#simplifiedskincareroutine
The world of skincare is overwhelming and increasingly complicated, but the quest for good skin doesn't have to be. In the age of the 10-step K-beauty skincare routine and navigating through terms like serum, toner, essence - and what is eye cream, even? - paths have been forged, and certain ones have remained foolproof for both noobs and experts.
Here is an easy-to-follow simplified skincare routine, based on said foolproof paths:
Step 1: Cleanse
Pictured above: CORSX's Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, good for all skin types
With the environmental stressors your skin goes through on a daily basis, cleansing is an essential step of your skincare routine. Just, please. Even if you don't want to do anything else, at least use a cleanser. Even if you come home exhausted and are tempted to sleep with your makeup on, at least use a cleanser. Removing dirt, oil, makeup, and debris is soooo important because it helps keep your skin clear and healthy.
Step 2: Toner
Pictured above: Mario Badescu's Witch Hazel & Rose Water Toner, good for combination skin
Your toner helps you wrap up your cleansing process by getting rid of the last bit of dirt and oil in your pores. It also helps you balance your skin's pH and preps your skin for the rest of your routine. (If you're using a sheet mask, you'd want to use the toner before putting it on!)
Step 3: Serum/Essence
Pictured above: Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence, good for all skin types
This an essential part of the Korean skincare routine. To put it simply, this is the stuff that hydrates and treats your skin. What's the difference between the two? Serums are normally lighter in consistency, whereas essences are normally creamier and more gel-like. They both are diverse products: there are ones for clearing your skin, ones for evening your complexion, ones for making your skin tighter - the best ones, however, do their job and moisturize your skin in the process as well.
Step 4: Treatment
Pictured above: CORSX's Acne Pimple Master Patch, the holy grail of pimple products
Now, don't let that word scare you! This step is just you considering what skin concerns you want to solve and targeting those concerns specifically. There are very specific products for things such as dull skin, acne, dry skin, and uneven skin tones on the market, and I won't go in-depth on that because it's different for everyone. I strongly recommend doing research and reading reviews to find what works best for you.
Step 5: Moisturize
Pictured above: Nature Republic's Super Aqua Max Combination Cream, good for combination skin
With all sincerity, it's 2018; with all the good moisturizers in the market, there is no excuse for dried-out skin. Give your skin the TLC it deserves by making sure that it's well-hydrated - after all, it is your largest organ, and it does an excellent job of protecting your insides while keeping your outsides looking good!
Step 6: SPF
Pictured above: Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, good for oily skin
Sun protection is the second best thing you can do for your skin, the number one best thing, of course, being not going outside. Sun exposure speeds up wrinkling and pigmentation and degrades skin texture, and too much sun exposure leads to sunburn.
Other Products
1. Eye cream
Eye cream shows up a lot in skincare routines, and they help with puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles. Certain skincare products are non-negotiable; eye cream, however, is not. If it's a part of your skincare routine, good for you. Personally, I don't think it's necessary unless you're over 20 - in fact, many dermatologists think that it's not necessary at all, as it has virtually the same ingredients as a moisturizer.
2. Exfoliators
Pictured above: Skinfood's Black Sugar Mask, a cult k-beauty classic
Exfoliators help you remove dead skin cells that your cleansers can't get rid of. This part is important, because keeping dead skin cells on your face reduces cell turnover, meaning that your skin isn't producing fresh skin as fast as it could. It's also great for keeping your skin bright and clear! This wasn't included in the above list, though, because exfoliating every day is rough on your skin - it's recommended that you do it a few times a week only.
3. Masks
Pictured above: Lush's Mask of Magnaminty, good for sensitive skin
Face masks are the jack-of-all-trades of the skincare world. Sheet masks are normally great for hydration, whereas clay masks are usually used to tighten skin and draw out impurities. Cream and gel masks exist too! There are so many types for so many things that it's difficult to generalize what each type does. Once again, do your research and read your reviews!
Just a disclaimer, however - I am by no means qualified to provide actual dermatological advice, and flawless skin should by no means be the norm. The taut, blemish-free faces of models on skincare campaigns do not reflect what the majority of the population looks like, and the majority of the population struggles with breakouts and blemishes. What was written in this article is not a list of to-do's, but rather, suggestions based on previous experimenting and experience.
With this being said, I firmly believe that skincare is unisex. In condemnation of typical gender stereotypes, girls shouldn't feel the pressure to have flawless skin, and guys shouldn't view putting effort into having good skin as an exclusively feminine thing. It's 2018: regardless of gender, your skin has no excuse being crusty.
- Jenny Kheng