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I’m one of those lucky ducks who was *blessed* with adult acne in my mid-twenties. As a teenager, I occasionally had a pimple or two, but nothing that I couldn’t manage with over-the-counter cleansers and creams. This continued through college, but I figured it was just stress from a full course load and working 25+ hours a week.
After setting a wedding date, I decided it was time to get serious and go to a dermatologist. I met with two separate dermatologists and while I’m sure there are some fabulous ones out there, I was ridiculously disappointed with both of them. I’ll save the dirty details for another post 😉
I knew there had to be something I could do that wouldn’t involve such dangerous prescriptions and ludicrous dermatologist bills, so I spent a lot of time researching different regiments and products that were meant to treat adult acne. I finally settled on trying the Korean Skincare routine and loaded up my Amazon cart with several highly recommended products to try.
I started following the Korean Skincare routine in January 2018. Going from someone who had pretty basic (and inconsistent) morning and evening routines, it took a while to get used to having 10 steps before I even thought about makeup. I don’t use the full 10 steps everyday anymore, but I’ve started to learn how I need to react to my skin, and when I need to pull in some extra products. It took several months, but eventually my skin started to show signs of improvement.
Full disclosure: I started seeing yet another dermatologist this past spring after hearing from a friend that Spironolactone worked wonders for clearing up her acne. I took it for a couple of weeks, but it made me extremely dizzy and since it’s also a diuretic, I was running to the bathroom at least once every hour (tmi?) This was not conducive to my job or life in general, and since I was already starting to see some improvement from the Korean Skincare routine, I decided to stop.
I’m now almost a full year into the Korean Skincare routine, and I can’t believe the difference in my skin! I’m back to the point of only one or two blemishes around my period, but they go away almost as quickly as they show up. Totally manageable and OK by me.
Now that my acne is under control (I don’t dare say that it’s cured) I’m excited to start incorporating some new products into my routine to address my other skin concerns like redness, fine lines, and general anti-aging.
Onto the fun stuff! I’ve used most of these products since the start, but some are newer additions. I like to keep the same basic routine and only incorporate one or two new products at a time so I can see how my skin reacts. This way if I have a bad reaction, I know it can only be one or two different products causing it. All of the products I shared below have passed the test and work well with my sensitive skin.
Cleansers
You might think I’m insane, but I actually use three different cleansers everyday. In the morning, I use a cleansing water because I do my routine right before bed, so there’s not much to wash off.
Lately I’ve been OBSESSED with Neogen’s Calendula Cleansing Water. With real calendula petals, It smells divine and leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean. To use, I squirt a little onto a cotton pad and gently sweep it across my entire face.
Neogen Calendula Cleansing Water
My nighttime cleansing routine is a bit different, because I have a full days worth of dirt, grime, grease, makeup, sweat, and all kinds of other good stuff hanging out on my face and in my pores. I double cleanse and I can’t believe I haven’t been doing it my whole life. What a difference it makes!
The idea behind the double cleanse is that the oil-based cleasner removes your makeup, oil, and sebum (think anything that is oil-based) and the foaming cleanser removes water-based debris like sweat and makeup.
For my oil cleanser, I exclusively use HANSKIN Cleansing Oil & Blackhead [PHA]. This cleansing oil takes off the heaviest of makeup in a breeze and is super gentle on your skin. Seriously, this stuff works way better than any makeup remover I’ve ever used! Plus, it has a heavenly lemon scent that makes cleansing feel like a spa experience.
If I’m wearing makeup, I massage my entire face and neck with 2-3 pumps of this, and rinse (while still massaging your face) with lukewarm water. If I don’t have on makeup, I can usually get away with a single pump. HANSKIN Cleansing Oil lasts a long time and might just be my favorite skincare product out there!
HANSKIN Cleansing Oil & Blackhead [PHA].
I’ve tried a few different water-based cleansers, but DR ORACLE A-Thera Cleansing Foam reigns supreme in my opinion. It leave my skin feeling squeaky clean, just a little taut, and shine-free. This product also scores major bonus points for lasting a LONG time. I started using this product back in April, and I’m still only about halfway through my second tube! You only need just a tiny smidge to get the creamy foaminess you need to properly cleanse.
When I was packing for my honeymoon in July, I thought for sure I would run out. The same, seemingly empty tube lasted me the whole three week trip and almost another month. I use less than a pea-sized amount to cleanse my entire face. DR ORACLE A-Thera Cleansing Foam is soothing and effective on irritated skin and acne.
DR ORACLE A-Thera Cleansing Foam
Exfoliator
If you’re looking for an combination exfoliator that’s gentle but extremely effective, look no further! Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine pads work overtime as both a chemical and physical exfoliator. Resveratrol, which comes from red wine, is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce the signs of aging and pigmentation. I have noticed a huge difference in the texture of my skin after using these 2-3 times a week. I’ve also noticed a substantial reduction in my acne scarring! One of the things that I like most about these exfoliating pads is that they’re very gentle on your skin. They also smell like a big ol’ glass of merlot, and that’s something I can totally get behind.
Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine
Toner
Toner has been a part of my routine since before I ever started the Korean Skincare Routine, even though I didn’t really understand WHY I used it. It is such an important step because it hydrates and balances the PH of your skin, which means the rest of your products will absorb better.
I was never super happy with a toner until I found Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner from Soko Glam. Benton is probably my favorite K-Beauty brand, so trying this was a no-brainer. My skin is relatively sensitive, and this toner with aloe is incredibly soothing! A lot of other toners I’ve tried also left my skin feeling sticky, but once you pat a pump or two of this into your skin, it absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling baby soft.
Essence
Essence is the essence of the Korean Skincare Routine. See what I did there?
Essences are generally lightweight but packed with all the good stuff your skin craves. Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence is an incredibly lightweight yet deeply moisturizing mist that I can’t live without! It’s gentle on my skin, isn’t sticky at all, and absorbs quickly so I can keep chugging along with my routine. Because I use so many moisturizing products before I even get to makeup, my skin doesn’t really get dry throughout the day. When it does I turn to this mist for a quick hydration boost. The mist is sooo fine and I feel like such a fancy pants whenever I use it.
Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence
Serum
COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid Vitamin C Serum is a game-changer! It’s VERY strong, so I’d recommend starting with just a few drops mixed in with moisturizer every other night. This product significantly reduced the hyper-pigmentation (dark spots) left from my acne. Full disclosure: like any Vitamin C serum, this product goes bad pretty quickly. It’s important to keep it in a cool, dark place, and to make sure it’s always completely sealed. I can usually make the whole bottle last just by keeping it in a small cosmetic bag under the sink in my bathroom, but the refrigerator is ultimately the best place to store it.
COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid
Sheet Masks
I must admit, I have a bit of an obsession with sheet masks. While I think it’s a bit overkill to use one everyday, I try to use one every other day or so. There’s nothing as relaxing as taking a nice hot bath with a sheet mask plastered to your face – trust me on this one!
While I truly can’t pick a favorite sheet mask (there are just way too many good ones!) my go-to would be Benton Snail Bee High Content Sheet Masks. Snails? Bees? You’re not alone if you’re a little freaked out. It turns out that snail mucin is a miracle worker for your skin! It’s incredibly moisturizing and nourishing, and the bee venom extract helps to improve the tone and texture of your skin. These masks pack a real punch and make your skin glow like you wouldn’t believe! I notice an immediate effect after using them, so they’ll be a part of my skincare arsenal forever.
Benton Snail Bee High Content Sheet Mask Pack, 10 pieces
Eye Cream
I have to be completely honest… I still haven’t found an eye cream that has done ANYTHING for my horrid dark circles. For over ten years now, I have been using eye creams promising to reduce dark circles, but nothing seems to help! I got Restylane filler in my tear troughs back in April, and that made a huge difference. I still have a lot of darkness, but they’re not as hollow as they used to be.
SO, while I can’t agree that Baebody Eye Gel reduces severe dark circles, it is still a nice eye cream. It keeps my eye area moisturized and I do notice a slight improvement in my morning eye puffiness. If dark circles aren’t a major concern for you, this eye gel is a great option!
I’ll definitely be continuing my search for the best dark circle eye cream, and you can bet I’ll share it when I find it!
Moisturizer
My favorite moisturizer is from none other than the amazing Benton! I’ve tried countless moisturizers and BENTON Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel makes my skin the happiest! While a lot of moisturizers are creamy and tend to make my skin oily, this is a gel formula. It’s very soothing and my skin soaks it right up which means no sticky residue and the perfect slate to slather on some SPF and start my makeup.
BENTON Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel
SPF
If you only take away one thing away from reading this post, let it be this… If you don’t already use one, add an SPF to your morning routine immediately! After a skin cancer scare last year, I’ve been been diligent about using an SPF on my face every day. I always knew that if I was going to the beach or doing an outdoor activity I should wear it, but I didn’t realize how much damage the sun can do to your skin in just a few minutes! That means driving to work, walking to lunch, going shopping, and even checking the mail leave you susceptible to damaging UV rays.
Unless I’m going somewhere, I don’t normally wear any makeup, so I love an SPF that doubles as a BB cream! MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF42 PA+++ does the trick for me! It provides a sheer coverage and blends into my skin well. For days that I do wear makeup, it almost seems to act like a primer which means my makeup stays put all day.
MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream No.23 Natural Beige SPF42 PA+++
I can’t say enough good things about the Korean Skincare routine and how customizable it is for each persons unique skincare needs. If you think it’s something you might want to try, I’d encourage you to check out Soko Glam. You can learn more about the routine and all of the products they sell that are targeted towards different skin concerns. I’m also happy to answer any questions! Thank you for reading 🙂