Korean skincare— why you need it!
Written by Yelena Mongbet
Talking about acne can be one of the most uncomfortable conversations. Trust me, I get it. I have suffered with acne from freshman year of high school well into my adult years, and the most frustrating part about it is that people don’t realize you can’t help it! Especially during those early teen years, because so much of it is hormonal. I vividly remember having conversations with people and watching their eyes wander across my face, analyzing each blemish with a look of pity. It used to make me so upset that I would say, “Start looking into my eyes, and stop looking at my acne.” I’d be met with fake sympathies like, “Oh no, I didn’t even notice your acne,” or “I was looking at you.” Only some people will actually understand this struggle and how isolating it feels to suffer from acne.
Types of Acne:
There are different types of acne ranging from hormonal acne, stress acne, fungal acne, cystic acne, and the list goes on. Now, while I will touch on some of the ways I have helped drastically clear my skin and transform it into what is popularly known as “glass skin,” I want to be sure to emphasize that I am not an expert and these are just some things that I have noticed or that have worked for me personally. On that note, I also want to express how I feel like I’ve used every skincare product under the sun (and not always the good ones). When I entered high school in 2016, the skincare products that were most popular were Proactiv, Differin Gel, Neutrogena, CeraVe, etc. I also got prescribed so many different medications from dermatologists, ranging from topicals like Epiduo Forte and Retin-A (which I quite like), to oral medication. All of which worked out fine in the beginning, but were never sustainable. I feel like discovering your skin type and what works for you can either be steady or constantly change. I also feel like it can be very discouraging because you can get your hopes up, only for something to ultimately not work.
How to Find Out What Works for You:
Unfortunately, there’s no way to figure this out without trial and error. I personally remember being given so many different creams and topicals that I was so eager to use in hopes they would clear my acne, but I didn’t adhere to the “pea-sized amount” rule. This resulted in me burning my face. I also remember using acidic products like lemon because I thought it would "eat" and dry out my acne. All it did was dry out my face. Finally, I remember using rough exfoliant scrubs on my face thinking it would scrub the acne away, but I was only further adding to the problem by destroying my skin barrier. All of this to say, it’s a journey, but I have found that less is more, and being gentle and patient with your skin is key. My cousin used to tell me, “If you’re constantly stressing out about your acne and how your face looks, why wouldn’t it get worse?” It’s true, but definitely a hard practice to accept. The first few years of college, my acne was up and down because of stress and diet. Some days I would have good skin, and others would be a full-blown cystic breakout. I think that most acne breakouts are hormonal, meaning it’s something a bit out of our control that causes them, but we can definitely contribute to lessening their impact on our skin. Prioritizing a healthy diet that focuses on gut health is extremely helpful when tackling hormonal acne.
Personal Discovery:
This past spring, I decided to give Korean skincare a try. I noticed that one of the primary focuses of Korean skincare is layering toners. I’ll admit, I never used toners prior to this year for the simple fact that I didn’t understand what they were or what they did. Flash forward to now, I can’t imagine my life without them. Toners are used for a variety of things like restoring balance in your skin, hydrating your skin, removing impurities, and allowing other products to seep in more seamlessly. The list truly goes on because there are a variety of toners that help with different things. As I got more into K-beauty, I absolutely loved how my skin felt. However, when I had a breakout a few months ago, I was confused. I thought that I was finally doing everything right: using natural products, drinking water, eating healthier. However, while those are all amazing practices, the key to great skincare is knowing the ingredients of the products you are purchasing. So many products that are widely distributed have harmful parabens and chemicals that lead to early signs of cancer. Even your favorites that have labels like “dermatologist-approved.” I discovered that the ingredients listed in some of the skincare products I had been using were linked to Malassezia, which are yeasts that form on an individual’s skin and cause fungal acne. It made a lot of sense when I couldn’t understand why the breakouts I was having were tiny bumps and not actual pimples. This is to say, you can have the most expensive skincare on the market, but if you really care about yourself, you will put in the work to see what ingredients are in the products that you are using. I can still enjoy Korean skincare; I just now put the ingredients in a website called Sezia (which I will link down below) to ensure it does not lead to fungal acne and that the ingredients are safe. You see, this is something I discovered. I learned something new about what my skin is prone to simply by trial and error. And while yes, it sucks to have a breakout, getting to know what works for you and fix mistakes accordingly, is worth it. Doing my skincare is personally my faborite part of the day. I implore everyone who cares about their body to really research the products you may be using and how likely it is that they are harmful. I can only imagine the thousands of dollars I had spent on dermatologist visits, random skincare, etc., to alleviate my acne, but in the long run, those products contributed to it. Korean skincare is affordable, safe, vegan, and normally cruelty-free. I encourage everyone to give it a try! I know the skincare journey can be discouraging and long, but the road to clear skin is 1000% worth it. I think that the journey also allows you to not let acne deteitrate your confidence. It is something that is completely normal and looks different for everyone. Trust me, I know its easier said than done, but I definitely reached a point where I wasn’t trying to hide because of my acne. I wore it and didnt allow it to control my life. Nobodys skin is the same, therefore not all results will be the same, and thats okay. Give yourself grace and have patience with yourself and your skin. It’ll all work out. Below, I have attached some of my absolute favorite products as well as my personal favorite website to look at the ingredients!
ANUA RICE ENZYME BRIGHTENING CLEANSING POWDER, Rice Mask
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum with Retinal +Ginseng Niacinamide Correction
Be Well,
Yelena Mongbet
