The ABC’s of Korean Skincare
Korean skincare and makeup have gone international. You don’t have to look far to see a product or makeup line being sold in your area. If you put Western makeup and Korean makeup side by side, it’s easy to see the differences. But if you look at the steps of Korean skincare and makeup, you’ll probably already be familiar with some of them.
Moisturizing
Korean makeup artists emphasize the importance of keeping the skin moisturized to keep it looking its best and to make all the cosmetic products you buy stay on your face better. Moisturizing in Western skincare comes in the form of a watery, sometimes transparent formulation, while Korean products available online may have a thicker consistency. There are overlaps, of course, and it really depends on what works best for your skin. After all, moisturizers serve as a base for your makeup; it’s not the main look.
Skin Tone Matching
One thing that’s truly remarkable about Korean makeup is how natural the dewy finish looks. This is possible because makeup artists work hard on matching the skin tone so that the foundation you wear will look as natural as possible. Korean makeup might not be too easy to match to one’s skin tone, however, if you have darker skin that is not within the range of their product choices. Western makeup, thankfully, is working on widening their range of products to address this.
Blending
One of the most horrible things to see on photographs is when makeup has not been blended well down to the neck. You can have the perfect headshot and look beautiful with a full-face of product, but once the shot involves your upper torso and the color of your facial skin can be compared to the rest of your body, that’s where the problem becomes apparent. This is not something you will see in Korean actors, because their makeup artists know that blending is important and should be considered, especially when artists will be under harsh lighting.
Cleansing
Skincare does not stop at applying your finishing powder or spray. Cleansing the skin after a whole day of wearing makeup is an important step that should not be ignored. Without properly cleansing the face, you may be more prone to pimples, acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. Even if you moisturize your skin, choose the right products, and blend them carefully, if you don’t cleanse at night, you are not doing skincare properly. Western makeup even recommends double cleansing, which you can do by using an oil-based cleanser and a water-based cleanser. Korean skincare has a plethora of products for both, and you can choose just one, followed by a facial sheet mask to further pamper the skin.
Each person cares for their skin differently. You could be following your own steps in skincare, and there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you’re not skipping important steps. If you truly want to unleash the best from your skin, however, it wouldn’t hurt to follow trends that have gone global, such as Korean skincare.
