From The Straits Times    |

On a popular Korean beauty programme a famously “ageless” actress announced that the secret to her skin care routine is her five step cleansing procedure. Due to the especially heavy makeup that actresses have to wear, they’re apparently inclined to put more effort into cleansing. So, if you want to have clear skin, you must focus on your cleansing.

Korean stars’ cleansing secrets for really beautiful skin DECOR MAIN

1. MASSAGE IS A KEY POINT OF KOREAN BEAUTY CLEANSING
The key point of K-Beauty style cleansing is to smoothly massage your face with a non-irritating type cleanser and rinsing it thoroughly. No matter how mild the product may be, when sensitive skin is rubbed too roughly, it irritates the skin. The point is to thoroughly and carefully rinse.

If makeup is not fully washed off, the colour pigment may seep into your skin causing dark circles or skin troubles such as acne. The simplest step in the cleansing process is using only a foam cleanser. Foam cleansing alone cannot remove all the makeup on your face. A two-step cleansing procedure is necessary in order to maintain clean skin.

If you are someone who wears makeup, you must always take these three steps:

  1. makeup remover
  2. cleansing cream or oil
  3. foam cleanser 

Use makeup remover for your “point” or coloured makeup like lipstick and eye makeup; use the cleansing oil for your base and foundation makeup, and finally, use the foam cleanser for any remaining traces of makeup or dirt.

2. KOREA’S TOP CLEANSERS

Korean stars’ cleansing secrets for really beautiful skin Tony Moly Clear Magic Lip and Eye RemoverTONY MOLY CLEAR MAGIC LIP & EYE REMOVER
In a two-formula format, the Tony Moly Clear Magic Lip and Eye Remover smoothly erases mascara and eye shadow. It includes extracts of aloe vera, green tea and rose hip, to help the product work without irritating the skin.




Korean stars’ cleansing secrets for really beautiful skin Iope Pore Clinic Deep Clean OilIOPE PORE CLINIC DEEP CLEAN OIL
This product allows the skin to be in its best condition by clearing the sebum and unnecessary bodily wastes in the pores. It also helps keep pores clean by removing dead skin cells as well as the oxidized sebum in the pores.




Korean stars’ cleansing secrets for really beautiful skin Tony Moly Aqua Aura Cleansing WaterTONY MOLY AQUA AURA CLEANSING WATER
The Tony Moly Aqua Aura Cleansing Water product allows for a smooth and moisturised cleansing routine due to its use of “hypoxic water” (which apparently means water with reduced oxygen). This moist foam cleanser takes care of the various layers of your skin, says the brand. Containing both hypoxic and ionic water (water that’s been “ionised”), the product reportedly allows you to feel “total hydration” so that your skin feels moisturised and not tight after you’ve used the product.


Korean stars’ cleansing secrets for really beautiful skin DHC Deep Cleansing OilDHC DEEP CLEANSING OIL
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is a plant-based cleansing oil that cleans deep into the pores. It completes the cleansing routine and also moisturises the skin. The product apparently gets rid of sebum and dead skin cells completely.




Korean stars’ cleansing secrets for really beautiful skin Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing FoamSULWHASOO GENTLE CLEANSING FOAM
Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam contains extracts of Japanese apricot that provides the skin with moisture while extracts of houttuynia cordata calms and clears the skin.




3. HOW TO CLEANSE PROPERLY
The quality of product is important but the way you actually use it is important as well. For example, the skin around your eyes is as thin as tissue paper, which means it can form wrinkles at the slightest rub, so you must wash this area gently using an eye-makeup remover and cotton pads and swabs.

Wet some cotton pads with eye-makeup remover then cover both the eyes and the skin underneath them with cotton pads letting the product soak in well. Gently press for five seconds and remove the pad covering your eyes, leaving the puffs that are underneath the eye in place, and smoothly rub in the direction of your eyelashes in an almost “comb” like motion. There may be excess makeup remaining between the eyelashes so soak the cotton swab in the eye-makeup remover and use it to clean the area in more detail.

Then use either the cleansing milk, lotion, or cream to remove your facial makeup. You can also use a hand-held cleansing tool like a Clarisonic Aria to get a deeper and more thorough clean.

Tony Moly Clear Magic Lip and Eye Remover, $11.50, and Tony Moly Aqua Aura Cleansing Water, $29, are available from Tony Moly stores located at Bugis Junction #02-25 Tel : 6336 8087 and Robinsons @ JEM #01-07 Tel: 6734 1381. For more information go to the brand’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TonyMolySG.

Iope Pore Clinic Deep Clean Oil, $33.94, is available online from list.qoo10.sg/IOPE-AMOREPACIFIC-IOPE-PORE-CLINIC

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, $16, is available from Watsons outlets and online at www.rakuten.com.sg/product/dhc-deep-cleansing-oil

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam, $59.50, is available from the Sulwhasoo counters at Tangs Orchard, Tangs VivoCity, Takashimaya Department Store and Robinsons Orchard. For more information, check out the brand’s Singapore Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Sulwhasoo.sg.

For more hot K-Pop beauty news and tips, go to www.bntnews.co.uk/beauty.