try on the inside of your wrist, or on your jawline right behind your ear.
Leave the product on your skin for 48 hours to see if your skin has an adverse reaction to it. If you don’t see a reaction after 48 hours, you should be good to use the product on your face without risking a breakout. You don’t necessarily have to patch test every product, but it’s a good idea to patch test any products that commonly cause issues. That especially includes chemical exfoliants, moisturizers, and foundations. Also, do a patch test before you try any product that contains an acid. Acids can do amazing things for your skin when used correctly, but they are also common irritants.
Don’t Try a New Product Right Before an Important Event
Never test your new products right before an important event! If the product causes irritation or a breakout, it could take as long as two weeks or more for the problem to correct itself. It’s best to avoid trying new products a month before a big event so that you don’t end up walking down the aisle with a major breakout or going on that big date with red bumps all over your face. Give your skin plenty of time to recover before a big occasion if you’re going to be incorporating new products into your daily routine.
The world of K-beauty is a beautiful and exciting one, and we all want to jump on the bandwagon. If you follow these tips, you can incorporate all those shiny new products into your daily routine with confidence. It’s time to get that glass smooth, glowing skin Korean women are so famous for!
Article Contributed by: Donna Maurer
