Skincare for Busy People
We all know what it’s like. A late night with friends, snoozing the alarm 3-4 times; there are days when other priorities in life take over. And so they should!
One of the common misconceptions about Korean Skincare is that you must religiously follow the 10 step beauty routine but I can tell you, it’s very rare I have the time to do a full routine. Most mornings, I give myself 15 minutes to get ready before a busy London schedule. For this reason, I try look for multifunctional products that can help shorten my routine.
Korea has produced some wonderful multi-tasking products from oil to foam cleansers to the famous BB creams. The industry in South Korea is so innovative it continuously seeks to establish the next ‘wonder’ product. Here are some of my favourites:
Thank You Farmer Back to Iceland Cleansing Water
For those that follow me on Instagram, you will know that most mornings I will just use a cleansing water. I’d like to tell you that I double cleanse religiously every morning but the truth is I would rather gain those 10 minutes of extra sleep.
Easy to use, cleansing waters remove all excess residue left on your skin from the evening before – sleeping mask, sweat, bacteria etc can all accumulate overnight. Simply dispense on to a cotton pad and gentle swipe across your skin; your skin will feel clean and refreshed.
This Thank You Farmer Cleansing Water is one of my favourites as I find it is more thorough than some others that I’ve tried. It smells wonderfully herbal and fresh and will create a good base for the remainder of your skincare routine.
Son & Park Beauty Water
A cult favourite by many, this Son & Park Beauty Water is the King of multi-tasking products. It can be used as a cleansing water (although I would say is gentler than the Thank You Farmer Cleansing Water), a toner, skin refresher and a mild exfoliator as well. You could theoretically just use this in the mornings and then slap on a moisturiser and be done.
A few ways I like to use the Son & Park Beauty Water:
- An exfoliating toner after cleansing
- After the gym to cleanse skin and remove excess sweat
- Post sheet mask when I want to gently remove excess essence
- Swept across dry areas such as lips, elbows etc to soften them
At a pH of 4.5, this product helps slough away dead skin cells whilst the inclusion of rose water, willow bark and lavender water helps leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.
Whamisa Damask Rose Petal Mist
Whilst Facial Mists are still to hit the European market, they remain a huge business in South Korea. This mist is so luxurious to use it becomes addictive. With real Damask rose petals throughout, this mist helps hydrate and brighten skin on the go.
Ways in which I use this fabulous mist;
- As a toner
- I keep this in my handbag to refresh my skin during the day
- For fixing powder
- Post gym to freshen up my skin
- On holidays either on the flight or in hot weather
Let’s make facial mists a trend here in Europe!
Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream
Possibly the most famous category of multi-tasking product is the BB cream. The Germans may have originally created it to help post-burn victims but it was the Koreans who transformed the product in to what it is today. BB creams have numerous benefits – primer, anti-ageing, light foundation, SPF etc. And whilst the market may have moved on to cushions and other formats, the original cream versions still remain as popular as ever. (And the Korean versions are way better than their Western counterparts)
This Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream is perfect as it hides blemishes, is medium to high coverage, extremely lightweight, has both UVA and UVB protection as well as SPF 42PA+++ and brightening ingredients. I also appreciate that it comes in a darker shade 27.
Cosrx Ultimate Moisturising Honey Overnight Mask
No time for a sheet mask? Why not try a sleeping mask? Sleeping Masks are great as they work to target problem areas whilst you catch up on your Z’s.
This Cosrx Honey Overnight Mask contains 85% Bee Propolis and Royal Jelly meaning it not only smells divine, but also works to strengthen and moisturise your skin whilst you sleep! The mask also works to naturally clear skin and reduce redness. (And pssst, we will also be getting the rice version very soon!)
