Real Barrier’s Extreme Collection is here to save your skin this fall. 

As temperatures drop, our skin tends to get drier and flakier, leaving it vulnerable. Enter Real Barrier, a Korean skincare brand designed to protect and strengthen your skin’s defenses. Infused with powerful ingredients like patented Omega-ceramides to lock in moisture, hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, and panthenol to soothe and repair, Real Barrier ensures your skin stays resilient and nourished, no matter the season. Whether you’re facing chilly winds or dry indoor heat, this barrier-focused skincare line helps restore balance, keeping your complexion smooth, supple, and well-protected. 

Toner pads are having their moment! A 0.02% blend of LHAs and PHAs, combined with the netted pads, allows for gentle exfoliation while ingredients like panthenol deliver hydration. The stretchy pads are ideal both for one-step skin preparation and masking.

Shop Extreme Panthenol Toner Pads

This essence-like toner is super easy to layer on top of itself, making it perfect for skin flooding, aka this fall’s latest skincare trend.

Shop Extreme Essence Toner

This rich cream with a melting balm texture is perfect for those requiring more than just basic hydration, and works to repair a compromised skin barrier to reveal healthy, hydrated skin. 

Shop Extreme Cream Original

A lighter variation of the cream above, this delivers barrier repair without feeling too heavy, making it perfect for those with oilier skin types.

Shop Extreme Cream Light

This cream sheet mask is the perfect, quick solution to bringing hydration back into the skin. With madecassocide, too, it will work to reduce signs of redness and irritation!

Shop Extreme Cream Mask

The post Say Hello to Next Level Barrier Repair appeared first on The Klog.

With changing seasons comes changing skin care routines – it’s a pretty universal concept, right? Well, back-pedal a few years, and this oily-skinned gal couldn’t be budged. I refused to increase my hydration or cut back on exfoliation, and in retrospect, it’s no wonder my skin looked as irritated and red as it did my first few winters in New York City. 

That’s right, even those with oily skin need to be making skin care swaps to keep their skin in tip-top condition when temperatures drop. Here are the types of products I’m rotating into my routine and why they can work for you too.

A Nourishing Oil Cleanser

As someone who is incredibly acne-prone, I was surprised and thrilled to learn that using an oil cleanser helped clear my skin. Plus, my skin feels less tight and overall more hydrated. During the colder months I especially like the Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm. It’s packed with sea buckthorn oil and melts off makeup, SPF and excess sebum without stripping the skin. 

An Exfoliator with PHAs

Exfoliating pores with AHAs and BHAs is important to do year round, but it can be easier to go overboard and as a result dry out your skin during the harsh winter. That’s why it’s a great time to use polyhydroxy acids or PHAs, either exclusively or to switch up your usual exfoliating routine. Since they have a larger molecular weight, they don’t penetrate the skin as deeply and are less likely to cause irritation.

The ingredient is featured in the gentle Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30Days Miracle Toner, as well as naturally-derived tea tree, which tackles inflammation and acne. It’s truly a best of both worlds situation.

A Hydrating Toner

Amongst the oily and acne-prone community, acid and astringent toners tend to be the formulas of choice, but in the winter, I like to cut back on the exfoliation and instead prep my skin with a silky, thin, hydrating toner.

The Rovectin Lotus Water Calming Toner specifically didn’t make me break out it any way, which is usually my largest concern with adding more hydration to my routine. My favorite thing about this toner is that it’s packed with hyaluronic acid, which helps to hydrate the skin and fortify the barrier.

A Serum That Contains Niacinamide

Niacinamide is known for regulating oil production, brightening, and helping to reduce pore size, but without drying you out. Because it can regulate oil without stripping the skin, it’s a great addition for anyone who’s acne-prone.

RELATED: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Niacinamide

The ingredient is in the Manyo Factory Galac Niacin 2.0 Essence, which also contains galactomyces fermented extract.

A Lightweight Overnight Mask

Not all sleeping masks are heavy and pore-clogging. One of my favorites is the COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask. It uses lightweight sunflower seed oil to deliver deep hydration, niacinamide to continue to brighten and help with oil control, and 65% rice extract, which helps to hydrate and brighten even further. 

A Moisturizer With Ceramides

Ceramides not only deliver deep hydration to the skin, but help to reinforce your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Having a strong moisture barrier is key because it helps to ensure you don’t lose moisture throughout the day.

The Then I Met You Calming Tide Gel Cream contains ceramides, is antioxidant and peptide packed, and contains niacinamide, which by now, you know is a powerhouse ingredient for helping control oil and to give a brighter complexion.

+How do you deal with oily skin during the winter? Let us know!

The post The Skin Care Products to Rotate Into Your Winter Routine If You Have Oily Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Summer is in full swing, and with high temperatures (plus high humidity depending on where you are) means it’s most definitely shorts, tank, and swimsuit season. If you’re anything like me, which is incredibly fair-skinned, summer can truly be an awkward season.

The concept of “laying out” in the sun is simply beyond anything I would ever imagine, as I’d be severely burned and would consequently be in pain for days to follow (and will definitely see the damage in years to come). Skin cancer is a concern to begin with, and it’s actually prevalent in my family as well, making it double the threat.

So what do I do to feel confident and achieve that summer glow without getting the sun? I’ve got some sunless glow tips below. 

First thing’s first, sun protection is an absolute must. Even if it seems counterintuitive to you, just trust. The more you protect your skin from the sun and its dangers ahead of time, the more your skin will thank you and will appear calmer naturally.

Many facial SPFs contain added hydrators, and options most similar to these will yield the best results in terms of healthy looking skin. I personally love Silk Hydration from Hawaiian Tropic for this! Neogen’s new Day-Light Protection Airy Sunscreen contains over 20 kinds of plant extract, including aloe and avocado, for non-pore clogging protection and hydration!

Exfoliating is also a key step when it comes to making your skin appear more healthy, and as such, more glowy.

Though physical exfoliators can often irritate sensitive facial skin, scrubs and textured mitts are far safer to use on your larger body, like arms, legs, and torso. Masks, such as the Skinfood Black Sugar Wash-Off Face Mask, are great for both face and body and will leave you with renewed, rejuvenated skin in one use. 

Of course, extreme exfoliation would mean nothing if we weren’t giving back to our skin what we’re taking away!

Always follow up exfoliation with deep hydrating and calming ingredients. Butters like the one from Hanahana Beauty, or even the classic Palmer’s Shea Butter, will leave your skin supple, repaired, and incredibly hydrated.

Sometimes I like to take it a step further and seal my hydration in with a body oil. Right now, I’m indulging in Solved Skincare’s 100% Organic Golden Jojoba Oil which can be used on your skin, hair and nails!

And I get it, we don’t always have time for multi-step body care routines. In a pinch, Flamingo’s body lotion line is fantastic, because it contains exfoliating properties such as papaya enzyme, while simultaneously delivering ingredients like hyaluronic acid. It also comes in a thick buttery lotion or a spray, so you can hydrate on the go.

Last but not least, at-home self-tanner has been a godsend when it comes to perfecting and finalizing the glowy look. But let me make one thing clear: not all self-tanner is made the same! I’ve had many trials and tribulations with drugstore tanning remedies and high-end ones alike, and nothing worked for me, from the popular Jergens to St. Tropez. 

As such a pale gal with incredibly cool undertones, standard self-tanners naturally appeared far too orange on me with little ability to correct itself. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon Isle of Paradise’s “Light” line that I finally found my match.

One application helps me to achieve the summer-long tan I got as a kid that I simply can’t anymore. It also contains hydrators like aloe and avocado oil to name a few, which further enhance your skin’s natural texture while nourishing deep within the dermis.

And how exactly do I make all of this work? 

I used to think I was a low maintenance gal, but I’ll be the first to admit this takes some upkeep. Once you’re in the flow, though, it’s incredibly easy. 

Firstly, incorporate SPF as much as possible into your mornings, simply to maintain your skin’s overall health and to promote a healthy glow from within. 

24 hours ahead of when you want to tan, be sure to exfoliate like it’s nobody’s business. I typically shower at night, so I’ll go in with a scrubbing mitt and a rice based exfoliant paste across my whole body. That night, hydration is of course important, so Hanahana’s Shea Butter comes next, followed by a finisher of the Solved Skincare’s 100% Organic Golden Jojoba Oil.

In the morning to keep the hydration up, I re-up with my body oil and lightly dry brush any areas that appear flakey throughout the day while reapplying a thicker lotion or butter. 

The evening of using the tan, I shower as per usual but without any of the harsh exfoliants like I mentioned above. Keep it simple in the shower and out, following up with your go-to lotion (again, mine being the Shea Butter). Do your best to let your lotion dry down, and then apply the tanner overtop. I truly do suggest purchasing a mit, as it’s kept me streak free, and to rub in more than you’d anticipate. The more you rub, the more natural the tan will look. Again, do your best to let this dry down before getting clothed as it will result in the most even tan possible.

In the AM, you will wake up with exfoliated, hydrated, and tanned skin, without sun exposure. 

Maintain hydration morning and night for the best results, and repeat the tanning process one to two times a week, depending on your results. 

Happy summer!

How do you achieve your sunless glow in the summer time? Let us know in the comments!

The post How to Achieve a Summer Glow— Without the Sun! appeared first on The Klog.

Skin care TikTok is a magical place. Every single tip and trick I see draws me in- practically guaranteeing that I’ll eventually try each and every hack I scroll past.

That’s why when I saw girls putting thick layers of Vaseline and Aquaphor on their faces each night and claiming it was the reason their skin looked like that of a newborn’s, I had to try. The practice became known as slugging on skin care TikTok because the vast layers of Vaseline resemble the slimy substance that keeps snails hydrated and moist 24/7. 

Seeing that I had a positive experience with putting actual K-Beauty staple ingredient snail mucin on my face, I figured taking a queue from skin care TikTok and snails and simply staying super moisturized nightly would be worth the try too. Let’s see how taking skin care tips from an app panned out. 

What is Slugging? 

Simply put, slugging is actually the practice of putting Aquaphor or Vaseline over the top of all other skincare products (and yeah, that includes your moisturizer and face oil). The thought process is also simple, in that the thick occlusive jelly will act as a seal to lock in all the moisture beneath it and make it harder for your skin to actively lose moisture.

Why Did I Try It? 

As an oily skinned gal, moisture loss isn’t something I’ve ever really been concerned about. But when I see a skin care TikTok trend going viral, I absolutely have to try it. There were so many comments under the videos asking if it was okay to use if they were acne-prone, sensitive, or just oily, but most of the skin care lovers trying it were older and had drier skin profiles overall. 

So, even though I was terrified it would break me out, curiosity got the best of me, and I simply had to try and get to the bottom of this “hack.”

Daily Diary 

Night 1: I’m not going to lie, it felt like an actual sin as I prepared myself to slather Aquaphor on my face. Once I got over the fear / anxiety that I would wake up to a horrible breakout, I applied a fair amount of Aquaphor over the top of my facial oil (about a dime-size). Frankly it felt very nice, but I kept waiting for it to sink in before bed and it became clear that was not going to happen anytime soon, so I hit the hay. 

Morning 1: Before I even looked in the mirror, I thought my skin felt incredibly soft overall. Approaching the mirror, I noticed I was extra shiny (see: oily) around the crevice of my nose, but that was truly it. Everywhere else, it seemed to balance my skin. I proceeded with my usual morning routine, starting with an oil cleanse and then a gel cleanse – it was during my oil cleanse that I really got to feel how soft my skin felt. The biggest win, in my book, was the fact that I woke up with no new pimples!

Night 2: Although I was super happy with the results from only one night, I was determined to wake up with zero shiny spots. I still used my facial cream and my facial oil, but this time I waited a good 10 minutes to truly let those soak in a little bit. After 10 minutes was up, I applied the same amount as I did the night before and went to bed. 

Morning 2: Waking up, I immediately swiped the sides of my nose eagerly waiting to see if they were greasy. Unfortunately they were still a little greasy, but the rest of my face was balanced as it was on the first morning. My experience with a greasy nose is by no means the universal experience, but my nose is where I’ve always produced a large amount of oil (see: the blackheads I’ve had since I was 11), so expect to be a little slick where and if you can get really oily. 

Night 3: Although this slugging practice hasn’t actually rendered any new pimples at this point, it was still one of my top concerns, especially with how slick my nose was getting. I decided to go in with about half the amount of Aquaphor I was previously using. To my surprise, I didn’t have any issues with spreadability and was still able to cover my entire face so I went to bed to see what would happen in the AM. 

Morning 3: I think I finally nailed the secret, at least to make slugging work for me, Using half the amount of Aquaphor honestly yielded great results. My skin was nice and balanced as it had been each morning before, but finally, my nose and the surrounding area was not nearly as slick and slippery as it was the previous mornings. 

Night 4: Well throughout the day, a brand new pimple popped up to grace my face. I personally don’t attribute this to using the slugging method, specifically because it popped up during the day and I don’t slug during the day. That said, I was interested to see how the pimple would

react to being slugged overnight – would it make it worse? That was my instinct and my biggest fear so I was hesitant to keep going with the project, but nonetheless I slathered on some Aquaphor. 

Morning 4: Okay much to my surprise (and absolute delight), my pimple actually shrunk. I was expecting it to double in size because there was no pimple treatment underneath and instead it was just hydration, hydration, hydration. My pimple was also noticeably less red than it was initially. This experience with slugging on top of my pimples sort of sealed the deal for my love of slugging. 

Night 5: On my final night of the experiment, I wanted to go back to the original amount of Aquaphor I was using to see if I would wake up greasy again. 

Morning 5: Much to my surprise, even though I would say I woke up a little greasy, it was in no way as greasy as it was on morning one. Without a doubt, my skin has become accustomed to using such a thick occlusive and it really loves it. 

Overall Thoughts Like I said, when I first saw slugging, I thought it was for dry skin and dry skin only. To my surprise, slugging truly works on any and all skin types, even oily and acne-prone skin. Overall, my skin’s oil production has balanced out. Each morning, my skin looks glowier and glowier, but never oily!

The post We Tried “Slugging,” Skin Care TikTok’s Hottest Trend, And It Gave Us The Glow We’ve Been Searching For appeared first on The Klog.

Personalized self-care rituals, acts that cater to our physical and emotional needs, continue to enjoy major adopting. Sales in skincare, loungewear, and homeware have all seen an increase, which makes sense considering we want to make our time indoors as comfortable as possible. 

My personal self-care ritual of choice is a weekly spa day, topped off with a soothing and hydrating sheet mask to help my skin stay bouncy and to help me feel prepared for the coming week. Much to my boyfriend’s dismay, the sheet masks lining my beauty drawers didn’t quite work around his beard. Consequently, he felt left out of this at-home spa exercise. That is, until I found sheet masks made specifically for his bearded complexion. 

Enter HeTime, a line of sheet masks that account for facial hair such as moustaches and beards, ultimately making it easier for more people to dawn a sheet mask.

More than just making masculine people feel included in the skincare dialogue, these sheet masks are high quality and deliver noticeable results. The sheets themselves are made of an incredibly durable but soft blend of biodegradable cellulose fiber, so you don’t have to feel bad about incorporating more single use products into your life. 

“I’m a fan [of HeTime] because I feel included in skin care – not that skincare is gendered, but having to avoid a product genre completely because it didn’t work with my beard made me feel like skincare might not be made for me,” says my boyfriend. “It just makes sheet masking way less of a hassle and because of that, I feel like I do it more often.” 

As it stands, there are two different formulations available targeting different concerns. There is the Revitalizing & Hydrating Mask, which uses moringa leaf extract (rich in Vitamin A) to increase collagen production, baobab tree oil to lock moisture deep within the skin and rebuild broken cells, and aloe extract to soothe and health damaged skin gently. A little charcoal powder to help bring forth blemishes and pull toxins from the skin and cedarwood oil to help reduce the look of redness and acne, lets this mask reveal healthy skin in no time, for nearly all types of skin concerns. For those who don’t require a specialized sheet mask design, the Benton Aloe Soothing Mask Pack and the Mediheal W.H.P Brightening & Hydrating Charcoal Sheet Mask pack the same benefits!

The Anti-aging & Hydrating mask is meant to be so intensely hydrating that in time, you’ll notice reduced wrinkles and fine lines. This one in particular is my boyfriend’s favorite, because even he can notice how hydrated his skin looks and feels, and he loves how refreshing the scent is. Coconut water is the main star of the show in this mask, as it’s known to be deeply hydrating and chock full of antioxidants to nourish the skin completely and help increase collagen production from the inside out. Powerful green tea extract helps to deliver further antioxidants and help protect against environmental aggressors such as sun or pollution. Lastly, frankincense oil (which has been hailed for its anti-aging properties for thousands of years) helps to balance oil production and tighten drooping skin.

Masking, and skin care as a whole, should be accessible to all people, as not only does it benefit the complexion, but it can be used as an act that helps users “get-away” from stressful days. There’s something about a face mask after a long day of WFH that truly just helps all remnants of the day slip from the mind! 

For further skincare inclusion, I recommend checking out Soko Glam’s curated  Men’s Daily Hydration Set and investing in wash-off masks, as they can be applied around facial hair! Hanskin’s Vitamin C Glow Mask, with kaolin and bentonite clay, and rice bran water rich Skinfood Rice Wash-Off Face Mask, are great investments!

The post Sheet Masking With a Beard? No Problem appeared first on The Klog.

This last year has been one consisting of sitting inside- in massive proportions. A vast majority of people have earnestly never spent this much time at home until now, and as such our routines have changed. Loungewear sales spiked, shoe sales slowed, Zoom memberships skyrocketed, and many have confessed to leaving one crucial step out of their skin care routine, naively thinking they don’t need it.

That’s right, I’m talking about sunscreen. Whether you’re a fan or not, sunscreen will always be a crucial step in the routine, no matter how much time you spend directly in the sun’s rays.

Remember, There’s Two Kinds of UV Light to Protect Yourself From

The argument that windows block out damaging UV light is the most common rebuttal when trying to get someone to wear sunscreen inside, so let’s get to the bottom of it.

This argument is only half true: glass in common household windows and cars filter out about 90% of UVB rays (the rays that cause immediate sunburn), so there is little risk of sunburn, but it does not filter UVA rays one bit. These rays are sneaky, causing long-term, sometimes serious, sun damage that will appear with age, like sun spots and wrinkles. This means that if you’re driving or even sitting next to a window reading without proper UVA / UVB sun protection, you are putting your skin at risk in the long term. 

Skin care is a marathon, not a sprint, and if that requires wearing SPF in my apartment or while commuting on the subway, then so be it! 

Protect Yourself With What You Know

Our grandmothers and mothers would have been lucky to have had half the information about sun protection that we have access to today, so don’t let it go to waste!

 “Sunscreen is important” is not the end of the conversation. Substituting instead “sunscreen is a long-term lifesaver” is much more accurate. Windows and glass do not filter out UVA rays, which are known to cause longer-term damage to the skin because they penetrate the dermis deeper than UVB rays. With this, prolonged UVA exposure can increase the possibility of cell mutation and DNA damage (aka various forms of skin cancer), which is something we all want to work to avoid. 

Studies have shown that instances of skin cancer are far more common on the driver’s side of the face and body, demonstrating how ineffective glass is when it comes to filtering out those harmful rays. In addition, visible photodamage (think: deeper lines, loss of elasticity) is far more likely to occur on the left side of the face due to pesky and dangerous sun rays.

Antioxidants Can Help

If you don’t have a favorite antioxidant, do you even have an extensive routine? Kidding! While antioxidants are not equivalent to sunscreen, they can be helpful in terms of reducing damage on the skin. While UV rays weaken collagen and elastin, antioxidants help to repair elastin and produce more collagen, thus counteracting some of the visual effects of sun damage.

Products with green tea (a natural antioxidant), like Then I Met You’s Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel, work to protect the skin from free radicals. Vitamin E, a hero antioxidant, increases the skin’s production of collagen and nourishes the skin barrier. If you’re looking for a fix of this saviour compound, you can apply Klair’s Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask.  

It can be hard to see effects from using an antioxidant but like we said, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and you’ll reap the benefits with time and consistent usage.

Sunscreens You Won’t Mind Wearing Every Day

By now, you understand the importance of applying sunscreen, but you still might be thinking, “Sunscreen is still one of the least favorite parts of my routine.” We don’t blame you, but we don’t think you’ve looked hard enough into the world of sun care. Sunscreen has just as many interesting products and variants as serums and acids.

See some of our top picks and best reviewed on Soko Glam that you won’t mind wearing every day. 

Neogen Day-Light Protection Sun Screen: One of the most reviewed sunscreens, and one of the highest, this lightweight fluid feels barely there on skin and leaves behind a subtle dew. It even won a Soko Glam Best of  K-Beauty award in 2016! Added ingredients such as rose and raspberry extracts add deeper nourishment to the skin, leaving your skin plump and bouncy – the AC or heat in your apartment won’t stand a chance at dehydrating your skin.

Acwell UV Cut Waterproof Sun Cream: Listen, one of the most common concerns around wearing sunscreen, especially inside, is the fear of breakouts – this is totally understandable! This formula contains niacinamide, which is great for sebum control, and other calming ingredients like aloe and chamomile. Together, this works to reduce breakouts and help calm the look of irritated or sensitive skin. 

Papa Recipe Bombee Moist Sun Essence: Sunscreen that hydrates is one thing, but sunscreen that actually works to strengthen your skin’s natural moisture barrier? That’s a whole other level. This sun essence is, just like an essence: lightweight, non-greasy, and of course, no white cast. But the added benefits of honey, propolis, and royal jelly are the true saviors, as they work to repair damaged skin barriers to lock in all other ingredients and moisture.   

The post Why You Should Be Wearing Sunscreen Inside appeared first on The Klog.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The Sun Daily Defense Kit Is now sold out.]

“Did you apply SPF today?” is such a common question in the skin care world that Twitter bots and merch lines have dedicated themselves to championing the sun care reminder. 

It seems wherever we skin care lovers go on the internet, we’re reminded that we must slather on our favorite sunscreen before even opening up our blinds. Although this reminder may at times seem like a skin care inside joke and has almost turned into a full-fledged internet meme on TikTok, SPF and sun care is no joke. 

Here at the Klog, it’s something we take very seriously- skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Did you know 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70? Or that simply having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma?

Many of us are unaware of skin cancer’s prevalence. That’s why this May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, K-Beauty pioneer Soko Glam wanted to do something special for their community, to help them better understand sun care and protect their skin from the sun. Welcome Soko Glam’s Sun Daily Defense Kit, an eight-piece sun care set that prioritizes protection and hydration with ingredients like propolis, aloe, vitamins, and lotus water extract.

Soko Glam will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this set to the Skin Cancer Foundation to further raise awareness, push research forward, and give people peace of mind when dealing with skin cancer itself. 

Get to know more about the skin care stars that made it into Soko Glam’s highly curated Sun Daily Defense Kit below.

The Sun Daily Defense Kit

Neogen Light Protection Airy Sunscreen

We know, sunscreen can be the make or break of your skin care routine – but it’s a vital step and cannot be missed! Prevention is the best form of protection. 

This chemical sunscreen works for all skin types, so don’t be hesitant if you’re oily and acne prone – ingredients such as aloe and avocado extract help to control sebum production. This is also a great option if you have sensitive skin, as it’s formulated without artificial fragrances and colors, parabens, animal products, alcohol, mineral oil, or silicone. 

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, regular use of at least 15 SPF can decrease your risk of skin cancer by 40-50%. If it’s not in your routine now, it’s never too late to start!

Rovectin Clean Lotus Water Cream

Any moisture added to the skin is beneficial, but a moisturizer that reinforces your skin’s natural moisture barrier is key in protecting it from pollutant damage. Polluting particles and sun can mutate skin cells over time and with more exposure, so protecting the barrier in between can be a very important step in achieving overall skin health.This water cream utilizes natural flavonoids to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and goes even further by utilizing lotus flower extract to absorb impurities and toxins from the environment, both of which result in healthy, glowing skin. 

Hanskin Vitamin C Glow Powder Cleanser 

Did you know that vitamin C is an antioxidant powerhouse when it comes to skin care? This waterless cleanser includes papaya enzymes to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells while vitamin C goes to work preventing free radicals, like those from the sun, from wreaking havoc on skin.

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum 

Sometimes you need to add a little magic back into your skin from spending too much time in the sun – it happens to the best of us! This serum was formulated to calm and heal irritated and inflamed skin, and because of that, can also be great for acne-prone skin too! With the primary ingredient, propolis, being naturally antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and able to improve cellular turnover, the skin will heal quickly while the secondary ingredient, niacinamide revives the complexion and adds antioxidants back into the skin. What can we say, this serum is literally honey for the skin. 

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel 

Okay so maybe your burn is worse than you thought (did you not know you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen every two hours?!), we got something for that. Your typical aloe gel is one thing, but aloe and propolis gel? This after-sun gel is naturally fragrance free and helps to immediately bring relief to aching and burned skin. Use it to bring pain relief to that burn, to maintain hydration throughout the day, or to even fade acne scars over time. No matter how you use it, you’ll be happy to have it in your arsenal. 

Saturday Skin  Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask 

 Yuzu actually has three times more vitamin C than a lemon, and that’s why yuzu extract is such a key component in this mask! This sleep mask will help revitalize skin overnight using the power of yuzu to fight free radical damage and other environmental stressors that damage the skin while retinol helps increase cellular turnover and keeps skin smooth and niacinamide to brighten across the board. Yeah, you read all that right – it’s a powerful mask like we said. Of course, retinol can increase sun sensitivity, so it’s important to follow up with SPF (the one that comes in this kit is a great compliment.)

BONUS: Reusable Soko Glam Water Bottle + Vegan Leather Pouch – Skin care means very little if you’re not taking care of your insides, too! The dishwasher-safe, 36 ounce water bottle is convenient to help make sure you’re having a proper water intake so you can glow from the inside out!

The post Grab This Curated, Protection Focused Sun Care Kit From Soko Glam During Skin Cancer Awareness Month appeared first on The Klog.

We do everything to prevent and treat any blemish on the face, but what about the body? With summer around the corner, body acne is not only more common, but harder to hide as clothing becomes as minimal as possible in an effort to fight the increasing heat.

Concerned about body acne? Keep reading for everything you need to know.

What Causes Body Acne?

According to Dr. Daniel Friedman, a board certified dermatologist, “Body acne is caused by a combination of excess oil (sebum) production, clogged pores, and overgrowth of Propionobacterium acnes bacteria that lead to an inflammatory response. Since these same factors cause facial acne, patients often have lesions on both the body (chest, shoulders, back) and face, a tell-tale sign of hormonal acne.”

These areas are the most common for body acne as the upper half of the body has more sebaceous glands per square inch than other areas of the body. Sebaceous glands, just like those on the face, can eventually clog pores, causing acne. Couple that with excessive skin cells (see: lack of exfoliation), and your body is a breeding ground for extra pimples. Clogged pores on your body can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and typical inflamed pimples to appear in the affected areas.

That being said, there are a few more causes of body acne that ring especially true in the summer. Specifically, intense heat, friction (from wearing a backpack, tight clothing, or athletic gear), and increased sweat can all contribute to body acne of another kind. Known as acne mechanica, this is caused when friction on the skin, combined with heat and sweat, inflames and irritates your follicles. This results in an inflamed bump that resembles a classic pimple. Unfortunately, ingredients such as SPF can further clog your pores, which is again why summer is prime season for body acne.

How Do I Know Which One I Have?

 Visually, it can be quite hard to differentiate the difference between regular body acne and acne mechanica. The best way to determine what kind you might be suffering from is to think about your lifestyle and general lifestyle changes. Are you breaking out where your backpack lies? Is it where your sports equipment lays? Does it only get particularly bad when you sweat excessively? If so, it’s likely acne mechanica. If body acne is something that does not waiver when summer comes around, it is likely you do not suffer from acne mechanica and instead from regular old body breakouts. If you notice your face is not reacting like your body and you find the bumps to be itchy, then it is likely you are suffering from fungal acne. Dr. Friedman also notes that if this seems as if it’s only an issue in summer, it is likely fungal acne because “since yeast is commonly found on our skin, warmer weather and increased sweating can easily precipitate breakouts by creating an environment that favors its growth.”

How Do I Treat It?

The good news is, no matter which kind of acne you suffer from, they can be treated in nearly identical ways, though the severity of your individual case might further determine treatment.

If you believe you suffer from acne mechanica, the first step is to shower more frequently. After each sweat session at the gym, a workout class, or just a particularly sweaty walk, its recommended to hop straight in the shower to rinse the sweat off and calm your follicles to prevent further clogging.

For mild to moderate acne, there are numerous over the counter treatments that work to help keep your skin clear. Using a medicated body wash or cleanser with an AHA or BHA in it will lightly exfoliate the skin, lifting up dead skin cells and making the chance for clogged pores diminish. The most popular ingredients used to treat body acne are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. A great product formulated to treat body acne is the Klavuu Green Pearlsation Tea Tree Care Body Spray. Formulated with tea tree oil and salicylic acid, the fine mist targets body acne and treats and prevents any breakouts, no matter where you might have them. Because it’s a spritz, it’s also that much easier to target those hard-to-reach places that creams and cleansers can’t always get.

While some people cocktail different acids, we recommend honing in on one so that it is easier to monitor what ingredients help and what ingredients can be irritating. Because exfoliating acids can be drying (and then cause an overproduction of sebum in responses), it is recommended to hydrate afterwards with an oil, balm, or cream of your choice. To get the benefits of a physical and chemical exfoliator in one step within a product that isn’t too stripping or harsh, the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Lemon is fantastic. It’s formulated with lactic acid, glycolic acid, and lemon, so the gauze wipes are designed to penetrate and clear clogged pores and remove dead skin cells in one easy swipe. 

 Starting with gentle acids is great, but if it’s not working for you, next steps need to be taken. For more severe body acne, it is recommended to see a dermatologist. The dermatologist can prescribe oral antibiotics that will reduce the amount of acne causing bacteria, give topical retinols to rapidly exfoliate, and in a bad case, they might even suggest Accutane.

If you know you’re dealing specifically with fungal acne, “treatment often starts with using an over-the-counter antifungal shampoo (with selenium sulfide or zinc pyrithione) [used] as a body wash and either a rub-on or oral anti-fungal medication, to reduce the yeast population [on the skin]. Using an over the counter antifungal body wash three times per week before the weather gets warmer can often prevent the lesions from reappearing, [but] using harsh or abrasive cleansers, like with hormonal acne, is unlikely to help.”

The post Follow These Tips and Say Goodbye to Body Acne This Spring appeared first on The Klog.

We’ve been inside for quite some time now-  with the middle of winter fast approaching, it feels like we haven’t seen the sun in years. Is this time spent inside doing more bad for our skin than good?

Our confinement to our cozy homes has brought a number of changes to our skin and a seriously lack of fresh air. While maskne is by far one of the most common concerns, we’re here to talk about how this newfound lack of fresh air can be affecting your skin, too with the help of Licensed Esthetician and Skincare Expert, Tomás Glenn.

Get Some Oxygen to Your Skin!

Have you ever seen a celebrity praise an oxygen facial? Since my head is buried in the beauty community, I’ve seen my fair share of oxygen facial reviews, where people marvel at how plump their skin looks after being infused directly with oxygen. This just goes to show the power a little fresh oxygen can have on the skin. 

The air in your home is likely recycled and possibly contains pollutants from cleaning products and dust. A simple solution to ridding the air you breathe of unwanted particles is to open some windows when you can and allow fresh air to circulate through the home. Sure, getting fresh air in your apartment won’t give you those same results as infusing it directly into your skin, but it won’t hurt either!

If you don’t have access to fresh air 24/7 (hello, apartment life), don’t fret! Facial massaging can seriously help. Tomás emphasizes that “one of [his] goals with facial massage is to re-establish energy flow, circulation, and draw oxygen to [his] client’s skin.” He adds that “when you skip regular facial treatments, which create circulation and draw oxygen to your skin, your face will show facial muscle laxity, overall dullness in appearance, and occasional skin congestion.”  

So why facial massage? According to Tomás, “serums and creams can’t resolve your skin’s laxity, dullness, and congestion alone as a result of oxygen deprivation as creams are only topical solutions.” Facial massaging tones our facial muscles and activates lymphatic drainage, making it seem like our skin hasn’t been exposed to the same stuffy air for months on end.

Your AC and Heating Units Aren’t Helping!

Whether you’re blasting your radiator, slowly introducing the air conditioner on warm sunny winter days, or just using a fan, systems like this in the home can be incredibly drying to the air and have dramatic effects on the skin. The reason? All the air these systems use are recirculated, not fresh.

According to Tomás, “indoor cooling and heating systems reduce humidity and moisture in the environment. This is not ideal, as all skin types require epidermal moisture for overall protection and to fight against signs of aging.” In short, although these systems keep us comfortable, they’re taxing on our complexions. He adds that, “those with psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, or similar skin conditions may see even further irritation from over exposure to heating and air systems” from prolonged periods inside.

One non-skincare option you can introduce to try and help the appearance of your skin is a humidifier. Adding some humidity to the air will allow your skin (which is over 50% water, remember!) to soak in additional moisture. Overall, you’ll likely notice less flaking, peeling, and overall irritation. 

Exfoliation is Still Important

Although upping hydration should definitely be top of mind while lacking fresh air, exfoliation is still important. Many have made the mistake of throwing exfoliation to the wayside, as it’s associated with getting dirt off the skin.

Dryness and lack of humidity can cause small bumps like milia or flaking patches and no amount of hydration will fix it alone. “If you’ve been over exposed to heating and cooling systems, which often will cause your skin to become defensive and drier, textural changes are possible.” Tomás suggests “using a professionally recommended enzymatic or lactic acid based cleanser / exfoliant, [as it] will help safely remove surface dead cells.” 

Something too abrasive or harsh carries the potential for an adverse reaction, so always give a little patch test first! Regular and gentle exfoliation, coupled with the use of amazing hydrating agents, is bound to improve indoor skin in no time. 

Hydrating + Exfoliating Products We Love

If you need powerful hydrating or exfoliating products to manage newfound skin issues stemming from an uptick in inside time look no further. Some of our top rated hydrating and gently exfoliating products for you to choose from are below. 

Then I Met You Calming Tide Gel Cream – This light as a feather gel cream can be used as a moisturizer alone or can be used as a thick serum, whatever your skin craves. It’s packed with three different peptides that help to improve the skin’s natural moisture barrier and stimulate collagen production, so it will not only adequately hydrate the skin, but protect it strongly. The cream also contains an antioxidant derived from hibiscus flower to help further repair any cellular damage (think: broken and flaking skin) and niacinamide to even the complexion as a whole. 

Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner – This lightly exfoliating and cleansing toner has a cult following, and with good reason. With high concentrations of licorice water, peony extract, and green tea, this helps to remove any remaining impurities and grime on the skin that might have built up over time. You can notice softer skin and reduced blackheads / breakouts, but also revel in the incredible brightening properties the formula contains to reduce acne scarring and other dark marks.

Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream – Having a solid moisturizer is a great place to begin, and this well rounded cream is super highly rated. With ceramides to protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier, jojoba oil hydrates with fatty acids, and papaya extract for gentle exfoliation, this will keep the wearer’s skin soft and plump.

Skinfood Rice Wash-Off Face Mask – If you prefer a physical exfoliant, we can’t blame you! Rice bran is the star ingredient and makes for a fine powder to polish the skin. It’s paired off with jojoba oil to hydrate the skin, as well, and in turn never leaves you feeling too dry. It’s a great option for someone who would typically identify as having sensitive skin and for someone who would typically stray from any kind of scrub!

+Has your skin suffered while spending long amounts of time inside? Drop your experiences below!

The post Experts Agree: A Lack of Fresh Air Can Seriously Irritate Your Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Hyperpigmentation is easily one of the most common skin concerns out there. Whether it’s sun spots, acne scarring, or anything in between, these markings can be incredibly stubborn. Though vitamin C is one of the more popular go-to ingredients, turn your attention to licorice root. This radiance-boosting ingredient is prominent in cult favorite products (think: Acwell pH Balancing Cleansing Toner and Then I Met You  Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel) and we’re here to tell you why. 

What Is Licorice Root? 

If you’re thinking of the classic candy, you’re pretty spot on. The same plant used to harness licorice root for skincare is also used to produce black licorice everywhere. The root has been used for a variety of medical purposes across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and of course it was these practices that brought to light the benefits this plant and its roots can bring to the skin directly.  

What Benefits Can I Expect? 

Licorice root is sure to deliver visible results when it comes to fading and preventing dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the skin. Similar to the better known ingredient alpha arbutin, licorice root works to inhibit the production of an enzyme needed to produce pigment (aka melanin) in the skin, ultimately slowing down the production of melanin in the skin. It also contains an enzyme that encourages the dispersing of pigmented cells, which helps to fade pre-existing dark spots. Additionally, licorice root is yet another member of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory family, and as such, helps to undo signs of oxidative damage and environmental stress on the skin, too. 

RELATED: The Best Ways to Treat 3 Types of Hyperpigmentation on Different Skin Tones

What Skin Types Will Benefit? 

When it comes down to it, licorice root can be for everyone. As we said, dark spots are a hugely common skin care concern amongst people of all ages, and anyone looking for a new route to dark spot treatment should turn to licorice root. But it doesn’t stop there! The anti-inflammatory properties present help to reduce redness and other signs of irritation on the skin. Overall, licorice root is deemed safe for pregnant and nursing women, as well, which speaks to how gently it works on the skin. Anecdotally, licorice root has also been said to help control sebum production, so anyone with acne-prone skin might also want to consider introducing this to their routine.  

Does It Play Well With Others? 

One of the great things about licorice root is that it does not conflict with other ingredients. As Vitamin C and niacinamide famously can clash, licorice root can easily be used in conjunction with these types of potent ingredients, and even with retinols. 

What Products Have Licorice Root? 

As we said above, some cult favorite products contain licorice root. The suite of Acwell x Soko Glam collaboration products, from the pH balancing mist, to the pH cleansing toner and the pH balancing intensive eye cream allows you to integrate the product in a number of ways (the mist is without a doubt a favorite for it’s super-fine mist). Another well loved product, the Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Purifying, is an upgrade of the classic formula specifically to include skin clearing ingredients, licorice root amongst them. 

Editor’s Note: If you are a fan of the Acwell Licorice line, you might want to try the Acwell Licorice Loves Exclusive Duo Set, which includes a jumbo size (300 ml) Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner and the Acwell pH Balancing Intensive Eye Cream. A perfect pair to brighten and reduce pigmentation, including acne scars and dark spots.

RELATED: Is This New Brightening Eye Cream the Secret to Getting Rid of Dark Circles For Good?

The Giving Essence from Then I Met You boasts the powerhouse licorice root water amongst other incredibly antioxidant-rich ingredients, too, for a gentle experience that keeps skin even and clear. Then I Met You’s Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel is also formulated with licorice extract to brighten the dull complexion.

Suffice it to say, there’s no shortage of the efficacious licorice root in K-beauty and K-beauty inspired skin care products, and its a worthwhile ingredient to include into your routine however works for you. Let us know YOUR favorite products that include licorice root below!

The post Ingredient Spotlight: Licorice Root appeared first on The Klog.