The year was 2012 right after I had left high school. If you can remember that was when we saw the boom and bust of information and technology – which in little measures made owning a smartphone a luxury, writers started blogging, Gangnam style became the rave, and the first female astronaut from China travelled to space.
But while all this was happening, I was celebrating the relief of completing four years of turmoil.
My victory lay in the freedom of knowing that never again would I be denied the pleasure of my morning sleep and that finally there would be no more studying. So I thought, but away from my delusions, what I relished most was getting to watch all the TV shows, movies and series I could get my hands on.
From Hollywood to Bollywood to Nollywood to soaps, those streets would soon become my second nature and eventually when I needed a change I turned to Asian dramas. It is through my search for content and the long hours of watching that I started to notice a trend. Korean beauty. It is true that you couldn’t compare actors and actresses to the common man, but another fact was Asian beauty had miles on western beauty. I would often mention to my sister that In Asia when you got to 50 that’s when you started to mature while in the west, 16 seemed to be the upper limit.
So I began my research on what could be the secret behind the poreless, flawless and glass looking skin that everyone in every Asian drama I watched had. This is what I found out. I found out the secret is the Korean skincare routine.
- Skin over everything
After puberty and skin changes that ensue, we tend to believe that it’s hard to get back the smooth and radiant skin we once had. Especially when we witness friends who get it really bad and have had to hop from product to product in search of effective treatments against acne. So when creams and treatment fail, makeup, then becomes the second weapon to guise and conceal any imperfections.
On the other hand, Korean beauty is about skin over everything else. From a young age, kids are taught how to take care of their skin and so by the time one matures their skin still exude that youthful glow and elasticity that often people crave to have when it’s too late. Try This 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine For Great Skin
Given this need for good skin, Asian companies also place cutting edge, technology and innovation when creating skincare products and makeup. To me, this meant that with Korean skincare, I would never fail to find an effective product that can take care or prevent future issues instead of covering them up.
- Natural beauty
I love makeup. But one thing I dislike is feeling it on my skin. Hence, while I may agree to heavy eye makeup I may not be of the same opinion when it comes to the rest of my face. Korean skincare achieves this in very simple 10 steps. All you need is to take care of your skin and it will reward you by looking effortless even under extreme environmental conditions.
Additionally, the Korean skincare routine reinforces the discipline one needs for healthy skin, which eventually results in a skin that’s not reliant on makeup. Now that’s a win-win situation.
- Natural ingredients
Isn’t it ironic that the more natural you try to go the more expensive it becomes? However, above the price point, Asian skincare products give you value for every cent. This is one of the reasons I love Korean skincare products. There’s not an overload of ingredients on the products which diminishes the risk of experiencing an adverse reaction after using them. That is as long as you know where to store your Vitamin Cs and serums.
Besides, where else would you find a snail product for anti-ageing or an orchid eye cream like the Innisfree Jeju Orchid eye cream?
Check out how to increase the shelf life of your skincare products
- Continuous investment in research, technology and innovation
South Korea is famous for its cutting edge technology, innovation and well, Kpop. However, you would be surprised to learn how much effort is placed spearheading skincare technology and innovation. From the beauty gadgets to personalised skincare products, the Korean beauty market is just incomparable to other markets in the world.
- Value for money
Korean skincare products are deemed expensive. Nonetheless, if I were to pick between the makeup and Korean skincare products I would definitely choose to invest in skincare. For all its worth, its cost is justified, considering I don’t have to keep hopping from ineffective products to others that are completely overpriced for no reason at all.
So here is A Breakdown Of My Korean 10 Step Skincare Routine. I also talk about the Mistakes To Avoid When Using Korean Skincare Products
If you’re wondering where to start, check out the best Korean brands and the skincare products you can try for your skin type. You might also want to check out this post The Ultimate Korean Beauty Glossary & Skincare Guide
I have done some reviews of some of the Korean skincare products I use for the Korean skincare routine. Check them out here. Check out the serum, cleanser, face mask and toner – these are among my favourite products.
