I started this blog because I love good skincare, and I love good skincare because it can do so much more than just improve the appearance of skin.
Skin is a tricky thing. We all have it, and as long as it’s in one piece and able to keep our juices in and foreign objects out, it’s doing its job. But even if your skin is technically healthy, if something about it makes you unhappy, the consequences can go deep. For a lot of us, skin troubles affect self-confidence, and self-confidence affects everything else in life. It’s not fair, it’s not right, but it is what it is. But! Your skin doesn’t have to stay the way it is if you want it to change.
Pack your suitcases and bring an extra for the return trip, because you’re about to leave the familiar land of “cleanse-tone-moisturize.” Ahead lies a realm of essences, serums, ampoules, and emulsions, where lotions often feel like toners and toners often do the exact opposite of what you expected. It might sound overwhelming, but the B&A at the end of this post shows just how worth it the trip can be.
One of the key benefits of the Asian skincare lines I talk about on this blog (and a growing number of Western lines that I may or may not someday review as well) is the endless customizability they offer. Forget about single-step, all-in-one products. They might claim to do a lot of different things, but the majority do none of them well, because skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all. Have oily skin and fine lines? Good luck finding an anti-aging cream that won’t leave your face looking like an oil spill by noon. Dealing with dry but acne-prone skin? The products that provide enough moisture might also cause more breakouts, while typical acne treatments will probably leave your skin raw, parched, and flaky. And don’t get me started on the near-uselessness of SPF/moisturizer combos.
Instead of a limited selection of all-purpose solutions, Asian beauty brands offer a staggering variety of product formulations, from the thinnest toner to the heaviest cream. Individually, each formulation delivers actives that target specific skin concerns. Layered together, they can add up to a routine that treats multiple issues simultaneously or attacks a single problem from multiple angles for faster and more dramatic results. You can stick to a simple routine if you want to, or develop an elaborate regimen to bring out your best skin. It all depends on what you want and how much you’re willing to do.
One last thing before you start to figure out your own skincare routine. My current routine gets pretty long (partly because of all the products I’m always testing for review), but no matter what any shop or magazine tries to tell you, a million-step routine is not a necessity. The only thing that’s a necessity is whatever your skin needs at the time in order to achieve whatever results you want. And Asian skincare isn’t automatically better than Western skincare. Korean, Taiwanese, and Japanese brands just happen to offer a far better selection of options at the moment than Western brands. There’s no universal magic bullet that will transform your skin into Photoshop IRL natural perfection overnight.