Remix - 10-Step Korean Beauty Regimen for FLAWLESS skin

Two months ago, I stumbled upon a YouTube video of a black blogger living in Korea raving about something called the “10-Step Korean Beauty Regimen”. From someone who barely washes their make-up off at night and wears makeup primer for the express purpose of getting two days of wear out of their “beat” I wasn’t so much interested in trying the routine as I was intrigued that someone would waste so much time/money on their skin care regimen. Nonetheless, I settled in to watch her document the process and see her results after 7 days.

And I’ll be damned. Baby girls face was FLAWLESS afterwards. Melanin was literally popping, and I was compelled to create my own 10-Step Beauty Regimen. While I don’t have problem skin, I do have dark circles around my eyes which most days I’m not sure if they are hereditary or from overuse of black eyeliner. LOL! I did however notice that my skin seemed less supple from wearing 10 layers of makeup every day. Even after washing my face it still had residual product on it and I was starting to break out which was a problem I didn’t even have in high school.

Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with a 10-step regimen - but I did! After 30 days my skin was poreless, hydrated and suppler. My skin tone was even and almost unblemished. My under-eye circles are also noticeably lighter and fine lines have diminished drastically! The only CON is the time it now takes me to wash my face. It’s a sacrifice but well worth it. I also found that using products I already had on hand kept the cost relatively low.

Make up and Filter Free. My skin literally glows now.

Without further adieu, here are the steps and products I use. Disclaimer: This is not a “end-all-be-all product list”. Everyone’s skin is different and I was fortunate enough to be blessed with pretty healthy skin. You may have to do a bit of experimenting to find the right combination of products but it’s well worth it. Be consistent for at least 30 days to really see a difference.

1. Oil Cleanser. This is kind of the most important step. For everything else to work, it needs a clean foundation. I start with a water-based make up remover like Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser ($7) or Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover by Lancôme ($40). If you wear a lot of make up or eyeliner…get Bi-Facil. You need it in your life.

2. Water Based Foam Cleanser. So, remember what I said about figuring out what works for you? I don’t use a Foam Cleanser because those work best on Oily/Acne prone skin. My skin is normal so I’ve been using Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash ($7). Been using it for years, its mild but cleans extremely well!

3. Toner. Now, I’ve been using Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control® Triple-Action Toner ($7) for years also and it definitely strips away what the first two steps don't. My only complaint is that sometimes when my skin is already really clean it feels a bit harsh. I’m going to look for a gentler option for days when I don’t use as much makeup.

4. Exfoliant. OMG. I found Wash Off Rice Mask by SkinFood ($10) from Ulta and this stuff is amazing. Scrub your face gently and leave for 10 minutes. When you wash your face, it will literally feel like you sat your face in milk. If I feel like my skin is flaky or needs some extra attention I add a bit of a sugar scrub I purchased from Kissed By A Bee Organics. It removes all dead skin and leaves your skin effervescent af.

5. Problem Area Stuff. Now this is my own personal step which I feel is kind of critical to getting YOUR best face. Once your face is clean its the perfect time to treat your problem areas. My problem area is dark spots/under eye circles, so I purchased Kojie San Kojic Acid Soap. This product is STRONG and can actually lighten the skin, so I use it sparingly and ONLY on the areas I want to treat. (Works great on dark stretch marks as well.) Additionally, IF I have breakout, I use it on the breakout immediately and the blemish is typically gone by the next day.

6. Essence and/or Serum. FYI essence and serum are essentially the same thing. The big difference is the texture/potency of the product. Don’t feel like you have to do both…but you can totally do both. I use Pearlessence Perfecting Serum ($7) with Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid. Both active ingredients reduce/prevent fine lines and wrinkles and boosts collagen production. Visit your local Marshalls or TJ Maxx for a quality product that won’t break the budget. They’re normally $40!

**Note** The Essence and/or Serum you buy should also be purchased with your specific problem areas in mind.

7. Sheet Mask. The kind of mask you buy depends on what your skin needs. You only need to do this 1 to 2 times a week. I normally hit Ulta or Walgreens and just pick a few to try. Just remember, do NOT rinse after using a sheet mask. I probably ruined 6 before I realized that I was supposed to massage the residual moisturizer into my face vs rinsing. TonyMoly has an extensive line at Ulta that are between $3 and $6. I like the Avocado and Aloe masks. They’re both hydrating and refreshing!

8. Eye Cream. I bought this a while ago and didn’t use it until starting this regimen. Hard to say if the price tag was worth it but I use Rodan & Fields Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream ($62). Once this runs out I’ll likely use a less expensive version.

9. Moisturizer. I promise, I am not a paid influencer for Neutrogena but one of my personal objectives when undertaking this journey was to have a fresh face and not break the budget. Neutrogena just doesn’t get it wrong with skin care and their products are extremely affordable. I use the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer Pink Grapefruit ($10). It smells amazing and my skin is like butter at this point.

10. SPF. I’m going to be honest. I am just getting to the point of using SPF. I didn’t know until a few years ago that African Americans need to use SPF daily…and even still I wasn’t using it regularly. I have a few samples that I’m using but haven’t found one I want to put my stamp on. I’d say, find one that works for you and use that. And maybe send me a recommendation when you do! :)

That's it folks! Let me know if you have questions, recommendations or if you give it a try and want to share your results!

Hugs.