This guide is divided into four parts: The major differences between Asian and Western skincare culture, details about products and routine steps, shopping resources, and blogs where you can find more Asian skincare product reviews.
Part 1: Five Major Differences Between Asian & Western Skincare
Part 2: The Asian Skincare Routine – Products & Layering
Part 3: Where to Buy: Shopping & Resources for Asian Skincare Products
Part 4: Asian Cosmetics & Skincare Blogs
Here in the US, cosmetics make up the majority of beauty purchases. Not the case in Korea and Japan, where women prefer to spend their money on skincare products. In fact, Hope in a Blog cites one statistic that says 89% of Korean women spend more money on skincare products than makeup. The philosophy is that beauty begins with great skin, and that healthy skin means you need less makeup.
2. Focal Points
We have some really amazing quality skincare products here in the US. Some of my baseline skincare routine is, in fact, comprised of Western products that I’m extremely pleased with. But the market for skincare in Asia is extremely competitive, and one of the benefits of that phenomenon is higher quality products, even at lower price points. There are many low to mid-range products that are found in Japanese drug stores or Korean road shops that are right on par with our mid to high-end department store brands in the West.
4. Number of Products
Most of us are used to a 3-step skincare system that includes cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. In Asia, an average skincare routine includes anywhere from 5-10 steps, including cleansing oil, foaming cleanser, booster, essence/serum, emulsion, cream, eye cream, and sunscreen. Additionally, many women regularly include sheet masks and sleeping packs in their routine.
5. Layering
In order to get the most benefit from all these products, Asian women use a layering technique to apply them. The layering technique involves gently patting or massaging the products in the in a specific order, usually from the lightest in consistency to the heaviest.
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Oil cleansers and balms I like:
Cleansers I like:
• Hanyul Pure Artemesia Cleansing Foam ($26)
• Missha Super Aqua Fresh Cleansing Milk ($13)
• Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick ($26)
Part 1: Five Major Differences Between Asian & Western Skincare
Part 2: The Asian Skincare Routine – Products & Layering
Part 3: Where to Buy: Shopping & Resources for Asian Skincare Products
Part 4: Asian Cosmetics & Skincare Blogs
Part 1: Five Major Differences Between Asian & Western Skincare
1. PriorityHere in the US, cosmetics make up the majority of beauty purchases. Not the case in Korea and Japan, where women prefer to spend their money on skincare products. In fact, Hope in a Blog cites one statistic that says 89% of Korean women spend more money on skincare products than makeup. The philosophy is that beauty begins with great skin, and that healthy skin means you need less makeup.
2. Focal Points
Sunscreen
Asian people take UV protection very seriously. As a result, they have some of the best sunscreens in the world, as well as a much wider selection.
Asian people take UV protection very seriously. As a result, they have some of the best sunscreens in the world, as well as a much wider selection.
Whitening
Coinciding with the sunscreen obsession is the fact that fair skin is very highly valued in Asia. There are a ton of whitening products in the Korean and Japanese skincare markets, and many of the multi-functioning products tout whitening properties as one of the major attributes.
Coinciding with the sunscreen obsession is the fact that fair skin is very highly valued in Asia. There are a ton of whitening products in the Korean and Japanese skincare markets, and many of the multi-functioning products tout whitening properties as one of the major attributes.
These products aren’t actually turning anyone’s face white- the majority of them are just brightening products meant to fade dark marks and even out skin tone. However, there are some products that aim to actually lighten the skin, but the effects of the skin lightening are mostly temporary.
Cutting Edge Ingredients
Experts say that Korea is around 10 years ahead of us in terms of skincare technology. This is largely due to the fact that there is less red tape when it comes to bringing new skincare ingredients to market. Skin care actives such as snail mucin, bee venom, and Syn-ake – a synthetic compound that mimics the effects of viper venom on wrinkles, are commonly seen in Korean skincare products right now. Those trends are always changing, but some of them are effective enough that they wind up sticking around. Snail slime has been big there for a few years now, for example. For more information on some of the current Korean skincare ingredient trends, see my post here.
3. QualityExperts say that Korea is around 10 years ahead of us in terms of skincare technology. This is largely due to the fact that there is less red tape when it comes to bringing new skincare ingredients to market. Skin care actives such as snail mucin, bee venom, and Syn-ake – a synthetic compound that mimics the effects of viper venom on wrinkles, are commonly seen in Korean skincare products right now. Those trends are always changing, but some of them are effective enough that they wind up sticking around. Snail slime has been big there for a few years now, for example. For more information on some of the current Korean skincare ingredient trends, see my post here.
We have some really amazing quality skincare products here in the US. Some of my baseline skincare routine is, in fact, comprised of Western products that I’m extremely pleased with. But the market for skincare in Asia is extremely competitive, and one of the benefits of that phenomenon is higher quality products, even at lower price points. There are many low to mid-range products that are found in Japanese drug stores or Korean road shops that are right on par with our mid to high-end department store brands in the West.
4. Number of Products
Most of us are used to a 3-step skincare system that includes cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. In Asia, an average skincare routine includes anywhere from 5-10 steps, including cleansing oil, foaming cleanser, booster, essence/serum, emulsion, cream, eye cream, and sunscreen. Additionally, many women regularly include sheet masks and sleeping packs in their routine.
5. Layering
In order to get the most benefit from all these products, Asian women use a layering technique to apply them. The layering technique involves gently patting or massaging the products in the in a specific order, usually from the lightest in consistency to the heaviest.
(Back to top)
Part 2: The Asian Skincare Routine – Products & Layering
There are anywhere from 5-10 steps in a Korean or Japanese skincare routine. Each of these products is applied by patting it gently into the skin with your fingers. Some people like to use a light massage technique, which stimulates the circulation in your face. The nice thing about this layering technique is that you are not obligated to use Asian skincare products to do it. You can use whatever you have at home, or whatever is most accessible in your geographic location. I personally tend to use a mix of Korean, Japanese, American, and French products. Here’s a quick look at the order of the Asian skincare steps, a general description of the product types, and some Asian product recommendations:Step 1: Oil Cleanser or Cleansing Balm
This is a cleanser designed to remove makeup, and is often referred to here as “pre-cleansing.” Sometimes a cream cleanser is used in place of an oil cleanser, but the oil cleansers do a pretty bang-up job at removing makeup.Oil cleansers and balms I like:
• Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil ($16)
• DHC Deep Cleansing Oil ($26)
• Banila Co. Clean-it Zero Cleansing Balm/Sherbet ($20)
• DHC Deep Cleansing Oil ($26)
• Banila Co. Clean-it Zero Cleansing Balm/Sherbet ($20)
Step 2: Foaming, Milky, or Gel Cleanser
The purpose of this step is to thoroughly clean skin once all makeup has been removed. As with all cleansers, it’s important to ensure you select a cleanser with a pH below 7 since high pH cleansers can damage the skin’s protective barrier. I personally like my cleansers to have a pH between 5 and 6.Cleansers I like:
• Hanyul Pure Artemesia Cleansing Foam ($26)
• Missha Super Aqua Fresh Cleansing Milk ($13)
• Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick ($26)
Step 3: Toner/Skin/Booster
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