Eastern promise

LEADING THE WAY Korean women’s skincare routine is creating a buzz in the beauty industry.

Beauty
Maggie Gibbons

Whenever you hear of something completely different in the make up line you can be pretty sure it originated in Korea. All the ‘Alphabet’ creams (BBs, CCs and so on) had their genesis there, and Western beauty companies soon delivered similar products.
Korean women adore their skincare and the cosmetics are packed with ingredients like rice water, sheet masks and snail oils. You might think ‘eeew’ at the last one there, but believe me,  the same ingredients will be in all our face creams before too long.
Korean women have extensive, exhaustive day and night regimes, often involving up to 15 different steps using numerous products. I’m thinking any self-respecting Irish mammy would give her kids a good clatter if she saw them doing that much pampering!
No quick slap of a face wipe though for the East Asian ladies however, and certainly no falling into the leaba with full makeup! It might sound laborious, but their flawless skin is testament to the hours they put in. And you’ll never see a Korean woman caked in make up – they love their faces to look clear, giving the skin a porcelain appearance. I think we’d all like a bit of that … though maybe in a few less steps.
So what is their particular routine, and what do they use? I’ll run through it roughly, and tell you the similar products available here. Maybe you could make a new year’s skincare resolution...

Cleanser
They are rigid in their cleansing, spend ages on it and use oil-based cleansers. No surprise there, we all should cleanse thoroughly at night. Kinvara Absolute Cleansing Face Oil is an award winner, made with 100 percent plant oils, and free from preservatives. Call to order on 091 637878 or email info@kinvaraskincare.com.

Exfoliater
Korean products are gentle; western exfoliations tend to be harsher. Nivea Gentle Exfoliating Scrub is a good option – it suits normal and combination skin and is packed with Vitamin E.

Sheet mask
In case you’re wondering what this Korean wonder product is, it’s exactly as it says, a sheet of cloth or paper that is saturated with the most nourishing ingredients, then left on the face for about 15 minutes to give your skin a chance to fully absorb it. Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti Ageing mask leaves skin feeling like it would after a spa treatment, wonderfully hydrated. Five in a pack for about €20.

Primer
Next step in the routine is primer. The idea here is to blur imperfections and provide a smooth base for the make up. La Roche Posay Anthelios Smoothing Optical Blur (€19.50) has raised the bar with a slightly tinted primer.

Serum
This targets pigmentation, crow’s feet and lines around the mouth. No 7 Restore and Renew Day and Night serum (€33) tackles these signs of ageing. While nothing removes lines at least this promises to improve the appearance.

Eye primer
Eyelids tend to be oily or moist, so if you want your shadow and liner to stay put then I recommend an eye primer. MAC have a brilliant one for €21.

Eye cream
The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face so needs to be treated gently. Olay Regenerist Lifting Serum is usually highly recommended and costs €20 nationwide. On the higher price end, Clarins Super restorative Eye Concentrate (€60) promises great things for the over 40s.

Facial oil
Trilogy Rose hip Facial Oil is a little wonder. I love facial oils, this particular one has only the best ingredients. Your face will thank you for it.

Night cream
Reduce the appearance of crow’s feet with L’Oreal Wrinkle Decrease Collagen Night Cream, which is available nationwide for around €19.50.
These are some alternatives that are on your doorstep.
If you want real McCoy Korean products, a quick Google search will yield a treasure trove of authentic cosmetics and potions, that you can get shipped directly to you. Then set aside some you time every day to allow all that Eastern promise work its magic.

Maggie Gibbons is an Image/Style Consultant based in Louisburgh. She can be contacted at living@mayonews.ie.