Fermented Rice Wine (Makkeoli) Makkeoli combines Korea's two favourite past times – drinking and pampering. Unlike soju, this alcoholic drink is rich in vitamin B and amino acids helping to brighten your skin tone and improve any unevenness in your skin tone. It even works wonders for acne.
Skincare is More Important than Makeup
Since ancient times, Koreans have only used natural, harsh-free ingredients for their skincare routines: green tea, “snail slime”, bamboo extracts, propolis, and honey are just some examples of the elements they used and have passed through generations.
Winter months in Korea are notoriously cold, so humidifiers are commonly used to keep the skin hydrated when the air gets dry.
When it comes to skincare, Cho says Korean women use “natural skin brighteners such as rice extracts, vitamin C, and licorice, as well as exfoliators. For stubborn brown spots, they will visit the dermatologist to lighten the brown spots using lasers.”
The secret is in the careful layering of products that contain moisturising ingredients – mostly humectants such as hyaluronic acid and followed by acclaimed glow-inducers and actives that will strengthen your skin barrier such as niacinamide and peptides,” she says.
Korean beauty products utilize the most effective Western ingredients—and so much more. With an impressively large repertoire that includes ground-breaking ingredients such as snail mucin and bee venom, their compellingly fresh formulations can deliver results you could never achieve before.
Koreans typically exfoliate their skin 2-3 times per week using either a physical or chemical exfoliator. Physical exfoliators contain small grains that slough off dead skin cells, while chemical exfoliators use acids to dissolve them.
Korean skincare focuses on the skin barrier through the layering of skincare — such as moisturizers, serums, lotions, and face mists, said Teo. "While other dermatologists were going on about hyaluronic acid, the Koreans were at polyglutamic acid already, which is five times more hydrating," added Teo.
Barley Tea (Bori cha)
Barley tea has a lovely deep taste and is drunk in copious amounts by Korean women. It is known to enhance your circulation, which is essential to keeping skin firm and cells regenerating. So why not swap out the occasional coffee for a barley tea? Your skin will surely thank you for it.
Eating food rich in poly and monounsaturated fats can make your skin supple and hydrated. The healthy fat helps our skin barrier to improve thus, giving that glossy glass skin appearance. Include food items like eggs, fish, nuts and avocados in your diet.
If you want to look young and have a great complexion, adapt a lifestyle similar to Japanese women who are known for having smooth, clear and youthful skin. Many Japanese women maintain a diet rich in vitamins and minerals that contain antioxidants.
“Men and women in South Korea are meticulous when it comes to maintaining healthy hair with a three-step process. After washing the hair with shampoo and conditioner, they often apply a hair essence or hair oil to achieve a shiny head of hair. Hair masks, serums, milks and hair mists are all must-haves,” explains Cho.
Double cleansing is important. For Koreans, it's considered so necessary that no one ever washes their face just once. You must remove your make-up first and then wash your face again with a second product to get your skin deeply cleansed.
“Effective and non-stripping cleansers, gentle exfoliating products, hydrating toners and serums, followed by fatty ceramides and of course sun protection are all part of the glass skin routine.” Applying moisture onto your skin in lots of light layers is key to achieving that glassy rather than greasy finish.
Products Are Supplementary
In fact, harsh active ingredients Americans have long sought out to combat signs of aging, particularly retinol, are much less popular in Korea because Koreans prefer to avoid their drying and irritating side effects, Dr. Chang says.
If you want to achieve shiny, luminous dewy skin, definitely try out the Korean skincare routine! However, if you want soft and matte-looking baby skin, try out the Japanese skincare routine!
A consistent Korean skincare routine with active ingredients like AHAs and BHAs to clear out clogged pores, and healing anti-inflammatory ingredients like snail mucin and centella asiatica to soothe and calm, can go a long way towards preventing acne and shortening recovery time, while also addressing any scarring that ...
Citrus fruits, berries, green leafy vegetables, and kiwi fruit all contain high concentrations of vitamin C, which is also involved in the production of collagen, the tissue that reinforces the skin and enhances its suppleness and look.