K-Beauty Dos and Don’ts for Beginners

K-Beauty beginner? Overwhelmed?

Feel as if you’re free-falling in a world of magical lotions, snail slime and kitty ear headbands?

You’re in the right place. Being a K-Beauty beginner is all fun and games until you’ve spent all your cash on all of the stuff, which doesn’t seem to working, and now you’re left wondering what all the fuss was about that ‘must have’ cream that came in a pink-princess-castle-shaped container. 

So here are some dos and don’ts, to try and ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes I, and many along with me, have made when first getting started in the wonderful world of Korean cosmetics.

The Dos

• Remember your skin type and personal skincare triggers when shopping. I can think of one specific time when I went and bought a ridiculously expensive luxury brand cream, not even considering that it was made for mature skin and very heavy. It broke me out and was far too much for normal/combo skin. Makes me want to cry thinking of the money wasted, but my mother was happy to accept it!

• Test products properly. I hold my hands up- I used to throw everything I bought on my face at once and hope for the best. There is no way to measure results, or indeed know what’s causing you problems, if you’re trying more than one new product at a time. If you have sensitive skin it’s worth it to patch test (test the product on a very small area of skin first to check for any adverse reaction). Everyone should be testing a product in isolation (i.e no other new changes to your routine) for at least one week, and then to properly see results, at least two-four weeks of testing depending on the product type. You’ll be happy when you know exactly what you’re getting from each product!

• HYDRATE! My skincare shelves are the ultimate hydration station, as they should be. Even if you have oily skin, your skin can still be dehydrated. I love using classic Korean toners and essences to boost my skins hydration before moving onto heavier products.

• Double cleanse. Always, particularly if you’re wearing sunscreen (which you most definitely should be!). I explain more about that in my routine post, because double cleansing is one of the most crucial aspects of a Korean style skincare routine.

• Wear sunscreen. Dear god, please wear sunscreen, particularly if you’re using acids. Broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen is the best anti-aging tool we have, and I find Asian sunscreens, particularly my favourite Japanese brand Biore, are so light and inoffensive, that you’d be mad not to wear them. Aside from just anti-aging, skin cancer is a real thing. My grandmother suffered terribly, and my dad is constantly fighting to keep it at bay, so I couldn’t be more of an advocate for protecting your entire body against the sun. And for the record, both of them had skin that tans well, showing that whilst darker skin is less susceptible to skin cancer, it is something everyone can get.

• Do what feels right (sounds like some cheesy song lyric). Korean skincare routines are not about a set of strict rules, but about tailoring a skincare routine to suit your skin’s needs and what works best.

Don’ts

• As mentioned above, don’t buy all the stuff! When you’re new to Korean cosmetics, you quickly realise the possibilities and products available are endless and exciting. But this can be a huge waste of money if you haven’t done your research, and don’t need everything you’re throwing in your cart. Believe me, I’ve been there, done that, got the lifelong visa that means I’m always tempted to do it again! But I’ve stopped, and you should stop before you start. Your wallet and your face will thank me.

• Don’t lose patience if you’re struggling to find something that works. Skin is so unique to each person, so it might take you a while and you might have to come off the beaten path, but you will find products that work for you! To save money, I suggest buying samples of products first so that you can test a little and see how it goes before committing to a full size purchase.

• Don’t assume the most expensive products are the best. It’s tempting to believe that Sulwhasoo, History of Whoo, or Amore Pacific produce the best of the best and they will do miracles for your skin. They certainly might, and I’m not trying to bash them. But for me, I’ve found that my $18 Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence has done more for me that any of the luxury products I’ve tried. Sometimes they might be the best, but I just want you to keep in mind that this isn’t a given!

• Don’t believe the myth and mysticism that the western media often present about Korean women. No, all Korean women don’t follow a mysterious 12 step routine, ‘they’ don’t all have magically pore-less skin, and while we’re on it, probably best not to talk about a diverse group of over 25 million individual and unique females as ‘they’. Obvious I would have thought?

• Don’t rely on reviews. Reviews are awesome, obviously I frequently write them, and they can be great sources of information to help you understand a product. But you’re going to be sorely disappointed if you expect any great results a reviewer gains to always happen for you too. This links back to the point that everyone’s skin is different, and a ‘must have’ product for a couple of bloggers might turn out to be your ‘must bin’ item.

• Finally, don’t get confused with all the different product names. Korean brands are notorious for creating new names for products, often incredibly long and complicated, and many of the terms are now pretty interchangeable. I briefly explained about the different steps in my recent routine post to try and help distinguish, but honestly sometimes, you just don’t know what you’re gonna get!

Finally, DO ENJOY YOUR ROUTINE. Korean skincare is fun, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve stuck with it. So enjoy, and just keep in mind some of these suggestions before you drop those dollars! 

Do you have anything to add to this list? I’d love to hear your thoughts!