AnnYeong RokStars

You know those gym obsessed fanatics always shouting their mantra that gym isn’t just working out its a lifestyle, well maybe they on to something. No not the gym obsession but that anything worth doing needs to be part of your every day life, hence a lifestyle. Which brings us to k-beauty’s 10-Step routine or rather lifestyle. It has become a global phenomenon and is rooted in Korea’s cultural obsession with beauty and healthy skin. This obsession has lead to decades of scientific research, innovation and advancement in the field of skincare and cosmetics. The steps are not about having endless shelves of products but rather about having the very best products, using them in the right order and ending up with amazing results.

By now we sure most out you have seen, read and studied the multi-step routine but for the very few who haven’t, here’s a glimpse into it all. To attain the fable glass skin (porcelain-like skin) it’s all about double cleansing, targeting specific skin concerns and protection (SPF). It may sound simple, but we’re trying to ease you into the journey. What we’ve learned and its important to note is that this skincare regime is not one-size-fits-all. To help you understand what its all about and why it’s worth your time and money, we will simply say it as the Koreans do ‘the perfect canvas leads to the perfect make up’. Meaning if your skin is perfect you won’t need all that much makeup (or cover up) and if you do wear makeup it will look flawless. So here are
the steps broken down to the essentials: 

The k-beauty lifestyle

1. OIL CLEANSER

Oil cleansers believe it or not are an essential 1st step for all skin types. They are the 1st step of the double cleanse. Purpose: An oil cleanser removes debris such as makeup, sebum, sunscreen and pollution particles. Leaving the skin ready for the steps to follow.

2. WATER-BASED CLEANSER

It was hard for us to Believe at 1st, but after one cleanse there are still impurities and dirt left over. The second cleanse is a water-based cleanser applied to wet skin and massaged to a lather. Once it penetrates the skin you good to rinse it off. After using the famous double cleansing method, not a hint of impurities will be left to hinder your skin’s health.
Purpose: this step is absolutely necessary to thoroughly clean your skin at the end of the day. Water-based cleansers remove debris such as sweat, dirt and left over makeup/sunblock. Leaving your skin totally clean.

3. EXFOLIATOR

 

Once the skin is clean its time to get it ready for what’s to come in terms of skincare products. Exfoliating is our way of removing the old paint (dead skin cells) from our canvas (skin) and helps to prep the surface for all the good stuff.
Purpose: Exfoliation helps to clean out clogged pores and brushes away dead skin cells. When we remove the dull top layers of cells, our brighter skin is revealed. This step is not for everyday, especially if you have sensitive skin. But with the right exfoliating pad, toner, mask or serum, you can do it daily. If you using a chemical exfoliator (AHA, BHA or Vitamin C), only 2-3 times a week is recommended.

4. TONER

After we cleanse so many times, our skin is fragile and exposed to the elements. Which means we really need hydrate it again. This is where our toner comes in and acts as our 1st line of defense. Purpose: Toners softens, moisturises, and definitely preps our skin to better absorb the good stuff to come such as our essences and serums. It also helps to reset your pH balance after double cleansing. 

5. ESSENCE

If there was a step in Korean skin care deeply connected to its culture the essence is definitely that. If you asked the millions of Koreans which step is the most important they would, without hesitation, say the essence. To the untrained eye its a product similar to the serums or ampoules but have a more watery consistency and are easily mistaken for toners. Purpose: they are ingrained with active ingredients that are meant to penetrate deeper into the skin. Which means they work on a cellular level, fighting and eradicating skin issues at the source. With its lighter molecular weight than moisturizers they can seep into the deepest layers of the skin.

6. SERUM

Serums are more concentrated versions of essences and are usually a thicker consistency. They contain antioxidants that include vitamin A, C and E. They can also contain retinols (promotes cell regeneration) and other ingredients that can even our skin tone (galactomyces) or brighten (niacinamide) it up.
Purpose: When layering serums beneath moisturisers, they become hyper-targeted treatment for wrinkles, pigmentation, redness and aging.

7. SHEET MASK

Sheet masks are a fun and great way to let your skin rest, while it gets all the love it needs. There are masks with all the ingredients you need to give your skin an extra boost.
Purpose: Your mask choice will depend on what your skin needs. Whether you skin needs hydration, brightening, calming or anti-aging. There are masks for every skin concern and many masks already contains serum treatment and ingredients that will promote a more vibrant and healthy skin. They are sometimes also used in place of an essence. 

8. EYE CREAM

We are constantly moving our eyes which promotes appearance of lines and wrinkles. It also allows for fluid build up under the eyes and causes puffiness and dark circles. Issues like sun damage coupled with less collagen being produced as you age also leads to tired looking eyes, but don’t fear eye creams are here.
Purpose: Choosing an eye cream is based on the eye concerns you have, be it fine line, wrinkles or dark circles. Its not hard to find an under eye cream for almost any issue you have. They are in essence meant to hydrate, regenerate and protect the skin around your eyes.

 9. MOSTURISER/SLEEPING MASK

This step is simply meant to give the skin moisture and to lock it in. It is believed that next to wearing daily SPF, moisturising and/or using a sleeping pack, is key to that supple youthful skin no matter our age. They are designed specifically to penetrate our skin more deeply as you sleep. The ingredients in overnight masks works both as a barrier and nourisher.
Purpose: they both apply intense hydration and restore firmness to our skin. They also create a protective barrier against the elements and prevent debris from clogging our pores. The one thing we love is that they also lock in all our previous steps products, allowing them to work more effectively without evaporating away. Hello Goodness!!

10. SUNSCREEN

Applying sunscreen can mean the difference between dull damaged skin and youthful healthy skin. We believe that one of the best and biggest differences between the K-beauty regimen and the rest of the world, is in the religious way in which sunscreen is regularly applied. The benefits of being this skin savvy, will help protect us from skin cancer.
Purpose: We can never stop stressing how important sun protection is on a daily basis. We all know that sun damage is the leading cause of premature aging, fine lines, dark spots and the oh so dreaded wrinkles. The prevention of these is the main function of sunscreen.

The K-beauty 10 step lifestyle is as we said before, its just that — a lifestyle. It is one you will want to get in on, show yourself some love and in turn your skin will love you for it. We here at My Beauty Roks swear by them and have learned which steps we enjoy and which ones we can skip from time to time. Leading us to build our own regime based on the Korean knowledge (thanks Korea) we have learnt. If you are serious about your skin health, this it the lifestyle for you. If you agree or disagree with our assessment or have any questions, drop us a comment and we will be glad to you hear what’s up!

From Korea, With Love
My Beauty Roks