Why has Korean skincare suddenly picked up pace? And more importantly, what are the products to use?
By Christopher Prince
There’s always something particularly profound when you discover a Holy Grail beauty product. But what about an entire country full of beauty innovation, untouched by the Western world (so far)? The Far East produces some of the most covetable beauty swag, but it’s now the East Asian territory of South Korea that has entered the spotlight. Its inhabitants in that far off region are said to have beautifully clear skin thanks to a slew of at-home regimens, estheticians, clinics and spas that is proving South Korea is the new (at least to the Western world) destination for beauty.
10-Step Korean Skincare Regimen
/10. Facial
And last but not least, the facial. Absolutely essential for Korean women who take weekly 'maintenance facials', this process is usually carried out by a professional consultant.
Affectionately known as K-beauty, American retailers have started picking up pace, stocking Korean beauty products in bigger quantities more than ever before. The outlook from how Korean women view skin care differently from their western counterparts differs dramatically with the biggest concern being hyperpigmentation. Many Korean women want to achieve skin translucency, where flawless skin is a must. Because of this dedication, prices for procedures and consultations stay relatively low.
One Korean skincare obsessive is Sheryll Donerson, who runs a beauty and lifestyle blog named The Wanderlust Project. Donerson moved to Yongin, South Korea in April 2012 to teach, and is now located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. If you visit her blog you’ll notice a standalone section for Korean beauty where she provides an in-depth tried-and-tested mantra for everything she uses. But what is it about Korean skincare that has created such an avid following? “Personally, I think Korean skincare is better. It’s at least 10 to 15 years ahead of U.S. cosmetics in terms of technology, and the prices are just much more affordable for a much better formulated product,” says Donerson.
Cost is a defining factor in whether we choose to use a product or not. If it isn’t viable to purchase over a longer period of time we simply won’t use it. Particularly for women in the Middle East, protecting and preventing sun damage to the skin is paramount. Much of what is marketed by Korean skincare is a demand for tailor-made products that work with the skin in its natural state, rather than providing a quick fix. “My favorite Korean skincare products are the su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, the Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel, the COSRX Blackhead Power Liquid, and the HERA Hyaluronic Filler Ampoule,” says Donerson.
But it isn’t just about the products. Korean women are noted for having a strict beauty regime, which is something Donerson has tried to emulate. “In the morning, my routine is quite simple. I wash my face with a foaming cleanser. I’m currently using an array of cleansers, but my favorite remains the su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick. I apply a toner, my vitamin C serum, wait about 5/10 minutes, and then apply the HERA Hyaluronic Filler Ampoule and my moisturiser of choice. I then apply my sunscreen and the rest of my makeup.” And for night? “For my nighttime routine, I double-cleanse. I first remove my makeup with a balm cleanser and then wash with a foaming cleanser. I then apply either a BHA or AHA product, and wait for about 20 minutes. After that, I apply a hydrating toner from Missha or Hada Labo, then my HERA ampoule, my moisturiser (currently using the HERA Aquabolic Moisturising Emulsion), then some of my fermented argan oil from su:m37.”
Donerson, “typically shops at w2beauty.com and wishtrend.com” for all of her Korean cosmetics, but there’s a place to visit for budding Korean beauty enthusiasts in the Middle East, namely thebbcreamgirl.com which ships to all emirates in the UAE. For those searching for inspiration take a look at the r/asianbeauty reddit forum, 50 Shades of Snail, The Beauty Wolf, and Skincare and Tonics to get a heads up before South Korea hits the mainstream.
