SKELETALE: BEGINNER ASIAN SKINCARE ROUTINE

the girl

Zara / '95 / Indonesia

------------------------------

an alternative lifestyle blog

(and more)

------------------------------

connect

TrackersCounter Help

Thursday, June 9, 2016, 12:17 AM

BEGINNER ASIAN SKINCARE ROUTINE

If there's one thing I know about skincare is that it's one tricky fucker. There are so many products available in the market--how do I know ones that are right for me? What's a toner? Do I need a sunscreen? It works for you, why doesn't it work for me? Am I purging or simply breaking out? Where do I even start with god knows how many steps there are in a routine?

Unfortunately, I am no Magic 8-Ball (even though it would be fun if I was considering all the responses I would give to repetitive beauty-related questions I get on a daily basis on Ask.fm) and I am not here to answer those questions for you. However, I am here to share my current skincare routine--my very basic, stripped-down, bare-boned take on the infamous Asian skincare routine that can go up to 13 steps (or like 106 steps if you use 93 sheet masks inbetween). Here are a handful of my current favorites I reach for; one-and-done, lazy-girl skincare products that are quick and easy to use. Again, remember that skincare is never one-size-fits-all and what does wonders on me may not work for you at all. For reference, I have combination to oily acne-prone skin and live in a rather hot and humid climate (by rather I mean THIS PLACE IS A HELLHOLE ARE YOU KIDDING ME).

Biore Make Up Remover Cleansing Oil | This goes on first in my double cleansing routine to remove makeup and whatever dirt and grime came across my face during the day. That being said, I only double cleanse at night or after every time I wear makeup. It does sound counterintuitive to add more oil to an already oily skin, but contrary to popular beliefs you CAN use a cleansing oil when you have oily skin. In fact, it helps to "melt" down the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores since oil dissolves oil, like dissolves like. Basic chemistry, you guys.

Hada Labo Shirojyun Ultimate Whitening Face Wash | To remove remaining traces of makeup and oil left from oil cleansing, this is my go-to face wash. It has a quite balanced pH of 5.5 if I remember correctly, and it definitely isn't drying and leaving my skin squeaky clean in a bad way. It also doesn't include colorant or fragrance, which explains why it smells faintly of 2 week-old milk you left in the fridge.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid | Man, I love acids (sounds scary, but it’s not). I wish I could take pics of it and save it in my phone to show it off the way people do with pictures of their children and pets. After double cleansing, I apply two pumps of the liquid on a cotton pad and gently pat it all over my face. It contains a no-bullshit list of ingredients; including willow bark water which is a natural source of BHAs, which have anti-inflammatory as well as exfoliant properties to exfoliate and brighten skin. It's incredibly gentle, I use mine once every two days without the tiniest hint of irritation. One side note: this smells like baby puke.

Hada Labo Shirojyun Arbutin Lotion | Unlike their Western counterpart, Asian toners are often more viscous and don't feel quite as runny as water. They're supposed to be applied by patting it all over your face with your hands instead of swiping it on with a cotton pad. With this Hada Labo toner, you only need 2 to 3 drops to cover your whole face. It contains High Purity Arbutin which is basically bearberry extracts that's supposed to reduce spots and discoloration and Hyaluronic Acid as a moisturizing agent. This product always leaves my skin super soft and smooth and has definitely improved my skin texture as well as increased hydration. As with any Hada Labo product, this toner doesn't have any colorant or fragrance. They're basically the normies of skincare.

Hada Labo Shirojyun Arbutin Milk | To be honest, I put off using this product for a very long time for one reason and one reason only: in terms of color and texture and smell, it is uncanny to that of white glue. That was a dick move, considering that this is a powerful moisturizer that works wonders paired up with the lotion. One drop should suffice for your entire face, any more and it risks breaking out.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence | I would rather die and battle the underworld and come back to life and do it all over again than having to go out in broad daylight without a layer of this. And that was an understatement. A dedicated SPF 50 sunscreen is pretty much a basic necessity especially in a sunny place where I live, and this sunscreen is such a favorite of mine that I could spend longer than I'm sure most would want to hear gushing about it. It is a very light, slippy lotion with a cool and watery feel and a hint of sharp citrus fragrance and alcohol smell, both of which fade quickly. It is fantastically lightweight and easily absorbed, which makes it perfect for daily use under makeup.

Have you tried any of these products in your routine? Let me know your skincare faves!

Get mischievous!
Ask.fm // Twitter // LINE

♥

Labels: skincare

Unknown said on June 11, 2016 at 4:06 PM

Wah padahal kulitnya Zara Oily tapi cocok ya pakai hadalabo lotion even milknya, mukaku yang extremely kering aja bruntusan cuma pakai lotion yg gokujyun dan udah 3 tetes doang makenya, padahal aku kepincut embel-embel fragrance free & colorant free-nya huhu

Diane Wright said on December 21, 2016 at 1:14 AM

Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up and also the rest of the site is also really good.

BEGINNER ASIAN SKINCARE ROUTINE

♥

Post a Comment