When it comes to cleaning their faces, some swear by clear, hot water, while others diligently scrub with all sorts of cleansing products. But the fact is, this mainly irritates the skin. So, how can you achieve a truly thorough yet gentle clean instead? By taking the Korean approach! Learn here which products you need and what to look out for!
Why is facial cleansing so important?
Surely there are those people who don't need a long bathroom stay in the evening, but instead go straight to bed after brushing their teeth. The next morning, they still have radiant skin and look like blooming life. But these are the exceptions, which become rarer with increasing age. That's why daily face cleansing is essential and indispensable for most people if they want healthy and beautiful skin.
When to cleanse your face?
In principle, you should cleanse your face twice a day. You're probably already familiar with this step in the evening. The reason for this is that you may have worn makeup during the day and were of course exposed to dust and dirt from the environment that settled on your face. In addition, your own dead skin particles as well as sweat and sebum lie on your epidermis. If you don't remove these, they will continue to build up in your skin, leading to impurities and blackheads. We explain how to cover pimples in our article on the topic.
But you should also wash your face in the morning. Because your skin regenerates overnight. Skin cells are shed and new ones are formed, you sweat and your sebaceous glands work diligently. In addition, some residue from skincare products may still be present. These accumulated deposits must also be removed so that your skin can, so to speak, breathe. Otherwise, they form a breeding ground for bacteria and co., which lead to impurities, etc.
By the way: Even if you don't wear makeup, it's important to cleanse your face properly. Because nowadays you should always use sunscreen. This must also be washed off in the evening, otherwise it would hinder skin processes overnight.
Benefits of facial cleansing
So, you understand that you should cleanse your face. Does more always help more then? Do you need a lot of product and a lot of effort? Or is less more? If you want to follow the truly effective 10 Steps Korean Skincare Routine, then no. That's why we want to briefly show you the four biggest mistakes you can make:
| Mistake | Explanation |
| Water provides moisture. |
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| Working with unwashed hands. |
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| Using water that is too hot or cold. |
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| Vigorously rubbing the skin. |
|
Another point, which doesn't necessarily have to be considered a mistake, but perhaps rather a kind of trap for some: You don't need dozens of utensils to cleanse your face.
In principle, two clean towels are sufficient – one for washing, one for drying. However, some steps can definitely be implemented more easily with suitable accessories. A good investment, in addition to clean small towels, would therefore include the following products:
- Microfiber cloth or washcloth
- Cotton pads (preferably reusable ones)
- Cleansing sponges
4 steps of cleansing: Facial cleansing Korean style
That we are fans of Korean Skin Care is no secret. But we are primarily because it actually works. Numerous innovations come from the country and always bring a breath of fresh air to skincare worldwide. Whether it's new, effective active ingredients such as snail slime or groundbreaking product developments, such as BB cream: this is one of the centers for beautiful skin.
To achieve such a result, the process here consists not of just one, but no less than 4 facial cleansing steps, three of which should be performed daily. This sounds elaborate at first. But this routine is unbeatable when it comes to achieving a refined complexion and a radiant glow. So what do you have to do?
Cleansing the face with oil
For many it seems strange, but in fact cleansing oil is a real insider tip for gently and softly removing dirt, make-up and co. from the skin. At the same time, products like the Dear Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil provide the first nourishing ingredients. To benefit from both effects, you need to apply the oil to dry facial skin and then gently massage it in. This gently removes all unwanted particles.
To remove the oil from your skin, you simply need to wash it off. The special thing about Korean products is that almost all of them are formulated to emulsify with water. This means they form a milky liquid that is very easy to rinse off. Many Western products, on the other hand, remain sticky on the skin, almost clinging to it.
Alternatively to the liquid product, there are also so-called cleansing balms, which melt on the skin. Their biggest advantage is that they don't drip and are also great for on-the-go. To use them, you first have to scoop them out of the jar - preferably with a spatula - and warm them up briefly in your hand. You save this additional step with oil. However, the cleansing effect is the same for both.
Cleansing foam as step two
Even if oil reliably removes dirt and rinses off well – Koreans swear by a second step. For this, they use cleansing foam. Ultimately, it doesn't always have to be foam directly; it can equally come in the form of a gel or soap bar, for example, but it almost always lathers upon application. Here, attention is also paid to a pH value that corresponds as closely as possible to the natural pH of the skin (between 5.0 and 6.0). And some also contain nourishing ingredients, such as activated charcoal.
The products, also known as cleansers, primarily serve the purpose of deep pore facial cleansing. Here, even the last dirt particles from the day and remnants of the oil are reliably removed. To do this, simply apply the product again, gently lather it up, and then rinse with clear, lukewarm water.
A special feature of cleansers is that there are different products, tailored to skin types. For example, you'll find variants specifically for dry skin – richer products like the Dear Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser are recommended here – or for oily skin. Lighter textures are more suitable here, such as with the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser.
Only cleanse your face twice a week with a peel
You don't have to do this step every time – that would be far too much! It is said that a peel should actually be used once, or at most twice a week. This is because it removes dead skin cells. This can irritate the skin considerably, which is why it always needs some time to recover afterwards. However, the complexion is usually truly radiant after application.
Peelings come in two variations: Either you proceed mechanically and use so-called scrub peelings for facial cleansing. These are the options predominantly used in Western countries. An example is the Dear Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish. Or you work with a chemical peel, such as the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. However, chemistry is not necessarily used here.
Korean skincare largely relies on natural ingredients, and this is true here as well. This is because it works with fruit acid, specifically AHA and BHA. However, since the detachment of skin particles is a chemical process, these are referred to as chemical peels. If you have peeled your face, you should definitely apply sunscreen - especially after a fruit acid treatment. Because now the skin is extremely sensitive and delicate. A sunburn would be even more fatal at this time than it already is.
Transitioning to care with toner
To conclude your facial cleansing, apply a toner. This product is not really a cleanser anymore; instead, it provides soothing and balances your skin. Toners restore the natural pH value and balance the skin's moisture level.
To enjoy these clarifying and soothing properties, it is of utmost importance that the composition contains absolutely no alcohol. Alcohol is far too aggressive and would have the opposite effect. Instead, these products often contain additional nourishing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or collagen (e.g., found in the Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner). Once prepared in this way, the next major area of Korean skincare can be tackled: actual skin care!
Further links
www.sugarpeachesloves.net/korean-skincare-101-die-koreanische-gesichtsreinigung/
