We started our series with STYLE STORY’s R&D Consultant Sandy, who with sensitive / combination skin is looking for a skincare routine that hydrates and prevents blackheads and redness.
Our next Skin Story is from SS Founder Lauren.
Name: Lauren
Skin type: Dehydrated, Sensitive and Acne Prone (lucky me!)
Skin goals: To prevent breakouts, minimise the appearance of pores and blackheads, hydrate and moisturise my skin.
Fun fact about my skincare: I adore honey-based products and love a good sheet mask!
Having suffered from bad breakouts and acne scarring as a teenager, I looked to skincare products to help repair my skin.
One of the benefits of having bad skin at a young age was that I learnt early on how to take care of my skin, and which products work best with my skin type.
My key concerns remain to minimise acne, and prevent and reduce scarring. I also like to keep my skin looking soft and smooth.
Depending on how much time I have in the mornings, I customise my routine. Most days, it involves:
Cleansing: My favourite cleanser is Tosowoong’s Enzyme Powder Wash, because it is perfectly pH balanced at 5.5. This is important for acne-prone skin, as it helps keep bacteria out and moisture in.
Vitamin C Serum: On days when I’m working out, I use Vlancvere’s Power VC15 Ample to target pigmentation and scarring. This is perfect to use before the gym because you need to wait at least 20 minutes with a Vitamin C serum before you apply any other products.
Essence: Banila Co’s Miss Flower and Mr Honey Essence Oil– smells like a honey pot, and sinks straight into my skin. It’s my Holy Grail!
Sunscreen: The Face Shop Oil Control Sunscreen, a non-sticky, acne-friendly sun block.
Moisturiser: Thank You Farmer True Water Light Cream – this light gel moisturiser is great for acne-prone skin and also layers well under makeup.
Cleanse 1: My oil-based cleanser is Tosowoong
Natural Pure Cleansing Oil Apricot Seed Oil. This does a great job of taking my makeup off, as well as any build-up from the day.
Cleanse 2: My foaming cleanser is Tosowoong’s Enzyme Powder Wash, which I also use in the morning.
BHA: My go-to chemical exfoliant is COSRX’S Blackhead Power Liquid. I use it once or twice a week to target blackheads.
Toning: Thank You Farmer’s True Water Deep Toner is great because it has a hydrating formula that doesn’t dry my skin out.
Essence: LJH Tea Tree 90 Essenceprevents breakouts and calms my skin with its high tea tree content.
Serum: Missha Borabit Ampoule – brightening, firming, toning and moisturising all in one step!
Night Cream: Scinic Honey All In One Ampoule– sweet, sweet honey! Plus, it’s packed full of skin-friendly ingredients that brighten and hydrate to give you that K-Beauty Glow.
Face Masks: My favourite daily masks are from Tosowoong’s Pure range. For events and special occasions, I can’t go past the divine coconut gel masks in When’s Special Package.
A hydrating toner like Thank You Farmer’s True Water Toner is perfect for dry skin like mine
In my job, I’m lucky to get to try new Korean Beauty products all the time. However, not all products are built the same and some ‘Holy Grail’ products that work for others don’t necessarily work for me. What I look for in a top Korean beauty product are the ingredients and it’s compatibility with my skin type.
I love products that contain honey and propolis extract, because they work wonders on my dry skin.
My “Old Favourites” that I have been using for years and still can’t go past include:
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask– an oldie, but a goodie! I pull this out at least once a week to target congestion and blackheads.
Leaders Insolution Melatox Skin Clinic Mask– instant skin brightening in under 30 minutes? Sign me up!
Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Borabit Ampoule – AKA “Missha’s Long Name Ampoule”. It doesn’t matter how many other serums I try, I keep coming back to this for a reason – it’s a guaranteed skin success.
Peeling foot masks, like Holika Holika’s Baby Silky Foot One Shot Peelingor PACKage’s Monthly New Feet Foot Maskare the bomb for getting dry, cracked feet back in shape without an expensive visit to a nail spa.
I discovered Korean Beauty products years ago when studying in Seoul. As a broke student, the staff at the K-Beauty stores in Korea used to load me up with samples – I got to try so many different products for free that way!
I found that the products worked so much better than the western products I was previously using but had the same ingredients as luxury western products literally five times the price. It wasn’t long before I swapped my whole skincare routine over to Korean Beauty products – and I’ve never looked back!
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