This step should look very familiar to you—moisturizing is an important part in almost any skincare routine, Korean or not. After cleansing your skin, especially as thoroughly as you will if you follow the Korean skincare routine, you’re going to need to replenish your skin’s moisture. Well-hydrated skin will stay healthy and youthful. As you age, your skin will need more and more moisture, so everyone’s routine will look a little bit different here.
For your daytime routine, be sure to use a light moisturizing lotion. If you have oily skin, you can opt for a gel formula. If you have really dry skin, you should start out with a light moisturizer first. See if your skin reacts well to just a lightweight lotion; don’t worry about adding in any additional moisture at first. However, if your skin isn’t quite as hydrated as you’d like, replace your light lotion with a heavier one.
It’s important to note that Korean brand lightweight moisturizers are not always called “lightweight moisturizers.” Korean products sometimes get very creative with their names, so be aware that “milk,” “emulsion,” and “lotion,” can all mean the same thing!
For your nighttime routine, you may choose to use anywhere from one to three moisturizers! It’s up to you, and you should base your routine off of your skin’s needs.
The first type of moisturizer you can use at night is the same emulsion or lightweight lotion you use during the day. After that, you can put on a heavier night cream. Once that absorbs, topping it all off with a sleeping pack will ensure your skin will be completely moisturized all throughout the night! Sleeping packs are essentially thick moisturizers chockfull of beneficial (usually anti-aging) ingredients. Some sleeping packs require you to rub them in while others instruct you to layer it on with a brush. You then leave the pack on all night and wash it off in the morning for super hydrated, radiant skin.
There are hundreds of sleeping packs on the market, all geared towards different needs.
Using three moisturizers at night may seem a bit excessive, but remember, Korean women are serious about their skincare! You can certainly get by with only using one moisturizer. If you choose to use only one, make it a heavy night cream, as they are better at keeping your skin hydrated while you sleep. You can also choose to add in a sleeping pack a few times a week instead of putting one on every night.
No matter how many moisturizers you put on, be sure to give them plenty of time to absorb before adding additional layers of moisture. If you’re going to use a sleeping pack, make sure it’s the last thing you put on!
