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What We Cover

In this week’s news headlines, it is bad news for nearly all of K-Beauty’s biggest companies. Many have been forced to downsize staff over the last year due to complications caused by Coronavirus. From AmorePacific to Kolmar Korea, Coson, Aekyung Industries and more, very few big players made it out of the pandemic unscathed.

Korean Skincare for Every Age

This breakdown is organised by life stage. Skincare is not one size fits all. The goal is to match texture, active strength, and routine complexity to what your skin actually needs right now.

Skincare in Your Teens

For many of us, our first steps into skincare come when we start high school.

The main skincare concerns for teens are acne and excess oil production.

Getting acne under control can be complicated, because different types of acne require different approaches. If your daily routine does not help, it may be time to see a dermatologist for stronger options.

At Home K-Beauty Treatments to Try

• Subi Perfect Pimple Patches
• COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
• Dr Ceuracle Tea Tree 95 Essence
• iUNIK Centella Calming Gel

Favourite K-Beauty brands for teenage skin include COSRX, iUNIK and Benton. Their products are usually affordable and straightforward, with lighter textures.

Skincare in Your 20s

After conquering teenage skin concerns, your 20s are a great time to set up a strong foundation. If you have acne scars, you can start introducing products that support texture and tone.

While your oiliest days are hopefully behind you, it is still common to deal with oily or combination skin. Double cleansing is especially useful if you wear sunscreen or makeup.

Favourite products for this age group

• Subi Bare Skin Balm
• Subi Holo Dream
• Jelly Ko Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask

Skincare in Your 30s and 40s

By your 30s, you are often past the acne and oilier skin of your younger years. However, you may start seeing fine lines and dehydration.

Using the right skincare products can keep your skin looking younger for longer. If you have not started using targeted essences or serums yet, this is a good time to begin.

Favourite essences for this age group

1. COSRX Snail Essence
2. Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
3. APLB Glutathione Hyaluronic Essence (editor’s note: discontinued, try Jelly Ko White Truffle Soufflé Serum instead)
4. Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence

Your 40s are when changes in firmness often become more noticeable. You may see volume loss, deeper lines, sun damage, or pigment issues such as melasma.

Hormone levels also drop long before menopause. During peri-menopause, as oestrogen falls, many women first notice their skin becomes much drier. If that dryness is not addressed, it can contribute to premature fine wrinkling around the eyes and mouth.

Moisturisers and anti-redness favourites

• Jelly Ko Bubble Tea Steam Cream
• Dr Jart Cicapair Re-Cover
• APLB Retinol Vitamin A Moisturise Cream (now discontinued)

Best serums

• SOME BY MI Yuja Niacin 30 Days Blemish Care Serum
• Neogen Vitamin C Serum
• Dr Jart Ceramidin Serum
• APLB Idebenone Ampoule Serum (editor’s note: discontinued, try Jelly Ko Be Jelly Overnight Dream Serum instead)

Skincare in Your 50s and Beyond

As you age, your skin often feels drier and thinner because collagen levels decrease over time. Post menopause, the hormone shift involving declining oestrogen and relatively higher androgens can also affect the skin.

Supporting these concerns helps protect and nourish your skin while also supporting your skin’s ability to renew collagen.

Essences for 50s and beyond

• Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence RX
• APLB EGF Facial Repair Essence (editor’s note: discontinued, try Jelly Ko Dewy Glaze Toner instead)

To complement it, try adding in some K-Beauty serums.

• Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule
• Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
• d’Alba Piedmont White Truffle Intensive Ampoule (editor’s note: discontinued, try Jelly Ko White Truffle Soufflé Serum instead)

Moisturisers

• Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream
• Tosowoong Spot Whitening Vita Clinic Cream
• APLB Anti Aging Rebooting Nutritional Cream (editor’s note: discontinued, try Jelly Ko Bubble Tea Steam Cream instead)

STYLE STORY: Your Go-To for K-Beauty Since 2014

Confused about which Korean skincare products are right for you? You can reach out to the STYLE STORY team for a free skincare consultation. Our K-Beauty experts will go through your concerns and offer personalised recommendations tailored for you.

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All products recommended on The Korean Beauty Show podcast are selected by us. Some show notes include affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps offset the costs of producing the podcast.