Hello, friends!

So, recently I have had a huge interest in Korean and Japanese skincare, since it is light years ahead of Western skincare! There skin always looks so perfect for a good reason~

I tried to to write this post in a simple way and break it down as much as I can since this skincare routine is quite extensive. Obviously, I am no skin care expert but I'm trying to learn more and more!

1. Remove Make-up

Well, I guess everyone would know it's important to remove your makeup. You don't want that on your skin all day, and definitely not when you sleep! When you're asleep, your skin repairs itself and you don't want it breathing through makeup that has most likely absorbed dirt throughout the day.

Benefits:

• It'll let your skin breathe and regenerate.
• Your make up absorbs a lot of pollution and dirt - which is what your skin is absorbing the longer it stays on your skin.
• It'll make your pillowcase dirty (or anything else you come in contact with) and it can cause bacteria to grow.

2. Cleansing

I'm sure everyone knows the importance of cleansing the skin as well - it's common in Korean skincare to "double-cleanse" (using oil to remove make up, and then further cleaning the skin with a cleanser) to make sure your skin is free from all makeup and residue. After all, if your skin isn't clean, how will it absorb the products you are about to put on it? It's like feeding a stomach that is already full - and your skin needs food!

Benefits:

• It removes dead skin cells, dirt, dust, makeup residue etc from the skin, allowing it to breathe freely and preventing the dirt from clogging your skin.
• It allows your skin to become a clean canvas for you to apply products onto

Remember to cleanse properly and gently, you don't want to irritate your skin and completely strip it off all it's natural oils!


3: Exfoliate

Exfoliation should be done sometimes, not frequently, as the purpose of exfoliation is to remove the dead skin cells from the surface and promotes blood circulation. 


Benefits:

• Promotes blood circulation.
• Removes dead skin cells, buffering your skin and making it smooth.
• Helps your products to penetrate the skin better.

4. Toning

Toners play an important role in a skin routine as they balance the pH of the skin, making it less prone to oiliness and infection, and prepares it for moisturizing.


Benefits:

• Helps remove the toxins in the skin, detoxifying it.
• It shrinks and tightens pores.
• Reduces acne
• Hydrates and nourishes

Remember to pick a good toner according to your skin tone, an alcohol based toner could dry out your skin!

5. Essence

This is where the skincare routine really get long and meticulous. Also known as lotions, essences help nourish the skin, with it's watery texture that the skin absorbs quickly.

Different essences have different benefits, which is what makes them so great as you can pick and choose according to what your skin needs.


6. Serums

Serums are similar to essences, but the watery content is next to none, allowing it to be a concentrate of active ingredients for your skin.

Benefits:

• Anti-aging effects
• Adds antioxidants to the skin
• Brightens skin

7. Mask

After putting on these products, a mask helps seal the nutrients into your skin.

Benefits: 

• Draws impurities from the skin
• Removes dead skin cells
• Tightens and tones the skin
• Moisturizes the skin
• Brightens the skin

8. Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is more sensitive and thinner, making it more prone to problems like dullness, fine lines, dark circles and puffiness. An eye cream can target these problems, especially since it's a cream designed specifically for that area.

Benefits: 

• Reduces puffiness
• Reduces dark circles
• Reduces fine lines (putting it on before concealer allows it to go more smoothly)

9. Moisturizer

Everyone knows about moisturizing, right? It keeps your skin hydrated, promotes elasticity, keeps your skin and much more! If you're cleaning and toning your skin, you need to bring back into the skin that was taken away when it was cleansed.

Benefits:

• Increases skin elasticity
• Keeps skin hydrated
• Keeps skin soft
• Anti-aging benefits

Make sure you use the right moisturizer for your skin type!

10. Night Cream

Night creams help to increase the anti-aging benefits of your skin care routine and adds that little bit extra to your routine. After all, at night your skin is regenerating and resting, so it's the perfect time to give it an extra boost.

Benefits:

• Deeply moisturizes
• Anti-aging effects
• Hydrates skin
• Repairs skin

Extras:

Mist

One thing I see commonly used in Korea, is a spray on moisturizing mist that you quickly spray on your face during the day if your skin needs a bit of a pick-me-up.

Suncare

Prevention is better than curing. Always remember to apply sunscreen, even if it feels like you don't need it! Sun rays can be damaging no matter what.

What do you think of the routine?

Has anyone tried Korea/Japanese skin care products or followed through some of the routine before? Any recommendations? How did it go? Let me know, I want to learn more!

Enjoy life!

Nina

Growing up in Australia, I was exposed to many different cultures and backgrounds, since Australia is a very multicultural country.

I'm half Russian, half Australian and for a large part of my life, I was listening to different music from all around the world because of my parents interest in it. At some point, I noticed how different this was to a lot of my classmates since they predominantly listen to American music. 

After I was introduced to the Internet, I could learn more about music and develop my own taste. For quite some time I was trying to adapt to everyone else's music taste and try to match that but I realized that was pointless and decided to do otherwise. 

Halfway through high school I got an interest in anime/manga, which grew to me loving Japanese fashion and culture. Then, my love for the Korean culture began randomly.

I remember watching Michelle Phan's tutorial for 'How to look like a KPOP Star' and heard Girl's Generation's The Boys for the first time. It sparked my interest and I downloaded it.

I'm not too sure what happened after that, but my love for KPOP grew a lot in the past year as well as for their culture, fashion and shows. The politeness, how well and simply they look after their appearance and catchy fun music is something that really suits me about Korea.

________________ ♥ ________________

Since it matched my personality, it kind of helped me to grow as a person in a way. I don't know really. All of my interests And experiences have helped me grow as a person but since I spend a lot of time listening to music and wearing clothes, it's taught me and inspired me a lot.

1. To look after my body and health

I went to Japan last year and it was incredible how young and fit everyone was o,o I saw a mother pushing a stroller and she looked like a supermodel. 

My family is quite healthy, we don't eat fast food or smoke and all that. (Of course, it's anyone's decision and I'm not saying that what I do or think is the only right thing or opinion).

It's no joke how well KPOP/JPOP singers look.  The diets of people in Asia are quite healthy to begin with and they're quite active. Of course, it's not healthy to aspire to look or act like someone else and to drastically change your diet. But, I still was inspired to do my best to improve myself, my lifestyle and work hard as well. I don't want to use the excuse that "I'm skinny therefore I can eat whatever I want" anymore. I want to do little things to make myself feel good on the outside and inside.

2. Working harder in school and appreciating little things

At first when I saw these idols, I thought that their life must be ideal because of their popularity and beauty. But, I soon realized that they give up a lot in return. They can't go out in public, or go to school as much, or sleep and eat well sometimes. Now, I appreciate all those things and realize how I shouldn't take school or things like sleep for granted anymore because I am living a normal life.

I can sleep in, I can study new things, I can go outside freely and safely, I can live a normal life. That's why, I wanted to start to get up earlier and make the most of out of each day.

3. How I dress

Fashion is interesting as it is so easy to express yourself through fashion. Harajuku in Japan really fascinate me as there were SO many different styles there and everyone was accepted. The elegant, reserved fashion style of most Koreans and Japanese is something that I really enjoy. It suits my personality and taste and it felt so nice to find a style I feel so comfortable in!

❤

How has your hobby or interests influenced you? Do you see yourself having the same interests in the future?

Enjoy life!

Nina

♥

Hello everyone!!

Who watched the 2013 MAMA Awards? I still think some of the 2011 MAMA Awards performances were the best, but nonetheless, the performances this year were great! EXO's was so eerie. But, anyway.

Girls' Generation's Tiffany looked very elegant at this year's MAMA awards wearing a Valentino: Camukimo Brocade Dress (£3045) but it seems as though this dress was worn a few times before in magazine shoots of none other than 2NE1's Dara and CL!

So, who do you think wore it better?


2NE1's Dara in ELLE Magazine:

2NE1 CL in ELLE:

SNSD Tiffany at the 2014 MAMA Awards:

Always, enjoy life!

Nina