Korean Skincare

5 Things Korean Women Do Differently For Glowing Skin

Hi Victoria,

I’ve been following you for a few months through your newsletters and skincare blogs and I think you are amazing! The things you write about are so helpful that I’ve shared links to your articles with many of my friends and family. Today, I am writing because I want to improve my skin. Currently, I live in San Diego, California where the weather is very nice most of the time. To protect my skin from the sun, I wear sunscreen, your Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum which I love. I’m wanting to lighten my skin even more. I feel that the lighter it is, the less flaws you can see. What is a safe way to lighten my skin without damaging it?

Sincerely,

Tamara

Hi Tamara,

Thank you so much for writing to me and for the lovely compliments. I’m so happy you are getting great results from my Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum. It’s 20% professional strength and that’s why it works so well. However, for more lightening, brightening, and whitening, there are a few tips that I learned from my travels to Asia, especially the beauty secrets of Korean women which I will share today. Regardless of your nationality or skin color, these Korean Skincare tips can help make your skin flawless over time. In fact, Korean skincare methods and treatments are very popular now. Many of the formulations that go into my skincare products combine what they use in Asia and other countries that are famed for their advanced skin care regimes and ingredients. The Korean skincare tips I’m sharing, are tips that are very different than what women do in the western world. Here are just a few:

1. They Double Cleanse Their Face

Korean skincare involves double-cleansing. With the double cleansing method, an oil cleanser is used first to remove dirt, makeup, and debris from your face in a gentle way. Oils provide healing properties as well. The second cleansing is done with a foaming cleanser to gently wash away any leftover debris and excess oil from the first washing. The double washing method has not only been done by Korean women but by dermatologists and estheticians the world over for decades. 

2. They Use Rice Water As A Toner

For centuries, Asian women, especially Korean women, have used rice water as a toner for their skin. This Korean skincare regime was discovered centuries ago by rice farmers who use to bathe in the runoff water from the rice fields. Rice water is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin-A, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, inositol, and other minerals.

A 2002  study from the Department of Toxicology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, found that patients with atopic dermatitis were able to improve their condition significantly by bathing in rice water for 15 minutes twice a day.

It also helps in growing hair. In a 2010 study by The International Journal of Cosmetic Science, it was found that using rice water daily combed through the hair, helped it grow long and dark in color for years. It helped to create new cells and elasticity.

3. Korean Women “Tap” On Skincare Products

When putting on skincare products, a part of the Korean skincare ritual is to lightly tap their face. The patting motion helps to both tone and firm the skin, increases blood circulation, helps oxygen and nutrients from the products to reach the skin’s deeper layers, thus speeding up results. 

4. They Sleep With A Night Time Mask

Another Korean skincare practice is the use of a light gel-like mask for at night. This type of mask is different from the typical masks that are removed by washing or peeling, or a sheet type. The consistency is like a night cream but has all the nutrients of a mask. It is applied by putting on a thin layer on a clean dry face a couple of minutes before laying down to sleep. In the morning, it is washed off as part of your morning cleaning ritual. The mask can be worn nightly, or 2-3 times per week.

 

5. They Strive For White, Flawless Skin

The reason why many Korean women and most Asian women, to be exact, desire very white skin is that white skin is a sign of wealth and prosperity historically. Centuries ago, people who were not of the wealthy class or royalty worked laborers in the hot sun making the skin dark. Therefore, darker skin was considered lower class. Sun-damaged skin also ages a person quicker than skin shielded from the sun. So, many Asian women wear hats, gloves, and other accessories to shield their skin. Whitened skin looks more flawless. Perhaps that’s why many American celebrities like Beyonce, Michael Jackson, and Rihanna, just to name a few, get professional skin lightening treatments.

In Korea, women spend anywhere from $300 – $500.00 for treatments. Korean skincare treatments vary from pills, injections, and lasers to surgery. But skin whitening can be dangerous too if done incorrectly, or to the extreme. Skin whitening can be dangerous for other reasons too, including the permanent loss of melanin. The whiter a person becomes, the more chances a person is subjected to skin damage and skin cancer.

Many people want to correct flaws like hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, scars, and more, without harsh chemicals that will harm the skin. Therefore, Advanced Moisturizing Lighten & Brighten Perfecting Skin Cream with Kojic Acid is strongly recommended, and here’s why:

Advanced Moisturizing Lighten & Brighten Perfecting Skin Cream with Kojic Acid