Beauty Tips II

Aha finally only the main point of this post.
“The 5-Step Skin Care Routine: Japanese and Korean women’s biggest beauty secret to flawless skin"

Skincare
Makeup should be an enhancement, not a cover-up agent. Everything starts with good skin and a good skincare regimen is essential to maintaining or obtaining good skin. As clich? as it sounds, beauty comes from within. Just because you splurge hundreds of dollars on brand name skin products does not guarantee you will look flawless. People with great skin often attribute it to a healthy diet, exercise, plenty of water and 8 hours of beauty sleep.

For sensitive skin, try to avoid products with excessive fragrance, alcohol and chemical sunscreen, as they tend to have adverse effects on your skin. Many Japanese skincare products nowadays contain no added fragrance, color additives and chemical sunscreen, and are excellent to use because of the exceptional quality and quick penetration to the skin.

The 5-step regime
Your typical beauty routine should consistently involve cleansing, toning and moisturizing your face. This is known as the basic 3-step routine. However, we learned that Korean and Japanese women who have the most beautiful skin in the world, use a 5 step routine. A trip to any Korean or Japanese cosmetics store can help you gain valuable insights to their rituals and beauty secrets, but we can share those secrets with you right here:

The 5 step regime consists of double-cleansing —> massage/mask* —> toning —> essence —> moisturizer

*masks are recommended for 1 - 2 times a week only unless directed. Most essence type masks are recommended to be applied AFTER toning unless otherwise stated.

Double Cleansing - Makeup Remover + Foam Wash
You should always take off all your makeup before you go to sleep. Raccoon eyes aside, makeup will clog pores while you sleep and you will end up with breakouts the next day, not to mention the imprint on your pillow. This is a common problem with teens in North America, as famous model Iman once said, they learn how to use makeup before they learn about proper skincare. Hence the premature aging and skin problems.

If you wear makeup, you would be pleasantly surprised at the concept of Cleansing Oil. The name sounds heavy, but cleansing oils are perhaps one of the greatest inventions in the beauty industry (by the Japanese). Instead of the two-phase makeup removers we use in North America, the Japanese and Korean women use cleansing oil to remove makeup - including waterproof mascara. It is a washable oil that is emulsified with water to quickly remove all makeup, grease and dirt. It removes all traces of makeup gently yet effectively as well as other types of pore clogging dirt while maintaining skin's natural sebum levels. You apply the cleansing oil on your face without wetting your face first and the makeup dissolves quickly and effortlessly, and rinses off in seconds without any oily feeling.

After you remove your makeup with cleansing oil/cream, use a gentle cleanser to cleanse your face. This will remove any residue the cleansing oil leaves behind (if any). Double cleansing is crucial to maintaining great skin since many people tend to break out and they think they are doing everything right, but turns out that they were using cleansers that do not clean thoroughly.

Massage
Facial massages are a secret to glowing skin. You could even use a gentle scrub. Because of skin damage from UV rays, dehydration and aging, the skin loses its elasticity - just like a balloon that gradually loses air. Also, young people or those with oily skin secrete excessive sebum that clogs the pores, making the skin susceptible to acne and irritations.

When you massage your face with a massage pack/cream, it is an exercise for your skin. Working deeply within the skin, it cleanses the embedded particles, improves blood circulation and relieves stress. By working deep within the skin, facial massages can stimulate the flow of oxygen and nutrients to improve the elasticity of your skin. Because of the massage, the skin temperature rises, opening the pores and the dirt embedded within the skin will be removed.Your skin looks visibly fresher, glowing and younger after a massage.

Incorporating massages into your beauty regimen at least 2- 3times a week will give you visible results.

A word of caution for those with acne or oily skin, massaging will agitate the oil glands and increase oil secretion. So refrain from massaging.

Facial Mask
Everyone can benefit from using a facial mask once or twice a week and it is an economical alternative to having a facial at the salon. For dry skin, a moisture boost once a week is a great relief; for oilier skin, a purifying mask can unclog pores and remove embedded dirt. For normal skin, it is a maintenance measures to keep your skin in top shape.

Facial masks cleanse from deep within the skin, improve blood circulation and improve skin renewal. They remove deeply embedded dirt which can cause acne, and stimulate oxygen flow to improve the elasticity of your skin. The skin is fair, smooth and firmer after and has a healthy glow. Unlike facial massages, facial masks should be done only 1 to 2 times a week after cleansing and preferably at night-time. (Excessive stimulation of the skin can cause skin discoloration)

Facial masks have many different types. They come in sheets (cloth or silk), clay, gel and cream. Each type is specific to its own purpose: sheet types are usually treatment essence to be absorbed onto skin; clay type is usually for oilier skin types to draw out dirt and impurities; gel or cream masks are usually for drier or more mature skin types to infuse moisture. Depending on your need and skin conditions, you can choose different types for each time. For example, when you are feeling stressed out and your skin looks dry or dull, an essence type sheet mask will do the trick. While most facial masks are applied after cleansing before toning, some essence sheet masks (they are considered essence, and hence are applied after toning) are applied after toning. Refer to product instructions for correct usage sequence.

Toners
There are people who think toners are useless, but toners are actually essential products as they remove dead skin cells and residue from cleansers, replenish your skin with moisture after cleansing, and make the absorption of any subsequently applied products easier and faster.One common mistake when choosing a toner is that people with oily skin often choose a strong astringent to try to “dry” out their skin.

However, this is a serious mistake as abrasive toners containing high levels of alcohol* often overdry your skin, which in turn promotes the secretion of even more sebum (your skin’s natural reaction), which makes your skin even oilier. Look for toners and astringents that are made without ethyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. These ingredients are solvents that are extremely drying to the skin.

*Many skin whitening toners contain alcohol. This does not mean that they are bad or harsh on your skin, but most of the skin whitening ingredients need alcohol to penetrate into your skin. As long as it does not burn or sting your skin, alcohol is not always an enemy.

Essence
Essences or serums are very light liquid form treatments, usually concentrated, to correct skin problems. They penetrate deep into your skin whereas regular moisturizers only sit on top of skin. Essences provide much quicker results and visible differences than regular moisturizers.

Different essences serve different purposes. Applied after toners (or moisturizers, as some essences are to be used on top of moisturizers), essence and serums are quickly absorbed onto skin. For best results, wait 5 minutes after applying essences or serums before applying moisturizer to allow maximum absorption onto skin. Because of their concentrated affects, serums are generally more expensive.

Moisturizer
Whether you have oily skin or dry skin, you need to moisturize your face. If you have dehydrated combination/oily skin, choose an oil-free or water-based moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. If you have dry skin, after applying a light moisturizer, you can also apply a richer cream to seal in the moisture.

Depending on your skin type and needs, there are many moisturizers available. If you are in need of skin whitening, choose a moisturizer with skin whitening properties (preferably used in conjunction with the same line of whitening products). Acne-prone skin should find a sebum controlling moisturizer that is light-textured and non oily. Remember, oily skin can be dehydrated too, even though it looks shiny (oil). When your skin is dry, it secretes more sebum to help protect your skin, so even oily skin will benefit from using a water-based moisturizer.

If you have blemishes and your skin is dry, moisturize your skin in the morning and at night with products that contain vegetable oils which are high in essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids help to soften and hydrate the skin and they can also help soothe minor irritations. Vegetable oils that contain large amounts of essential fatty acids are: corn oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower oil, borage oil, blackcurrant seed oil and evening primrose oil. Mineral oil is derived from petroleum and does not contain anything that helps to nourish the skin.

Sources: (C)(R)Joseibi.com (http://www.joseibi.com/store/view_article.asp?idArticle=21)”
Credit: http://beauty-tricks.com/beautyblog/pg=57

Sunblock
UV A and UV B
There are two types of UV rays which we need to protect ourselves from. UV B has a shorter wave length and causes burning (generates melanin which causes you to get darker & freckles to pop up). UV A has a longer wave length and penetrates deep within the skin’s collagen and elastin layer and causes aging and fine lines.

SPF – sun protection factor against UV B

SPF 22 means you get to spend 22 times longer under the sun (than which you would without protection from UV B) before you start burning. Example: If you have fair skin and it takes you 20 minutes in the hot sun to get a sun burn. With SPF 22, you get to spend 440 minutes (22 x 20) in the sun before you start burning.

PA - protects against UV A
PA+ minimum UV A protection
PA++ average UV A protection
PA+++ very high UV A protection

*I once told Ms.Cheng that the higher spf the better. Sorry I need to recorrect something. It's true but it only apply to other countries like those four-seasoned countries that receive extreme sunshine. I guess I heard that Asia people like Malaysia are only suitable to apply maximum SPF 25 or below SPF 30 or somewhere around that. SPF 50 is not suitable for us because it will be too "heavy".

Using Lots Of Whitening Products
Women in Korea use whitening products to combat skin pigmentation problems due to hormone imbalance especially during pregnancy. Pigmentation is prone to appear below the eyes, on the upper cheeks. To avoid developing huge freckle like marks on your face during pregnancy, use lots of whitening products.

Detailed Makeup Steps
Korean women apply 17 – 18 products every morning before stepping out of the house! Are you a Korean woman? Do you do this? Anyway, here is the make-up routine of a typical Korean woman who wants to portray having a flawless complexion. There are eleven steps!

1.Preparation: Primer + make-up base (corrects your skin tone)
2.Foundation
3.Conceal imperfection (concealer)
4.Setting: Set and fix foundation with powder or pact (The pact is now the Korean woman’s favourite touch-up item)
5.Highlighting: Enhance vitality with make-up Brightener
6.Eye brow
7.Eye shadow
8.Eyeliner
9.Mascara
10.Lip
11.Blusher

Facts
1. The latest foundation or powder are formulated with "light reflecting properties" or "light infusion technology" or "micro mirror function" so it'll reflect light from any angle and correct uneven skin tone resulting a illuminating glowing skin. If u don't know how to choose your suitable color foundation or powder, this function will help u adjust according to your most natural skin color.

2. Nanotechnology is a modern technology to create the particles as micro as nano size so the skincare products can penetrate deeply into the skin.

3. Blemish Balm cream or BB cream is so popular among Korea and Japan nowadays. Initially it's created originally from Germany for dermalogist usage to treat scars or plastic surgery, etc. Then now it's used in cosmetic for multi-functions as foundation, primer base, hydrating, correcting uneven tone, conceal imperfections, whitening, anti-oxidant, control sebum, etc, like sometimes 10 in 1, a make-up product that doesn't cause damage to the skin like usual make up products but more like a skin care product.

4. Have u ever wonder how to use eyeshadows? U see a set of color in compact, single color in a cube or various colors in a big pallete, but what the difference? If you're expert like any make up artist on how to choose and blend the colors then u might buy a big pallete of eyeshadow or single eyeshadow cube so u can freely mix all the colors together. However, if you're a beginner or a color criminal have no good idea how to mix the right colors together, just buy the set of colors in compact since it already arranged to guide u and the colors are ensured to be compatible with each other. *The lightest color is to highlight and paint the larger part of the eyelid while the deeper the color, it used to paint in narrower part and nearer to the eye lines.

5. Do u know the different types of mascara brush will create different kinds of effect? Lush, long or volume.

6. The best way to apply skin care products and foundation/powder on face is by "pap pap pap" on face then only spread it evenly with fingers.

Hmm there's lot to learn and what I post here is only some of the basic. O_o too much steps. Hmm to have a healthy skin, the most important are hygiene and balanced diet and healthy lifestyle like drink lots of water, eat vege and fruits, exercise, stress-free, avoid fried and spicy food, bla bla. Be healthy from inside out then your skin will become beautiful. When skin become beautiful originally, we need no use so much make up products to cover up our imperfections. Right? oho

Ladies First/Queen, TVBS 女人我最大 Taiwan show is the beauty maker paradise that covers trending topics from cosmetics, fashions to healthy lifestyles.