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The Monodist by Odile Monod

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)
26 Oct 2021
Guides

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

Even if you’re new to Korean Beauty, chances are you probably heard of the “10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine” – an elaborate multi-step skin care routine that allegedly originated in South Korea.

In its original form, the routine consisted of: an oil-based cleanser, a water-based cleanser, an exfoliator, a toner, an essence, a face treatment, a sheet mask, an eye cream, a moisturiser and a sunscreen.

For many years, Western beauty retailers and magazines presented the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine as the secret behind the perfect skin of Korean celebrities, a mystic ritual that all Korean women, or at least most Korean women, followed twice a day every single day to get the perfect glass skin. 

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as I’m going to break down in this article.

(more videos)

Contents:

  • The 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine in Korean Media
  • Origins of the 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine
  • An Overview of Cosmetics Consumer Behavior in South Korea
  • Personal Considerations
  • Conclusion and Resources

The 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine in Korean media

There’s a stark contrast between the way the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine” is presented in Western media outlets and the opinions of the Korean beauty press.

While foreign media describes the lengthy routines as a daily practice all Korean women, or at least most of them, engage in, Korean beauty journalists share a different opinion.

Below is a telling excerpt from an article published by the professional beauty magazine Daily Cosmetic (뷰티경제) in 2014.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Daily Cosmetic)

Beauty news websites like Byrdie, Fashionista and Into The Gloss, reported: “Koreans follow a 10 step skin care routine. Some of these products do not exist in the US, and they should be applied following a specific order and in a specific way”.

The “10 Steps” seems to derive from the fact the lines launched by Korean beauty brands usually consist of 6-10 consecutive products like skin, toner, ampoule, emulsion, essence, serum, lotion, cream, sleeping pack, and oil.

Very few Koreans use all these products when they do their skincare routine, but it’s true that Koreans use many products compared to Westerners, many of whom have a skincare routine that consists of only one cream. Therefore, it seems American beauty media is taking the initiative to come up with new trends for the foreign market, like the “10 Step Skin Care Routine”, as a way to introduce Korean trends.

Daily Cosmetic (뷰티경제), 2014

In 2018, the Korean beauty magazine Beauty+ wrote a long article investigating the cultural impact of the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine” abroad and also raised some important questions on its legacy.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Beauty+)

[the problem with the 10 step skincare routine] is that it’s focused on recommending “Korean products” rather than picking products based on your personal skin condition. i.e. Step 1 is always a cleansing balm (why?). It’s a product with excellent cleansing power but it can cause more blemishes for oily skin types. There should be a proper guide on the real Korean skincare routine.

Beauty+ Magazine, 2018

Another poignant example is a 2019 video from a Canada-based Korean youtuber named DAS 다스 .

In the words of the youtuber:

Online retailers and brands are really pushing this idea of “10 Steps of Korean Skincare” so that when you hear of “Korean Skincare” you immediately think about “10 Steps” and they’re selling it as a starter kit with 10 different products. (…) What I’m worried about is that this “10 Step Routine” thing is actually holding you back from exploring this beautiful world of Korean skincare and controlling you to buy what they want to sell.

DAS 다스

Origins of The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine

The keyword “10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine” started to appear around 2014, as shown by Google Trends data. 

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Google Trends)

Although there are a few articles published before this date that mention the general concept of multi-step Korean skincare routines, the first appearance of the term “10 Step Korean Skincare” can be traced back to an article published on American beauty magazine Into The Gloss in April 2014. In the article K-Beauty expert Charlotte Cho introduces readers to some popular Korean skincare product categories that are not available in the US, while explaining how to layer these formulas and build a skincare routine.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Into The Gloss)

Charlotte Cho is a Korean-American entrepreneur and co-founder of Soko Glam, an American website founded in 2012 with the mission of bringing Korean beauty products to a Western audience. Cho rose to international fame in 2015, when she published “The Little Book of Skin Care”, the first English-language book dedicated to Korean beauty.

In the book she explains once again how to create a skincare using 10 popular Korean products and dubs this practice as the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine”. Although the author never openly states that Koreans actually follow this elaborate routine, the book implicitly suggests that was how Korean skincare was designed to work. Shortly after the publication of “The Little Book of Skin Care”, Western media outlets picked up the story and created a mythology around the “10 Step Skincare Ritual that Koreans are obsessed with” and that’s why, in the mind of many foreigners, the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine” is still considered synonymous with Korean beauty to this day.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Birchbox)

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Soko Glam)

To be fair, Cho has always been very open about the fact that the “10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine” was something she came up with and in many interviews she candidly admits the “10 Step Skin Care Routine” was never an actual thing in Korea.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that she’s still a business owner who sells 10 Step Korean skincare starter kits on her website, so even though she’s always been very transparent about the nature of this routine, it’s hard to imagine she was too pressed about dispelling the myth.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: VOX Magazine) 

An Overview of Cosmetics Consumer Behavior in South Korea

Korean beauty is notoriously a fast-paced and ever-changing industry, which makes it hard to make generalisations about its dynamics.

To dissect the myth of the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine”, it’s important to look back at how the Korean Beauty industry looked like in 2015, when Charlotte Cho published the book that popularised the myth.

According to a study conducted by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, this was the average number of cosmetic and personal care products used monthly by Koreans in 2015.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

These numbers might seem really high at first glance, but one should keep in mind that the study takes into consideration both cosmetics (i.e. skincare, colour makeup etc.) and personal care products (i.e. shampoo, body wash etc). 

Looking just at skin products, the average number of products used monthly by Koreans in 2015 was found to be 9.9 for women (7.1 skincare products + 2.8 cleansing products), and 4.8 for men (3.6 skincare products + 1.2 cleansing products).

In addition, the Korean MFDS was also able to identify the most popular product categories used at least once a month by the majority of partecipants in the study.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

[note: the study groups “Essence” and “Serum” together because they’re widely considered equivalent products in South Korea. Please refer to this post I wrote on the topic].

Furthermore, the Korean MFDS analysed usage patterns of 72 types of cosmetics and personal care products and determined which ones were used most frequently by Koreans. The resulting data gives us a glimpse of how the average daily skincare routine of a Korean woman in 2015 might have looked like.

Morning:
Skin Toner (+ Essence/Serum every other day) + Lotion + Moisturiser + Sunscreen + Sunscreen Spray (for reapplication during the day) (= total 5/6 skincare products).

Evening:
Cleansing Foam + Skin Toner + Essence/Serum + Lotion + Eye Cream + Nourishing Cream (= total 5 skincare products + 1 cleansing product).

Average number of different types of skin products used in a day (morning + evening):
8 skincare products + 1 cleansing product.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

Study based on data collected in a survey of 892 Korean women and 908 Korean men aged 15-59 in January 2015. Source: Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, March 2015. (source 1, source 2)

A reflection of these statistics can be seen in the composition of the skincare gift sets that used to be popular at the time.

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(L-R Sulwhasoo, Isa Knox, Hanyul, Donginbi)

This reveals that most Korean women do not have lengthy 10 step skincare routines like the myth of the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine” seems to suggest. Plus, it also sheds an interesting light on the cleansing habits of Korean women in 2015. Despite the mythology surrounding “double cleansing” in the West, the majority of participants in the study stated they only used one type of cleanser (cleansing foam) every single day, while other types of cleansers (cleansing oil, cleansing balm, micellar water) were used less frequently and this tells us that many Korean women do not in fact double cleanse every single day.

To paint a more accurate picture, below is the average daily number of skincare and cleansing products used by Koreans in the following years.

2016 

Women: 5 skincare products + 1 cleansing product (survey of 892 Korean women aged 15-59 – Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 2016)
Men: 3 skincare products + 1 cleansing product (survey of 908 Korean men aged 15-59 – Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 2016)

2017

Women: 8 skincare products + 1 cleansing product (survey of 955 Korean women aged 15-59 – Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 2017)
Men: 4 skincare products + 1 cleansing product (survey of 583 Korean men aged 15-59 – Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 2017)

Studies for the following years were conducted by a private market research company and are based on the average weekly number of products (as opposed to daily).

2018

Women: 5 skincare products + 1.8 cleansing products (survey of 1500 Korean women aged 20-49, Opensurvey 2018
Men 3.4 skincare products + 1 cleanser (survey of 500 Korean men aged 20-39, Opensurvey 2018)

2019

Women: 5 skincare products + 1.85 cleansing products (survey of 1500 Korean women aged 20-49, Opensurvey, 2019)
Men: 3.6 skincare products +1 cleansing product (survey of 500 Korean men aged 20-39, Opensurvey 2019)

2020

Women: 5.1 skincare products + 1.85 cleansing products (survey of 1500 Korean women aged 20-49 – Opensurvey 2020)
Men: 3.5 skincare products + 1 cleansing product (survey of 750 Korean men aged 20-39 – Opensurvey 2020).

2021

Women: 3 skincare products (survey of 1500 Korean women – Kantar Korea 2021)

2022

Women: 5 skincare products per day + 1 cleansing product (survey of 1500 Korean women aged 20-49, Open Survey 2022)

As shown by these numbers, in recent years the tendency in South Korea has been to minimize skincare steps to avoid potential irritation. The phenomenon is often referred to as “Skip-Care” of “Skincare Diet” and if you’re interested in learning more about its origins, please refer to my video on the topic.

According to a study of 1500 Korean women conducted by market research company Kantar, the majority of Korean women (28%) use an average of 3 products in the morning, while 23% only use 2 products (cleansers were not included in the study).

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(source: Kantar Korea)

We can conclude that, not only the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine” was not real in 2015 when the myth started to gain momentum in the US, but it’s even less real now. Overall, in the past Korean women used to have relatively elaborate skincare routines of around 6-7 steps, but in the latest years they streamlined their routine to 2-3 daily steps.

Personal Considerations

Shortly after the first articles on the “10 Step Korean Skincare Routine” appeared in the US, some beauty editors saw the idea of this elaborate routine as an opportunity to create a story around the extravagant beauty rituals coming from Asia. 

Words like “unusual”, “eccentric” or “weird” immediately started to be associated with Korean Beauty practices. This othering attitude can be attributed to what Edward Said described as “Orientalism“. 

Orientalism can be discussed and analysed as the corporate institution of dealing with the Orient – dealing with it by making statements about it, authorising views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it; in short, Orientalism as a Western style of dominating restructuring and having the authority over the Orient. 

Edward W. Said

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(Elle Magazine, 2017)

The 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine Is Not Real (And Never Was)

(Daily Mail, 2017)

While these articles might seem positive on the surface, the underlying message they send is that Asians like to engage in eccentric activities because they’re not as civilised as Westerners.

That’s the biggest problem I have with the popularisation of the “10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine” myth: it’s deeply dehumanising. It makes Koreans appear like crazy people with no priorities in life who are more than happy to spend several hours a day taking care of their skin, when actually they’re people just like you and me. Many of them are overworked or out of employment and they don’t have the time, the energy or the financial means to support this kind of extravagant lifestyle.

The second problem I have with the “10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine” is that it sends the wrong message to people that are just starting out with skincare. It tells them that there’s a standard skincare routine that fits everyone and it doesn’t encourage people to learn to understand their real skin needs. 

Plus, as someone who works in beauty marketing in South Korea, and who gets to see every day the real potential of Korean beauty, the innovation, and the excellence this industry is capable of, I find it frankly disheartening that this marketing stunt is internationally considered to be the most representative part of the Korean beauty industry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 10 Step Korean skincare routine is simply a marketing gimmick originated in the United States around 2014. Foreign K-Beauty retailers and beauty magazines were the main driving forces behind this myth, as they saw it as an opportunity to easily sell 10 different products to casual customers fascinated by the idea of Korean skincare. The phenomenon had no basis in reality and does not reflect the habits of Korean consumers, nor the dynamics of the Korean beauty industry.

Resources

  • <2014 결산> 해외 언론서 주목한 K-Beauty 특징 세 가지, 뷰티경제, 2014.12.17
    해외에서 더 유명한 K-스킨케어법?, Beauty+, 2018.01.03
  • Rituals and Myths of Korean Skin Care Practices: The Emergence of K-beauty inthe Global Marketplace, Yoo Jin Kwon, 2020.10
  • “10 Step Korean Skin Care routine” search volume analysis (2004-), Google Trends
  • 뷰티 트렌드 리포트 2015, Opensurvey 2015.04.03
  • “The 10-Step Korean Skincare Routine”, Into The Gloss, 2014.04
  • How the 10-step Korean skin care routine changed American skin care, Vox, 2019.01.17
  • The Creator of the 10-Step K-Beauty Skin-Care Routine Says We’ve All Been Doing It Wrong, Well+Good 2019.03.27
  • Charlotte Cho Teaches Us About The K-beauty Glow, The Wellnest, 2020.06.26
  • Korea Unemployment at 21-Year High as a Million Jobs Lost, Bloomberg, 2021.02.10
  • South Koreans are working themselves to death. Can they get their lives back?, CNN, 2018.11.05
TAGS:charlotte chok-beautykorean beautykorean beauty industrykorean beauty market reportkorean skin carekorean skin care routinekorean skincaresoko glamthe 10 step korean skin care routine
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These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

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It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
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#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
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#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
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#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
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#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
(🇮🇹 nei commenti) 

#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
(🇮🇹 nei commenti) 

#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
(🇮🇹 nei commenti) 

#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
(🇮🇹 nei commenti) 

#ad #광고

It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion.

These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty.

Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. 

Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996.

Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng.

Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa

#donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
odilemonod
odilemonod
•
Follow
(🇮🇹 nei commenti) #ad #광고 It’s said that Hwang Jin-yi, a young courtesan of the Joseon Dynasty renowned for her exceptional beauty, used red ginseng to take care of her skin. According to old folk stories, she used to wash her face using ginseng-boiled water twice a day and bathed in a decoction of ginseng leaves multiple times a week to preserve her clear and bright complexion. These anecdotes, along with many historical records of the time, are testimony of the power of Red Ginseng, the most ancient anti-aging ingredient found in Korean beauty. Red Ginseng is a plant with exceptional adaptogenic properties that has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries in Asia. Korean Red Ginseng, in particular, became known internationally as the best quality ginseng in the world. This is mainly due to the particular geographical characteristics of the Korean peninsula that constitute the ideal growing environment for the ginseng plant. But not all ginseng is made equal: to protect the reputation of Korean Red Ginseng against low-quality counterfeits, the Korean government instituted a monopoly on ginseng in 1899 that lasted until 1996. Today I take you through the history of Donginbi, a beauty brand that embodies the expertise and quality of Cheong Kwan Jang, the former state monopoly on ginseng and an international symbol of state-of-the-art ginseng. Swipe until the end to uncover a special surprise in partnership with @donginbiusa #donginbi #koreanskincare #antiagingskincare #abcommunity #koreanbeauty #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana #스킨케어 #피부관리 #동인비 #안티에이징
1 year ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

Raise your hand if you ever read an online comment that sounded something like:

"I always get sunburn whenever I wear an Asian sunscreen outside, these sunscreens are a scam!"

When Asian beauty started to gain popularity outside of Asia, many people fell head over heels for the lightweight, comfortable formulas of Asian sunscreens... but not many seem to know about the difference between outdoors sunscreens and daily sunscreens in Asian beauty.

This distinction actually exists in Western sunscreens as well, but it's more widespread in Asian beauty because of the characteristics of its market. Despite what you might perceive from looking at the online skincare community, the average Western consumer only wears sunscreen when they go to the beach, hence the vast majority of sunscreens available in the West are already designed for outdoor use.

However, in many Asian countries wearing sunscreen everyday is nothing out of the ordinary and this led to a high demand for lightweight sunscreen formulas that could be worn comfortably on a daily basis, mostly in an indoor setting (going to the office, running errands around town etc).

Usually, these sunscreens don’t have a high adhesion to the skin and wear off easily when they’re exposed to high temperatures, sweat or water. So if you're looking for a sunscreen suitable for that use, you'd better look for an 'outdoor sunscreen'.

'Outdoor sunscreens' are highly-resistant sunscreens that are designed to provide strong UV protection even in extreme conditions, including strong sunlight or intensive sport activity.

In my latest video I talk about how to recognise an outdoor sunscreen from a daily sunscreen and I also share with you my favourite Korean sunscreens for both categories. 

[link in bio]

#koreanskincare #rasianbeauty #sunscreens #abcommunity #skincarecoreana #cosmeticacoreana #선크림추천 #톤업크림 #선크림 #올리브영 #올리브영추천
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

Raise your hand if you ever read an online comment that sounded something like:

"I always get sunburn whenever I wear an Asian sunscreen outside, these sunscreens are a scam!"

When Asian beauty started to gain popularity outside of Asia, many people fell head over heels for the lightweight, comfortable formulas of Asian sunscreens... but not many seem to know about the difference between outdoors sunscreens and daily sunscreens in Asian beauty.

This distinction actually exists in Western sunscreens as well, but it's more widespread in Asian beauty because of the characteristics of its market. Despite what you might perceive from looking at the online skincare community, the average Western consumer only wears sunscreen when they go to the beach, hence the vast majority of sunscreens available in the West are already designed for outdoor use.

However, in many Asian countries wearing sunscreen everyday is nothing out of the ordinary and this led to a high demand for lightweight sunscreen formulas that could be worn comfortably on a daily basis, mostly in an indoor setting (going to the office, running errands around town etc).

Usually, these sunscreens don’t have a high adhesion to the skin and wear off easily when they’re exposed to high temperatures, sweat or water. So if you're looking for a sunscreen suitable for that use, you'd better look for an 'outdoor sunscreen'.

'Outdoor sunscreens' are highly-resistant sunscreens that are designed to provide strong UV protection even in extreme conditions, including strong sunlight or intensive sport activity.

In my latest video I talk about how to recognise an outdoor sunscreen from a daily sunscreen and I also share with you my favourite Korean sunscreens for both categories. 

[link in bio]

#koreanskincare #rasianbeauty #sunscreens #abcommunity #skincarecoreana #cosmeticacoreana #선크림추천 #톤업크림 #선크림 #올리브영 #올리브영추천
odilemonod
odilemonod
•
Follow
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti) Raise your hand if you ever read an online comment that sounded something like: "I always get sunburn whenever I wear an Asian sunscreen outside, these sunscreens are a scam!" When Asian beauty started to gain popularity outside of Asia, many people fell head over heels for the lightweight, comfortable formulas of Asian sunscreens... but not many seem to know about the difference between outdoors sunscreens and daily sunscreens in Asian beauty. This distinction actually exists in Western sunscreens as well, but it's more widespread in Asian beauty because of the characteristics of its market. Despite what you might perceive from looking at the online skincare community, the average Western consumer only wears sunscreen when they go to the beach, hence the vast majority of sunscreens available in the West are already designed for outdoor use. However, in many Asian countries wearing sunscreen everyday is nothing out of the ordinary and this led to a high demand for lightweight sunscreen formulas that could be worn comfortably on a daily basis, mostly in an indoor setting (going to the office, running errands around town etc). Usually, these sunscreens don’t have a high adhesion to the skin and wear off easily when they’re exposed to high temperatures, sweat or water. So if you're looking for a sunscreen suitable for that use, you'd better look for an 'outdoor sunscreen'. 'Outdoor sunscreens' are highly-resistant sunscreens that are designed to provide strong UV protection even in extreme conditions, including strong sunlight or intensive sport activity. In my latest video I talk about how to recognise an outdoor sunscreen from a daily sunscreen and I also share with you my favourite Korean sunscreens for both categories.  [link in bio] #koreanskincare #rasianbeauty #sunscreens #abcommunity #skincarecoreana #cosmeticacoreana #선크림추천 #톤업크림 #선크림 #올리브영 #올리브영추천
2 years ago
View on Instagram |
2/5
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

As I'm sure you noticed, facial pads became a huge phenomenon in Korean beauty over the last couple of years. While facial pads have always been available in Korea, this sudden popularity seems directly linked to the pandemic and the increasing numbers of skin concerns related to mask-wearing. 

Let's say you had to wear a face mask for 8 consecutive hours every day because your job, wouldn't it be nice to have a quick (and hypoallergenic) targeted treatment to soothe your skin anywhere on the go?

But not all facial pads are made equal. While some types of pads can be a great addition to a daily skincare routine, not every facial pad is suitable for daily use.

💧 Cleansing Pads. Unlike makeup wipes, these are soft cotton pads soaked in a face cleanser and they should be used only when you can't cleanse your face at home. These are the only pads that leave a residue that should be washed off after use!

💥 Peeling Pads. Exfoliating pads that should be used in place of a regular exfoliant or scrub. Even if you have very resistant skin, exfoliating your skin every day is never a great idea (despite what some brands claim...), so use them sparingly according to your skin's needs.

✨Toner pads. Pads that can be used daily to replace your toner for an extra hydration boost.

🌸 Mask pads. Mini-sized sheet masks that can be used to target problematic areas. You can use them after cleansing or even as a quick pick-me-up during the day.

[Link to the products in bio]

#토너패드 #패드 #스킨케어 #피부진정 #뷰스타그램 #kbeautyaddict #koreanbeauty #koreanskincare #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

As I'm sure you noticed, facial pads became a huge phenomenon in Korean beauty over the last couple of years. While facial pads have always been available in Korea, this sudden popularity seems directly linked to the pandemic and the increasing numbers of skin concerns related to mask-wearing. 

Let's say you had to wear a face mask for 8 consecutive hours every day because your job, wouldn't it be nice to have a quick (and hypoallergenic) targeted treatment to soothe your skin anywhere on the go?

But not all facial pads are made equal. While some types of pads can be a great addition to a daily skincare routine, not every facial pad is suitable for daily use.

💧 Cleansing Pads. Unlike makeup wipes, these are soft cotton pads soaked in a face cleanser and they should be used only when you can't cleanse your face at home. These are the only pads that leave a residue that should be washed off after use!

💥 Peeling Pads. Exfoliating pads that should be used in place of a regular exfoliant or scrub. Even if you have very resistant skin, exfoliating your skin every day is never a great idea (despite what some brands claim...), so use them sparingly according to your skin's needs.

✨Toner pads. Pads that can be used daily to replace your toner for an extra hydration boost.

🌸 Mask pads. Mini-sized sheet masks that can be used to target problematic areas. You can use them after cleansing or even as a quick pick-me-up during the day.

[Link to the products in bio]

#토너패드 #패드 #스킨케어 #피부진정 #뷰스타그램 #kbeautyaddict #koreanbeauty #koreanskincare #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

As I'm sure you noticed, facial pads became a huge phenomenon in Korean beauty over the last couple of years. While facial pads have always been available in Korea, this sudden popularity seems directly linked to the pandemic and the increasing numbers of skin concerns related to mask-wearing. 

Let's say you had to wear a face mask for 8 consecutive hours every day because your job, wouldn't it be nice to have a quick (and hypoallergenic) targeted treatment to soothe your skin anywhere on the go?

But not all facial pads are made equal. While some types of pads can be a great addition to a daily skincare routine, not every facial pad is suitable for daily use.

💧 Cleansing Pads. Unlike makeup wipes, these are soft cotton pads soaked in a face cleanser and they should be used only when you can't cleanse your face at home. These are the only pads that leave a residue that should be washed off after use!

💥 Peeling Pads. Exfoliating pads that should be used in place of a regular exfoliant or scrub. Even if you have very resistant skin, exfoliating your skin every day is never a great idea (despite what some brands claim...), so use them sparingly according to your skin's needs.

✨Toner pads. Pads that can be used daily to replace your toner for an extra hydration boost.

🌸 Mask pads. Mini-sized sheet masks that can be used to target problematic areas. You can use them after cleansing or even as a quick pick-me-up during the day.

[Link to the products in bio]

#토너패드 #패드 #스킨케어 #피부진정 #뷰스타그램 #kbeautyaddict #koreanbeauty #koreanskincare #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

As I'm sure you noticed, facial pads became a huge phenomenon in Korean beauty over the last couple of years. While facial pads have always been available in Korea, this sudden popularity seems directly linked to the pandemic and the increasing numbers of skin concerns related to mask-wearing. 

Let's say you had to wear a face mask for 8 consecutive hours every day because your job, wouldn't it be nice to have a quick (and hypoallergenic) targeted treatment to soothe your skin anywhere on the go?

But not all facial pads are made equal. While some types of pads can be a great addition to a daily skincare routine, not every facial pad is suitable for daily use.

💧 Cleansing Pads. Unlike makeup wipes, these are soft cotton pads soaked in a face cleanser and they should be used only when you can't cleanse your face at home. These are the only pads that leave a residue that should be washed off after use!

💥 Peeling Pads. Exfoliating pads that should be used in place of a regular exfoliant or scrub. Even if you have very resistant skin, exfoliating your skin every day is never a great idea (despite what some brands claim...), so use them sparingly according to your skin's needs.

✨Toner pads. Pads that can be used daily to replace your toner for an extra hydration boost.

🌸 Mask pads. Mini-sized sheet masks that can be used to target problematic areas. You can use them after cleansing or even as a quick pick-me-up during the day.

[Link to the products in bio]

#토너패드 #패드 #스킨케어 #피부진정 #뷰스타그램 #kbeautyaddict #koreanbeauty #koreanskincare #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)

As I'm sure you noticed, facial pads became a huge phenomenon in Korean beauty over the last couple of years. While facial pads have always been available in Korea, this sudden popularity seems directly linked to the pandemic and the increasing numbers of skin concerns related to mask-wearing. 

Let's say you had to wear a face mask for 8 consecutive hours every day because your job, wouldn't it be nice to have a quick (and hypoallergenic) targeted treatment to soothe your skin anywhere on the go?

But not all facial pads are made equal. While some types of pads can be a great addition to a daily skincare routine, not every facial pad is suitable for daily use.

💧 Cleansing Pads. Unlike makeup wipes, these are soft cotton pads soaked in a face cleanser and they should be used only when you can't cleanse your face at home. These are the only pads that leave a residue that should be washed off after use!

💥 Peeling Pads. Exfoliating pads that should be used in place of a regular exfoliant or scrub. Even if you have very resistant skin, exfoliating your skin every day is never a great idea (despite what some brands claim...), so use them sparingly according to your skin's needs.

✨Toner pads. Pads that can be used daily to replace your toner for an extra hydration boost.

🌸 Mask pads. Mini-sized sheet masks that can be used to target problematic areas. You can use them after cleansing or even as a quick pick-me-up during the day.

[Link to the products in bio]

#토너패드 #패드 #스킨케어 #피부진정 #뷰스타그램 #kbeautyaddict #koreanbeauty #koreanskincare #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana
odilemonod
odilemonod
•
Follow
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti) As I'm sure you noticed, facial pads became a huge phenomenon in Korean beauty over the last couple of years. While facial pads have always been available in Korea, this sudden popularity seems directly linked to the pandemic and the increasing numbers of skin concerns related to mask-wearing. Let's say you had to wear a face mask for 8 consecutive hours every day because your job, wouldn't it be nice to have a quick (and hypoallergenic) targeted treatment to soothe your skin anywhere on the go? But not all facial pads are made equal. While some types of pads can be a great addition to a daily skincare routine, not every facial pad is suitable for daily use. 💧 Cleansing Pads. Unlike makeup wipes, these are soft cotton pads soaked in a face cleanser and they should be used only when you can't cleanse your face at home. These are the only pads that leave a residue that should be washed off after use! 💥 Peeling Pads. Exfoliating pads that should be used in place of a regular exfoliant or scrub. Even if you have very resistant skin, exfoliating your skin every day is never a great idea (despite what some brands claim...), so use them sparingly according to your skin's needs. ✨Toner pads. Pads that can be used daily to replace your toner for an extra hydration boost. 🌸 Mask pads. Mini-sized sheet masks that can be used to target problematic areas. You can use them after cleansing or even as a quick pick-me-up during the day. [Link to the products in bio] #토너패드 #패드 #스킨케어 #피부진정 #뷰스타그램 #kbeautyaddict #koreanbeauty #koreanskincare #cosmeticacoreana #skincarecoreana
2 years ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)
Can you tell which of these textures belong to a serum, which ones are essences and which ones are ampoules? 

I bet you can't. 

One of the (many) reasons why I'm so vocally against the myth of the "10 Step Korean Skincare Routine" is that it’s based on the premise that there's a standard for product nomenclature, when actually that is not the case. 

Companies decide to call a product "essence" / "serum" / "ampoule" etc according to how they would like customers to perceive the product. In other words: a name is just another advertising tool we advertisers use to make you interested in a product, just like a fancy packaging.

Some websites will tell you that serums are usually more "concentrated" than essences, but that is a very ambiguous statement. 

Two different products might be labelled as "100% XYZ Plant Extract" but since you can't possibly know how much water goes into an extract, one product could be made of 98% water, while the other could be made of 80% water and still be labelled the same way. Likewise, a more viscous texture is not necessarily a sign of a "higher concentration". 

So what's the point of talking about "different concentrations"? 

Unlike what some foreign K-Beauty retailers claim, essences, serums and ampoules are considered equivalent products in Korea: liquid skincare treatments created to target a specific skin concern. This is why on the vast majority of beauty online shops in Korea, you will see these products in the same category (slide 3). 

Incidentally, this also means that you don't ~need~ to use all these products, just find a product with a formula and a texture you like and run with it! If you want to use multiple of these products, just remember to start from the one with the highest water content.

A bonus trivia on this topic: did you know that @sulwhasoo.official 's iconic "First Care Activating Serum" is actually marketed as an essence in Korea? The brand decided to adopt the English name "Serum" because at the time the concept of "essence" was still new to the foreign audience. 

#rasianbeauty #kbeautyaddict #abcommunity #koreancosmetics #cosmeticacoreana #cosmeticicoreani #skincarecorea
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)
Can you tell which of these textures belong to a serum, which ones are essences and which ones are ampoules? 

I bet you can't. 

One of the (many) reasons why I'm so vocally against the myth of the "10 Step Korean Skincare Routine" is that it’s based on the premise that there's a standard for product nomenclature, when actually that is not the case. 

Companies decide to call a product "essence" / "serum" / "ampoule" etc according to how they would like customers to perceive the product. In other words: a name is just another advertising tool we advertisers use to make you interested in a product, just like a fancy packaging.

Some websites will tell you that serums are usually more "concentrated" than essences, but that is a very ambiguous statement. 

Two different products might be labelled as "100% XYZ Plant Extract" but since you can't possibly know how much water goes into an extract, one product could be made of 98% water, while the other could be made of 80% water and still be labelled the same way. Likewise, a more viscous texture is not necessarily a sign of a "higher concentration". 

So what's the point of talking about "different concentrations"? 

Unlike what some foreign K-Beauty retailers claim, essences, serums and ampoules are considered equivalent products in Korea: liquid skincare treatments created to target a specific skin concern. This is why on the vast majority of beauty online shops in Korea, you will see these products in the same category (slide 3). 

Incidentally, this also means that you don't ~need~ to use all these products, just find a product with a formula and a texture you like and run with it! If you want to use multiple of these products, just remember to start from the one with the highest water content.

A bonus trivia on this topic: did you know that @sulwhasoo.official 's iconic "First Care Activating Serum" is actually marketed as an essence in Korea? The brand decided to adopt the English name "Serum" because at the time the concept of "essence" was still new to the foreign audience. 

#rasianbeauty #kbeautyaddict #abcommunity #koreancosmetics #cosmeticacoreana #cosmeticicoreani #skincarecorea
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)
Can you tell which of these textures belong to a serum, which ones are essences and which ones are ampoules? 

I bet you can't. 

One of the (many) reasons why I'm so vocally against the myth of the "10 Step Korean Skincare Routine" is that it’s based on the premise that there's a standard for product nomenclature, when actually that is not the case. 

Companies decide to call a product "essence" / "serum" / "ampoule" etc according to how they would like customers to perceive the product. In other words: a name is just another advertising tool we advertisers use to make you interested in a product, just like a fancy packaging.

Some websites will tell you that serums are usually more "concentrated" than essences, but that is a very ambiguous statement. 

Two different products might be labelled as "100% XYZ Plant Extract" but since you can't possibly know how much water goes into an extract, one product could be made of 98% water, while the other could be made of 80% water and still be labelled the same way. Likewise, a more viscous texture is not necessarily a sign of a "higher concentration". 

So what's the point of talking about "different concentrations"? 

Unlike what some foreign K-Beauty retailers claim, essences, serums and ampoules are considered equivalent products in Korea: liquid skincare treatments created to target a specific skin concern. This is why on the vast majority of beauty online shops in Korea, you will see these products in the same category (slide 3). 

Incidentally, this also means that you don't ~need~ to use all these products, just find a product with a formula and a texture you like and run with it! If you want to use multiple of these products, just remember to start from the one with the highest water content.

A bonus trivia on this topic: did you know that @sulwhasoo.official 's iconic "First Care Activating Serum" is actually marketed as an essence in Korea? The brand decided to adopt the English name "Serum" because at the time the concept of "essence" was still new to the foreign audience. 

#rasianbeauty #kbeautyaddict #abcommunity #koreancosmetics #cosmeticacoreana #cosmeticicoreani #skincarecorea
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)
Can you tell which of these textures belong to a serum, which ones are essences and which ones are ampoules? 

I bet you can't. 

One of the (many) reasons why I'm so vocally against the myth of the "10 Step Korean Skincare Routine" is that it’s based on the premise that there's a standard for product nomenclature, when actually that is not the case. 

Companies decide to call a product "essence" / "serum" / "ampoule" etc according to how they would like customers to perceive the product. In other words: a name is just another advertising tool we advertisers use to make you interested in a product, just like a fancy packaging.

Some websites will tell you that serums are usually more "concentrated" than essences, but that is a very ambiguous statement. 

Two different products might be labelled as "100% XYZ Plant Extract" but since you can't possibly know how much water goes into an extract, one product could be made of 98% water, while the other could be made of 80% water and still be labelled the same way. Likewise, a more viscous texture is not necessarily a sign of a "higher concentration". 

So what's the point of talking about "different concentrations"? 

Unlike what some foreign K-Beauty retailers claim, essences, serums and ampoules are considered equivalent products in Korea: liquid skincare treatments created to target a specific skin concern. This is why on the vast majority of beauty online shops in Korea, you will see these products in the same category (slide 3). 

Incidentally, this also means that you don't ~need~ to use all these products, just find a product with a formula and a texture you like and run with it! If you want to use multiple of these products, just remember to start from the one with the highest water content.

A bonus trivia on this topic: did you know that @sulwhasoo.official 's iconic "First Care Activating Serum" is actually marketed as an essence in Korea? The brand decided to adopt the English name "Serum" because at the time the concept of "essence" was still new to the foreign audience. 

#rasianbeauty #kbeautyaddict #abcommunity #koreancosmetics #cosmeticacoreana #cosmeticicoreani #skincarecorea
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)
Can you tell which of these textures belong to a serum, which ones are essences and which ones are ampoules? 

I bet you can't. 

One of the (many) reasons why I'm so vocally against the myth of the "10 Step Korean Skincare Routine" is that it’s based on the premise that there's a standard for product nomenclature, when actually that is not the case. 

Companies decide to call a product "essence" / "serum" / "ampoule" etc according to how they would like customers to perceive the product. In other words: a name is just another advertising tool we advertisers use to make you interested in a product, just like a fancy packaging.

Some websites will tell you that serums are usually more "concentrated" than essences, but that is a very ambiguous statement. 

Two different products might be labelled as "100% XYZ Plant Extract" but since you can't possibly know how much water goes into an extract, one product could be made of 98% water, while the other could be made of 80% water and still be labelled the same way. Likewise, a more viscous texture is not necessarily a sign of a "higher concentration". 

So what's the point of talking about "different concentrations"? 

Unlike what some foreign K-Beauty retailers claim, essences, serums and ampoules are considered equivalent products in Korea: liquid skincare treatments created to target a specific skin concern. This is why on the vast majority of beauty online shops in Korea, you will see these products in the same category (slide 3). 

Incidentally, this also means that you don't ~need~ to use all these products, just find a product with a formula and a texture you like and run with it! If you want to use multiple of these products, just remember to start from the one with the highest water content.

A bonus trivia on this topic: did you know that @sulwhasoo.official 's iconic "First Care Activating Serum" is actually marketed as an essence in Korea? The brand decided to adopt the English name "Serum" because at the time the concept of "essence" was still new to the foreign audience. 

#rasianbeauty #kbeautyaddict #abcommunity #koreancosmetics #cosmeticacoreana #cosmeticicoreani #skincarecorea
odilemonod
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🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti) Can you tell which of these textures belong to a serum, which ones are essences and which ones are ampoules? I bet you can't. One of the (many) reasons why I'm so vocally against the myth of the "10 Step Korean Skincare Routine" is that it’s based on the premise that there's a standard for product nomenclature, when actually that is not the case. Companies decide to call a product "essence" / "serum" / "ampoule" etc according to how they would like customers to perceive the product. In other words: a name is just another advertising tool we advertisers use to make you interested in a product, just like a fancy packaging. Some websites will tell you that serums are usually more "concentrated" than essences, but that is a very ambiguous statement. Two different products might be labelled as "100% XYZ Plant Extract" but since you can't possibly know how much water goes into an extract, one product could be made of 98% water, while the other could be made of 80% water and still be labelled the same way. Likewise, a more viscous texture is not necessarily a sign of a "higher concentration". So what's the point of talking about "different concentrations"? Unlike what some foreign K-Beauty retailers claim, essences, serums and ampoules are considered equivalent products in Korea: liquid skincare treatments created to target a specific skin concern. This is why on the vast majority of beauty online shops in Korea, you will see these products in the same category (slide 3). Incidentally, this also means that you don't ~need~ to use all these products, just find a product with a formula and a texture you like and run with it! If you want to use multiple of these products, just remember to start from the one with the highest water content. A bonus trivia on this topic: did you know that @sulwhasoo.official 's iconic "First Care Activating Serum" is actually marketed as an essence in Korea? The brand decided to adopt the English name "Serum" because at the time the concept of "essence" was still new to the foreign audience. #rasianbeauty #kbeautyaddict #abcommunity #koreancosmetics #cosmeticacoreana #cosmeticicoreani #skincarecorea
2 years ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti)
You probably heard of "probiotic skincare" and how it has recently taken #kbeauty by storm, but not many people know that probiotic skincare is more than just a temporary fad in Korea.

South Korea is arguably the country that is currently investing the most in research involving the skin microbiome (a beneficial ecosystem of microorganisms inhabiting the skin) and the topical application of (inactivated) probiotics. A Korean cosmetic manufacturer called Cosmax (@cosmax_people) in particular, made the headlines around the world for their outstanding work around the skin microbiome that opened the door for a new approach to skincare. 

After being the first in the world to discover a link between the skin microbiome and the process of skin aging, in a study titled "Spermidine-induced recovery of human dermal structure and barrier function by skin microbiome", last month the manufacturer opened the world's first "Microbiome Platform Research Centre" with two goals in mind:

▪ Map the skin microbial genome of the human population according to country and race
▪ Use artificial intelligence to analyse this data and create custom cosmetics

You can see their work in action in the new Red Blemish Cica Soothing Cream developed for @dr.g_official. Compared to their bestselling "Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream" (another Cosmax formula), this cream was especially created to support skin barrier function based on Cosmax's research on the skin microbiome. The star ingredient of the product is “Centella Biome”, a patented biome culture jointly developed by Dr.G and Cosmax using Centella Asiatica from Jeju Island.

Although it's too early for me to tell you about the long term results of the product, I must say I was truly impressed by the improved soothing properties of the formula. The cream contains 5x the amount of Dr.G's signature 5-Cica Complex compared to their standard Clear Soothing Cream and I could immediately tell from the first application, because this cream relives redness in the blink  of an eye and I mean it.

[I won the product through a competition of their Korean website]

#닥터지 #닥터지체험단 #닥터지레드블레미쉬 #레드블레미쉬시카수딩크림 #병풀바이옴수분크림 #수분크림
🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti) You probably heard of "probiotic skincare" and how it has recently taken #kbeauty by storm, but not many people know that probiotic skincare is more than just a temporary fad in Korea. South Korea is arguably the country that is currently investing the most in research involving the skin microbiome (a beneficial ecosystem of microorganisms inhabiting the skin) and the topical application of (inactivated) probiotics. A Korean cosmetic manufacturer called Cosmax (@cosmax_people) in particular, made the headlines around the world for their outstanding work around the skin microbiome that opened the door for a new approach to skincare. After being the first in the world to discover a link between the skin microbiome and the process of skin aging, in a study titled "Spermidine-induced recovery of human dermal structure and barrier function by skin microbiome", last month the manufacturer opened the world's first "Microbiome Platform Research Centre" with two goals in mind: ▪ Map the skin microbial genome of the human population according to country and race ▪ Use artificial intelligence to analyse this data and create custom cosmetics You can see their work in action in the new Red Blemish Cica Soothing Cream developed for @dr.g_official. Compared to their bestselling "Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream" (another Cosmax formula), this cream was especially created to support skin barrier function based on Cosmax's research on the skin microbiome. The star ingredient of the product is “Centella Biome”, a patented biome culture jointly developed by Dr.G and Cosmax using Centella Asiatica from Jeju Island. Although it's too early for me to tell you about the long term results of the product, I must say I was truly impressed by the improved soothing properties of the formula. The cream contains 5x the amount of Dr.G's signature 5-Cica Complex compared to their standard Clear Soothing Cream and I could immediately tell from the first application, because this cream relives redness in the blink of an eye and I mean it. [I won the product through a competition of their Korean website] #닥터지 #닥터지체험단 #닥터지레드블레미쉬 #레드블레미쉬시카수딩크림 #병풀바이옴수분크림 #수분크림
odilemonod
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🇬🇧 (🇮🇹 nei commenti) You probably heard of "probiotic skincare" and how it has recently taken #kbeauty by storm, but not many people know that probiotic skincare is more than just a temporary fad in Korea. South Korea is arguably the country that is currently investing the most in research involving the skin microbiome (a beneficial ecosystem of microorganisms inhabiting the skin) and the topical application of (inactivated) probiotics. A Korean cosmetic manufacturer called Cosmax (@cosmax_people) in particular, made the headlines around the world for their outstanding work around the skin microbiome that opened the door for a new approach to skincare. After being the first in the world to discover a link between the skin microbiome and the process of skin aging, in a study titled "Spermidine-induced recovery of human dermal structure and barrier function by skin microbiome", last month the manufacturer opened the world's first "Microbiome Platform Research Centre" with two goals in mind: ▪ Map the skin microbial genome of the human population according to country and race ▪ Use artificial intelligence to analyse this data and create custom cosmetics You can see their work in action in the new Red Blemish Cica Soothing Cream developed for @dr.g_official. Compared to their bestselling "Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream" (another Cosmax formula), this cream was especially created to support skin barrier function based on Cosmax's research on the skin microbiome. The star ingredient of the product is “Centella Biome”, a patented biome culture jointly developed by Dr.G and Cosmax using Centella Asiatica from Jeju Island. Although it's too early for me to tell you about the long term results of the product, I must say I was truly impressed by the improved soothing properties of the formula. The cream contains 5x the amount of Dr.G's signature 5-Cica Complex compared to their standard Clear Soothing Cream and I could immediately tell from the first application, because this cream relives redness in the blink of an eye and I mean it. [I won the product through a competition of their Korean website] #닥터지 #닥터지체험단 #닥터지레드블레미쉬 #레드블레미쉬시카수딩크림 #병풀바이옴수분크림 #수분크림
2 years ago
View on Instagram |
5/5
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