The Seven Skin Method is a Korean skincare hack involving using three to seven layers of essence or serum after cleansing your face. The rationale for this is,when done correctly, it will increase the absorption of skincare ingredients into your skin, because you are taking the time to pat on each layer, wait for it to soak in, and then apply more product. Because you are using essence, toner, or serum, these have a watery consistency compared with moisturizers, so you are less likely to clog up your skin by applying multiple layers.

It’s so simple yet so ingenious. All you have to do is cleanse your face, and apply between three to seven layers of one essence or serum of your choice.

Some little pointers to guide you, which have really helped us:

1. Apply the first layer when your skin is still slightly damp.

2. Pat each layer on with your bare hands, rather than using a cotton pad. This is because cotton pads are not completely smooth to the touch, and can cause microabrasions to your skin over time. They also soak in a lot of product, which doesn’t get transferred to your face. The patting motion helps increase the skin absorption of the product. Also try gently massaging each layer in, which also maximises its absorption.

3. You don’t necessarily need to wait until each layer completely dries before putting on the next layer, as long as you’ve taken time to pat and massage the product onto your face, concentrating it on any dry areas.

4. You don’t need to do this routine every day. We do this once a week, and it’s enough to see increased radiance and dewiness to our skin after keeping it up for a month.

5. The exact number of layers you apply depends entirely on how your skin is responding. Start off with applying three layers, and work your way up depending on whether your skin is still dry afterwards.

6. Steer clear of toners that are meant for cleansing or exfoliating, or which contain astringents (such as witch hazel). It’s fine to use toners instead of essence or serum, just look for ones that don’t contain these types of ingredients.

7. Whichever layering product you chose, also try to avoid ingredients such as sulphates, parabens, synthetic fragrance and colors, or triclosan. Ideally try to also avoid alcohol as it can be drying, though keep in mind some form of preservative is usually needed in the product. We love using the Primera Miracle Seed Essence (Althea) or the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence (Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse) for the seven skin method.

By the way.. some the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!

What order should you apply skin care products in the morning?

Firstly, as you probably know, you should layer your skincare from the thinnest to the thickest formulation. As a general rule, apply water-based formulations first, then lotions, then creams, then oils.

Chemical exfoliators are best applied before any moisturisers so that they are better absorbed into the skin.

If you need to put on sunscreen because you are going outside, try to apply this as a last step. This is one reason why oils and heavier creams are best included in your night time routine instead!

Certain skincare ingredients are unstable, or cause your skin to become photosensitive, so it’s good to leave these to your evening skincare routine, and apply the other skincare in the morning.

In this post, we’ll talk exclusively about what products we put on after cleansing. We don’t exfoliate in the morning, because we don’t want to expose newly exposed skin cells to UV radiation, and prefer to exfoliate at night as a result. For a step by step walk through of the skincare products we use at each step, morning and night, see our ten step Korean skincare routine.

What should my morning skincare routine be?

1. Essence containing niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. Depending on the concentration, topical niacinamide has been associated with skin brightening, fading the appearance of pigmentation and redness, sebum control, and reducing the appearance of fine lines.

We use the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence (Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse) for skin brightening, as it contains 2% niacinamide.

However, higher concentrations (at least 5%) are required to fade any dark spots and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and for anti-aging effects. For this, we have found The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% really helpful, but only apply it directly onto the offending areas, not all over your face, to minimise the risk of irritation from such a high concentration of niacinamide. Always do a patch test first as well.

Some of the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

It is worth noting that there are a lot of skincare ingredients you shouldn’t combine with niacinamide. Read our post on skincare ingredients not to mix and breakdown of skincare ingredients for more information.

2. Serum containing hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a type of humectant. A humectant is a substance that draws moisture from its surroundings. Hyaluronic acid is perfect for serums and toners as it is both hydrating and lightweight on our skin. Always do a patch test first though, as some people have an allergic reaction to it.

Hyaluronic acid has worked to decrease the appearance of our fine lines and wrinkles and plump our skin. We find that the The Ordinary "Buffet", which contains sodium hyaluronate (the water-soluble form of hyaluronic acid) as a main ingredient, is especially great if you have oily skin or combination skin, because it keeps the skin hydrated but not greasy. However, we have an oily T-zone, so we usually focus this on dehydrated areas rather than all over our face.

We recommend skincare that has other ingredients that pack a punch too, and The Ordinary "Buffet" does just this. It is a serum containing peptide complexes which also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and facial folds, and a range of amino acids which contribute to the stimulation of collagen production.

3. Lightweight moisturizer

It’s not easy to find a lightweight moisturizer that a) doesn’t clog your pores after a whole day out and about, b) sits well under sunscreen, and c) functions well as a makeup base.

If you have oily skin or are in a humid, moist climate, we usually find that we can get away without a moisturizer if we are already applying a toner, essence and sunscreen.

If your skin is on the drier side, then you may be able to layer the Moogoo Full Cream Moisturiser or the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX Light underneath. See our rundown of the best moisturizers here.

4. Sunscreen

Finally, if you are going outdoors (or even if you are indoors with exposure to UV light), it’s essential that you apply sunscreen as the last and final step!

UV radiation can cause pigmentation, speed up the skin’s aging process, worsen post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and increase the risk of skin cancer. The type of sunscreen you choose will depend on your skin tone, skin type, and preference.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!

This is your ultimate guide to the skincare basics, and the dos and don’ts that every teenager needs to begin your skincare journey using safer, cleaner skincare. Even if you’re not in your teens, check out our skincare basics section to understand more about the basic principles of starting a safe (organic) skincare routine for you.

Keep it simple - cleanse, moisturize, and protect against the sun

Tip 1 - You don’t really need a skincare routine

It’s the least well-kept secret…there’s too many products marketed by brands to you these days, which all claim that you are missing out if you don’t use it. But as a teenager it’s important not to get sucked into the hype and FOMO. Only pick and choose what you really need, starting off with the basic two products: cleanser and moisturizer.

If you have no idea where to start, choose one skincare product from each of these categories - one that is labelled as gentle or for sensitive skin, because these tend to contain less irritants, toxins and potential allergens.

Only choose products targeting specific skin needs if your skin really needs it, such as skin brightening, or oil-controlling products. For a more detailed rundown of what skincare ingredients to look out for, see our dedicated post here.

For example, I have combination skin, and personally use the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (vitasprings) because it’s the most effective cleanser I’ve found that does the best job at removing sebum (for all skin types) while not drying out the skin. However, it does contain parabens, so you can experiment with different cleansers to find one best suited to your skin type.

By the way…some the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

Tip 2 - Find out what skin type you have

To work out what additional skincare you might need, find out what skin type you are. If you can’t tell, cleanse your face and don’t put any products on for 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes, your skin feels oily or looks shiny, then you have oily skin (no-brainer). If your skin is looking shiny but feels dry, then it’s likely a type of skin called “oily-dehydrated”. If it is oily in some areas but dry in others, then you have combination skin. If it looks flakey or feels dry everywhere, then you have dry skin, and if it feels and looks good everywhere, then you have normal skin!

Often you will fall somewhere in between these categories on the spectrum. For example, if your skin mostly looks and feels normal, but there are still some oily bits, then you have “normal to combination” skin.

Tip 3 - Never forget sunscreen

It’s never too early to start wearing sun screen every day. UV radiation is great for giving you a tan, but causes premature signs of aging, as well as being a risk for skin cancer. Check out our post on anti-aging skincare for more information.

Tip 4 - Clear breakouts

Finally, make sure you stay on top of breakouts. See our dedicated post on this topic. But make sure you see a medical doctor if you think you might be suffering from acne. This is probably obvious, but the information presented here doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your doctor!

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

What are the best products for Korean skin care routines, what are the steps of a Korean skincare routine? Is the ten step Korean skincare routine necessary?

It sounds excessive and OTT when you first hear it, but the Korean ten step skincare routine can actually be less pore clogging than just slapping on a couple of different products and being done with it! It can even be a great Korean skincare routine for oily skin and combination skin.

This is because a ten step routine forces you to a) cleanse thoroughly each time and b) use LESS of MORE lightweight, water-based skincare to achieve the same level of hydration as piling on one thicker layer of lotion or cream.

The catch though, is that you need to ensure that none of the individual ingredients in each of the ten skincare products you use clash with each other, which could neutralise each other’s efficacy at best, or worse, cause severe skin irritation and breakouts. See our post on what not to mix for more details about this.

As a general rule, you should layer your skincare from the thinnest to the thickest formulation. Apply water-based formulations first, then lotions, then creams, then facial oils.

Step 1: Oil Cleanse

In super simplistic terms - water and oil don’t mix, but oil dissolves oil…and makeup, sunscreen, and other skincare we apply on our face contains oil-based substances! This is why an oil cleanser is needed to “melt” these substances first so they can then be washed away without you needing to scrub at your face for extended periods of time. We recommend trying the Heimish All Clean Balm or the Farmacy Green Clean Balm, as both of these work well in getting rid of grease on our face without damaging the natural skin barrier.

By the way…some of the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

A lot of people also rave about the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm (Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), though keep in mind it can leave a residue, which needs to be washed off thoroughly.

If you are starting off with a completely bare face anyway, you can skip this step and use one gel cleanser.

Conversely, if you are wearing heavy makeup, you may need to go in with a dedicated makeup remover as well, to remove the remaining makeup residue (e.g. an eye makeup remover like the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover if you are using heavy eye makeup). For general makeup removal, try the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water or the Garnier Clean Sensitive In Waterproof Make Up Remover.

Step 2: Gel Cleanse

The addition of a second cleanser is not to strip your skin of its natural lipid barrier, but instead serves the reverse process!

That’s right, it’s better for your skin to use two gentle cleansers rather than scrubbing aggressively for extended periods of time with one cleanser.

Make sure to leave cleanser on your face for less than one minute.

In general, we recommend gel cleansers over foaming cleansers because the latter tends to be too drying for people unless you have oily skin. For instance, we recommend the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser (rather than the foaming version), because it does a good job of cleaning combination skin without making it too dry.

I have combination skin, and personally use the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (vitasprings) because it’s the most effective cleanser I’ve found that does the best job at removing sebum (for all skin types) while not drying out the skin. However, it does contain parabens, so you can experiment with different cleansers to find one best suited to your skin type. I’ve tried many other “cleaner” cleansing skincare products without parabens, but they either dehydrated my skin or left my skin feeling oily.

Step 3: Exfoliate

Exfoliation can take the form of physical or chemical exfoliation.

For this step, we recommend using a chemical exfoliant, i.e. alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or poly hydroxy acids (PHAs).

These are best applied before any moisturisers so that they are better absorbed into the skin.

AHAs (e.g. glycolic, citric, lactic acid) are water soluble and therefore work on the skin surface.

Some of the best AHAs that we like are the COSRX AHA Whitehead Power Liquid (Olive Young)(Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%, and the KraveBeauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA, as they are relatively gentle on the skin while still helping to exfoliate dead skin cells and fading postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and dark spots over time. You do need to be patient and use these for a few months to see results.

BHAs (e.g. salicylic, tropic acid) are lipid soluble, and thus work on both the skin surface and can penetrate a little deeper into the pores.

In general, you should stick with AHAs as your go-to exfoliant unless you find they aren’t effective. BHAs, being more moisture-stripping, have tended to only work for us if we have oily skin and need to minimize pores and blackheads, otherwise it can be a little too harsh and stripping.

PHAs (e.g. gluconolactone, lactobionic acid) are gentler than AHAs but penetrate even less than AHAs because the molecular size is larger. We are currently on the lookout for an organic PHA to recommend, and we’ll let you know once we do! Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to find out.

Make sure to only apply one AHA, BHA, PHA, or other acid at any one time, in order to be gentle to your skin. Also avoid applying AHAs and BHAs with skincare containing peptides, since the low pH of acids will interfere with peptides.

Also make sure to limit the use of these chemical exfoliators to 1-2 times a week! And skip this step in the morning.

If you’re finding that your skin is still getting irritated with this routine, only exfoliate in parts of your face that really need skin brightening effects, such as dry patches and to fade post inflammatory hyperpigmentation after breakouts have subsided. Alternatively, you can start off by washing off the product after 5 minutes and not let it remain on your face.

Step 4: Tone

For dry skin or climates, try the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Mist (Style Korean)(Jolse) or Hada Labo Premium Lotion (Olive Young)(dokodemo)(Jolse) (which has the properties of a moisturizer but the form of a toner). We find that the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Mist (Style Korean)(Jolse) is a particularly intricate formulation that strikes a great balance between being wonderfully hydrating but not too thick, in a mist form!

There are also a range of more affordable toner options though they may have a lower concentration of active ingredients.

Two brands to check out are Isntree and Secret Key. In particular, try the Secret Key Milk Brightening Toner (Style Korean)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse) and the Secret Key Aloe Soothing Moist Toner (Style Korean)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), as well as the Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner (Style Korean)(Jolse) and Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner (Olive Young)(Style Korean)(Jolse). Another one in this category that comes to mind is the Etude House SoonJung pH 5.5 Relief Toner. These products are pretty good at evening skin tone and conferring a glow to the skin, and contain antioxidant ingredients such as green tea. However, check the specific ingredient lists of each. If you have had previous reactions to ingredients like hyaluronic acid or aloe, you should take care. Always do a patch test first to be sure.

Step 5: Apply Essence

Essences work similar to serums, in that they are thin but hydrating formulations packed with active ingredients that help subsequent layers of skincare to absorb better in the skin.

They act adjuncts for the rest of the nine steps in the routine, and also help to achieve a dewy Korean glass skin look.

We recommend the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence (Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), which also contains 2% niacinamide. This essence has helped to give our complexion an increased radiance, and has been great for general skin brightening. Read more about the effects of different niacinamide percentages on your skin in this post.

There are also a lot of skincare ingredients you shouldn’t combine with niacinamide! Read our post on skincare ingredients not to mix.

To help fade any dark spots and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and for anti-aging effects, we like to use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, but we apply it only onto offending areas, not all over our face, to minimise the risk of irritation.

If you are looking for an alternative to the SKII cult favorite, the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (dokodemo), give the IOPE Bio Essence Intensive Conditioning (Althea)(Jolse) or the Neogen Real Ferment Microessence a go. These contain saccharomyces ferment filtrate, which we find works well as a humectant to help draw moisture into our skin and help reduce the appearance of fine lines.

If you are looking for a really hydrating essence, try the Primera Miracle Seed Essence (Althea). This is packed with a few key ingredients, including saccharomyces ferment (for anti-aging), nelumbo nucifera germ extract (for skin conditioning), and niacinamide. This essence has done wonders for us in making our skin look more youthful, and to fade pigmentation when used for a period of at least 6 months.

If you are suffering from acne, this could be good time to try the Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Essence. Skinfood does a good job at working with propolis in this formulation. Propolis is an ingredient which studies suggest has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. While it can’t get rid of acne, it can help with soothing your skin during this process.

Centella asiatica is another great ingredient to look out for potential anti-inflammation effects. The AHC Minimal 10 Watery Essence (Olive Young) contains one of highest concentrations of centella asiatica among the essences, at 98%, and we find this helps to calm our irritated skin during breakouts.

If you are looking for an essence with minimal ingredients and something a little different, another essence to look out for is the Make P:rem Chaga Concentrate Essence. This contains only three ingredients, the active ingredient being mushroom extract (chaga). Chaga is used as an ingredient in some Korean skincare. It has associations with skin strengthening, and has made our skin feel more plump and bouncy after a few months.

Step 6: Pat on a Serum

Serums are usually also water-based, but have a high concentration of active ingredients - you can choose based on whether you are after specific ingredients, such as peptides (good for anti-aging), antioxidants (for anti-aging and reducing pigmentation), or brightening agents.

Serums tend not to be as occlusive as moisturizers, as they don’t contain mineral oils, petrolatum, lubricants and thickeners such as seed/nut oils.

We recommend The Ordinary "Buffet", which is a serum containing peptide complexes which have helped to reduce the appearance of our fine lines and facial folds. Focus this on dehydrated areas rather than all over your face (especially if you have an oily T zone), as it has a relatively viscous consistency.

The Rovectin Skin Essentials Aqua Activating Serum (Style Korean)(Jolse) is another good serum to try, containing one of our fave ingredients, niacinamide. This feels incredibly hydrating for our skin, and we feel skin becoming more elastic and bouncy after use. The La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum is also a favorite for making our skin feel more youthful and radiant, though keep in mind it contains alcohol.

These serums contain hyaluronic acid, or sodium hyaluronate, which is a water-soluble form of hyaluronic acid. Take care if you have had previous reactions to hyaluronic acid and always do a patch test first.

Another active you can look for in serums is L-ascorbic acid.

L-ascorbic acid is the active form of vitamin C. On the face of things, it has many benefits for the skin, including brightening the skin, improving skin tone, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and fading pigmentation. One of the best organic serums containing vitamin C that we reach for is the Drunk Elephant C Firma Day Serum, which has helped to fade pigmentation for us when applied consistently (daily) for 6-12 months.

However, L-ascorbic acid and other forms of vitamin C can be very unstable unless kept in optimal conditions. For more detailed information on how to maximise the efficacy of L-ascorbic acid in the presence of light, see our evening skincare routine post here.

The other precaution with L-ascorbic acid is, that we don’t recommend using it together with skincare containing niacinamide.

Finally, look for serums containing alpha arbutin. Also known as glycosylated hydroquinone, there is evidence to suggest that alpha arbutin a safer alternative to hydroxyquinone. The latter was traditionally used for skin whitening and to tackle hyperpigmentation even though it was associated with risk of serious side effects including cancer, which was exacerbated by exposure to UV radiation. The evidence suggests that alpha arbutin minimises this risk. For the purposes of this discussion, we are only discussing non-prescription formulations of alpha-arbutin.

To be safe, we recommend keeping alpha arbutin in your night time skincare routine. Also restrict your use of alpha arbutin to no more than 3 months at a time. We like using the The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA. Using this product for 3 months has been effective at reducing the appearance of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and freckles on our skin.

Step 7: Put on a Facial Mask!

This is the ultimate pampering step. Feel free to light a candle and sink into a warm bath while completing this.

For a quick “pick me up” gel mask for dry skin, try the Skin Inc. Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask, which contains algae extract. This mask is great at giving our skin a boost of hydration overnight.

Among the affordable sheet masks we like are the Innisfree Second Skin Masks (Style Korean)(Jolse). You can choose different targeted ingredients depending on your skincare needs, such as for moisturizing, nourishing, firming, soothing and brightening effects. Keep in mind these masks generally contain alcohol, castor oil, and fragrance, which can be irritating for some people.

In terms of more mid end mask options, one of our favorites is the Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Masks (Style Korean), which contain honey, propolis and royal jelly extract. This mask is incredibly soothing for our skin, and leaves it feeling extra radiant, plump and hydrated after use.

If you are ready for some pricier sheet masks to indulge in, try the Su:m37 Secret Programming Mask (Jolse), which has been our holy grail for many years. This contains over 80 natural fermented ingredients that act as antioxidant powerhouses together, such as pear juice, grape, barley seed, ginseng root, rye, soybean, black tea and hyacinth ferment. Our skin is extremely dewy and soft are using this. However, keep in mind that if your skin reacts badly to too many extracts, these may not be the masks for you.

Follow the instructions on the mask for how long to keep it on for, and make sure to use any excess left on your neck and hands!

Step 8: Facial Moisturizer

As discussed above, the choice of which moisturizer to use will depend on a lot on individual factors, including your skin type, concurrent skincare products used, and climate. See our rundown of the best moisturizers here.

It’s not easy to find a lightweight moisturizer that a) doesn’t clog your pores after a whole day out and about b) sits well under sunscreen, and c) functions well as a makeup base.

Our favorite moisturizer for oily or combination skin is the COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream (Style Korean)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), which is a very lightweight consistency but packs a punch in hydration thanks to ingredients like snail mucin. It also has never caused us any skin irritation or breakouts because it doesn’t contain many other extracts. However, note that it doesn’t sit well under makeup or sunscreen. You can also try the Amorepacific The Essential Creme Fluid - this contains a few extracts or oils, but keeps our skin hydrated despite being lightweight.

If your skin is on the drier side, then you may be able to layer the Moogoo Full Cream Moisturiser or the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX Light. Both of these are creamy moisturizers that sink in quickly into the skin. The MooGoo moisturizer is not quite as rich as the Sulwhasoo, but both are great for dry winter days.

If you have super dry skin, you can even try layering a facial oil. There is a wide array of different facial oils, including rose hip seed oil, tamanu oil, marula oil, and hemp seed oil, to name a few. We especially like using the Moogoo Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil. Tamanu oil has associations with anti-inflammatory effects, and has helped us to fade our [postinflammatory hyperpigmentation]/(/how-to-fade-hyperpigmentation). But use a drop at a time as a spot treatment as all oils can conversely predispose to breakouts even if you have dry skin.

We do NOT recommend you incorporate facial oil into your daily skincare routine if you have combination or oily skin.

Step 9: Don’t Forget Eye Cream

If you can afford it, it’s better to use a different moisturizer around your eyes compared with the rest of your face. However, if that’s too pricey for the time being, moisturizing around your eyes with safe facial moisturizer ingredients can also be ok, depending on what you choose to use.

In terms of dedicated eye products, you should choose these depending on whether you are after temporary depuffing or concealment of eyebags and dark circles, versus potent anti-aging effects, which become more relevant in your 30s and up.

Our favorite eye cream of all time remains the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream EX, which we noticed has significantly lightened the undereye area, reduced puffiness, and lessened the appearance of wrinkles. However, more affordable options also exist, including the Mizon Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream (Jolse), Innisfree Perfect 9 Repair Eye Cream (Style Korean)(Beautynet Korean), Innisfree Jeju Orchid Eye Cream (Style Korean)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), Benton Fermentation Eye Cream (Style Korean)(Althea)(Jolse), Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream and the 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream (100% pure). These may not necessarily contribute to significant anti-aging effects, but do still contain potent antioxidants and can help to depuff our eyes (especially products containing caffeine). The Moogoo Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Vitamin C, on the other hand, is great for helping to correct dark eye circles.

Pricier formulations if you are looking for more water-based options include the Amore Pacific Intensive Vitalizing Eye Essence, the Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum and the Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum. If you can, we recommend you layer these underneath whichever eye cream you choose. All of these are lightweight in consistency, hydrating, and feel very cooling to the touch.

If you can splurge on it, try the Origins GinZing Eye Cream and The History of Whoo Cheongidan Hwa Hyun Eye Cream, which contain a myriad of different botanical and fruit extracts, the Elensilia Cpp Collagen 80 Intensive Eye Cream which has helped to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and the Erborian Sève De Bamboo Eye Matte cream for its cooling properties.

The Erborian Sève De Bamboo Eye Matte may not be the most effective eye cream at anti-aging, but it comes in a slim compact stick form, which is great for packing for travel.

Step 10: Slap on Some Sunscreen

If you are going outdoors (or even if you are indoors with exposure to UV light), it’s essential that you apply sunscreen as the last and final step!

UV radiation can cause pigmentation, speed up the skin’s aging process, worsen post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and increase the risk of skin cancer. The type of sunscreen you choose will depend on your skin tone, skin type, and preference.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!

Skincare Mistakes That Nobody Tells You

Some of these might sound strange at first, but here are some skincare tips and tricks that we’ve found over the years:

1. Try not to use cotton pads, cleanser wipes, or makeup remover wipes. This is because it destroys your natural skin barrier over time, especially because it is tempting to use a scrubbing motion to pull at your skin in order to get all the grease and gunk off. If you must use makeup remover wipes, choose ones with a smooth texture.

2. Don’t apply every skincare product all over your face. For example, the T-zone might need oil-controlling, breakout-controlling, or exfoliating products, while these might be too harsh for the cheeks. The cheeks and sides of the face are where freckles and pigmentation tend to occur, hence is likely where you should apply your anti-hyperpigmentation products. As another example, the eyes need the safest, most hydrating products for this delicate area. Click on the links to find out more about specific anti-hyperpigmentation, breakout-controlling, eye and exfoliating skincare products that you should use. Also, some of the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

3. Don’t use the same amount of skincare everywhere! That is, use the most amount of skincare on less oily parts of your face, such as any dry patches, the cheeks and sides of your face. Keep the amount you apply to a minimum amount for oily areas like the T-zone.

4. Don’t have a skincare routine! We are kind of joking here…but seriously, don’t use every product in your skincare routine every day. Harsher, stronger products designed to strip away skin cells like exfoliants and clay masks, for example, should be used only a few times a week, not every day.

5. Don’t use anti-aging products! What we mean by this is, be careful about using products designed for a different age group to your own. Just because someone claims that it does wonders for their skin, remember that they may be older than you, or have a completely different skin type, or live in a very different climate to you. For example, if you start using anti-aging products like retinoids, which force your skin to increase cell turnover faster than it normally would, when your skin already has a perfectly balanced rate of cell turnover (for example in your teens and 20s), this can be really harsh to your skin and will stress it out unnecessarily.

6. Bigger is not better! Even though the Korean ten step skincare routine and seven skin method of skincare are important to understand, if your skin is getting clogged from these routines, it shows that less is more for you. Piling on excessive layers when your skin doesn’t need it not only causes breakouts and blemishes, but isn’t even delivering all that goodness into your skin - the ingredients aren’t getting absorbed properly, and are just going to waste.

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Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!

Exfoliation can be divided into physical and chemical exfoliation.

Physical exfoliation can take many forms, including exfoliating brushes/gloves, coffee scrubs, and specialised devices.

This article is dedicated to chemical exfoliants. These can broadly be divided into alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or poly hydroxy acids (PHAs).

AHA

AHAs are water soluble and so act primarily superficially, on the surface of the skin. Examples of AHAs are lactic acid, glycolic acid, and citric acid.

Our top rated AHAs are the COSRX AHA Whitehead Power Liquid (Olive Young)(Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse), The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%, and the KraveBeauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA. These are comparatively mild exfoliants but we find that they remain effective, not just in removing dead skin and debris, but also in helping to fade postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and pigmentation over time. We found that we had to be patient and use these consistently (3-4 times a week) for at least 6 months to see results.

These are all leave-on exfoliants, rather than ones that you wash off before applying the rest of your skincare. Be sure to apply leave-on chemical exfoliants after cleansing and before toners and moisturisers so that they are better absorbed into the skin.

By the way…some of the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

BHA

Unlike AHAs, BHAs are lipid soluble. They work on both the skin surface and can penetrate into the pores. Examples of BHAs include salicyclic acid and tropic acid.

In general, we like AHAs more than BHAs, even though the latter can penetrate deeper into the skin. This is because BHAs, being more moisture-stripping, can be overly harsh unless you have oily skin or you have trouble in minimizing your pores.

PHA

PHAs (e.g. gluconolactone, lactobionic acid) are gentler than AHAs but have even less penetration than AHAs because the molecular size of PHAs is greater. We are currently on the lookout for an organic PHA to recommend, and we’ll let you know once we do! Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to find out.

Make sure to only apply one AHA, BHA, PHA, or other acid at any one time, in order to avoid irritating your skin. Also avoid applying AHAs and BHAs with skincare containing peptides, since the low pH of acids will interfere with peptides.

Also make sure to limit the use of these chemical exfoliators to 1-2 times a week. And skipping this step in the morning is preferable. While this is not a hard and fast rule, we prefer to not sensitise newly exfoliated skin through exposure to UV radiation.

Other precautions to take are to patch test first, or to only “spot exfoliate” in parts of your face that really need it. If you are using leave-on exfoliant, but it is causing skin irritation, treat it as as a wash-off exfoliant and rinse it off within 5 minutes until your skin gets used to it.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!

Best Korean “Glass Skin” Products With Natural Ingredients

This K-beauty trend sounds fancy, but it’s really actually very simple - it’s all about putting on multiple layers of hydrating but lightweight skincare on your face. This will give your skin a dewy, luminous, even seemingly transparent glow - but unlike using makeup to achieve this effect, you’ve done it using ingredients that actually nourish your skin, both in the short and long term.

The exact skincare you choose is up to you, as long as you abide by principles for choosing skincare with more natural, cleaner ingredients, as outlined in our skincare basics post. Here is a breakdown of the products that we use to get that Glass Skin Glow:

1. Use a gentle chemical exfoliant to help get rid of rough patches and dead skin cells. We use the COSRX AHA Whitehead Power Liquid (Olive Young)(Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse) because it doesn’t irritate our skin. It’s great at keeping it soft and smooth, ready to absorb all the other layers of skincare we put on subsequently.

2. Use a hydrating but lightweight essence like the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence (Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse) or the Primera Miracle Seed Essence (Althea). These have also helped to minimize the appearance of pores, thanks largely to the niacinamide content in them.

3. Use a nourishing serum to plump up the skin. We use The Ordinary "Buffet", which contains multiple peptides and hyaluronic acid. This has helped to even out the appearance of fine lines for a great anti-aging effect, while at the same time giving it that sought after “glassy skin” effect. Do a patch test with any products containing hyaluronic acid though, in case your skin is allergic to it.

4. Use a moisturizing sheet mask, for example the Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Masks (Style Korean), which contains honey essence and propolis extract. This mask has really helped to seal in moisture on our face, makes the skin feel bouncier, and gives that final layer of dewiness to the overall glowing skin look.

For really natural-looking dewy skin, try to avoid foundation, but instead just use concealer on trouble areas. Then dust a highlighter on the high points of your cheeks, and wherever else you usually apply highlight. We like the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecto Pressed Highlighter but you can apply whichever highlighter you usually use.

By the way.. some of the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!

What is hyperpigmentation?

Pigmentation is a general description of coloring due to any pigment. Hyperpigmentation describes the appearance of skin that become darker than the surrounding skin. One common type of hyperpigmentation is postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is caused by increased melanin production, as a result of skin healing following inflammation or injuries, including acne and breakouts. Hyperpigmentation can also result from increased melanin production in response to increased UV light.

How to get rid of acne scars and hyperpigmentation naturally

This is our suggested routine for fading blemishes for non-medical conditions. It works for flat acne scars and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Remember to be consistent with this routine for 6 months to a year in order to see results. If you have moles, spots or blemishes due to exposure to UV light, always seek diagnosis and treatment from your dermatologist instead.

Morning skincare routine

Start with the COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence (Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse). This contains 2% niacinamide, which is great for brightening skin tone. For more information on the importance of niacinamide in your routine, see our post on dealing with breakouts. Make sure to pat this well into your skin to enhance absorption.

Then apply The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. As the name implies, this contains 10% niacinamide, which has helped a lot in fading our post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Niacinamide above 5% may be too irritating to use all over the face, so apply it only as a spot treatment to fade pigmented areas.

If you don’t want to use niacinamide exclusively, we recommend alternating The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% with the Cocokind Turmeric Spot Treatment, which has also helped us to lighten pigmentation.

As a last step, apply sunscreen of your choice. UV radiation can cause pigmentation, speed up the skin’s aging process, worsen post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and increase the risk of skin cancer. The type of sunscreen you choose will depend on your skin tone, skin type, and preference.

By the way…some of the skincare we recommend are available on iHerb, which we use to buy a lot of our organic skincare. You can use our code AEJ0519 at checkout to get 5% off.

Night time skincare routine

After cleansing, start with a chemical exfoliant. In our opinion, the best exfoliant to use is the COSRX AHA Whitehead Power Liquid (Olive Young)(Style Korean)(Althea)(Beautynet Korean)(Jolse). Despite the name, this is not so much for targeting whiteheads, but more as a general exfoliant. It is both gentle and effective, but have patience - we found that it has been effective at fading our pigmentation when used 3-4 times a week for a year.

COSRX also has a similar product called the Cosrx Mela White Ampule which also fades acne scars, but it a little pricier. This contains an extra ingredient called Allantoin, which has moisturizing properties suitable for irritated, dry or scaly skin. We find that both these products feel pretty similar, so we tend to go for the more affordable Whitehead Power Liquid.

If you prefer trying something different, other exfoliants to check out are The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% and the KraveBeauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA. These are also relatively gentle on the skin (using something harsher may risk damaging the natural skin barrier), but try not to use any exfoliant on a daily basis. They all contain AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), which act on the skin surface, unlike BHAs, which penetrate deeper into the skin. We often find BHAs can be too harsh for the skin when used long term. For more on the different types of exfoliants, see our post on the Korean ten step skincare routine.

Next, we apply The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA. This is a precursor of hydroxyquinone, so we don’t recommend using this product until you have read up on the potential side effect. Use this at night to be safe, and rinse it off before going outside in the morning. Also don’t use alpha arbutin for more than three months at a time. Why? See our post on dealing with breakouts for more information.

Finally, apply the Azclear Lotion 20% w/w. This contains 20% azelaic acid, which not only helps fade redness and pigmentation, but also can help counter inflammation. It comes as a pasty lotion that leaves a slight white cast, so it’s good to apply it before bed.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the chance to win a collection of our favorite skincare picks, and to get monthly skincare tips & recommendations on our top picks for cleaner, safer skincare.

Tag us on social media to share your skincare routine with friends if you think our tips have helped!

P.S…this is probably obvious, but the information presented doesn’t constitute medical advice - always check with your own doctor!