….but don’t fear. Avoid scaly dragon skin with a few of these K-Beauty favs.
Tl;dr Best Korean Beauty Products For Winter
Winter is fast approaching and that means a temperatures are dropping, heaters are going on and dry, flaky, patchy skin is making a comeback. The lightweight moisturisers and gel cleansers that were perfect for controlling oil in the summer are soon to become redundant. So what should you replace them with?
These are a few of our favs.
The Routine
Step 1: Oil Cleanse
Your oil cleanse is for removing your sunscreen and makeup.
This buttery soft cleanser is just the recipe for winter! Going on solid (just like real butter!), it melts into a silky oil when it comes into contact with skin, effortlessly removing even the most stubborn dirt and makeup. Rice water and grain ferment ingredients keep the complexion radiant and soft.
How to Use: Apply a scoop to dry skin and massage it into the face. After 2 – 3 minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water.
Korean Beauty Routine For Winter Step 2: Foam Cleanse
Your foam cleanse removes any remaining debris leftover from the day and can also be used first thing in the morning. It’s important that your foam cleanse isn’t overly stimulating or sensitizing, particularly in winter or you risk irritating your skin.
This gentle pH balanced cleanser softly cleanses damaged, irritated skin with a micro-bubble formula that is ideal for winter, helping skin to retain moisture without over-stimulating it.
The formula replaces ordinary water with 69% centella asiatica extract water, which is excellent for red skin, acne prone skin and irritations.
How to use: Pour powder into your hands and then add water. , Massage it lightly over your whole face. Wash with lukewarm water.
K-Beauty Routine For Winter Step 3: Exfoliate
Dead skin builds up easily in winter, so it’s important to take care of it with a light exfoliant. Be careful not to do overdo it though or you risk the damage and irritation caused by over-exfoliation.
This 2-in-1 essence toner is just what dull, damaged and rough winter skin needs.
The formula has a melting jelly texture that's perfect for all skin types. To up your hydration levels incorporate it into your routine using the 7 Skins Method.
Korean Skincare Routine For Winter Step 5: Essence
Essence is a quintessential step in the Korean skincare routine, which is used to treat the skin on a cellular level.
The best essence for winter: Tosowoong Green Tea Eco Brightening Essence. Unlike other essences, this K-Beauty classic is thicker and more serum-like, making it ideal for dry skin in winter.
It uses green tea to soothe and calm red, irritated and sensitive skin and is chok full of rich antioxidants. The combination of niacinamide, galactomyces and rH oligopeptide will leave skin brighter and more elastic.
How to use: Apply 2-3 drops of Tosowoong Green Tea Eco Brightening Essence to cleansed skin after toner and pat in to absorb.
Korean Skincare Routine For Winter Step 6: Mask
Masking is great for locking in moisture, as the mask acts like an occlusive barrier on the skin. If your skin is looking dull, lifeless and dry this winter, pop a quick mask on to bring it back to life.
Bathed in cherry blossom, panthenol and niacinamide, this jelly texture face mask makes the most of your skin's natural turnover cycle so that you wake up to soft, plump jelly skin.
How to use: Apply a thin layer 30 minutes before bed and wash off the next morning.
K-Beauty Routine For Winter Step 7: Serum / Ampoule
Ampoules are another leave-in treatment that address specific skin concerns. They are perfect to add to your nighttime skincare routine to intensively care for skin, as they contain far higher concentrations of active ingredients than your other skincare products.
This is the perfect ampoule to whip winter skin into shape. It features hyaluronic acid to deliver moisture straight to the skin and comes in a giant 100ml bottle that'll last all winter!
How to use: Drop a pea or dime-sized amount onto palm and pat into face until dry. Be sure to avoid physical contact with the dropper to avoid contamination.
Korean Beauty Routine For Winter Step 8: Eye Cream
Not everybody needs an eye cream, but they are a great addition for anyone experiencing dryness and flaking around the eyes in winter, as well as those with skin getting thinner and drier. From about the age of 30, our skin’s healing cycle slows down due to a decrease in collagen production, making this an ideal time to start using eye cream.
A dream for dry, dull and dehydrated skin this giant 70ml eye cream is perfect for winter.
How to Use: Apply it morning and night to the skin underneath your eyes and pat lightly with fingertips until fully absorbed. Bonus tip – apply this cream to the lines between your brow and along your laugh lines for an intensive anti-wrinkle treatment.
Korean Beauty Routine For Winter Step 9: Moisturiser
Seal in all of your skincare with a good, hydrating moisturiser.
The best moisturiser for winter: Jelly Ko Bubble Tea Steam Cream. Developed alongside South Korea’s best cosmetic chemists, this smooth, creamy moisturiser fills your skin with hydration. It is cruelty free, offering barrier care, brightening and anti aging benefits.
How to Use: At the last step of your skincare routine, take an appropriate amount of cream and apply it to your face and neck.
Korean Beauty Routine For Winter Optional Step: BB CREAM
If you’re a makeup lover, BB cream is a great alternative to taking care of your skin while getting the coverage you need. BB creams serve as a foundation with hydrating and brightening effects and can also double as a sunscreen. While BB and CC creams have made their debut in Australia, Korean BB creams remain far superior to their western counterparts.
Fun fact: Many BB creams have a limited selection of colors, but that’s because they actually change color to match your skin. They may appear gray at first, but give it some time and some window light and the product will oxidize.
The best BB cream for winter skin: Skin79’s Original BB Cream is perfect for those looking for coverage and bonus anti-aging benefits. This formulation contains gold and caviar extracts that provide a healthy dose of nutrition to the skin and also tons of collagen to help skin retain moisture.
How to use: Pump a small amount onto the back of your hand, and using either your finger or foundation brush, apply it to the face as you would with a foundation. If you have a Foundation Compact with a puff, you can also use this to ensure great, even coverage. Give it time to oxidize, and then set with powder.
