The global obsession with everything Korean has been consistently rising. With Korean food, K-pop, Korean dramas and now K beauty, this East Asian nation seems to be getting everything right. Although the Koreans have been using their basic principles of skincare for their porcelain-like skin for centuries, the world took notice of their beauty products only around 2011 when they invented the BB cream. Today, the biggest celebrities swear by their favourite Korean skincare products. Wondering how you can get that celebrity look? Here’s your ultimate guide to a Korean skincare routine!
How To Choose Korean Skincare Products
The Korean 10-step skincare regime has taken the world by storm. However, there is no need for you to break your bank and buy a ton of products to be able to meet the K beauty standards. The weather of our country along with the varied Indian skin types makes using so many products difficult. All you need to understand is the logic behind their regime and incorporate it in a way that suits your lifestyle. Essentially, Koreans believe in cleansing, exfoliation, prep and treatment of the skin. With little nuggets of knowledge, you can reap all benefits of the Korean skincare regime without having to use as many products.
1. Know Your Skin Type
Different skin types mean different skin problems, making it obvious that the face care products you need are also categorically different. Not only this, every woman has a certain skin goal which is also a vital factor in deciding which and how many products are needed. While some women seek products that solve specific skin conditions like acne, dark spots and hyperpigmentation, others look for solutions that promise youthful skin, natural glow and skin tightening. Having a clear picture of your skin expectations is the first step towards choosing the right products.
2. Recognize Which Ingredients Will Work For You
What sets Korean face care products apart from other global brands is their unique use of natural ingredients. Korean beauty products make use of some rather unconventional ingredients like fermented rice water, ginseng, snail mucin, noni, arbutin, propolis and birch juice. Even though these ingredients are natural and safe to use for most skin types, the beauty products contain a high concentration of these ingredients which could lead to irritation for some. Thus, a patch test is recommended before using the products for the first time.
Each one of these ingredients is specifically used for a particular type of skin condition. Understanding which ingredient works for specific skin problems is crucial. Once you have recognized the ingredient that is best suited for your needs, you can choose the product with that ingredient to meet your beauty goals sooner.
3. Find Product Options
Once you know which ingredients are best suited for your needs, you can move on to choosing amongst the many beauty products which make use of those ingredients. This decision will depend upon the concentration of the required ingredient, other ingredients present in the product, price of the product and most importantly, the easy availability of that product in your area. Here, online shopping is your best bet.
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4. Check Reviews
Reading reviews of the chosen product helps in getting a rough idea of how the product responds to various types of skin. If more than a few women claim that the product causes rashes or irritation, you are better off staying away from it. While checking reviews, you must also ensure that you pay more attention to reviews from women with similar skin problems as you.
5. Try A Small Size
Once all the research is done, choose the smallest possible size for your first trial. This will allow you to understand how your skin reacts to the product. Although skin products take some time to show results, buying a small size makes it easier to move on to the next available product if the existing one does not suit your needs or expectations.
6. Be Patient
Any skincare regime takes time to show effects on the skin. It is unrealistic to expect a dramatic improvement in wrinkles, spots or hyperpigmentation in a short span of time. So, when you try a new K beauty regime, remember to have patience and maintain consistency. Give the products at least two weeks to show their magic on your skin before you can evaluate their performance.
Having flawless skin is a dream. And if you want to make that dream a reality, here is how you can have it using the 10 steps Korean skincare routine.
Most Popular K Beauty Products Available In India
Fortunately, there are many Korean skincare brands that are now freely available in India. Some of these are more popular than others owing to their effectiveness on the Indian skin types. People trying Korean products for the first time are recommended to choose the tried and tested face care products as the chances of these showing results are higher. Here is a list of popular products available:
- Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder
- KLAIRS Gentle Deep Cleansing Oil
- Secret Key Snow White Cream
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
- Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream
- The Face Shop Rice Ceramide Moisturizing Emulsion
- TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream
- KOCOSTAR Waffle Cleansing Pad – Tea Tree
- Pilgrim Mild Face Wash Cleanser
Every woman wishes to have soft, clear and flawless skin and Korean beauty products are one of the most effective ways we know to achieve just that. All it takes is a little bit of research about the kind of products that are best suited for your skin before you can start benefiting from the goodness of Korean ingredients. What makes Korean skincare so effective and sought after is the fact that it focuses on achieving perfect skin as opposed to using makeup to cover the flaws. Whether it is fine lines, dark spots, acne scars or dullness, there is a Korean beauty product that can help you get rid of your skin woes.
