These Korean Skin Care Trends Will Give You a Flawless Face

If you want to emphasize the effects of your overall regimen, Kim recommends starting with cleansing water, a lightweight option that won’t clog the pores in warmer spring weather.

illi's Total Age Cleansing Water ($19) defeats stubborn makeup in one sweep with a gentle, but effective mix of green tea extract, ginseng root extract, camellia flower extract, and beans. Green tea extract is the dominating ingredient for its high levels of antioxidants that also help soothe skin.

Those with combination/oily skin have probably been told at one point or another to use an oil-free cleanser. This is especially popular during the first weeks of Spring as you continue to use Winter-friendly products, like oils, while temperatures rise. The downside to this method is that it can strip the skin of more moisture than it should. Adopting a K-beauty routine means letting go of this “oil is bad” mentality. Kim says, “Many women with oily skin tend to hesitate before reaching for an oil-based cleanser in fear that it’ll only aggravate their skin when in fact, they’re very soothing and a much better alternative than a lot of the harsh cleansers out on the market.”

Take the plunge with the affordable RE:CIPE Rose Petal Cleansing Oil ($17). It’s infused with real rose petals for hydration and quickly dissolves impurities after a quick lather. Besides actually getting the job done, the floating petals inside the bottle also make it a perfect decorative accent for your vanity.

If you lust for the luxe life, Su:m37 Skin Saver Melting Cleansing Balm ($42) is the pricier but just as satisfactory alternative. It hits the skin as a sherbert-like balm but melts into an oil that removes heftier impurities without sacrificing moisture. It’s also nonliquid, which makes it a life-saving travel companion.

Scaling off dead layers, or exfoliating, is imperative to any routine since it creates a clear pathway for the skin to absorb beneficial ingredients. What separates K-beauty finds from the rest is that the ingredients are strong enough to remove dead layers without irritating them.
For example, Innisfree Strawberry Yogurt Mask Pods ($12) are infused with yogurt/fruit extract, aloe, and japonica leaf extract. In addition to exfoliating and cleansing beyond the skin’s surface, this combo also promotes a brighter complexion and nourishment you can feel.

If that’s not enough to sweeten the deal, the pods are small enough for your purse and an incognito skin saver that you can stash on your work desk. Who says you can’t exfoliate on the go?

If you're secretly a beauty chemist and like to play mix and match with your products, Kim advises merging an ampoule with your night cream at night and an SPF cream during the day. This should be applied after you exfoliate.

For those who don't know, an ampoule is a serum that contains a highly concentrated amount of an active ingredient. These active ingredients target one specific skin concern (i.e. dryness, breakouts) and are meant to be used when your skin needs an extra boost. They typically come inside small bottles with a dropper applicator.

Since they're still pretty new to the US market, you'll find most of them at online K-beauty retailers. One of our favorites is Tony Moly's Intense Care Snail Ampoule ($29); it contains 92 percent snail slime, which provides extreme hydration to dull skin.

If removing, cleansing, and exfoliating feel like work, throwing on a mask is equivalent to a skin vacation. This is the part where you get to sit back, relax, and let the ingredients work their magic.

Although it’s important to keep your routine as clear and simple as possible, masking leaves room to experiment. What better time to play with different options than during a seasonal transition?

“Every skin care line has their star product,” says Kim. “Cherry-pick the product each brand is known for and create a customized regimen that fits your skin type." Additionally, Korean products place more emphasis on singular ingredients and the specific concerns they cater to.

For instance, if you're trying to cover up wrinkles, sea kelp is known for its ability to hydrate while also providing antiaging skin benefits. Innisfree's Eco Science Eye Cream ($38) or Tonymoly's Earth Beauty Kelp Mask Sheet ($8) both contain this powerful ingredient and can be used together or alone.

Deal with skin dehydration by opting for masks that infuse lotus, a moisturizing ingredient that increases skin elasticity. In addition to illi's Lotus Moisture Mask ($9), you can also combo with an essence, which can be defined as a superlight moisturizing cream. Missha's Time Revolution First Treatment Essence ($49) is a concentrated formula of fermented yeast and licorice root that also promotes elasticity and a glowing complexion.

And if your skin is doing the opposite — going from dry to oily — Kim recommends slathering your skin in jeju volcanic clay, a magic ingredient that deep cleanses pores and levels out moisture levels. Keep the Innisfree Jeiu Volcano Mask Pods ($12) for travel and the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Clay Mousse Mask ($24) at home for your next night in.