A Step by Step Guide to a Flawless Facial Care Routine

Korean cosmetics have become a leading force in facial care trends in the West. Its success is due to the fact that the far Eastern culture gives preference to healthy, moisturized, and radiant skin over the use of makeup. If you think there are way too many steps then you can omit some. The secret lies in applying the products layer by layer (starting with the lightest product and ending with the thickest one.)

Bright Side wants to share these beauty secrets with you so that you can include them in your facial care routine and establish a daily, realistic, and easy-to-follow habit. Consult with a dermatologist or other health professional about any diagnosis or treatment options.

1. Double cleansing

A facial cleanse is a basic and essential step in every beauty routine. First, remove your makeup with an oil-based product that will help you remove any makeup or sunscreen residue that accumulates on your skin. Apply a few drops of cleansing oil to dry skin with circular movements, rinse with warm water, and dry off with a clean towel.

Follow with a water-based cleanser to remove sweat, dead skin, or contaminating particles. You can find it in multiple forms, such as cleansing milk, cleansing gel, or micellar water. Apply the product to wet skin, massage in circular movements, rinse with warm water, and dry with a clean towel.

2. An exfoliator

Exfoliating is a step that isn’t required to be done every day. Reserve it for those days when you want to enjoy your facial routine. It consists of removing dead skin cells and achieving a uniform texture throughout the face. There are mechanical exfoliants that contain small particles to remove dead cells with the help of friction. There are also chemical peels that are directly applied to the skin with a cotton pad that you have to wait to dry in order to continue with the next step.

3. Cleansing masks

Clay masks are used to clean the pores in depth. This step is not required to be done daily, you can follow it once or twice a week. There are several types of purifying masks from those with activated carbon to the most common ones, which are made of clay (green for oily skin, white for dry skin, yellow for normal skin, and red for sensitive skin).

4. Toner

Applying toner is not an essential step in the beauty routine, but it will bring great benefits to your skin, especially if it’s done continuously. This product not only reduces pore size, but it also moisturizes and balances the skin’s pH. It should be applied both in the morning and at night with the help of a cotton pad or directly with the hands.

5. Hydrating masks

Hydrating masks don’t have to be applied daily, they’re used just once or twice a week. Relax, take your time, and return the light to your face with the type of mask you choose (like gels, lotions, or sheet masks). Remember to read the instructions and don’t exceed the time specified on the package.

6. Essence

This is one of the least known products in all of Korean cosmetics, but it has great benefits. The essence has a concentration of active elements for a specific type of need such as wrinkle correction or deep hydration. If your skin needs it, the product is applied in the mornings and evenings to the whole face with the help of a cotton pad or directly with your fingertips.

7. Serum

A serum is a treatment for specific skin problems thanks to its high concentration of active ingredients, easy absorption, and immediate action. When choosing your product, it’s important to know the skin problem you want to attack since a serum can give your skin an extra boost of hydration, firmness, repair, luminosity, or can even work as an anti-wrinkle or anti-acne solution. Just like the essence, if your skin needs it, this elixir can be used both in the morning and at night by applying 1 or 2 drops directly with the fingers.

8. Eye cream

The eye contour area requires special care because it’s where some wrinkles — the ones that reveal the passage of time — first appear. In addition, a good eye cream blurs dark circles and decongests the bags under your eyes. This product is applied daily, both in the morning and at night, on the cheekbones and up to the arch of the eyebrows, avoiding the corners of the eyes.

9. Moisturizer

The moisturizer is a basic, essential, and mandatory step in every facial care routine. You must choose a cream that’s suitable for your needs and skin type. This product should be applied daily in the morning and at night with the help of your fingertips, using small strokes for better absorption and to stimulate blood circulation.

10. Sunscreen

This is another necessary step in any beauty routine. The sunscreen lotion should be applied every day of the year, whether you’re headed to the beach or the city, or if it’s raining or sunny. A good sunblock is ideal to prevent the appearance of spots and wrinkles on the skin. This product is applied as a moisturizer in the morning or before leaving home. Remember that the amount needed to completely protect your skin is 1 oz (30 ml), and don’t forget that it’s essential to reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours.

What facial care routine do you follow in your daily life? Do you recommend any products that have helped you look healthy and radiant?