The 11 steps Korean skincare routine is great … if you have time for it.

If you have a full-time job (which most of us do), or are a mom, or a mom with a full-time job – you probably have 3 minutes after the morning shower to put on some products. Evenings are even worse – by the time you are done your daily chores, you are also “done”.  At that point anyone suggesting an 11 step skincare routine should do so at their own risk. 

I am a frequent business traveler and travel with only a carry on. Carry on allowances are small to say the least. You are allowed a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, and creams in your carry-on bag. Try fitting that 11 step skin care routine into a quart bag.  Oh and don’t forget your deodorant, perfume or cologne, toothpaste and probably make up. Good luck!

What I am getting at is this:

In order for skincare routine to be effective it must be consistent. In order for it to be consistent it has to be simple enough to be sustainable as well as effective. 

We would like to offer a few tips that would help you build a skincare routine you can commit to. 

Your basic skin care should be made up of:

1. Cleanser. Choose a mild, natural cleanser with moisturizing properties. You can incorporate a scrub as an exfoliator to speed up the turnover of your skin cells. We recommend cleansing wipes when travelling (as they are obviously not liquids)
2. Serum. Incorporating serums into your skincare routine can exponentially increase the results you see.  You can alternate multiple serums between morning and evening or just choose one to stick to it. Make your pick based on your needs.  
   • Age spots corrector, evenness enhancer, an anti-aging ALA and Retinol face oil 
   • Antioxidant booster, protector from environment – Vitamin C serum 
   • Hydration, plumpness restoration, firmness- Hyaluronic acid serum.

We have small size complementary vials that we can include with your order. You can dispense your serum into the vial for traveling. It will take very little space in your quart-sized bag.

1. Moisturizer. Moisturize religiously. Choose a moisturizer that is multifaceted: one that takes care of eyes, face, neck and can be used morning and night. We offer 2 kinds of universal moisturizers. Make your pick from hydration or nutrition. If you have time only to use 1 product -use this!
2. Sunscreen is necessary if you spend time outside. If you jump from home to the car, from the car to the office, then back home – sunscreen may not be that critical. Tip: look for sunscreen in powder form rather than cream.
   There are 3 reasons why we recommend powdered form of sunscreen: 
   • Sunscreen applied as a powder reflects the UV light from the surface of your skin. In comparison, the creamy formula first allows UV light to penetrate the surface of your skin and then the sun screen components deflect the UV light. 
   • Sunscreen often leaves white residue and heavy feel. 
   • Perfect for traveling. One less liquid to worry about. 

Skincare commandments  

1. Always thoroughly wash your face before applying any skin care products 
2. Serums, essence, and face oils go on the skin first.  They contain a higher concentration of active ingredients so take advantage of that
3. Stay consistent. Be patient and  stick to the routine. It takes time for results to show. The skin cell turnover time is between 4 to 6 weeks depending on our age. If an advertisement tells you that you will see results in 10 days – it is too good to be true. To have a long-term solution and sustainable results give yourself time. You will see results in about 2 months.

So, how do you determine if a cream is working for you? 

Do not go by immediate feel only. A lot of mainstream cosmetic companies design their products around the immediate effect. In order to achieve that they incorporate ingredients that have no real benefits but rather offer an immediate feel of hydration and/ or moisture. 

Listen to your skin and go by the feel you have in the morning after applying the cream in the evening. During the day your skin may be affected by other factors (weather, stress, make up, etc).

In the morning your skin should not feel dry or greasy. It should feel nourished and be silky to the touch. 

If your skin feels tight and dry – there is not enough nutrition in your cream.

If it feels greasy – you need a lighter more hydrating moisturizer.

As we age our skin changes so always listen to your skin!