PONY Makeup on skipping cleanser, meeting Kim Lim and her in-flight skincare routine

Recently named ambassador for homegrown skincare brand ILLUMIASKIN, the beauty influencer and makeup artist shares her beauty tips and secrets including her go-to dessert soup for good skin in this exclusive interview with Her World

Credit: ILLUMIASKIN
Credit: ILLUMIASKIN
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South Korean beauty creator and makeup artist PONY is no stranger to collaborating with cult beauty brands. In recent years, she has worked with the likes of Colourpop and MAC.

Most recently, the beauty guru who has amassed over 5.95 million followers on YouTube and 8.5 million followers on Instagram was appointed as ambassador of homegrown skincare brand  ILLUMIASKIN.

We caught up with the Pony to learn more about her thoughts on her new appointment, skincare routine and meeting beauty entrepreneur Kim Lim. 

How does it feel like to be the brand ambassador?

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I’m super excited and honoured to be ILLUMIASKIN’s first-ever global brand ambassador. This collaboration is special to me, because ILLUMIASKIN is a brand that brings what Korean skincare has to offer to an international level.

A majority of the ILLUMIASKIN products are made in Korea with the latest technologies, so I am really proud to be the face of this brand.

With this collaboration , I hope to connect with the friends and fans of ILLUMIASKIN’s, by sharing my skincare insights while also learning new beauty tips from everyone.

How was it like meeting with Kim?

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Kim is very friendly and professional. I’m also pleasantly surprised with the chemistry that we shared. Although it was our first time doing a photoshoot together, our energies matched, everything flowed smoothly, and the whole shoot was done with ease.

There was a total of 3 concepts for the shoot, and we managed to finish way ahead of schedule. Every photo was great, so we actually spent a lot of more time choosing the photos instead.

It was like we’ve been doing this together for a really long time. I also feel inspired working with her. She was highly involved throughout the entire creative process, and she is also very hands-on with the business. I look forward to more creative partnerships in 2023 with Kim.

What are your top 3 favourite/must-have skincare ingredients and why?

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I have dry skin and I tend to look out for products and ingredients that help with anti-ageing. One of the key ingredients that I love from the BOUNCE range is the tremella mushroom because it is known to provide major skin care benefits. It is packed with antioxidants, helps to boost hydration and enhances your skin’s natural collagen production.

I’m also in love with the ALL 1N ONE mask. The fact that it contains Salmon DNA and hydrolysed collagen, sign me up!! I also believe that product formulation is very important, and I love the formulation of this mask.

After application, my skin feels super soft and hydrated. I’m a super fan of this mask.

What is your morning routine?

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In the morning, I wash my face with only water because I have dry skin and I try not to over cleanse my face. My next step is to use an exfoliating toner that is gentle to lightly exfoliate my skin. This is to let the subsequent products that I apply absorb better. After that is the ALL 1N ONE Serum because it has a light consistency. I then apply a vitamin C serum and face cream. Last but not least, I NEVER ever forget my sunscreen before I leave the house, with or without makeup.

What is your night time routine?

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Every night, I will always do a double cleanse, starting with micellar water and a milky face wash. It’s a MUST for me, and I will never go to bed without double cleansing because I usually have on a full face of makeup. I can’t emphasise further how important it is that I clean my face properly.

With a fresh face, I’ll alternate between a gentle exfoliating toner or hydrating toner. On days that I use a gentle exfoliating toner, I’ll apply the BOUNCE Firming Serum followed by a thicker face cream.

On days that I use a hydrating toner, I’ll use the BOUNCE Firming Serum, a retinol product, followed by the BOUNCE Recharge Cream.

I’m usually very tired after work, so I tend to be a little lazy when it comes to skincare. This is why I love me some multitaskers. I can just apply a couple of products that takes care of all my skincare needs and go to bed right away.

Use 3 words to describe ILLUMIASKIN by Kim Lim

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Multi-functional, fuss-free and effective.

3 reasons why you enjoy the Bounce range?

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I love that my skin feels soft and supple after applying it.

They are multitasking, and are packed with a lot of anti-aging ingredients that I know my skin needs and loves. When I wake up the next day, my skin does not feel tight at all. I’m super in love with the BOUNCE series!

To people who are new to ILLUMIASKIN by Kim Lim, what is your recommended must-try product?

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The BOUNCE Firming Serum is my favourite as it contains Avena Sativa (also known as oat), which soothes my skin.

Since I wear makeup almost every day, it is important for me to soothe my skin while repairing my skin barrier.

Sometimes, my spidery veins show when my skin is stressed out and I can really see a difference after I started using the BOUNCE Firming Serum.

What is a skincare secret you would tell your younger self?

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Start taking care of your skin as early as possible. Don’t wait for something to happen to your skin because then you’ll be caught up with trying to fix the problem. After all, it’s always easier to prevent than to repair.

What is your favourite way of using the Bounce products?

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Usually, I’ll layer the BOUNCE Recharge Cream on top of the BOUNCE Firming Serum. On days where my skin feels extra dry and tight, I will mix in 3 drops of oil to the BOUNCE Recharge Cream for an added boost of moisture.

Now that we can travel again, what is your in-flight skincare routine?

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If it’s an overnight flight, I will cleanse my face on the plane and put on a hydrating sheet mask. I will usually go for the ALL-IN-ONE Mask.

If it’s a long haul, I might even layer with another mask if I’m feeling extra. Then I’ll seal everything in with a face cream and rest.

I also like to carry a travel-size spray bottle, so that I can mist my face during the flight. As mentioned earlier on, I never leave any place without applying sunscreen, so before getting off the plane, I will apply sunscreen.

It might sound a little extreme, but when I’m not wearing any sunscreen, I’ll keep the window shades down at all times so that no light passes through. When the flight is preparing to land, I’ll then apply/re-apply my sunscreen before raising the plane window shade.

What is a common skincare mistake that people need to stop doing right now?

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Some people avoid applying moisturiser simply because their skin is oily. Just because your skin is oily doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need moisture.

They should perform a skin analysis to find out if their skin is dehydrated, which is why there is an over production of oil or if it’s related to hormones or diet.

Another rookie mistake is forgetting to care for your neck. Products that you apply on your face should also be applied on your neck all the way to your chest, which is a commonly neglected area.

What is something surprising in your beauty regime?

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I take supplements based on my health condition and what your body needs. It is important to do your own research and not blindly follow trends.

Not particularly surprising, but I also tend to avoid fried food and drink a lot of water. In fact, I have recently learnt how to make white fungus (tremella mushroom) dessert soup and eat it weekly for skin benefits!

What is your ultimate beauty guilty pleasure?

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I visit my dermatologist once every three months to make sure that my skin is in top condition. If I feel like it, I might even go every month.

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