Scheduling an appointment at the beauty parlor or indulging in a microdermabrasion at the spa might not be possible at the moment, but that doesn’t mean our skin has to take a hiatus from the regular pampering. Taking guidance from a nation that’s famous for its skincare products, you can emerge from quarantine with a healthy, glowing complexion. Here’s how to rescue dull skin with my favorite South Korean beauty products.
Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser
I like to start my days with this ultra gentle Low pH Good Morning cleanser by Cosrx, which leaves my skin feeling clean without that tight, stripped feeling, thanks to the cleanser’s mild ingredients.
Good Morning Cleanser is formulated to maintain a pH of five, right in the middle of the range of natural healthy skin, which typically lies between four and seven. Using pH balanced skincare products helps maintain the overall health of your skin, as repeatedly exposing it to highly acidic or alkaline products can damage it to a point where it becomes susceptible to breakouts, hypersensitivity, and redness. Despite the gentle formula and the words “good morning” in the product, the cleanser’s purifying ingredients are also effective in dissolving makeup at the end of the day, making it an anytime cleanser. Having a clean canvas primes your skin for the lotions and toners you layer on afterwards.
Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm
Double cleansing is one of the many trends to emerge from South Korea’s highly touted 10 step skincare routine, and the first step of double cleansing is to use a cleansing oil or balm to break down makeup.
My nighttime skincare routine starts with this cult favorite, the Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm. In addition to removing the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras and no-budge eyeliners, this cleansing balm also works to remove excess oils, bacteria, and dead skin cells that have accumulated on my face throughout the day. By first breaking down my makeup with this balm, my follow-up cleanser in the second step of this double cleanse routine can penetrate deeper into my pores to clear them.
This cleansing balm feels like sherbet when you first scoop it up and rub it between your fingers, and it applies smoothly onto your skin and melts into an oil as you massage it on your face. It might sound counterintuitive to apply an oil to your face if you have oily skin like me, but oil based products are most effective in removing buildup without stripping your skin of its natural oils, leaving your face supple.
Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch
Sometimes on vacation, I plop down on the bed and tuck myself in without remembering to remove my makeup after an exhausting day of bouncing between urban parks and historical attractions. And other times, I don’t have the ability to properly cleanse my face in the annoyingly cramped airplane lavatories. Consequently, a volcano pimple erupts, threatening to ruin my vacation photos.
That’s when I slap on one of these hydrocolloid patches by Cosrx, which works to heal acne, reduce redness, and prevent future breakouts—quickly. Overnight, these little round patches extract the impurities of the zits, and prevent secondary infections by keeping them sealed off from invading bacteria. If you’re worried about having to put these on during the day, these patches are virtually invisible once they’re on your face, and nobody will notice them unless you point them out.
Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Another irreplaceable part of my daily routine is this Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. Its mild formula softens and clarifies the face by eliminating flaky skin while preventing those pesky whiteheads and blackheads from forming. Infused with the chemical exfoliants AHA and BHA, this toner combats acne and excess oil, and its mineral water content works to rejuvenate dull skin. For best results, I spray a small amount on a cotton pad and swipe across my face.
Benton Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack
Sheet masks are my go-to if I’m in a pinch and looking for something convenient that still does the job. It’s something that doesn’t require me to be in the bathroom for 20 minutes, so I can just put one on, and get on with the rest of my bedtime routine.
This Benton Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack works on all skin types but is especially effective on acne prone skin. Each sheet is generously soaked in a concoction of snail mucin and bee venom, which calms inflammation and evens out dark spots. The serum is cooling on the skin, and when I remove the mask from my face after 20 minutes, I gently pat the excess liquid onto my face and neck for a deeply nourishing treatment.
Neogen Bio-Peel Gentle Gauze Peeling Pads
Exfoliating regularly gives your skin that deep clean that it needs to clear your pores of dead skin cells. But if you’re not a fan of that part of the routine and are looking for something easy and gentle, give these supersoaked Neogen Bio-Peel Pads a try.
These hypoallergenic cotton gauze pads have two sides: a rougher feeling threaded one, and a soft quilted one. These single use pads are easy to use. Just stick your index and middle fingers into the pocket, and use the rougher side first in a circular motion across your face and neck to slough off flaky dry skin. Then flip it over and use the quilted side in a patting motion to clean up the debris from exfoliating. Finally, rinse off with lukewarm water. I use these pads twice a week for softer and smoother skin. This Neogen series comes in three variations to target specific skin concerns: wine for tighter skin, lemon to even out skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation, and green tea to calm inflammation and reduce redness. My go-to is the wine version, but it’s not for skin that’s sensitive to strong scents, as it smells like a grape Jolly Rancher. Its main active ingredient is resveratrol, a red wine extract with naturally occurring AHAs that helps prevent wrinkles.
