Intro to Asian Beauty | The Basics

I've been toying around with k-beauty for so long (it seems, but really it has only been about 2 years) that I sometimes forget what it was like when I first stuck my toes into the water. So this post is a bit of a step back, to look at the things I thought helped me the most when I first started looking into the world of Asian beauty, and might just be helpful to you as well.

1. The Basics: YOU ARE HERE!
2. Build Up The Basics: Oil Cleansers, First Essences & Sunscreen
3. Individualized Treatments: Essences, Serums, and Ampoules
4. Overnight Healing: Spot Treatments & Sleeping Packs

In this post: 

>Cleaner

>Toner

>Moisturizer

>Checking Ingredients

Where they'll fit into a routine:

Oil cleanser > Cleanser > Toner > Vitamin C > BHA > AHA > Prescription Treatment > First essence > Essence > Serum > Ampoule > Sheet mask > Eye Treatment > Emulsion/Lotion > Cream > Spot Treatment > Sleeping Pack or Sunscreen

Before we get started, I want to note that this post does contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This is what helps fund this blog and everything I do here - including purchase review items and host giveaways. 

Foaming Cleanser:
Believe it or not, the biggest factor that made the most noticeable difference in my skin was changing my cleanser. You'd think something so simple wouldn't make a difference, right? Well I was wrong. A few bloggers, including Snow from Snow White and the Asian Pear and Kerry from Skin and Tonics, have done some great research about the importance of using a low pH cleanser and how it both protects and repairs your skins' natural moisture barrier. To sum up their extensive work; your skins' natural pH is around 5. When that pH is raised, it allows bacteria to flourish on the skins' surface that can break down your skins' acid mantle (or moisture barrier), allowing things like acne, blemishes, etc. Using a lower pH cleanser (lets say 4~6) allows your skin to maintain a lower pH that is often raised due to bacteria. This low pH diminishes bacteria, and helps heal acne, and repairs your skins' natural barrier. Have I lost you? Well, try starting here:

>Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser (Jolse, Amazon, Cupidrop, Memebox)
>Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick (Jolse, Amazon, Memebox)
>Innisfree Bija Trouble Cleansing Gel (Jolse, Amazon)
>Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash - Review (Cupidrop, Memebox)
>Acwell 5.5 Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser - Review (MelodyCosme, Memebox)

pH Balancing Toner:
After finding a cleanser that helps lower your skins' pH and washes away harmful bacteria, a low pH toner might be a good idea as well. I, personally, have hard water, and find that after rinsing away my cleanser allows my skins' pH to raise up after a short time. A low pH toner is a must if you're going to be using "actives" (which will be covered in a later post), but if you're not it's still like a security blanket for your skin - it allows you to wash away any reside left over from your cleansing process and maintains a low pH.
>Acwell 5.5 Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner - Review (Memebox)
>Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner (Jolse, Amazon, Cupidrop, Memebox)
>Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner (Jolse, Amazon, Memebox)

Moisturizer:

For starters, we're going to skip the extensive steps and go from cleansing to hydrating. In my next post we'll touch base with some different serums and hydrating steps, but for now lets keep it simple. Hydration is important whether you have oily or dry skin. Dry skin needs moisture, and oily skin can be eased by adding in moisture that your skin is trying to over-compensate for. Moisturizer is an intimate business, but I'm hoping a few recommendations below can help point you in the right direction.
>Freeset Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream - Review (Club Clio, Memebox, Target)
>Skin Ceramic Donkey Milk Yogurt All-In-One Moisture Gel Cream - Review (Memebox)
>Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream (Jolse, Amazon, Cupidrop, Memebox)
>Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream (Jolse, Amazon, Memebox)
>Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion - Review (Cupidrop, Amazon, Memebox)

Ingredients:

This obviously isn't a skincare step, per-say, but it is something that you should be paying attention to no matter what you're looking for in your skincare. Checking out the ingredients can be a lifesaver (err skin-saver...) when you're able to pinpoint ingredients that are known to clog pores or irritate sensitive skin. A great site that allows you to check out ingredients is Cosdna - which has many products already logged by other users, but you can also check ingredients lists on your own, or just individual ingredients. Cosdna is not a fail-safe, but it's a great starting point and a great way to keep tabs on what does and doesn't work for your skin. As a starting point, I've taken my product recommendations from this post and linked a Cosdna listing for each of them so you can see what the lists look like. 0 is the safest rating an ingredient can receive, and 5 is the harshest - I try to avoid anything above 2.
>Hada Labo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam
>Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 
>Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
>Innisfree Bija Trouble Cleansing Gel
>Tosowoong Enzyme Powder Wash
>Acwell 5.5 Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser
>Acwell 5.5 Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner
>Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
>Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner
>Freeset Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream
>Skin Ceramic Donkey Milk Yogurt All-In-One Moisture Gel Cream
>Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

Our next post will cover a few more topics like further hydrating steps, and sunscreen!

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Glitter Chic blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. If you have any questions, please contact me at gothickornchic at gmail dot com. This blog contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of those links. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.