Thao Demo 3

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

Part 1: Five Major Differences Between Asian & Western Skincare

1. Priority
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

3. Quality
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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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:

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