First of all, let me explain what the Korean hair routine is. Well, similar to the 10 step skin care routine, Koreans take hair routines very seriously. This is why there are tons of products—from hair serums to essences to even sheet masks—for your hair. This approach actually makes it perfect for curly hair because let’s face it, when it comes to curly hair, it takes a lot of work to go from frizzy to beautifully defined curls.
Also, let me show you the kind of curls I have:

And now, let me break down my steps:

No poo

I don’t shampoo my hair. I’ve been a part of the “no poo” club for years now and can testify that it’s changed my hair for good. Some of you out there may be a bit disgusted reading this, but let me clarify: I use a 1:2 ratio of apple cider vinegar and water to cleanse my scalp and it has become so much healthier because of it.

Once a week, I combine half a cup of raw apple cider vinegar with a cup of water and pour this mixture into a spray bottle. While it’s dry, I drench my hair in this concoction (really focusing on massaging it into the scalp) and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before jumping in the shower to rinse it out.

Apple cider vinegar contains alpha hydroxy acids which help to get rid of all the excess buildup (it’s also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial so it helps to treat dandruff!) which is important for curly hair as we tend to use a lot more products than the average person. Besides helping to cleanse, it works to restore your scalp’s pH level, making your hair smoother, shinier and easier to style.

Hydrating conditioner

I follow up with one of my favorites, the Skinfood Argan Oil Silk Plus Conditioner. Anytime I see see a product that has argan oil in it I run to try it (you’re going to begin to see a theme here!) since it’s amazing for curly hair. This Skinfood conditioner is great because it’s a reconstructive hair conditioner infused with silk extract and vitamin E-rich Moroccan argan oil, which work in tandem to lock in moisture, promote hair growth, and work to mend split ends.
I use quite a bit of conditioner (5-6 pumps at least) and rake it through my hair with my fingers—this helps to detangle the hair and evenly distribute the product. I tend to focus the conditioner on the ends of my hair because using too much on my scalp area can weigh it down. While I’m finishing up in the shower, I tie my hair up in a bun and let the product sit in my hair like a mini-treatment.

Volumizing essence

For those with a similar curl pattern to mine (I hover around a 3A/B—you can find out your type here), then you know your hair can easily get weighed down the longer it gets, so I always opt for a volumizing spray to add a good boost. The Skinfood Apple Mango Volume Essence Mist is great for this, because it’s actually a serum that nourishes limp hair. It has apple and mango extracts, as well as hydrolyzed keratin, which all work to improve volume and give hair beautiful shine. Ever since I started using it, I’ve noticed such a difference in the overall look of my hair, AKA so much volume (plus, it smells amazing!). I’ve gotten so many compliments about my hair since using this. 
The first thing I do post-shower is spritz this mist in my hair, focusing mainly on massaging it into the scalp area. 

Lightweight leave-in

The Skinfood Avocado Leave-In Fluid is a great leave-in conditioner for days when my hair doesn’t need much hydration. It’s formulated with avocado and macadamia oil to nourish and moisturize dry, damaged hair, and I like that it’s lightweight and doesn’t weigh my curls down. 

I rake 3-4 pumps through my hair like I do with most of my products, and make sure to evenly distribute it. This even distribution is important because any sections without product will tend to frizz and ruin the curl definition. Tip: Divide your hair into sections to apply products so you don’t risk the chance of missing a spot.

For those with denser curly hair patterns, I’d go for something much richer since this can even be too light for my hair on days where my curls are dying for some intense moisture. On those thirsty days, I tend to use the Skinfood argan oil conditioner as my leave-in since it helps to nourish and lock in moisture.

No-crunch styler

For years, I shied away from hair gels because I didn’t want to re-live my not-so fabulous crunchy hair gel days of middle school. But those crunchy days are gone with the Shea Moisture Mongongo & Hemp Seed Oils High Porosity Moisture-Seal Styling Gel with Baobab Protein & Apple Cider Vinegar and the Devacurl Ultra Defining Gel. (If you have any K-beauty hair gel recommendations, please let me know in the comments!) These work great at defining my curls and creating a barrier from frizz and humidity.

I use a decent amount (about the size of two quarters) and smooth the gel over my hair instead of raking it. Avoid raking at this stage because you’ll separate the chunky curls into single strands, which will can make the hair look stringy and not as defined. After smoothing the gel onto my curls, I scrunch my hair multiple times (this helps to define the curls). I also tend to use a microfiber towel and scrunch it some more with that to soak up any excess gel.

Smoothing serum

To protect the hair that I put so much work into creating, I use the Skinfood Argan Oil Silk Hair Essence, which is a hair serum full of concentrated ingredients that feed the hair with nutrients. This one is an oil-based essence that gently coats damaged, frizzy hair to add softness and shine. I take one to two pumps of this and smooth it only my dry hair, focusing on the ends to lock in moisture and add nice shine.

Deep treatment:

I like to intensely moisturize my hair at least once a week, and when I do, I reach for the Skinfood Argan Oil Repair Plus Treatment Mask. It’s an ultra rich reconstructive mask packed with ceramides, argan, camellia oil, and silk powder to treat dry, brittle hair and leave it soft and frizz-free. 

The instructions say to leave it in for 5-10 minutes, but I’d recommend at least 30 minutes to an hour for parched hair since you won’t be able to see much of a difference in that short timeframe.

Drying my curls:

A lot of curly girls blow dry their hair with a diffuser for maximum volume, but after all that work I’m way too lazy to spend upwards to an hour blow drying my hair (my hair takes forever to dry). I literally just go to sleep post-styling. My hair doesn’t get completely destroyed because I use a silk pillowcase which helps to avoid creating frizz and damaging the curls.

This whole routine (minus the treatment) is what I do each time I wash my hair. Despite how daunting it may sound, it really only takes 5 to 10 minutes, max. It’s totally worth it to put in the effort to have beautiful shiny and defined hair!

A post shared by Alexis Diaz (@ohheyalexis_) on Oct 17, 2015 at 2:01pm PDT

P.S.: Shout out to one of The Klog’s readers, Karla, who inspired this foray into a Korean hair care routine for curly hair!

+ Do you love the Korean hair routine? Let us know your favorite products in the comments!

The post The Korean Hair Routine for Curly Girls appeared first on The Klog.

Bundling up for winter is hard enough, but keeping your skin moisturized is a whole other project. This is because your skin goes through a lot, forced to experience harsh winds and dry indoor heating and becoming dull as a result.

I, for one, used to struggle to keep my skin balanced and glowing during this season. I had tried everything from extra thick moisturizers to serums that claim to intensely hydrate, but nothing seemed to work.

Over time, I realized this was happening because I was trying to alleviate a skin issue without understanding why it was happening. The most important thing you can do to combat a skin issue is to understand why it occurs in the first place. So let’s start by going in-depth on why dry winter skin occurs. That way, you can choose the best course of action and have glowing skin all winter long.

How your skin works

To really understand how the winter weather affects your skin, let’s quickly review what your skin is made up of. Your skin is composed of several layers that range in depth and thickness. The lowest layer is comprised of subcutaneous fat, which helps insulate the body so that it can withstand varying temperatures. It also helps with energy storage.  

The next layer up, the dermis, is a thicker layer that contains sweat and sebaceous glands as well as hair follicles. This layer is where sebum is secreted into hair follicles to keep skin moist and protected.

The outermost layer of the skin is called the epidermis, and it’s a thinner layer that serves as the skin’s protective barrier. The epidermis is where most of the damage occurs to the skin, especially during the winter.

What cold weather does to your skin 

The outermost layer of your skin contains the moisture barrier, which protects the skin from bad bacteria, environmental stressors, transepidermal water loss, and other possible irritants. But the drastic temperature changes we tend to experience in the winter can throw off the balance of this moisture barrier. The frigid air and harsh winds, combined with dry indoor heating and lowered humidity, create a recipe for disaster for the moisture barrier.

Think of your moisture barrier as a house that is made up of brick and mortar: Your skin cells serve as the bricks, while lipids serve as the mortar that holds everything together. The lack of humidity in the air, along with the lowered temperatures, can damage the skin by causing that brick and mortar to loosen and essentially strip the skin of its protective barrier.

According to dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, this then results in “micro-cracks in the skin that show up as redness and irritation.” Plus, once it gets cooler, the water in your skin tends to evaporate quicker. As you can see, these processes make it easy to end up with dry, flaky skin.

How to combat winter skin

It’s best to reinforce your skin’s moisture barrier so it can better protect you from the harsh weather. Given that a healthy barrier is made up of a combination of lipids like cholesterol, free fatty acids, and ceramides, in order to protect it from winter’s unfortunate effects, you need to feed it what it craves — a lipid-rich moisturizer that keeps your skin hydrated all day long.

A great option is the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream. It’s specially formulated to strength the skin barrier with a combination of ceramides, shea butter, and soothing rice extract. It also contains papaya fruit extract for gentle exfoliation. 

But your facial skin isn’t the only one that gets affected during the winter: The skin on your body can become just as dry and flaky. To keep your body supple and smooth, make sure to choose a lipid-rich moisturizer like the Klairs Supple Preparation All-Over Lotion. It contains shea butter, ceramide MT, and jojoba seed oil to deeply nourish the skin and keep it hydrated without leaving behind a greasy residue.

How to deal with redness

On top of dryness, the rapidly changing temperatures can leave your skin red and inflamed, which is another classic sign of skin barrier damage. According to Mariwalla, your skin can turn red because prolonged exposure to cold temperatures “vasoconstrict our blood vessels so the skin also gets less micro circulation”. Once you return to the warm indoors, “all those vessels vasodilate, [making] you look red,” Mariwalla says.

The use of lipid-rich moisturizers will help keep your skin barrier intact and protect it from environmental damage, alleviating some of the redness as a result. You can also use products with calming ingredients to soothe that red, irritated skin.

The Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum can do just that while replenishing moisture. This serum is formulated with centella asiatica extract, known to increase skin’s healing process and relieve redness, which makes this serum perfect for those with highly sensitive and reactive skin. It also contains panthenol to smooth and antioxidant-rich green tea to protect the skin from environmental stressors. Using a soothing serum along with skin-fortifying moisturizers will definitely help keep winter redness in check.

On top of that, don’t forget to protect your face and cover it with a scarf when heading outdoors. We sometimes focus so much on bundling up our bodies that we forget to take care of our faces. 

Bottom Line:

Winter is a tough time for your skin, but if you understand why it affects your skin, you can be well prepared to combat winter’s adverse effects. To learn more about how you can keep your skin soothed and glowing throughout winter, check out our winter skin care hacks.

+How does winter affect your skin? Let us know in the comments below!

The post What The Winter Weather Actually Does To Your Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Whether you want treat dark circles and fine lines or simply just want to hydrate and de-puff, there’s an eye cream for you. Finding one that actually works, though, can be frustrating because it seems like the best ones always cost a ton of money.

But Korean beauty continues to prove that you can find high quality and affordable eye creams that will treat any concern. Here, we compiled the best eye creams by budget, so whether you can spend $20 or $60, there’s something for you.

If you’re looking for a more affordable $20-$30 option. . .

The Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Circle Eye Cream, Benton Fermentation Eye Cream and Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream all fit this price range to bring you high quality and affordable products that will help to smooth and hydrate your sensitive eye area. Don’t let their price fool you—these eye creams work just as well as high-end ones but for half the cost.

The Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Circle Eye Cream is a perfect example of a budget-friendly hard-working eye cream. This eye cream is packed with vitamin C and niacinamide that will work to reduce dark circles and pigmentation around the eye area. If you have under eyes that are prone pigment and dark bags, then this one is for you as it will tackle pigmentation AND nourish.

The Benton Fermentation Eye Cream is only $27 and contains anti-aging superstars like bifida ferment lysate and galactomyces ferment filtrate, ingredients known to help to repair and protect the skin from damage. This eye cream also contains beta glucans, aloe, and adenosine to soothe and plump skin while hyaluronic acid and panthenol hydrate the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it also comes in an easy-to-use hygienic tube making it easy-to-use!

Another affordable eye cream is the Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream, a Soko Glam exclusive! This eye cream is all about brightening and anti-aging; it contains licorice root water and extract, peptides, and antioxidants.

 If you’re looking to spend $35-$40 . . .

The Erborian Seve de Bamboo Matte and Swanicoco Fermentation Peptine Eye Care Cream prove that you can get results without breaking the bank.

If you’re suffering from tired eyes, then the Erborian Seve de Bamboo Matte is the perfect eye cream to perk up those puffy eyes. This refreshing eye cream comes in a cooling gel formula that helps to combat signs of fatigue, such as fine lines and dark circles. It does this thanks to bamboo sap and fiber which work together to intensely hydrate the skin, helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines while also brightening your under eye area for a hydrated, well-rested look. It has a smooth, matte finish that won’t leave your skin greasy, ideal for those looking to keep the shine at a minimum.

The Swanicoco Fermentation Peptine Eye Care Cream is a luxurious, highly-concentrated formula that will brighten tired eyes and combat fine lines and wrinkles by deeply moisturizing the skin. It contains eight natural proprietary peptides plus adenosine, which all work to smooth and firm the skin, leaving your eyes looking hydrated and youthful.

 If you want to treat yourself with $40-$60 . . .

If you’re looking to splurge on a more high-end eye cream, then the Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye and the Dr. Different VITALIFT-A Eye & Neck are some amazing options.

The Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye contains ginseng, centella asiatica and licorice extract to help brighten, smooth fine lines and wrinkles as well as deeply nourish the skin. This eye cream targets visible signs of fatigue, like dark under eye circles, leaving your delicate eye area more awake and refreshed.

If you want to try something a little different, the Enature Callus Phyto-Regen Eye Serum could be worth a try. This is actually an eye serum rather than an eye cream but it works the same way. This highly-concentrated serum is formulated with edelweiss flower extract to improve skin elasticity, niacinamide to brighten, plus hyaluronic acid and birch juice to hydrate the skin. Combined, these ingredients combat wrinkles by brightening and nourishing the skin.

The Dr. Different VITALIFT-A Eye & Neck pairs Korean innovation with retinal! Pairing the powerful anti-aging ingredient with niacinamide and adenosine, this cream works on both the eyes and neck to combat signs of aging, most notably, fine-lines and wrinkles.

Bottom Line

This guide helps to prove that you don’t need to spend crazy amounts of money to get eye creams that work. Korean beauty continues to show us that you can get high quality and affordable eye creams that will work for any of your eye concerns, at any budget.

+What are your favorite eye creams by budget? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Best Eye Cream for Your Budget appeared first on The Klog.

As we age, our lips go through an aggressive physiological change. We’re used to hearing about the skin on our face sagging and getting more wrinkled, but the lips, in particular, can age you drastically. The orbicularis oris is a set of muscles that surrounds the lips and circles around the mouth. This muscle gets affected significantly during aging as it starts to atrophy, leading to sagging, drooping and increased fine lines and wrinkles. As with the rest of the face, we see a loss of subcutaneous fat and collagen which causes once voluminous lips to draw inward and deflate.

Also, the lips don’t have an oil producing epidermal layer like that of the face so the only real moisture it can get is from a routine that hydrates them properly. To combat these signs of aging, you need to have a consistent routine that will target the various different layers of complexity that comes with age.

Here’s a sample routine to get you started:

Exfoliate

It’s time to start exfoliating! Exfoliation is natural process, and just as we need to do so for our face, the same goes for your lips. Especially in the winter! Once the colder weather hits, it’s a battle to avoid constant chapped lips. When the lips age, they tend to droop and move downward and studies suggest circulation can help to delay this trend and exfoliation is a great way to get the blood moving.

The Unpa Bubble Lip Scrub is perfect for this because it’s formulated with sclerotium gum and a blend of switch hazel, papaya, peach, and grapefruit extracts. This formulation helps to exfoliate the lips all while leaving behind a lasting moisture. It works well for travel too! Just pop it in your bag and you’re good to go. Remember, you don’t want to exfoliate too much as this can lead to irritation and ultimately, the dreaded chapped lips. We suggest doing so at least one to two times a week to keep them looking smooth and hydrated.

Treat

Masks are not just for your face anymore. Once in awhile, it’s worth it to give your lips an extra boost. The Unpa Bubi Bubi Lip Mask is a night mask that works to infuse your lips with a mix of four antioxidants. The addition of jojoba oil works wonders since it’s extremely moisturizing.

Pro-tip: Try to use your anti-aging serums on your lips as well, especially those that contain peptides to help to stimulate collagen production. Adding those peptides into your routine will help to combat the loss of elasticity that leads to sagging. Check out The Plant Base Time Stop Collagen Ampoule, which is a highly concentrated serum packed with peptides and mushroom extracts. These all work together to deeply nourish the skin, helping to smooth out fine lines as well as improve elasticity.

Moisturize + Protect

After all that exfoliation, you’ll want to moisturize to keep your lips smooth and protected from environmental and sun damage. If you want a little shine, go for the Em Cosmetics Morning Dew Crystal Lip Gloss in Quartz works like a hydrating gloss, packed with vitamin E. It also comes in chic packaging that you won’t mind pulling out to re-apply throughout the day.

If you prefer, you can combine moisture plus SPF protection in one. At The Klog, we’re always preaching about the benefits of sun protection and your lips are no exception. It’s important to use a lip balm or lip tint with SPF included so you can protect them from sun damage. Lips are often overlooked during your normal SPF application, but ignoring this vital step will leave them exposed, which helps them age faster.

If you’re looking for a typical lip balm, the Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30 will work wonderfully. It’s packed with a hydrating blend of vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba that help to strengthen and protect your lips from premature aging. The addition of SPF 30 will help to create a barrier against damaging UV rays that destroy necessary collagen.

Bottom line:

Your lips are just as important as the rest of your face and you should be taking care of them as such. This routine will help to keep them smooth, hydrated and protected, ensuring that they look as youthful as possible. Plus, following this routine has helped to make my favorite matte lipsticks apply easier and keep my lips hydrated all day long.

+What is your lip care routine? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The 3 Step Routine That Will Keep Lips Smooth and Wrinkle-Free appeared first on The Klog.

Have you heard of beta glucans? Unlike tea tree oil or hyaluronic acid, beta glucans are a lesser known skin care ingredient that is popping up in more and more skin care products. As someone who suffers from extremely sensitive and reactive skin, I’m always searching for skin care ingredients that can help to soothe and repair it and I’ve recently discovered that beta glucans are one of the cures.

Here, we break down what beta glucans are and why you need to add them to your skin care routine as soon as possible.

What are beta glucans?

Beta glucans are polysaccharide sugars found in cell walls that are derived from various mushrooms, plants, algaes, yeasts or oats. They’re known to have immune-enhancing benefits which help to protect the body from pathogens, AKA bacteria, thanks to their ability to increase macrophage activity. Macrophages are scavenger cells that essentially search for and destroy pathogens.  

In skin care, beta glucans work twofold to soothe and calm irritated skin and as an effective anti-ager to firm and plump fine lines and wrinkles. Similar to their immune enhancing capabilities, beta glucans use these macrophages to speed up wound healing. They lower infection rate and significantly soothe the skin by reducing inflammation. Oat-derived beta glucans combat skin damage thanks to their anti-irritant properties. They would work especially well for those with sensitive skin who are prone to red and reactive skin.

Beta glucans are also high in antioxidants to protect against oxidative stress that can prematurely age us. They do this by neutralizing free radicals and, as a result, preventing cellular damage. Antioxidants are integral to any routine since we don’t naturally produce them and because of the fact that we’re exposed to oxidative stress from pollution and sun exposure on an everyday basis. Applying beta glucans topically can prevent and alleviate any potential damage.

One study also found that beta glucans significantly reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to the ability of the oat-derived beta glucans to penetrate the epidermis and dermis to deeply moisturize the skin. The ability of beta glucans to effectively moisturize the skin can prevent the increased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by maintaining proper skin health and reducing transepidermal water loss.

Product Recommendations

The Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner is a great hydrating toner that contains beta glucans. This toner increases the absorption of your other products and soothe skin post-cleansing. It’s also formulated with aloe barbadensis leaf extract, licorice root, and centella asiatica to remove excess dirt and sebum while restoring your skin’s pH balance. If you suffer from dry skin, this toner will force-feed your skin nutrition, leaving it feeling firmer, plumper, and definitely more hydrated.

Another excellent toner that contains beta glucan is the SkinRX Lab MadeCera Cream Double Essence Toner. Known as the “strawberry milk toner” in Korea due its pink and creamy texture, this double essence toner is formulated with ceramides and milk protein to gently exfoliate and protect the skin barrier from harsh micro dust and UV rays, while skin soothing and anti-aging ingredients like madecassoside and beta glucan work together to hydrate, plump and calm irritated skin.

If you are looking for a moisturizer, the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream is a nutrition-dense moisturizer that contains yeast-derived beta glucan, jojoba oil, and ceramides to soothe and repair damaged skin. The beta glucans decrease inflammation and irritation while also providing intense moisture. This soothing cream is an excellent addition for anyone who suffers from reactive skin since it will calm it down while also leaving it hydrated.

For anti-aging benefits, The Plant Base Time Stop Collagen Ampoule is a good choice. It contains beta glucans to smooth and firm skin along with 76.52% mushroom extract to stimulate collagen production and a blend of panthenol, hyaluronic acid, and macadamia seed oil to deeply hydrate skin, helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This potent serum is a must-have for those looking to plump and hydrate skin as it does just that and more.

For the delicate eye area that is prone to fine lines and wrinkles, the Benton Fermentation Eye Cream would work well to plump the skin. It’s formulated with bifida ferment lysate and galactomyces ferment filtrate which work by repairing skin damage and restoring skin’s vitality by speeding up the its natural renewal process. Beta glucans are also included, along with adenosine to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, helping the eye area appear more youthful.

Bottom line

Beta glucans are effective ingredients that can address multiple concerns, from soothing sensitive skin to smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. If you suffer from constantly irritated skin and are looking for a product that does double duty to combat signs of aging and calm redness and irritation, it’s time to add some beta glucan-heavy products to your routine.

The post Ingredient Spotlight: How Beta Glucans Soothe and Firm Skin appeared first on The Klog.

You might be thinking…oils for acne-prone skin? This goes against everything you believe in! But oily and acne-prone skin types shouldn’t shy away from oils. They can be extremely effective at regulating sebum production and keeping acne at bay. It’s all about finding the right ones. We’ve compiled a list of the five best oils for acne-prone skin.

Why oil for acne-prone skin?

We’re not suggesting you take any oil and slather it on your face. Please don’t do that. There are very specific oils that can repair and protect skin from acne-causing bacteria. To do this, it’s best to look for those that are high in linoleic acid, AKA omega 6, an unsaturated fatty acid found within the skin’s surface lipids. This is because research has shown that those who suffer from acne usually also have lower levels of linoleic acid. When skin is low in this particular component, the sebum/oil in pores becomes thicker and more likely to clog pores, which you guessed it, can cause acne. To combat this, supplementing skin with oils that are higher in linoleic acid will help to balance sebum production as well as fight acne.

This doesn’t mean you have to cut off all oils with higher oleic acid entirely though. But you do want to look for those with a higher or more balanced ratio of linoleic to oleic acid. We’ve compiled a list of those with a more balanced ratio, as well as higher ratio of linoleic acid, for you here.

And if you’re thinking of trying an oil that isn’t on this list, you can easily Google the fatty acid composition of any oil and it can help you to see the different ratios. It’s also important to keep in mind the skin care benefits of each oil since some have more anti-aging properties rather than acne-fighting ones.

Camellia Seed Oil

Camellia seed oil actually has a higher oleic acid content but it also contains a good amount of linoleic, as well. Despite this, you might want to give this oil a chance since the molecular weight of it is similar to that of the skin, which means it absorbs easily without any greasy residue.

It’s packed with fatty acids, but more importantly, it’s packed with antioxidants that produce an anti-inflammatory effect. This means its perfect not only to hydrate acne-prone skin but also to soothe and calm any inflammation. Plus, it’s known to prevent premature aging, leaving your skin more elastic, brighter, and smoother.

The Erborian Dong Baek Camellia Essence actually contains 73 percent camellia seed oil, providing the skin with a high dose of antioxidants. These help to protect skin from environmental factors that can lead to premature aging. The high camellia seed content will also help to not only nourish the skin but calm any inflammation, soothing acne-prone skin and effectively fading redness. If you find the oil to be too heavy, it might be because you’re using too much. Start out slow and use less than you think you might need.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba Oil is another oil that is actually more rich in oleic than linoleic acid but is still balanced enough to use on acne-prone skin. This is because, much like camellia seed oil, jojoba’s molecular composition is close to that of sebum making it readily absorbed into the skin. This is why products like the Klavuu Pure Pearlsation Divine Pearl Cleansing Oil use it to gently cleanse the skin since jojoba oil helps to get rid of excess dirt and sebum. Jojoba oil also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which work to keep acne at bay while also soothing any existing spots.

If you’re not really thrilled by the idea of slathering oil directly onto your skin, you can work your way up to it by using jojoba oil-rich products like the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream. This calming cream contains not only jojoba oil but yeast-derived beta glucan and ceramides which all work together to strengthen the skin’s barrier to protect your skin from acne-causing bacteria.

Tamanu Oil

Tamanu oil is extracted from the seed of fruit that blooms from the tamanu tree which is indigenous to southeast Asia. This oil has a similar ratio of oleic and linoleic acid, making it a great balance for acne-prone skin. Along with having amazing skin regenerative properties, which can help to diminish acne scars and pigmentation, this powerful oil is also antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal. This combo is perfect for those who suffer from acne since it will help to not only treat and prevent acne, but also repair the after effect of it as well, AKA acne scars.

The Farsali Volcanic Elixir is a great option for those interesting in trying this oil as it contains 100 percent pure Polynesian tamanu oil, which means no extra fillers, fragrances, or preservatives that could irritate sensitive skin. This oil is thicker and takes longer to absorb than jojoba or camellia seed oil so it’s best to use only a few drops.

Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil is another excellent choice. This vitamin powerhouse is rich in linoleic acid and pro-vitamin A, which you can think of as a natural form of retinol since it’s effective at regenerating skin, getting rid of excess dead skin cells and sebum, as well as smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. At the same time, this oil is packed with antioxidants that protect skin from environmental stress that could lead to acne.

The RE:P Nutrinature Ultra Nourishing Cream contains this effective oil along with jojoba, olive, and grapeseed oils that work in tandem to brighten and renew the skin’s surface as well calm it by reducing inflammation and increasing the skin’s resiliency.

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil also has a higher percentage of linoleic acid making it excellent for those who suffer from acne. This oil is known for its ability to soothe and calm skin which is why Charlotte Cho included it in the formula for the Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick. It’s gentle enough for those who suffer from sensitive or reactive skin. Along with the rest of the oils on this list, the higher linoleic acid in evening primrose oil will help to regulate oil production which will reduce clogged pores and acne.

The Bottom Line

Despite what you may have heard, oils can be extremely beneficial for those who suffer from acne -prone skin. From regulating oil production to repairing acne scars and pigmentation, these oils can help you to achieve the even, acne-free skin you’re looking for.

+What are your favorite oils for acne? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The 5 Best Oils for Acne-Prone Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Are you confused by the crazy amount of options there are when it comes to cleansing? Gel, cream, foaming—what? The skin care world is a vast, all-consuming beast, and while it’s great to have options, sometimes having so many makes it hard to decide what products will work for your skin.

This is especially true when it comes to cleansers. They come in so many different formulations which are geared towards specific skin types. Keep reading to find out what exactly is the difference between foaming, gel, and cream cleansers.

Foaming Cleansers:

Foam cleansers are just that: cleansers that have some sort of foaming, sudsy quality to them. They’re usually suggested for oily and acne-prone skin types since they are meant to deep clean the skin by getting rid of excess oil and sebum, as well as work to uproot any debris stuck in your pores, helping to keep your skin clean and refreshed.

These cleansers often get a bad rep because of a well known ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate which tends to cause irritation, but if your skin works well with SLS, by all means keep using one with that ingredient. Finding the right cleanser is about figuring out what works for your skin, so instead of sticking to so-called skin care rules, go with how your skin feels.

On the other hand, if your skin is irritated and left feeling dry and tight by rougher surfactants like SLS, then it might just be in your best interest to try out a different cleanser or formula that isn’t so harsh on the skin. If you usually avoid foaming cleansers, there are other surfactants that can be used to bring about that foaming texture in a gentler manner and avoid stripping the skin. For example, the Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser replaces SLS with a hydrating amino acid rich sudsing agent that help to keep your skin balanced and moisturized after use.

There are a variety of different foam cleansers on the market and while these are usually toted as the perfect cleansers for oily and acne-prone skin, it might be worth it to give one a try as long as you choose a formula that will work for your skin.

Gel Cleansers:

Gel cleansers have a completely different texture from the light and airy one of a traditional foam cleanser. Instead, they have a thick gel consistency that provides a smaller amount of foam and a milder cleanse.

Although they provide a milder cleanser, don’t confuse that with an inefficient one! This just means they cleanse your skin without leaving it feeling stripped. Generally, these are recommended for those with combination or normal skin, but again, this is all relative dependent on how your skin reacts to different formulations.

Just like foam cleansers, gel cleansers come in all different shapes and formulas. The Acwell pH Balancing Bubble Free Cleansing Gel is a unique one in the arena of gel cleansers as this contains a completely bubble-free formula, AKA no sudsing.

Gel formulas revolutionize the idea that people tend to believe you need bubbles to cleanse your skin properly, but that’s not always the case. This cleanser uses centella asiatica, aloe leaf extract, along with witch hazel to hydrate, calm, and brighten skin with every wash. It also contains licorice to further brighten up dull skin. Much like Then I Met You’s Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel, this one is also low pH, which helps to balance the skin and leave it refreshed post-cleanse.

Cream/Milk Cleansers:

Cream and/or milk cleansers avoid the suds altogether and instead give you a creamy formula that mildly cleanses the skin. They’re meant for more sensitive, dry skin types and use natural oils and emulsifiers to cleanse the skin while helping to soothe any redness and inflammation. You’ll want to use these on dry skin, much like you would an oil cleanser, as this helps to increase its cleansing abilities, leaving you with fresh, hydrated skin.

Bottom line:

Trying to find the best cleanser can be a struggle given that there are so many options on the market but hopefully by understanding how each one works it will help you to narrow down your search! Don’t feel limited by one particular cleanser category either as the formula is also extremely important. At the end of the day, it’s all about ingredient lists and personal preference so you can choose what works for you.

The post The Difference Between Foaming, Gel, and Cream Cleansers appeared first on The Klog.

First, I’ve got to give you the standard warning. We do not advise popping your pimples as it can lead to unnecessary scarring. But the reality is that sometimes it happens. You either have a big event coming up or you can’t stand seeing whiteheads. Sometimes pimples can even pop on their own. Trust me, I’ve been there.

Because of this, you’ll want to know how to care of your pimple so you can keep things as clean and scar-free as possible. Here’s our trusty guide.

Cleanse

We don’t usually think of pimples this way, but a popped one is actually an open wound. This means you should disinfect it like you would a cut or a scrape. Using a soothing cleansing water or gentle foam will ensure you’re starting with a clean canvas.

The Solved Skincare Coconut Water Cleansing Foam is an excellent choice. This cleansing water whisks away impurities that could infect the newly popped pimple. Plus, it will also soothe the skin at the same time, thanks to the addition of coconut water. This is exactly what you want when you’re dealing with irritated skin.

Soothe

Usually, the first sign of irritation is redness and inflammation. Quickly calming inflamed skin will reduce your chances of scarring. To bring it down, you can ice it immediately after popping.

Another option is to “try using a warm compress on the pimple for about 30 seconds a few times a day,” says dermatologist Annie Chiu. This encourages a pimple to drain, which will get rid of it faster. Whichever method you choose, they’ll both dramatically reduce inflammation and prevent scarring.

Treat

A pimple’s healing process relies entirely on the after-care. Using products that boost cell regeneration reduces the potential for acne marks. Stay away from exfoliating ingredients; they can actually increase irritation.

A great choices is the Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum. It contains traditional Korean hanbang ingredients, like green tea and centella asiatica, to restore skin harmony. This high-quality serum will soothe and improve the skin, helping to stop the marks before they set. It’ll also get to work on brightening other pre-existing acne marks.

Another excellent option is the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Ampoule. This healing serum contains 65 percent snail slime extract, a powerful ingredient that speeds up the healing process and lightens any hyperpigmentation. It also contains EGF to further increase cell repair and at the same time smooth fine lines and wrinkles.

Moisturize

Another way to heal your skin is by making sure your moisture barrier is intact. When this is off balance, your skin takes longer to repair itself. It also becomes more prone to redness and irritation. You can avoid this by hydrating your skin, which will actually increase your skin’s resilience.

The Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Moisture Cream is a moisturizer that contains houttuynia cordata and madecassoside. These ingredients work together to soothe irritation and repair skin damage. It’s also formulated without artificial fragrances and colors, parabens, sulfates, animal products, alcohol, or mineral oils. This cream is perfect for reinforcing your skin barrier and targeting inflammation.

The Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is another option to hydrate acne-prone skin. It contains guaiazulene, a powerful skin-calming ingredient extracted from chamomile oil. This blue-hued ingredient works alongside centella to hydrate and relieve irritation.

Another tip is to use a soothing sheet mask meant for acne-prone skin. I have definitely popped a pimple or two before and I’ve learned from experience that sheet masks are a great way to calm and moisturize skin fast. They’re, of course, not going to make your bumps disappear in minutes, but it does calm everything down.

Protect

For some skin types, scarring is common, but you can reduce the chances of it by applying SPF. Remember: Sun exposure can actually darken acne scars! So, it’s imperative that you remember to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors. The Dr. Oracle A-Thera Sunblock SPF 50 is essential for acne-prone skin. It’s formulated with skin-soothing centella asiatica and hydrating bamboo water. The lightweight formula will provide the perfect amount of moisture so you can protect your skin without worrying about looking oily throughout the day.

Another way to protect your skin is by not touching it! If you continue to pick at your blemishes while they’re healing, you’ll just be signing yourself up for acne scars. The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patch protects your spots from bacteria but also from your wandering hands! Just apply it to your blemishes and it will help absorb any gunk overnight.

Bottom Line

The reality is that people will pop their pimples no matter how much advice they read telling them not to. If you do happen to indulge in this guilty pleasure, it’s important to have a post-care routine that will soothe and repair the skin so you can decrease the chances of scarring!

The post How to Prevent Scarring After You’ve Popped a Pimple appeared first on The Klog.

The path to smooth, glowing skin can often seem impossible when uneven skin tone, annoying blemishes, or fine lines and wrinkles can steer you away from your intended skin care goals. It’s important to realize that skin texture issues can occur for a number of reasons—from using products that aren’t suited for your skin type to ones that are simply not moisturizing enough.

In order to target skin texture you should obviously use products suited for your skin type, but also have a routine that effectively hydrates and exfoliates your skin on a regular basis.

Here’s a simple 10 step routine to get you started:

Oil Cleanser: Hanskin Cleansing Oil & Blackhead [PHA]

Oil cleansers are integral in smoothing skin texture—they help to dissolve excess sebum and impurities while efficiently removing makeup, keeping your skin clean and debris-free.

The Hanskin Cleansing Oil & Blackhead [PHA] is ideal for combating skin texture since it includes PHA’s, AKA polyhydroxy acids. It’s a gentle acid suitable for sensitive skin types that lightly exfoliates to help keep blackheads and dead skin cells at bay. It also contains tea tree leaf oil to help fight breakouts, while jojoba, olive and grapeseed oils, along with aloe vera extract, hydrate the skin.

Make sure to oil cleanse on a regular basis as this will help to keep your skin clean making it less prone to blemishes which will help to make your skin appear smoother and texture-free.

Water-Based Cleanser: Etude House SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser

It’s important to follow up your oil cleanser with a water-based cleanser so that you can make sure your skin is as clean (but still hydrated!) as possible. Since this routine is going to be heavily based on exfoliating the skin, it’s important to use a soothing cleanser that will not only help to cleanse but also calm the skin.

The Etude House SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser has a low pH of 6.5 and is formulated with 98.9% naturally-derived ingredients, making it the perfect candidate for the job. The formula also features panthenol and madecassoside (a form of centella asiatica) to condition and calm skin.

Toner: The Plant Base Pore N Turn-Over 28 ABA Toner

Toning the skin is important because it helps to swipe away any leftover impurities post-cleansing while also pH balancing the skin. This one contains AHAs and BHAs to gently remove dead skin cells and buildup, in addition to soothing herb extracts and pore-minimizing ingredients. The result is a smooth and even canvas that’s prepped and ready for the rest of your routine.

Essence: Dewytree Ultra Vitalizing Snail Essence Water

Essences are an important step in your routine because they provide a concentrated layer of hydration and help skin absorb more moisture in the steps that follow.

This essence goes a step further. It’s packed with nourishing ingredients like snail mucin, adenosine, and aloe leaf extract so it targets redness, irritation, wrinkles, and even acne. The fact that the formula also plumps and hydrates is just icing on the cake.

Exfoliator: Klairs Youthful Glow Sugar Mask + Benton PHA Peeling Gel

Chemical exfoliators may be all the rage right now, but don’t totally discount physical scrubs. This one is formulated with fine sugar granules and moisturizing ingredients like jojoba and raspberry seed oils so it’s not abrasive. It also contains brightening grapefruit extract and soothing calamine. After use, skin looks glowy and feels baby soft.

If your skin is feeling extra clogged and textured, use  the Benton PHA Peeling Gel at night and you’ll feel the difference of smoother, brighter skin. This powerful but gentle cream actually contains PHA’s to treat clogged pores, dissolve excess sebum and dead skin cells, and brighten dark spots all at the same time. It also contains nourishing sodium hyaluronic acid to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier.

Serum: Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum

While all the exfoliators mentioned above are on the gentle side, any form of exfoliation can cause skin sensitivities, so it’s great to follow up with a calming serum that replenishes any stripped moisture or natural oils.

The Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum contains nutrient-rich ingredients like celery, carrot root, and broccoli extract, in addition to calming ingredients like centella asiatica that sink right into skin and target dry patches and inflammation.

Eye Cream: Erborian Seve de Bamboo Eye Matte 

If you’re prone to getting texture in the eye area, you’ll want to choose a lightweight eye cream like the Erborian Seve de Bamboo Eye Matte. Its soothing gel formula will nourish the sensitive skin around your eyes without clogging pores. This eye cream is formulated with moisture-rich birch sap as well as bamboo fiber which will hydrate and brighten tired eyes.

Sheet Mask: Klavuu White Pearlsation Pearl Serum Mask

Sheet masks are definitely optional but you’ll want them in your routine if you’re going to be using chemical exfoliants on a regular basis since they help to deeply nourish and revitalize skin. It’s also good to remember that keeping your skin hydrated is another way to help to reduce the appearance of uneven skin texture.

To really brighten and hydrate, try using the Klavuu White Pearlsation Pearl Serum Mask. This sheet mask force feeds your skin barrier necessary nutrients. It helps to brighten the skin with niacinamide, which helps to reduce pore size and target pigmentation.

Moisturizer: Enature Squeeze Green Watery Gel Cream

If you’re experiencing uneven skin texture, another reason could be your moisturizer. I find this to be especially true because although I have dry skin, if I use too rich a moisturizer my skin tends to become clogged and rough. This can easily be remedied by using one that is moisturizing but lightweight.

The Enature Squeeze Green Watery Gel Cream is lightweight, yet because it’s infused with avocado oil capsules, your skin will be sufficiently moisturized.

SPF: Neogen Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen 

Lack of sun protection is also a huge reason you could be experiencing skin texture issues since extended exposure to UV rays can cause your skin to become rough over time, as well as increase the signs of aging. This can lead to increased fine lines, wrinkles, and potentially sun spots and other pigmentation.

Using SPF everyday is essential to protecting your skin from environmental stress as well as keeping it youthful longer. If you shy away from sunscreens because of their greasy texture or unfortunate white cast, try the Neogen Day-Light Protection Sunscreen. The refreshing gel texture absorbs quickly and hydrates your skin while peony and mint extract soothes it.

There are tons of sunscreen options on the market so there’s no excuse to skip the SPF!

Bottom line:

Uneven skin texture can be annoying and hard to deal with, but with the right routine you can work to get it under control. If there’s anything you can take away from this extensive routine, let it be that moisturizing, exfoliating and regular use of SPF are essential to any routine but they are especially important for maintaining smooth, texture-free skin.

+ What are your go-to products for a routine for smooth skin texture? Share your tips in the comments below!

The post The 10 Step Routine for Smoother Skin Texture appeared first on The Klog.

I always tend to break out around my nose in the same place over and over again and it seems like no matter what I do, they always come right back. 

To break down why you keep getting pimples in the same place, we reached out to Joshua Zeichner, dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Why Acne Reoccurs in the Same Place

First, we need to talk about the several different types of acne that exist since they play a large part in why acne reoccurs. There are three different categories: comedonal acne, inflammatory acne, and cysts and nodules.

Comedones are hair follicles that get clogged with trapped dirt, sebum, and debris, causing the pore to become infected. Inflammatory acne can be described as lesions that become inflamed and result in red and/or tender bumps that can be filled with pus and bacteria. Cystic acne consists of larger spots that are lodged deep within the skin and can take anywhere from weeks to months to go away and are usually painful to the touch.

Recurring acne can appear in all forms, but cystic acne is usually the main culprit. “Cysts are large pimples under the skin that are like balloons attached to your oil glands,” says Dr. Zeichner. “As they fill up with oil, they become inflamed. After the inflammation calms down, the balloon still remains and often becomes inflamed again in the future.” And this is why people tend to get pimples in the same spot over and over again.

RELATED: The Products That Finally Helped Me Get Rid of my Persistent Hormonal Acne

Trying to pick or squeeze these bumps can actually lead to more damage. “If there is damage or scarring to an oil gland or follicle, it may interfere with proper flow of oil out of the gland to the skin’s surface,” says Dr. Zeichner. “This blockage can lead to a recurring pimple.”

Another reason why you should avoid squeezing any kind of pimple is because when you squeeze your bumps, you may not be getting all of that blockage out. This leaves bacteria behind, which can cause that spot to become inflamed again. It can also spread bacteria to adjacent locations, making it seem like the same pimple has resurfaced when it’s actually a new one.

Treatments to Try

If you’re super prone to picking, try using the The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patch. These nearly invisible 100% hydrocolloid patches are like Band-Aids for your pimples. They help protect your spots from the dirt and bacteria from your hands and the environment while absorbing all the excess sebum and gunk throughout the day and night.  

You can also spot treat with The Plant Base AC Clear Magic Gel which is formulated with centella asiatica leaf extract to soothe inflammation and tea tree oil to kill acne-causing bacteria. It also contains licorice root extract to brighten and prevent any post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Cystic acne can be the hardest form to treat, but Dr. Zeichner suggests staying ahead of the game and treating it at the first sign of inflammation. “At the first symptom, apply a combination of benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and a cortisone cream,” he says. This combination is a multi-purpose attack against acne. “Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, salicylic acid exfoliates dead cells and dries the pimple out, and the hydrocortisone reduces inflammation,” he says.

The Dr. Oracle A-Thera Tea Tree Peeling Sticks are a really convenient and an easy-to-use option to spot treat those bumps as well. They’re essentially giant cotton swabs pre-soaked in a solution that contains AHAs and BHAs, effective chemical exfoliators that will slough off dead skin cells and help clear your pores.

While regular pimple patches, like those mentioned above, won’t have much of an effect on cystic acne, the Acropass Trouble Cure patches are studded with fine microneedles (made of crystallized serum) that can penetrate deep into an inflamed bump to help get to the root of the issue.

The post The Reason Why You Keep Getting Pimples in the Same Exact Spot appeared first on The Klog.