For all those women out there who spend thousands of dollars annually on skin care products, the porcelain-like skin of Asian women has always been something to envy. With this in mind, the Korean skin care regimen has been touted as the best way to achieve this kind of radiant skin. Beauty product manufacturers tell us this is how the Korean women do it, so we should do it too. But is that claim for real or just the latest marketing hype?
Let’s take a closer look…
Before we answer that question, let’s look at exactly what this skin care method is all about. Although there are variations, the most widely discussed program is a 10-step daily treatment regimen that helps to cleanse, purify and protect the skin to leave it healthier and more beautiful. Ten steps a day may sound a little extreme on the surface, but it’s really not as complicated as it sounds.
The steps begin with cleansing. Steps one and two involve the use of oil and foam cleansers respectively, to remove oil and water based debris so that the skin is thoroughly cleaned. Step three is exfoliating to remove all of the dead skin cells. This step isn’t done every day but can be added in periodically as an extra boost.
In step four, you apply toner to soften and moisturize and leave the skin better prepared to absorb the products used in the next steps. Steps five and six involve the use of essences and serums, each of which helps to rejuvenate the skin and target any particular problem areas you may have.
In step seven, you can use a sheet mask in place of the essences, for a more comprehensive rejuvenation process. Step eight is the application of eye cream, an essential to protect and hydrate the sensitive skin around the eyes. Step nine is applying a sleep mask at night to hydrate and firm the skin while you sleep and step 10 is applying SPF to protect the skin from sun damage and pollutants.
As you can see, you don’t necessarily need to use all of these steps every day, but this particular combination can provide your skin with all of the maintenance it needs to remain soft, smooth and healthy. It really boils down to common sense: beautiful skin is healthy skin, and good health involves thorough cleaning, moisturizing and regeneration.
While this all sounds good, there is still some question about the authenticity of this regimen. Do Korean women really go through this 10-step routine to keep their skin healthy and vibrant? Is this really what is responsible for the health of their skin?
The fact is, there is no such formal regimen used by Korean women. For women in Korea, good skin care is second nature and something that they have been practicing since 700 BCE, but there is no common regimen. Instead, each woman creates her own personal routine and passes her habits on to her daughters. So the Korean women certainly do take care of their skin…but they do not follow a strict, 10-step skin care regimen as marketers of various products will have you believe.
Though healthy skin is certainly important and this regimen is worth considering, the “Korean Skin Care Regimen” that is creating such a buzz is simply a marketing tool, meant to use the exquisite skin of Asian women as a motivator for Western women and, of course, to sell skin care products. That being said, the desire for healthier, more beautiful skin is certainly not a bad thing and that makes this a regimen worth following if you are interested in improving and preserving the health of your skin, from the inside out.
