Photo: Andres Hernandez Model: Heidi Astrup
Ask any makeup artist and they will tell you, great skin makes for a great makeup! Of course as makeup artists, we are adept at concealing and hiding any imperfections but when it comes to doing a beauty shot, great skin is like working on the perfect canvas. Products adhere better and blend well and the entire look is seamless and flawless. Which is why the beauty shot above was so effortless to achieve. The model had that kind of skin that is so even and flawless that it needed just the slightest wash of foundation to enhance its beauty and the other makeup was only embellishment.
It got me to thinking of my own skin care routine and how it could be improved. I have been reading many articles about Korean skincare and the way in which they cleanse their skin leading them to have fresh, moisturized and bouncy complexions (bouncy being a term they use to describe skin that is so hydrated it glows) I decided to adapt a version of this to my own skin care routine. I am pleasantly surprised by the softness and moisturized look my skin has taken on and the routine itself, although several steps, makes for a spa like experience in my bathroom and now I can’t imagine going back to the way I used to wash my face.
NIGHT ROUTINE
STEP ONE:
The double cleanse. Using an oil cleanser first this works to remove makeup and any products like sunscreen and pollution that have built up over the day. I have been using this one from DBH Beverly Hills that smells like a lovely tart apple and really removes all traces of makeup. Then using a foaming cleanser or milky cleanser if your skin is dry or sensitive this second step cleans the face and gets it ready for treatments. At this step I use my Foreo Luna mini to exfoliate as well. The double cleanse has really made my complexion much brighter and smoother.
STEP TWO:
When my skin is still a little damp, I apply this Essence called MAY COOP Raw Sauce. It contains maple water and is highly moisturizing and feels wonderful. Essences are like lighter versions of serums and in a Korean skin care regime would be applied after cleansing and toning and before serum and moisturizer. Their job is to hydrate the skin and prepare it for whatever treatment you may apply next. I pour a few drops in my palms and then press it onto my face- no sense wasting it on a cotton pad!
STEP THREE:
I usually follow with this highly moisturizing SNAIL REPAIR perfect cream which is loaded with snail mucin, which encourages skin renewal and is even supposed to help with blemishes and scarring, and call it a night. Then a few times a week I make it treatment night and after cleansing I use one of these Gauze peeling wine pads from NEOGEN to do a gentle exfoliating peel. Each pad is presoaked with anti-oxidant resveratrol from wine and lactic acid which helps to even skin tone and tighten pores. After exfoliating I will try a sheet mask. I have been trying many and I prefer the ones that are hydrogel types to the cotton ones, they feel more refreshing and adhere to the contours of the face better. I love Dr. Jart Wrinkless Solution mask with Bio- peptide, collagen and adenosine all of which help lift and smooth the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Skin One’s Prime Snail mask is another favorite as it really makes my skin feel and look smoother.
MORNING ROUTINE:
STEP ONE:
I cleanse gently with my foam cleanser just to remove any excess product from the night.
STEP TWO:
I apply RAW SAUCE essence (I even use a drop of it mixed with my foundation to make it look more glowy.) In the mornings since here in Miami the humidity is high I skip moisturizer and go straight to applying sun protection. Essential all year round for an even skin tone, I am currently in love with this Essence Sun Milk SPF 50 from MISSHA. Its texture is so smooth and unlike any other sunscreen I have ever used. I don’t feel like it is a sunscreen but more a light moisturizer with a lovely scent.
That’s the morning, followed by any makeup I may wear. During the day if I feel I need a refresh I have been spritzing my face with this amazing Rosewater that I found at Wholefoods. My clients love it so much that I spray them before and after applying their makeup.
So that’s my skin care routine, loosely based on the multi-step Korean skin care routine. This works for me and my skin type but can be adapted to your own liking. I think the double cleanse is key, using first an oil cleanser and either foaming or milky cleanser depending if your skin is dry or sensitive. The essence step could be replaced by a serum and moisturizer can be applied before sunscreen especially during the winter months where the humidity is low. By keeping the skin moisturized you are reinforcing the skin’s natural barrier and allowing it to do its job of protecting itself from the elements.
What is your skin care routine? Are you happy with it?