I’ve always loved trying new skin care products. I will find a routine for a while and stick to it, but after a minute my skin seems to yearn for something new. For the first few months postpartum, hormones ran wild and my skin reflected that. It wasn’t just the exhaustion of having a new baby in the house, or from the fact that I was very sick after giving birth, but also just the craziness of postpartum hormones wrecking havoc on my skin. I felt like my skin care routine needed a bit of a refresh, so I decided to try something fun. I decided to switch to all Korean beauty brands and see if I noticed any changes, positive or negative.
I’m sure you’ve seen many others talk about Korean beauty brands before. From face masks to serums, there are all kinds of products that are known to bring out the best in hydration and a natural glow. One big trend is “glass skin” and while I wasn’t entirely focused on achieving that, I was mainly focused on smoothing my skin and shrinking my pores. So one night, after baby bean had fallen asleep for the night, I did some lengthy research on some products that I was looking to help my skin achieve what I wanted. After 3 months of daily use, it’s safe to say I found some incredible products that have positively changed my skin.
FACE WASH
I love a good cleanse on my face, especially after the end of a very long day chasing after a very active 8-month old or after coming home from a night out at an event during the hot and humid Hong Kong summer. I started using charcoal skin care products when I was Miss USA ages ago, and I find myself coming back to it more and more lately. Charcoal deep cleans your skin, which is necessary if you wear make-up or, in my case, sweat a lot due to the summer heat. Radiant Seoul Balancing Charcoal Cleansing Oil is filled with charcoal powder and natural plant extracts that both deep clean my pores as well as soothe my sensitive, dry skin.
TONER
Blackheads and I are always fighting each other, especially on my nose. My nose is constantly plagued with blackheads. I finally found a product that helps me get rid of them and clear my pores the best, and that’s CosRx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. I apply it right after cleansing, patting it deeply into my skin. It exfoliates and moisturizes, which feels refreshing after a deep cleanse.
ESSENCE
An essence helps boost radiance and the skin’s elasticity. Years ago I wasn’t using an essence as a part of my daily skin care routine, but as I’ve gotten older I have noticed my skin needs a little extra boost when it comes to radiance and elasticity. I started adding an essence back in 2019 and I loved it. I’ve enjoyed essences from a few different brands – Vintner’s Daughter, Tatcha, etc – but for my K-beauty skin care routine I began using CosRx Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence. Many beauty websites have actually written about this specific essence, as it features snail secretion (no snails are harmed during this; snail mucin comes straight from what the snail leaves left behind when they scoot along the surface). It sounds gross but it actually does have some beauty benefits. It’s frequently out of stock though, so I’ve switched to Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Essence. Both provide the radiance boost my skin needs.
SERUM
I love skin serums. I’ve discovered several favorites over the last few years. I can really feel it in my skin if I ever skip a serum because my skin really does thrive on them. When I was sick back in April, I was just putting on moisturizer only, morning and night. I was too tired to do anything more than that, but I could feel it in my skin that it was thirsty for something extra hydrating. My skin is naturally very dry. Even in the hot, humid summers of Hong Kong, my skin still struggles with dryness. During the day, I use Elizavecca’s Witch Piggy Hell Pore Control which is full of hyaluronic acid to hydrate my skin as well as help reduce the appearance of pores. It’s not greasy at all, which is important for a daytime serum. I don’t typically wear much makeup in the summer, but when I do at least it isn’t sliding off. At night, I use something a little stronger so it can work its magic overnight while I am sleeping. I use Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule after using the essence. And since I have started traveling again, I need something really hydrating for my dry skin while I am in the air, so I turn to Blithe Tundra Chaga Pressed Serum. Tundra chaga mushroom extracts are full of rich beta glucan, so combined with argan oil it proves to be the most hydrating serum for air travel.
MOISTURIZER
Moisturizer is one of my final steps in my skin care routine. It seals in all the hydration. I use a different moisturizer for during the day than I do for at night. During the day, I do not want something too heavy especially during the summer. While my skin may naturally be on the dry side, I do not want anything too heavy or too oily because that can lead to more breakouts. In the morning, I apply Mizon Collagen Power Lifting Cream because collagen is proven to provide moisture and reduce wrinkles. This moisturizer is light, so I am able to wear it on even the hottest and most humid of days. At night, I alternate between two moisturizers. It depends on how my skin is feeling and looking, as well as if I have a photo shoot or event the next day. For simple nights, I use CosRx Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream. It deeply moisturizes overnight, which is necessary especially if I have the air conditioning on. I also use this on flights as well. On nights before a photo shoot or event, I use CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Beauty Mask because it is not only moisturizing but also brightening, so it helps boost radiance in my skin.
EYE CARE
After applying all of my serums and moisturizers, I like to add a little bit of eye cream just below my eyes to help brighten them. This new mom needs a little help with brightening under my eyes, so I turn to Mizon Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream day and night. Sometimes before I apply any skin care or makeup, I will also use Petitfee Gold Hydrogel Eye Patch for a little extra brightness, especially if I have an event and baby bean kept me up all night the night before.
SUNSCREEN
The final step for my daytime skin care routine is always SPF. Since I use AHA and BHA toners and since it’s important to protect our skin from the sun (a lot of lines and wrinkles come from unprotected frequent sun exposure), wearing sunscreen is a must. I use CosRx Vitalizing Sunscreen with Vitamin E and SPF 50+ at the end of my routine and before applying any makeup.
