Face Routine: the steps of Korean Layering

The principles of Korean Beauty

The secret of K-Beauty, Korean beauty, is above all to take care of your skin for healthy and beautiful skin; makeup is secondary. Taking care of your skin does not only consist of cleansing and moisturizing it morning and evening but of meeting its needs by respecting its metabolism through a daily routine or ritual in several stages and in successive layers; and this is called face layering or Korean layering.

The philosophy of Korean layering

Korean facial layering is a technique which consists of carrying out daily, morning and evening, a series of facial treatments, one superimposed on the previous ones.

The steps of Korean layering correspond to the preparation and treatment of the needs of the different layers constituting the skin:

• The first steps treat the skin's needs on its outer layer (epidermis), and prepare the skin for the following deeper treatments (and therefore "open the skin"),
• the intermediate stages treat the skin needs on the deeper layers (dermis and hypodermis),
• The last steps finalize the care on the epidermis and protect it from external aggressions (hence the action of “closing the skin”).

Although the steps are not all obligatory, it is nevertheless necessary to respect their logic and therefore the order.

The different stages of Korean layering

Each step corresponds to a type of treatment and you will need to select a treatment corresponding to your skin type and your expectations.

Step 1 - Double cleansing (morning and evening): Makeup removal

Double cleansing involves removing makeup and cleansing your skin. It corresponds to two distinct facial treatments, in order to thoroughly purify your skin of all pollution, dust, makeup and other skin secretions.

This double daily cleansing is essential to let your skin breathe and facilitate its cellular regeneration, key conditions for healthy and beautiful skin. This is all the more true in the evening before going to bed because night is the ideal time for cellular regeneration of the body's organs.

If double cleansing is necessary in the evening, you can be satisfied with a simple cleansing in the morning, even if for my part, fond of the textures of certain make-up removers, I also use a make-up remover oil in the morning before my cleanser which will remove secretions skin at night, and nourish and relax my epidermis.

The different textures:

• Cleansing oil: suitable for all skin types, including oily skin
• Balm: suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin
• Cleansing milk: suitable for all skin types, but for combination to oily skin, this texture may seem too rich.
• Micellar water: Be careful with its use. Before using it, check the ingredients carefully because it often contains alcohol or surfactants which attack and dry out your skin. The use of micellar water would rather be recommended for occasional, non-daily use.

The right gesture for removing makeup:

• Cleansing Oil & Balm: Pour 2-3 pumps of cleansing oil onto one palm and rub between two palms to heat the cleansing oil a little. Then gently massage face and neck. Finally massage again with a little water for one to two minutes. You will notice that the oil becomes milky. Rinse carefully with clean water. This massage gesture is a real moment of relaxation for you and your skin. Note that you don't need cotton, one less single-use utensil!
• Cleansing milk: Massage face and neck with the milk in circular motions and wipe with a cotton pad. Another way is to apply the milk to a cotton pad and wipe the entire face, neck and décolleté with this cotton pad soaked in makeup remover milk.
• Micellar water: Soak the cotton pad with the micellar water and cleanse the skin.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Facial Makeup Removers:

Other related article:

Step 2 - Double cleansing (morning and evening): Cleansing

The cleanser is the second step of the double cleanse. It is used to remove oily residue and eliminate all impurities to have a cleaner and healthier face. Choose a cleanser with a slightly acidic pH (natural pH of the skin between 4.5 and 6, neutral pH is 7) which preserves the skin's hydrolipidic film or a cleanser with a slightly alkaline pH which is suitable for oily or combination skin.

• All skin types: slightly acidic pH between 4.5 -5.5
• Oily skin: slightly alkaline pH between 7.5 – 8.5

The different textures: choose according to your taste

• Mousse: suitable for all skin types, especially oily, combination or sensitive skin. The mousse texture is delicate and is pleasant to use.
• Gel: suitable for all skin types, especially oily, combination or acne-prone skin.
• Cream: suitable for all skin types, especially for sensitive, dry, acne-prone skin or skin with redness.

The right gesture for cleaning:

• Foam: Massage the cleansing foam onto face and neck with circular movements and rinse with clean water.
• Gel & Cream: Emulsify a dab of cleansing gel or cream in the palm of your hands and apply it to the damp face and neck using circular movements. Then rinse with clean water.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Facial Cleansers:

Option: Scrub or exfoliation (twice a week)

Exfoliation is an optional or rather non-daily step whose purpose is to eliminate dead cells, unclog the pores of the skin, facilitate its oxygenation, and thus strengthen its vitality and maintain it. her youth. In fact, periodic exfoliation of your skin promotes skin cell renewal and allows for a more luminous and uniform complexion.

The exfoliation should be carried out once or twice a week but be careful with sensitive skin for which twice a month will be sufficient.

The different textures:

• Exfoliation with natural seeds (mechanical): is the most applied method and is suitable for all skin types except skin sensitive to friction.
• Acid scrub or peel: a gentler method for the skin that is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Fruit acids ( AHA ) such as lactic or citric acids, or salicylic acid (BHA) are often used.

The right gesture for exfoliation:

• Natural seed scrub: Moisten your seed powder and gently massage onto the face with circular movements and rinse with clean water.
• Acid scrub: Apply by massaging lightly with the cotton pad soaked in acid exfoliant on the face, leave on for 1 to 3 minutes and rinse with clean water.

Among our selection of Natural Exfoliating Facial Treatments:

Step 3: Application of toner or toner

In Korea, the toner is the step after the double cleansing and optionally the exfoliation to eliminate the last impurities and rebalance the pH of the skin and thus prepare it to receive moisturizing and active care for the deep layers of the skin.

Note that in the West, toner is often presented as a product aimed at purifying and tightening pores through an astringent action and for good reason, it often contains alcohol and dries out the skin.

The right gesture to apply the toner or toner:

• Soak a cotton pad with a small amount of toner, and carefully pass it over the entire face,
• Or preferably, apply a small amount of the toner to your palms and press them against the face for gentle absorption into the skin.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Facial Toners:

Option: The mask (1-2 times a week)

Among the different existing masks, fabric masks are the most used in Korea to deeply moisturize the skin.
They are impregnated with serum and full of active ingredients to treat according to specific needs for hydration, anti-aging, complexion radiance, skin soothing, etc.

Many Koreans use them daily. Applying the mask is a moment of tranquility, a 15 to 20 minute break for yourself not to be missed and to be repeated once or twice a week.

The right gesture for the mask:

Leave the fabric mask in the fridge for 10 minutes before use for better comfort, place it on your face for 15-20 minutes. Then remove the mask and gently massage the excess serum until completely absorbed.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Moisturizing Face Masks:

Step 4 - Application of essence, serum, or ampoule

After the toner and the mask, the application of a serum (or essence or ampoule) is the treatment to treat your specific needs both on the superficial but especially deeper layers of the skin.
Due to the preparation of the skin with the previous steps and the fine or even liquid texture of these products, the active ingredients are quickly assimilated by the skin down to the cellular level to respond to possible shortcomings in their metabolism.

These active ingredients can have a high hydrating, anti-oxidant, plumping, anti-stain, lightening or evening out complexion, sebum regulator, anti-imperfection, etc. power.
The 3 names essence, serum and ampoule designate the same type of treatment but display different and here increasing concentrations of active ingredients.

It is possible to use several different products but in this case it is important to start with the one with the most liquid texture and then continue with increasingly dense textures.

The different textures:

• The essence: Very fluid or even liquid and contains active ingredients targeting anti-aging, anti-stain, dull complexion, etc.
• The serum: Resembles the essence but its texture is denser and its treatment is more targeted.
• The ampoule: Contains very concentrated active ingredients and gives faster results.

The right steps to apply the serum:

• After cleansing the skin and applying toner, apply 2 to 3 drops of serum directly to your face. Pat gently until completely absorbed.
• Or preferably, apply a small amount of the Serum to your palms and press them against the face for gentle absorption by the skin.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Serums, Ampoules and Facial Essences:

Step 5 - Applying the emulsion

The emulsion is a fluid, light moisturizing cream formulated with water and light oils, fine enough to penetrate the skin tissue and nourish the skin. In Korea, it is also called 'Lotion'.

The emulsion is often used in summer as a day cream because of its light and pleasant texture.

It is suitable for combination to oily skin as a day and night cream; normal and drier skin should not do without this treatment cream.

The right steps to apply the emulsion:

Apply a dab of emulsion cream to the entire face and neck and pat lightly.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Facial Lotions and Emulsions:

Option - Application of treatment oil

The main role of facial oil is to maintain skin hydration by establishing a lipid barrier preventing the skin from drying out. The texture of the facial oil must be light to be easily absorbed by the skin in order to nourish it and maintain its natural protective barrier.

The treatment oil generally integrates a large number of active ingredients to treat your specific needs, just like the essence, serum or ampoule, but this time on the shallower layers of the skin.

The right steps to apply the treatment oil:

• Apply a small amount of treatment oil to your palms and press them against the face for gentle absorption by the skin.
• Or mix a few drops of oil with your cream and apply to face and neck.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Facial Oils:

Step 6 - the eye area

The skin around the eyes is very thin, the most fragile on the face and the one that ages the earliest with the appearance of dark circles, bags and wrinkles.
Before the first signs appear, additional and specific care is necessary in the form of moisturizer, oil or patch.

The right steps to apply eye cream:

Apply the cream to the eye area, avoiding direct contact with the eyes.

Among our selection of Eye Contours with natural ingredients:

Step 7 - the treatment cream

The treatment cream is the last step of Korean Layering and has a denser and richer texture. It allows you to “close the skin”, to keep all the nutrients and active elements received from previous treatments by forming a protective film on the very surface of the skin.

This step is essential to keep your skin healthy and protect it from external aggressions, especially for dry, dry skin or in winter during dry and cold weather.

The right steps to apply the cream:

Apply a dab of cream to the entire face and neck and pat lightly.

Among our selection of Natural Korean Facial Moisturizing Creams:

Step 8 - sun protection (every morning)

UV rays are the primary cause of premature aging of the skin and sunscreen is necessary in summer and winter to properly protect the epidermis from these rays and preserve the youthfulness of the skin.

Among our selection of Korean Sun Creams:

Facial massage during your Korean routine

I did not want to conclude this article on Korean Beauty and Korean Facial Layering without emphasizing the importance of facial massage. Its benefits are both physiological and psychological.

Self-massage is comforting and reconnects you to your body and your sensations. It’s a moment just for you, during which you take care of yourself.

The physiological benefits of massage are numerous, because facial massage contributes to:

• Improve the absorption by the skin of the active ingredients of cosmetic treatments, thus increasing their effectiveness,
• Become aware of and reduce facial muscular tension which can ultimately lead to fine lines and then wrinkles,
• Increase blood circulation especially at the level of capillary vessels for a better supply of oxygen and nutrients to skin cells, thus improving cellular vivacity, a true natural anti-aging treatment, lifting and illuminating the complexion.

At the start of your Layering Face, take advantage of the stages of makeup removal and cleansing with your gentle and natural treatments to gently massage the different parts of your face, with particular attention to the fine lines forming (forehead, frown lines, paws). goose, …), and the oval of the face.

Finally, I hope that this article has answered your questions about Korean Beauty and more particularly about Face Layering. Do not hesitate to comment on this article below or by email to contact@my-kare.com and to share it on social networks.

On the MY-KARE website you will find articles, advice for your well-being and the entire MY-KARE selection of Korean, natural, vegan and healthy facial care products for healthy and beautiful skin; effective and "Clean" care products that meet an ethic of responsible consumption for the good of our health and our environment.

Happy Korean Routine to you!

Hyun-Hee
Founder of MY-KARE

 

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