Maintaining a skin care routine in the midst of returning to school, hitting the books, and hanging with friends is practically an olympic sport.

There’s the upended routines, long nights in the library, a shift in sleeping patterns, and shrinking bathroom cabinet space (ugh, dorm bathrooms). Beyond all of this, there’s the added stress of transitions, moving, and a new environment that might have your skin breaking out around back-to-school time. 

These factors can lead to infrequent skin care routines, a night or two falling asleep in a face of makeup, and breakouts.

In order to combat any back-to-school skin care routine fails, we’re letting you in on our skin care secret for anyone with a hectic schedule: a solid double cleanse.

 All one really needs is a quick, impactful double cleanse formulated with ingredients that do more than wipe away oil and debris, followed up with a moisturizer and SPF of course. 

By fortifying your double cleanse with impactful ingredients and proven cleansers, you can whittle away at your skin care routine and make it totally fit your back-to-school schedule. 

Acwell has the perfect double cleansing duo for an effective and quick back-to-school skin care routine.

The cult Korean brand’s pH Balancing Watery Cleansing Oil and pH Balancing Bubble Free Cleansing Gel goes beyond ridding the skin of oil and water based impurities and taps into impactful ingredients to fight acne, brighten, hydrate, and balance so you can get the most out of your cleansing step, wiping out extra skin care routine steps to make your routine doable! 

You can even toss the pH Balancing Watery Cleansing Oil into your shower caddy- its pump and sanitary packaging is perfect for use while showering. This cleanser removes makeup and oil based impurities, making it super time-saving. 

Formulated with tea tree, licorice root, and green tea, Acwell’s oil also helps to fight off breakouts, hyperpigmentation, and free radical damage. 

Following the pH Balancing Watery Cleansing Oil with the pH Balancing Bubble Free Cleansing Gel provides the perfect end to your double cleanse and provides some much needed moisture back into the skin. Eight different types of plumping and moisturizing hyaluronic acids get to work once this gel cleanser is applied to the face! 

Maintaining clear skin in-between classes has never been easier. (Did we mention the duo takes up less room on the dorm’s communal bathroom sink than all your targeted acne treatments AND your cleansers?)

We all knew double cleansing was important, but did you know that they could be this impactful? We’re talking makeup removal, cleansing, breakout control, brightening and a boost of moisture all in one step. What else can a busy college student ask for?

+ Do you currently double cleanse? Let us know below!

The post Acwell’s pH Balancing Line Features The Perfect Duo For Clear, Nourished Back-To-School Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Combination skin can be complicated, to say the least. Being dry in some areas and oilier in others is not a fun way to live, and having combo skin makes choosing skin care products a straight-up hassle. 
But before we get into the routine, let’s make sure you actually have combination skin. If you suffer from an oilier T-zone and drier cheeks, it’s likely you’re dealing with combo skin.
This skin type is a result of a variety of issues such as simply having more active oil glands on certain parts of your face but more often than not, it’s just genetic. So while you can’t completely “cure” combination skin, you can choose the right products that will help balance it out. Having a healthy balance can assist your skin in reducing the production of oil on certain parts and keeping your drier parts hydrated all day long. Try out this routine:
Double Cleanse: Banila Co Clean it Zero Purifying Oil Cleanser and Acwell No 5.5 pH Balancing Micro Cleansing Foam

When looking for an oil cleanser, choose one that will help balance out your skin. The Banila Co Clean it Zero Purifying balm is perfect because it’s free from artificial coloring, alcohol, parabens, and mineral oil, and full of good stuff like centella asiatica extract, and licorice root extract. It’s also a hypo-allergenic formula and works to nourish the skin. After a couple of uses, watch as it helps create a clearer and brighter complexion.
After you finish with your oil-cleanse, it’s important to find a water-based cleanser that won’t leave a strange residue. One of the struggles of those with combination skin is finding a cleanser that will help rid the skin of any impurities without leaving that dreaded tight feeling behind. We love the Acwell No 5.5 pH Balancing Micro Cleansing Foam because of its amazing ingredients list. It contains licorice root extract to protect skin from environmental stressors and allantoin to soothe and moisturize. Plus, it’s great at removing dust particles and other impurities that have built up on your skin’s surface.
Exfoliator: Neogen Dermalogy Real Cica Pad

Exfoliation is key for combination skin! The Neogen Dermalogy Real Cica Pads are a gentle and easy-to-use product. Plus, the pads are perfect for travel, the gym, or for those lazy days. They come soaked in an essence formulated with centella asiatica extract, which works to soothe and smooth skin, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate.
If you suffer from redness, this product also aids in reducing inflammation and helping promote collagen production, giving you a stronger skin barrier and a more even complexion.
Toner: The Plant Base Pore N Turn-Over 28 ABA Toner

If you have an oilier T-zone, you’re likely dealing with larger pores, so you want to choose a toner that features ingredients that deep clean.  The Plant Base Pore N Turn-Over 28 ABA Toner can do just that. It’s packed with AHAs and BHAs to remove dead skin cells, clear up excess sebum, and balance the skin’s pH to create a smooth and radiant surface.
The Plant Base also included its patented ingredient EVERMAT which works to help tighten up pores.
Essence:  Hanskin Hyaluron Skin Essence

If you really want to help balance your skin, look no further than the Hanskin Hyaluron Skin Essence. If you haven’t heard of the superstar ingredient hyaluronic acid by now, then you’ve been seriously missing out! This essence sinks into skin fast to give it maximum hydration. It’s great for combo skin because it’s not too thick for those oily areas but you can apply multiple layers to the dry areas that need extra hydration.
Serum: Mamonde Floral Essential Serum

The Mamonde Floral Essential Serum will be your new go-to because it’s formulated with a 81.2% fermented honeysuckle concentrate that improves uneven skin tone and dullness, soothes, and helps treat skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. This formula glides onto skin for a smooth, supple finish and has a sweet floral scent.
RELATED: Ingredient Spotlight: Why the Many Skin Care Benefits of Honeysuckle are as Sweet as its Scent
Sheet Mask: Leaders Balancing Recovery Mask

Oiler skin is more prone to breakouts since the overproduction of sebum can clog the pores, which means you might be dealing with acne scars. To combat the dark spots, choose a treatment like the Leaders Balancing Recovery Mask which contains a coconut gel rich in brightening vitamins B and C.
The Leaders masks are made from biocellulose, which actually holds more liquid than microfiber. This material also helps oily skin types balance skin’s oil production and moisture level, and helps dry skin types by hydrating.
Eye cream: Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye

The Erborian Ginseng Infusion Total Eye brightens up even the most tired-looking eyes with Korean hanbang ingredients (ingredients from traditional Korean herbal medicine). It’s also packed with rich shea butter and five moisturizing botanical oils, as well as traditional medicinal herbs that give the under eye area an instant boost.
Moisturizer: A’Pieu Glycolic Acid Cream

For your combo skin, finding the right moisturizer can seem almost impossible. Lightweight ones might hydrate your T-zone, but leave your drier parts desperate for moisturize, while emollient ones leave your T-zone looking like an oil slick.
The A’Pieu Glycolic Acid Cream combines AHAs and BHAs to help keep dullness and breakouts at bay, while also working to keep skin smooth and clear. The ingredient list boats 3% glycolic acid, 0.45% salicylic acid, and 30% birch juice, which together target breakouts and dullness without stripping skin. 
Sunscreen: Tony Moly My Sunny Watery Essence SPF 50/PA+++

No matter what your skin type, choosing a sunscreen can be a frustrating task. Luckily we’ve done the work for you. 
The Tony Moly My Sunny Watery Essence SPF 50/PA+++ has a thin, lightweight texture that goes on smoothly and quickly absorbs into the skin without any greasy residue. It has hyaluronic acid and aloe vera extract to not only protect your skin from the sun, but to also brighten and hydrate skin at the same time.

+ What’s your skin care routine for combination skin? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The 10-Step Routine For Combination Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Here, we’re compiling the reasons you should definitely consider switching out some of your faves for gel products and some of the best products to make the switch with!

First, here’s why you should switch to gel skin care:

1. Hydration! Hydration! Hydration!

Because most gel creams and gel products are water based, they deliver and instant hit of hydration. Hydration is at the very foundation of the Korean beauty routine. It is the key to getting that glow all the Korean stars sport. Plus, when your skin is fatigued or dehydrated, it can make you look more tired. Gel products can be that instant hit of moisture that takes your skin from tired to healthy in one go.

2. No more oily finish

Gel products have been a longtime secret solution for those with oily skin because they tend to reduce excess shine from oil. Plus, you don’t need to worry about any gross residue or peeling since these products tend to be water-based and formulated to deliver instant hydration rather than dry out your skin. Gel products make for the perfect base to your everyday glowy or matte-finished look, without the extra oily shine.

3. Cool down and plump up

Since Mother Nature has decided that spring is no longer a thing here in New York City, we’re switching to our gel products early this season. When it’s hot and humid out, the last thing that you want to do is layer oil product after cream product on your skin, especially since you have to follow up with your sunscreen on top of it. But don’t forgo your routine when it’s hot out! Gel products have a soothing and cooling effect when applied, which makes them great for accommodating for the extra sweat and oil that tends to sit on our skin in the summer months.

4. No excess wait time.

Skin care products are most effective when you allow them to fully sink into your skin before moving to the next step. But this process can be tedious, especially if you’re going through a full ten step routine and you woke up late and are rushing out the door. Gels are absorbed easily and quickly into the skin to reduce this wait time and the overall time it takes to finish your routine.

Typically, beauty products that aren’t water-based will contain some type of oil which takes longer to absorb into the skin and has a greater tendency to slip off throughout the day. This makes gels a great option for not only getting you out the door faster, but for staying on longer throughout the day (especially under makeup).

So, where should you start?

Gel products in skin care aren’t exactly breaking news, which is lucky for us because it means there’s a breadth of products that are tried and true for you to delve into with summer right around the corner.

Exfoliating feels like a chore at the best of times. But it doesn’t need to be. The Dr. G Peeling Gel is a superstar Korean product and for good reason. You get to see the dead skin cells on your face literally roll away. Plus, it contains great anti-inflammatory, soothing ingredients, like honey, black willow, and hollyhock flower, which can do wonders for your skin if you stayed out in the summer sun just a little too long. It also contains vitamins C and E to brighten up and hydrate the skin, for beautiful and glowing skin.

Creams are the biggest thing that get overlooked in the summer. I’m guilty of it, too. The last thing I want to do when I wake up and it’s boiling outside is layer something heavy on my skin and then wait for it to absorb before moving on. It just won’t happen.

Instead, opt for something like the Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel or the Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream. These gel creams absorb super easily and contain skin-soothing ingredients like aloe and snail mucin for treating any sensitive skin that crops up over the summer due to overexposure to the elements. They’re also super hydrating so you don’t have to compromise comfort for moisture. Plus, all these don’t need to be reserved for the summer (the Missha cream is my go-to all year long)!

Sunblock is essential always, but especially in the summer when we tend to spend a little more time outside. But sunscreens can feel overly oily and heavy on the skin, exactly when you want the opposite.

So, opt for a gel sunscreen instead. The Acwell Aqua Capsule Sun Control Gel Spa 35/PA++ and Dr. Oracle A-Thera Sunblock SPF 50 are great non-greasy, non-white cast leaving options for the summer months and all year round. The Dr. Oracle sunscreen is somewhat of a cream/gel hybrid, but it’s really light and especially great if you’re prone to breakouts and acne, since it comes directly from the brand’s acne line.

Treatment steps are basically the easiest ones to skip. But you don’t have to sacrifice them to make sure your skin is comfortable if they have gel formulas.

If you suffer from acne, then you need to pick up the Acwell Anti Mark Gel Cream. This is a godsend for brown spots, acne scars, and other forms of pigmentation that might appear from overexposure to the sun. It uses niacinamide and licorice root to brighten up these areas and aloe vera to calm the skin. And unlike other acne treatments, it’s not drying, so it won’t add another skin concern to your list.

The Missha Geum Sul First Essence Booster and the Easydew Repair Control Active Serum are two other serum options that can do wonders for your skin. The Missha booster uses mainly fermented ingredients, like ginseng water and cherry blossom, to brighten and strengthen the skin. And if that wasn’t enough, it amps up the luxury with actual gold flakes.

The Easydew serum is going to be your new all-in-one essential. It helps to lift wrinkles, even out pigmentation, and lighten acne scars. Its star ingredient? Medical grade EGF, a cell-regeneration protein to make sure you’re getting the best skin possible from the cells up. It’s also packed with caffeine, ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, and argan and macadamia oils to pamper your skin for a healthy glow.

The Nutrinature Ultra Moist Gel Oil is another personal favorite. Don’t let the “oil” in the name scare you. This product has a gel texture and absorbs easily, but has all the moisture benefits of a facial oil. It’s formulated with jojoba seed, shea butter, and fatty acids to moisturize and soften the skin, as well as hydrate and lock in moisture. Plus, it’s vegan and safe for sensitive skin!

Masks are a godsend in the summer because they are super cooling and hydrating on the skin, especially if you throw them in the fridge before use! Thank You Farmer’s Back to Relax Soothing Gel Mask is just the thing you need to add into your routine for the summer. It’s famous for cooling and calming the skin.

It also leaves an instant plumping effect in its wake, so your skin can feel and look incredible! The ingredient list boasts glycerin, hyaluronic acid, centella extract, and licorice extract. All of these are great ingredients for delivering a hit of moisture and hydration, as well as being super soothing to lift any redness and irritation you might have.

The Bottom Line

Gel products aren’t exactly new, but if you’re not using them yet, you definitely should be! Summer is rearing its head early this year, and with summer comes the ugly pair of dehydration and skipping skin care steps due to the intense heat. Converting to gel products is an easy way to cut routine time and make sure that your skin is getting all the TLC it needs without feeling heavy or greasy.

 + What are your favorite gel skin care products? Share your picks below!

The post 4 Reasons Why You Should Try Gel Skin Care Products, Especially If You Have Combination Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Hi, I’m Ashley, the marketing intern at Soko Glam. I’ll be guiding you through my skin care routine for combination skin.

Growing up, I was lucky enough that I didn’t have too many skin problems. I had a few occasional breakouts around the nose, chin, or forehead but it wasn’t a frequent thing. However, I knew I was treating my skin incorrectly whenever I did get the occasional pimple. I didn’t know any better so I would pop them and wait a few minutes before I put concealer on top and just walk out the door. This would result in this never-ending cycle of me popping pimples and having them come back a few days later.

I was first introduced to skin care by my mom who is a skin care fanatic. She used to be in the beauty/spa business so it was no surprise that I received my first face wash and moisturizer at the age of 12. I didn’t know why I was using it, of course. I just did it because my mom told me to.

My skin care remained a 2 step routine until I started watching YouTube videos. My first Korean beauty purchase was actually influenced by YouTuber Jenn Im aka Clothesencounters. She raved about the Banila Co Clean It Zero Balm and how it just melted off all her makeup. This was also when I was introduced to double cleansing which honestly changed my life. After that I became sort of obsessed with trying out new products and experimenting with different types of ingredients for my skin. I wouldn’t say my routine is perfect just yet, but for now, it works for my skin. I have an oily T-zone and dry cheeks, and these products in my skin care routine for combination skin helps keep my pores clean, my skin hydrated, and acne at bay.

Banila Co. Clean It Zero Classic

When I first started double cleansing I noticed an immediate change. I wasn’t wearing heavy makeup but my everyday cleanser just didn’t get everything off like double cleansing does. I would experience breakouts around my nose, chin, and forehead from clogged pores. Ever since I started using this and following it up with a gentle foam cleanser, my skin has been clear with rare occasional pimples (mostly from stress).

This balm starts off as a solid balm but actually transforms into an oil once it touches your face. The oil in the balm actually melts foundation and waterproof eyeliner right off my face. Whenever I use this balm it doesn’t feel like it’s stripping the natural oils from my face, which is great because I hate having my skin feel tight and dry after a cleanse. It’s a must-have in a skin care routine for combination skin!

Milk Makeup Charcoal Cleanser

The key to double cleansing is to use two different types of cleansers to wash off all the impurities off your face. So after using an oil based cleanser, I follow up with a gentle foam based cleanser like this one from Milk Makeup. It’s nice because it’s very gentle and it also has charcoal in it which will help absorb any gunk I have leftover in my skin. But generally, any gentle everyday cleanser will work for this part of the routine.

La Prairie Cellular Softening & Balancing Lotion

Toner or essence is a crucial step after you wash all the makeup and dirt off your face. It’s important to bring the moisture back into your face. In order to avoid having an oily T-zone, I have to keep it hydrated so that it doesn’t produce any excess oils. This toner from La Prairie is just something my mom gave me and it does the simple job of giving back the hydration to my face.

Erborian Dong Baek Camellia Essence

For this step, I often switch it up depending on how my skin is feeling. If I feel like my pores are extra large one day, I’ll use the Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% to shrink my pores and reduce any blemishes. But most of the times I use the Erborian Dong Baek Camellia Essence. This little bottle is packed with 73% camellia oil, which will make your skin more elastic, brighter, and smoother. I love this essence because the molecular weight of the oil is almost the same as the skin which allows it to be absorbed quickly. I’m not a big fan of the feeling of oil on my skin, especially during the day, so this is perfect for my skin care routine for combination skin.

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Water-Full Clear Cream

Since I have an oily T-zone, I like to keep my skin care routine lighter during the day. This Missha moisturizer is perfect for keeping the oils at bay while still hydrating the dry areas on my cheek. It’s an oil-free moisturizer that enhances moisture retention and controls sebum throughout the day so I don’t have to worry about looking like a greaseball at the end of the day.

+ What is your skin care routine for combination skin? Let us know below!

The post How a Mix of Korean and Western Products Helps Combination Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Of all the different skin types, combination skin is one of the more confusing and prevalent ones. Characterized as having a mix of oily and dry skin, combination skin is more common and persistent.
But how do you know if you really have combination skin? And can you ever change your combination skin into normal skin? I reached out to Michele Farber, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, to get the lowdown on combo skin.
First things first, what does it really mean to have combination skin?
Previously, we interviewed a bunch of dermatologists who said that combination skin generally means having an oily T-zone and and dry cheeks. But here is a comprehensive checklist of the ways you know you have combination skin (and not oily skin):

• You only need to use a moisturizer on your cheeks after washing your face.
• When you use a blotting paper on some areas, a lot of oil is produced on the paper, but then when you blot it on other areas, your skin feels tight and there are no oil stains the paper.
• You have larger pores on your nose than other areas of your face, dandruff with flaky patches around the nose and on your scalp, and have a combination of acne breakouts often on the central area of your face with dryness at the same time.

“People vary from dry to oily depending on the activity of their sebaceous glands, which produce oil,” says Farber. “People with combination skin may notice they are particularly oily around their T-zone, or nose and central face, which are areas most packed with oil glands.”

OK, I have combination skin. Do I have it because I’m not taking care of my skin the right way?
Once you’ve established that you do, in fact, have combo skin, you may be wondering if the reason why you have combination skin is because you’re not washing your face the right way or hydrating your skin correctly to mitigate the symptoms. That’s probably not true. While there’s no real way to actually create combination skin, you may be making your already combination skin worse with certain skin care moves that you think may be helping your skin.
“You could be over-cleansing to get rid of oil, but harsh cleansers will cause more dryness in already dry areas,” says Farber. “Also, when too much oil is stripped, it triggers your body to make more—not what you want. Exfoliating too much will also cause irritation and dry out skin more than desired.” So to avoid those annoying dry patches, make sure you exfoliate every other day and use a balanced foaming cleanser, like the Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser featured in our 10 Step Routine for Normal Skin.
So will I have combination skin forever? Is there any way to turn it into normal skin?
Good news: Your skin may not always be the combination type. Farber says that a variety of things that happen throughout life, including “stress, changes in hormones with puberty, menopause in women, and even seasonal changes” will affect the balance of your skin. “So you can’t change your skin entirely, but your skin will likely evolve slightly over time,” she says. And one way you can help induce immediate change? Focus on using the right skin care products.
Gotcha. What’s the important skin care product to focus on to help combination skin?

Farber says the two most important products are your moisturizer and your toner. “Use a light moisturizer like a gel moisturizer that will be gentle but hydrating for all areas of your face,” she says. You can’t go wrong with the Missha Super Aqua Water-full Clear Cream, a 2017 Best of K-beauty winner. The combination of hyaluronic acid and the lightweight texture of the cream makes it the perfect blend for hydrating dry patches and keeping things airy enough to not weigh down oilier areas.

“Adding glycolic acid washes and toners can also help even out skin texture,” says Farber. The Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence RX is our choice because it actually deep cleans pores while providing hydration with fermented yeast extract. 

Bottom line:
If you have combination skin, you may not be able to get rid of it, but you can control it with the right skin care methods and products. There is a difference between oily and combination skin so make sure you truly have combination skin (you meet all the criteria above) and adjust your skin care routine accordingly.

+ What are your best tips for managing combination skin? Share them in the comments below!

The post How to Tell If You Really Have Combination Skin appeared first on The Klog.