You've probably heard about the Korean ten-step beauty routine. A meticulously planned ritual to care for every aspect of your skin.
It sounds great in practice, but in reality, ten steps are about seven steps too far for most of us.
So what if we condensed it?
While ten steps are always going to produce better results, it is possible to care for our skin and fit a routine into our busy lives. And if we feel it's achievable we are much more likely to stick to it and make our routine a habit.
All Day Care
It's important to remember that our skin needs different things at different times of the day. To really care for our skin we've split our express routine into two - morning and night. Try and do these at the same time each day to stand the best chance of it becoming a habit.
Rise and Shine
In the morning we need to prepare our skin for the day ahead. You should start your routine after you have washed your face and before applying makeup.
Start with a serum that's matched to your skin's condition. There's a whole world of serums out there waiting to be discovered. A good place to start is with a serum containing Hyrauloronic Acid for hydrating dry skin, and try one containing Vitamin C to brighten dull skin.
Next step is to apply moisturiser. In the morning this should be a moisturiser with a thinner consistency to make applying make up easier.
Finally, you should apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and a high UVA rating. You should do this year-round as sun damage does not just occur when the sun is out.
The Etude House Sunprise Airy SPF50++ is a light, non-greasy sunscreen that provides a high level of protection from UVA and UVB.
Bedtime Treat
After a long day, your skin will be tired and dirty from contact with the outside air. Start by applying a cleanser to remove the dirt and pollution that your skin has accumulated during the day.
After cleansing the nest step is to exfoliate. For this you will need a product containing AHA - alpha-hydroxy acid. These contain watery acids from sugar-based fruits, and the solution helps peel away the skin revealing a smoother more uniform layer beneath. AHA is found in a variety of different toners and cleansers.
Last up is moisturiser. For your evening routine choose a thicker moisturiser that will help to seal and protect the skin barrier while you sleep.
Make it Stick
Research shows that it takes ten days to turn a routine into a habit. Done together your routine should take no longer than ten minutes in the morning and evening. Don't forget to leave the products for a few minutes between each application to allow the skin to absorb the ingredients.
Good luck!
Tell Us About It
Have you started your own express skincare routine? Share your experiences using the comments below.
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