Daylight Glow vs. Night Repair: Conquer Your Skincare Routine

A good skincare routine involves hydrating and taking care of your skin. At the basic level, the Korean skincare routine requires that you include at least a cleanser and moisturizer. Although your skin type will influence your choice of products, the order of using them also matters. To achieve better results, consider having a more detailed morning routine than the evening.

Morning Skincare Routine: Essential Steps for a Flawless Face

The importance of the AM skincare cannot be overlooked. Nothing gives you more confidence and sets the tone for the day as fresh and good-looking skin. The morning Korean skincare routine prepares your skin for the long day ahead by removing oils and dirt accumulated during sleep. Incorporate products that protect your skin from the sun and other external environmental factors. At its basic, the morning routine includes:

• Remove grime and residue build-ups from the night before
• Hydrates the skin (Includes gels, creams, or balms)
• Protects the skin against the damaging sun effects

Here is how you can customize the routine to match your skin type:

Step 1: Cleanser

Washing your face in the morning removes dirt and excess oil that clog pores and cause breakouts. For your morning cleanser, choose alcohol-free products that are gentle to the skin. This will also help you avoid stripping a lot of oil needed to keep the skin barrier healthy. For those with dry skin, opt for a more hydrating oil-based cleaner. To cleanse your face in the morning:

• Splash some warm water onto your face
• Using your fingertips, rub the face wash on your face gently
• Rinse off the face wash
• Pat the skin dry with a towel

Step 2: Toner

While toning is an optional morning skincare routine step, it is ideal for people with dry or acne-prone skin. Look for hydrating toners with rose water or hyaluronic acid for dry or sensitive skin. Oil-absorbing ingredients like witch hazel or salicylic acid are ideal for acne-prone or oily skin.

• Soak a cotton pad with toner
• Gently pat it on your face
• Focus more on the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chine)
• You can also splash some toners directly on the face

Step 3: Acne or Spot Treatments

Applying a spot or all-over acne treatment after toning or cleansing helps to control acne breakouts. Instead of trying to fade hyperpigmentation (dark spots), apply a skin-brightening spot treatment. Using treatments with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide helps to treat acne while serums with kojic or hydroquinone acid fade dark spots.

Step 4: Antioxidant Serum

Applying a morning serum will brighten and protect your skin. opt for a serum with antioxidant properties like niacinamide, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E because they help in reducing UV and environmental damage.

Step 5: Eye Cream

This is another optional morning skin care routine step, but it is effective in adding hydration and moisture to your undereye skin. Gently dab the eye creamer under your undereye with your ring finger. You may go for a product with hydrating peptides and SPF. You may also apply an eye cream with caffeine to make you look more awake, especially after a restless night.

Step 6: Moisturizer

Moisturizer increases the water content in your skin and seals in moisture. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer and apply it all over your face. Choose a lightweight or oil-free moisturizer for oily or acne-prone skin to avoid clogging pores. Rich moisturizers with shea butter or ceramides help to hydrate dry skin.

Step 7: Sunscreen

You should always apply sunscreen and this is the most important step of the AM Korean skincare routine. Sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer and other skin concerns like sunspots or wrinkles. Look for chemical or mineral sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) or at least 20, and apply a nickel-sized amount onto your face, ear, neck, and check. Reapply every 2 hours, especially when you are exposed to the sun.

Night Skincare Routine Guide: Wake Up with Radiance

The PM skincare routine caters to specific skin issues. It removes all the dirt and oil accumulated during the day. It also helps to add moisture to the skin for treating dry skin and reducing fine lines as you sleep. It is best to apply products with active ingredients that make you vulnerable to sunlight during the PM routine. At its basic, the evening Korean skincare routine includes:

• Makeup remover: Removing makeup residue
• Cleanser: Gets rid of lingering dirt
• Spot treatment: Treats breakouts (Includes anti-inflammatory and drying products)
• Sleep mask/ Night cream: Moisturizer for skin repair

Here is a customized night skin care routine:

Step 1: Cleanser

Cleansing your face at night removes any oil and dirt accumulated throughout the day. The main difference with the morning routine is that you will need to remove makeup using double cleanse or oil-free makeup remover.

Step 2: Toner

At night time, toning helps to hydrate dry skin while removing leftover grime after cleansing. Consider swapping your morning toner for an exfoliating one at least once or twice a week. This will help in removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores.

Step 3: Spot Treatment

Spot treatment at night can help to fade dark spots or zap pimples. You may apply salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to treat pimples. For hyperpigmentation, use kojic or hydroquinone acid treatment.

Step 4: Acne or Serum Treatment

This is an optional step in your night skincare routine. However, it helps to treat acne and fine lines. Use only serums or acne treatments and not both to avoid irritating the skin with too many active ingredients. Some serums can be used as chemical exfoliators for removing dead skin cells that clog pores.

Step 5: Retinol

Retinol is a type of retinoid (vitamin A derivative) used in treating acne and fine lines. They stimulate cell turnover, promoting collagen production for the improved texture of your skin. Since retinoid treatment makes the skin sensitive to the sun, it should only be used at night.

Step 6: Eye Cream

This is another optional step, but important for an anti-aging skincare routine for all skin types. That delicate part of your face will require some special attention and care to address the stress it goes through every day. Applying eye cream at night helps to add moisture to the delicate undereye and reduce fine lines. Look for products that contain hydrating and repairing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for better results.

Step 7: Moisturizer or Night Cream

Layer off your nighttime routine with a moisturizer. Applying a heavier night cream or your usual moisturizer will effectively moisturize your skin at night. Since night creams have a thicker consistency, they are more effective in repairing the skin. They also have intense hydration properties, returning the moisture lost during the day and allowing you to wake up to a flawless face

Step 8: Face Oil

The last step is optional, but it also helps in adding more moisture and hydration to the skin. Massage gently a few drops of face oil on your face and neck. For dry skin, use face oils with coconut or argan oil while rosehip and chamomile oil help in soothing sensitive skin. For oily skin, go with lighter oils like grapeseed or jojoba oil.

In Sum

In your morning skin care routine, make sure to include at least a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. With almost a similar approach, include at least a cleaner and a moisturizer in your night skin care routine. Depending on your skin type, you can go ahead to add toners, treatments, serums, oils, and retinol for better results. Shop Palace Beauty provides you will the whole range of products needed for morning and night skincare routine. Be sure to check out the official online store to shop for some of the best products for your skin.