Inspired by centuries-old wisdom and traditional Korean remedies, Hanyul is dedicated to harnessing the power of nature to heal and rejuvenate the skin. From artemisia to rice, the formulations are enriched with locally sourced, healing Korean botanicals.

Locally Sourced Korean Ingredients:

With ingredients sourced directly from Korea’s natural landscape, Hanyul works with local artisans to ensure only the highest quality ingredients make their way into the products.

Korean Remedies Combined with Skincare Innovation:

Hanyul is a holistic healing experience. The formulas are gentle yet potent and designed to nourish the skin, leaving a radiant glow from within. Infusing Korean expertise into every aspect of the brand, Hanyul provides the ultimate skincare solution.

Pure Artemisia Hydrating Calming Line

This best-selling collection formulated with Hanyul’s patented ingredient Artemisia CicaTM delivers four times the soothing effect of traditional cica remedies. Backed by clinical trials these soothing formulations address sensitive skin concerns including redness, dryness, and skin barrier damage.

Red Rice Moisture Firming Line

Infused with the power of Rice Vegan Ceramide, this collection seals and replenishes moisture up to the 10th layer of the skin. Backed by clinical trials and crafted through an innovative fermentation technique and enriched with probiotics, vegan ceramide, and fermented rice, it strengthens the skin’s protective barrier resulting in radiant glass skin.

Chestnut Shell Masks

With a velvety texture, these Korean Chestnut Clay Masks are the perfect solution for pore concerns. In clinical trials, 95% of participants reported a decrease in pore-clogging impurities and excess sebum. Harnessing chestnut shells from Buyeo Mountain, these masks effectively target blackheads and whiteheads by exfoliating and buffing away dead skin cells, refining enlarged pores. All while calming inflammation, resulting in a rejuvenated complexion.

Yuja Line

Hanyul’s refreshing Yuja line sources the citrus fruit from the Goheung area and includes the potent vitamins B, C, E and P to leave skin visibly brighter. Each product within the line is formulated to include six Yuja each to ensure glowing skin in every use.

For those looking to achieve glass skin and an experience that combines traditional Korean skincare with clinically proven results, check out Hanyul’s products and sets available now at Soko Glam. 

The post Meet Hanyul: The Brand Helping You Achieve Your Glass Skin Dreams appeared first on The Klog.

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.

Ask anyone who experiences seemingly immovable dark circles under their eyes and they’ll tell you their least favorite invasive beauty comment is “Are you tired?” (See variations: Did you get enough sleep? Have you tried going to bed earlier?)

If everyone who has asked me that question only knew how many times I’ve tried to remedy my dark circles with sleep, lavender sprays, and white noise machines, I think they’d erase the question from their vocabulary.

Dark circles do pop up when one fails to catch a few Zzzs, however, I’m not talking about the transient half-moons that disappear after resetting your sleep cycle. I’m talking about the dark circles that are associated with age, genetics, and ethnic background; those that are a bit more stubborn and take a bit more work to tackle.

As someone from an Eastern European background with skin that produces hyperpigmentation if it even so much as sees someone else’s wound or cut, dark circles have been a skin concern of mine since before I even got my first pimple. I’ve tried every dermatologist tip, from hydrating so as to plump up the skin under the eyes to applying a caffeine based eye cream to stimulate blood circulation. 

Effective for some, these hacks just didn’t work for me. My dark circles were rooted in hyperpigmentation and genetics, not broken sleep cycles and dehydration.

It was with this discouraged attitude that I approached Goodal’s Green Tangerine Vita C Eye Gel Patch. Because I’d been let down so many times before, I assumed they wouldn’t work. Boy, was I wrong.

Goodal’s Green Tangerine Vita C Eye Gel Patches target hyperpigmentation with vitamin C, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. 

After reading the ingredients of these hydrogel patches, I had a giant face palm moment. Why had I not tried vitamin C on my pigmented under eye circles before? I used it daily on the hyperpigmentation on my face and it makes complete sense to apply the ingredient on my dark circles- vitamin C interferes with pigment production!

Because these hydrogel slices contain vitamin C, they focus on long term brightening results over short term blood circulation or momentary plumping, making them perfect for me and for all those with genetically induced dark under eyes.

Vitamin C is an active ingredient, so I was careful with where I stored the patches. Eventually, they ended up in my fridge, which added a nice cooling sensation upon application! They’re super thin and jam packed with serum. Their weight made them comfortable to wear and reduced the amount of slipping and sliding they did on my face while I was wearing them. 

Over time, and with consistent usage, this eye mask drastically reduced my under eye circles- so much so I’ve cut out using my beloved NARS concealer on regular days. 

The product’s benefits make sense due to vitamin C and niacinamide’s abilities to combat pigmentation. For those like me who were previously given misguided advice, the type that only eliminates dark circles that appear when you’re fatigued, the Goodal patches are a breath of fresh air!

The post This K-Beauty Vitamin C Infused Eye Mask Treats Dark Circles So Well It Practically Eliminates The Need To Wear Concealer appeared first on The Klog.

Despite its sour taste, apple cider vinegar, aka ACV, has been a go-to staple ingredient in many folks’ kitchens for its multi-purpose benefits. From health to cleaning to skin care, ACV can pretty much do it all.

Recently, apple cider vinegar has seen a resurgence in popularity in the hair care world. Before you totally dismiss it, you should hear us out!  ACV has been praised as a favorite at-home solution that helps cleanse, strengthen, and nourish the hair while safely exfoliating and removing any build-up on the scalp. 

Ready to learn just why apple cider vinegar is about to be your new go-to when it comes to cleansing the hair and scalp? We’re shedding light on how much we love this powerhouse ingredient and just why we do, as well as letting you in on how we’re incorporating ACV-infused products into our regular hair-care routine. Let’s get into it!

Apple Cider Vinegar For Hair Care

There are many  good reasons as to why apple cider vinegar has become a formidable ingredient when it comes to health and wellness. 

ACV has a mildly low pH level of 3, making it a go-to ingredient to help detox and exfoliate the scalp without overly stripping it of essential and nourishing oils. The easily-accessible ingredient also contains essential nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B, which help to stimulate and protect the scalp from environmental aggressors.  

Beyond it’s beneficial compounds and structure, the ingredient is extremely accessible, with bottles of it lining health, wellness, and food stores. This lack of barrier to entry means that many skin care DIY lovers have developed an array of uses for the ingredient- spanning from facial toners to scalp cleansers.

Hair care professionals and dermatologists have also developed a liking for apple cider vinegar! With hair care specialists recommending ACV to clients who suffer from an overly dry or overly oily scalp as an effective possible solution. This recommendation stems from the idea that apple cider vinegar contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, which work together to combat common scalp issues like dandruff and folliculitis. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Product Reccomendations:

Korean hair care brand La’Dor is committing to apple cider vinegar hair care in a big way. Their latest line is ACV inspired and  includes an ACV Vinegar Shampoo, ACV Vinegar Treatment, and an ACV Vinegar Hair Cap. 

If you’re looking for a shampoo that can give you a deep cleanse without overly stripping your scalp of its natural moisture, the line’s ACV Vinegar Shampoo will totally be your new favorite. This affordable lathers into a soft yet dense foam to remove any dead skin cells from the scalp, preventing buildup and dandruff. The shampoo is also formulated with a blend of 16 different kinds of plant extracts that helps to retain moisture on the scalp.

With color-treated, dry, or dehydrated hair, adding the ACV Vinegar Treatment to your regular hair care regimen will help repair any damage while strengthening your strands.The ACV Vinegar Treatment has a blend of six different kinds of plant extract that is highly concentrated in essential vitamins and four types of vegetable oils to replenish moisture and leave locs glossy.

Final Thoughts: 

Although DIY at-home apple cider vinegar rinses for the hair and scalp are quite popular, you’re probably not going to be a huge fan of it’s potent smell. When the cleansing ingredient is formulated within haircare in the lab, it reduces any irregularities that the ACV you pick up in your local grocery store can hold and helps to tackle that distinctive smell. 

With La’Dor’s new ACV line, you can now have a more luxurious cleansing and detoxifying experience in your very own shower. You know what they say! Happy scalp, happy hair! 

+What’s your favorite hair care ingredient? Drop them down below!

The post Ingredient Spotlight: Why Apple Cider Vinegar Is Your Next Hair Care Obsession appeared first on The Klog.

If you find yourself struggling with a dry scalp or staticky, frizzy hair in the wintertime, you’re not alone. Winter can be a particularly tricky time for hair health, since the same weather-related issues that wreak havoc on our skin (arid air and dry home indoor environments) can cause a multitude of winter hair troubles too. 

With the right ingredients in your hair care arsenal, you can tackle these woes and make it through the coldest months with fabulous locks intact. Read on for our top ingredient and product picks for your best winter hair.

Soothe An Itchy Scalp With Salicylic Acid and Panthenol

Dry indoor heating and extra-hot showers can make your scalp irritable and imbalanced. Using a gentle shampoo bar like Skin Grammar Sweet & Gentle Shampoo Bar will help bring hydration back to the scalp and balance oil production.

Lather up with warm (not hot) water and let the vitamin B5 (panthenol) in this formula work to soothe irritation. Salicylic acid and tea tree oil also help to promote healthy sebum production levels while exfoliating flaky dead skin cells, and shea butter and olive fruit oils are also included for their nourishing properties with biotin to strengthen weakened hair strands. 

Bonus: one shampoo bar replaces three traditional bottles of shampoo! 

Repair Damage With Argan Oil 

After shampooing, it’s time to give hair some TLC with a deeply reparative mask like the Skinfood Argan Oil Silk Plus Hair Mask.

Squeeze out any excess water and then work the mask through lengths of hair, focusing on the ends to seal in the healing fatty acids and nourishing argan oil. Leave on for 5 minutes or more for best results. With regular use, this mask helps to strengthen hair that may be weakened from dry air and over-styling.

Hydrate Parched Strands with Hyaluronic Acid 

Our hair can get especially dry in the winter time, with indoor heating sapping away much-needed moisture from parched strands.

A hydrating leave-in treatment like British M Extra Glam brings moisture back into hair with hyaluronic acid, an ingredient also beloved in skin care for its water-locking capabilities. After towel-drying hair, evenly apply a small amount of this treatment throughout for soft, healthy hair. No need to rinse out!

Fight Frizz With Macadamia Oil and Squalane

Hair oils work as the ideal “finishing touch” for a blow dried look. After drying, add a few drops of La’Dor Wonder Hair Oil to the palms of your hands and work into the ends and through the lower lengths to lock in essential moisture with the help of plant-derived squalane. This formula also contains macadamia seed oil, known for its frizz fighting power and avocado and argan oils for added shine. 

How do you keep your hair looking its best in the winter? Let us know in the comments!

The post Your K-Beauty Guide To A Hydrating Winter Hair Care Routine For Shiny, Healthy Strands appeared first on The Klog.

If you’re a skin care devotee, by now you probably know that using a serum is imperative to your daily and nighttime skin care routine. But what you may not know is that you might be using the wrong serum for your exact skin type.

If you have normal skin type, you can pretty much use any kind of serum you’d like, but for many of us who have oily, combination, dry, or sensitive skin, we may feel like the formula we’re using isn’t doing much to help us out. Even worse, your serum could be making your skin conditions worse. We reached out to Joshua Zeichner, the director of clinical and cosmetic dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, and asked him to break down serums by skin types.

Oily Skin

“Look for serums that contain salicylic acid, which can help remove excess oil from the skin and minimize the appearance of pores,” says Zeichner.

Niacinamide is also a great ingredient for reducing the size of pores and controlling excess oil production. We love the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%, it reduces excess sebum while also tackling uneven skin tone. 

Dry Skin

“If you have dry skin, look for a serum with natural oils that directly moisturize and can repair a damaged skin barrier to help the skin maintain its own hydration,” says Zeichner.

One of my favorite natural Korean serums is the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, which contains herbal extracts, like dwarf lilyturf and licorice to amplify your skin’s synergy.

Combination Skin

“Look for a serum with hyaluronic acid, which is like a sponge that pulls in hydration into the skin,” says Zeichner. “You want it to be light enough for oily areas, but powerful enough for drier spots.” He recommends the Neutrogena Hydroboost Hydrating Serum.

We also like green tea for combination skin! It’s a great antioxidant that also helps with acne! To tap into those benefits, we use Instree’s Green Tea Fresh Serum, infused with 77% Jeju-sourced green tea extract.

Sensitive Skin

“Look for calming serums that contain ingredients like vitamin B5, which can soothe the skin and promote healthy barrier function,” says Zeichner. Skinceutical’s Hydrating B5 Gel is a good call! 

Fermented ingredients and probiotics are also superstars when it comes to calming and nourishing the barrier. That’s why we also love Manyo Factory’s Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule. This hydrating formula replenishes and balances with a patented Bifida Biome complex and 5 types of probiotics.

+What’s your favorite serum right now? Let us know below!

The post Skin Care FAQ: The Best Serum For Your Skin Type appeared first on The Klog.

For a longer time that I wish to admit, I didn’t think it was all that important to exfoliate my body. I would always exfoliate my face every other day (I hate blackheads!), but when it came to my body? Eh, I thought it didn’t need regular exfoliation.
Boy, was I wrong! I try to go to the gym four to five times a week and this past year I’ve noticed the skin on my body breaking out and just being generally dull. And it dawned on me that I should probably regularly exfoliate my body at least once a week (duh)!
So I went on a mission throughout the year to test out some of the most popular body exfoliators out there and found some favorites. Below, my picks for the best body scrubs, including why and when I use them.

For The Deep Clean: Frank Original Coffee Scrub

When my skin is feeling super dry and flaky, I always reach for this scrub. I consider this the OG body exfoliator because it really deeply cleans your skin and scrubs off flakes and impurities. Let me put it this way: This scrub is the closest thing I get to those amazing body scrubs at Korean spas.
The exfoliator is made of primarily ground up roasted coffee beans and this is the ingredient that does most of the intense exfoliating magic. Note: This scrub is not a soft and gentle one; it hits skin quite hard and really goes to town and scrubs away at skin:

But don’t be afraid that this scrub is going to be so harsh that it will damage your skin—the formula also contains a good amount of cold pressed almond oil that leaves skin just hydrated enough after it’s been scrubbed free of dead skin cells. Once you rinse the scrub off, your skin feels so insanely soft. It also feels tighter, thanks to caffeine’s powerful diuretic effects, which allows it to dehydrate fat cells temporarily and promote smooth skin.
The only thing I’m not a huge fan of with this scrub is the scent. As you can probably guess, it smells strongly of coffee, and I’m not so into smelling like a huge pot of coffee for the rest of the day. Thankfully, the scents fades after a few hours, but be warned that you will smell like Starbucks for a little while after leaving the shower. Depending on your coffee obsession, you may love or hate this.

For Helping to Keep Body Acne At Bay: Pacifica Acne Warrior Body Scrub

When I start noticing little bump on my chest and back from working out, I grab this Pacifica scrub to gently exfoliate them away. The reason why this scrub is so great at preventing and helping tame any body acne is because it contains salicylic acid. This form of BHA is an oil soluble acid that penetrates deeply into pores to rid them of oil-based impurities. Even better, the scrub also contains aloe and cucumber to moisturize and smoothe!

For When You Need to Exfoliate But Your Skin Is Acting Up: The Tatcha Indigo Smoothing Black Sugar Body Grommage

Don’t get tripped up by the name: Grommage is just a fancy French word that means “to erase,” and the definition of erase in this context means to slough off dead skin cells. This Tatcha scrub does just that in the most gentle way possible. It uses ultra-fine black sugar granules to delicately reveal fresh skin without causing any irritation.

It’s also ultra soothing, thanks to the indigofera tinctoria leaf extract, AKA Japanese Indigo, that’s in the formula. This is an ingredient that is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and barrier strengthening abilities. It’s also what gives this scrub its pretty deep blue color:

I’ve used this scrub when my skin has been on its last days of recovering from a nasty sunburn and was relieved to discover that it effectively scrubbed off any remaining peeling skin without making my skin any redder. It also smells so good—like citrus-y sherbert. After using it, your skin feels soft but also hydrated, thanks a collection of oils (including camellia and coconut) that’s infused in the scrub.

For That Big Night Out: Frank Shimmer Scrub

I was super excited to try this one. A body scrub that both exfoliates my skin and leaves it with a shimmer so it will look like I applied highlighter all over my body? Sounds fun! And this body scrub is major fun. It’s perfect for those moments when you need your skin to literally shine because you’re going to be in photos or you just want to look really, really luminous for a night.

The scrub is mainly composed of sugar, salt, grapeseed oil, coffee, and “glow dust,” which is just little naturally derived silver and gold particles. While gold may not do anything beneficial for your skin, this scrub does make you shiny, like if you dipped your body in an actual highlighter:

When I rinsed it off, my skin looked intensely bright and had actual sparkles on it, but it wasn’t too sparkly. The sparkles lasted an entire day and into the first half of the next day before fading away.

I liked the scent of this scrub better than the original Frank scrub; it smells more like a dessert and less like a cup of coffee. My only gripe is that it doesn’t exfoliate as well as the original (probably because it seems to use more sugar than coffee), and I felt like my skin wasn’t as soft as it could be. But for a fun scrub that makes me feel like I’m wearing subtle highlighter all over, this scrub is the way to go.

+ What do you think is the best body scrub? Share your picks in the comments!

The post The Best Body Scrubs For the Smoothest, Softest Skin appeared first on The Klog.

These sheet mask hacks will make sure that you’re using up every bit of goodness in that pouch!

The first time I used a sheet mask I remember thinking two things: First, how amazed I was by the results, and second, how wasteful it was that I had to throw away the sheet and the remaining essence in the pack after just one use. I always felt like there was more I could do with the product than just swiping on the remaining essence on my neck and hands.

And well, I was right—there is actually so much more you can do to get the most out of your sheet mask. We’ve compiled our favorite hacks that we love to use below!

Use your sheet mask in the shower

When we wrote an article about why you should never wash your face in the shower, one of our readers left a great tip about using a sheet mask in the shower, so naturally, we had to give it a go. And believe it or not, showering with a sheet mask on is one of the best ways to get the most hydration possible out of the mask, especially for people with dry skin.

Here’s how you do it: Once you’ve double cleansed (before showering, of course), apply the mask to your face, making sure you’re using either a bio-cellulose or hydrogel mask. (Microfiber masks aren’t great for this because they can slip off your face and the fibers can attract steam and water, which can begin to collect in the mask, especially along the chin.) Bio cellulose and hydrogel masks literally stick to the face and don’t absorb water, so they are a great option. I love using Leaders’ Bio Cellulose masks, like the Moisturizing Recovery Mask, because these babies cling to your skin. 

In the heat of the shower steam, your pores open up and are even more receptive to the mask and its essences. Because of this, your skin will end up feeling extra invigorated and hydrated. It can be a bit tricky to keep your chin up and avoid the water spraying on the mask, but after we tried it, we decided it was totally worth it. 

Use the mask on other parts of your body

Once you’ve finished using your mask on your face, there’s a whole side that has yet to come in contact with skin, and there’s undoubtedly some remaining essence. To make the most of this remaining product, fold the mask in half and wrap it around your neck.

If you feel like the mask has started to dry out, pull some of the remaining essence from the pack, apply it to your neck, and then place the mask on your skin. This way your neck will get the moisture and nourishment it deserves. Microfiber masks are great for this since they’re malleable and easy to apply. We used the Klavuu White Pearlsation Pearl Serum Mask:

Alternatively, you can fold the mask and place it around the heel of your foot to get rid of calluses. Just cut open the long side of the mask and place the heel of your foot inside so it can absorb the remaining essence. This mini-foot spa ensures you are really using your sheet mask from head to toe:

Apply the essence in the pack before applying the mask

Before putting on the sheet mask, pour the extra essence out of the packet and pat it onto your face, and then place the mask on top of the essence and continue as usual.
This method is far more effective than patting in the remaining essence at the end since the sheet will lock in the excess essence better. This ensures your skin gets that extra boost of hydration and nourishment and you’re really using all the product in the pack with nothing going to waste.

Create a DIY mask with the excess essence

Another way to make the most of that excess essence is to turn it into another mask entirely. Pour the essence into a Ziploc bag and add in a few cotton pads. Seal up the baggie and toss it in the fridge overnight. The cotton will absorb the remaining essence and the next morning you can lay the cotton on your face in any areas that need extra nourishment. This basically replicates the effect of the sheet itself and puts that remaining essence to good use.
Using these sheet mask hacks makes sure you’re milking your mask for every (literal) drop (of essence). Plus, most of these hacks will not only extend the life of your mask but also deliver better results for your skin. Happy masking!

+ Which of these sheet mask hacks are you most excited to try? Share with us below!

The post We Found 4 Ways to Hack Your Sheet Masks appeared first on The Klog.

K-Beauty’s known for its innovative application and product techniques. We’re talking everything from masking with toners to drenching the skin in a thick occlusive layer AKA slugging. So, it’s no surprise that Korean women have been known to follow the 3-second moisturizing rule.

This click-baity sounding rule suggests that you go straight into their skin care routine immediately after washing up, within 3 seconds.

While this may just seem like a silly recommendation from an over zealous skin care fanatic, science tells us that moisturizing immediately after cleansing is better for your skin! Here are the reasons why you should adopt this technique.

1. Your skin is more receptive to topical actives when wet

Your skin’s outer layer, the stratum corneum or SC, has one major function: to act as a barrier between your living cells and the outside world. When you apply a serum (or any other skin care product) to your skin in what’s called a topical application, you want your skin to absorb the maximum amount of active ingredients. However, your SC will resist the best it can and try to keep it out, because that’s its job (it just wants to make you proud!).

Most of the time, a skin care company will have formulated the product to convince your SC to let the actives through, with tricks like including penetration-enhancing ingredients like glycols, and having low pH levels for acids. Wetting your skin as well will give it a huge boost.

2. Occlusives in your moisturizer can seal in the water

Moisturizing ingredients fall into three categories: humectants, which hold onto water and stop it from evaporating; emollients, which sink into your skin and smooth out any cracks; and occlusives, which form a film that can seal in water.

It’s because of the occlusives that you’ll want to apply moisturizer as soon as possible. Water evaporates, and cleansing usually causes your skin to be “leakier” to water, so you generally end up with more dehydrated skin after cleansing if you let it dry and don’t moisturize. Occlusives form a non-evaporative oil-based film on top of the water to trap it in, so it can reenter your skin. The faster you get your moisturizer on, the more water you’ll trap, and the less time you’ll spend with dehydrated skin!

This is particularly true for when you apply a body cream. While you’ll likely be adding more water to your face in toners and serums, your body is usually neglected except for moisturizer. If you apply a body moisturizer that doesn’t contain much water to dry skin, your skin won’t have much water to absorb. But if you’ve waited too long, don’t fret – a water-containing moisturizer will help hydrate as well if your skin isn’t damp.

3. Our moisturizing and occlusive favorites

Then I Met You’s dreamy Renewing Rich Beauty Cream contains occlusives, emollients, and humectants to truly draw AND seal in moisture to the SC. It’s hydrating chops are impressive, with squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid living alongside ginseng and baobab.

The buttery formula that the Sioris Enriched By Nature Cream provides is an added bonus when one learns its packed full of ceramides and shea butter, which provides a protective layer over the skin, not allowing water to evaporate out of the skin barrier.

+Now that we know it pays off to go straight into your skincare routine right after cleansing, will this affect your skincare routine? Have you felt the difference? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The 3-Second Moisturizing Rule appeared first on The Klog.

We’re now at that point in the winter when there’s really no escaping dry and dehydrated skin. If your go-to moisturizer suddenly isn’t cutting it or you’re on the hunt for a natural, inexpensive skin solution, you may be considering incorporating products like petroleum jelly or coconut oil in their purest forms into your routine.

We’ve been having the same thoughts, so we asked two dermatologists to share their expert opinions on popular single-ingredient moisturizers and the pros and cons of applying them straight-up.

RELATED: I Used Baby Lotion as a Moisturizer for 2 Weeks and Here’s What It Did to My Skin

Olive Oil

“Olive oil is a light moisturizer which anyone can use on the face,” says Dr. Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York. “Less is more – a few drops are all you need.”

In addition to its hydrating properties, the oil – it’s best to use organic extra virgin olive oil on the face – is also rich in antioxidants that protect against environmental damage.

Hyaluronic Acid

You won’t find pure hyaluronic acid already stocked in your kitchen or bathroom cabinet, but we have it on the list because it’s a solid option for those looking to use products with minimal ingredient lists.

“It’s a great moisturizer as it pulls a lot of water and most people tolerate it very well,” says Susan Bard, MD, another New York City-based board-certified dermatologist.

The Plant Base Waterfall Moist Balanced Hyaluronic Acid 100 contains 100% pure sodium hyaluronate, a form of the ingredient that better penetrates skin than others. Since the ingredient is a humectant and pulls moisture from skin to the surface, we always recommend applying an occlusive on top to prevent that moisture from evaporating into the air.

Petroleum Jelly (a.k.a. Vaseline)

“Petrolatum, [or petroleum jelly] is occlusive making it a heavy moisturizer ideal to lock in moisture in very dry skin,” says Dr. Bard. She does note that it’s very sticky so if the texture is an issue for you, a similar, non-sticky option is glycerin.

The ingredient also might be too much for oily or combination skin types. Hear about what happened when one writer with a breakout-prone complexion used Vaseline as a moisturizer here.

Coconut Oil

A couple of years ago, coconut oil was considered a miracle, do-it-all ingredient that could be slathered anywhere and everywhere. However, while it still has its place in one’s medicine cabinet as a body lotion or hair mask, it may not be the best facial moisturizing product for everyone.

Dr. Mudgil says he’s “not crazy” about the idea of applying coconut oil on the face as a moisturizer. “I’ve seen a lot of contact allergy in my practice from patients using coconut oil.”

Dr. Bard doesn’t recommend it to patients because the oil “has a high comedogenic [rating] which will lead to clogged pores.”

A better facial use for it may be as an oil cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen.

Shea and Cocoa Butters

These formulas, says Dr. Mudgil, “have a comedogenic index of zero, meaning technically they should not clog pores.” Still, he says, “I’ve had many patients who have developed clogged pores using those products so it’s very patient dependent.”

Perhaps one explanation is that they’re very thick. For this reason, his advice is to use shea and cocoa butters to treat dry skin on the body and not the face.

If you do want to give either one a try as a facial moisturizer, start with a very small amount of product and apply as the last step in your routine.

Bottom Line

The products listed above could be miracle dry skin solutions for some, but they could also be recipes for breakouts for others. If you’re thinking of incorporating any of them into your routine, patch test and start small to see how your skin reacts before slathering the ingredient all over your face.

It’s also important to take the type of moisturizing agent an ingredient is into consideration. For example, petroleum jelly is an occlusive, meaning it sits on top of skin and serves to seal in moisture, but it doesn’t necessarily hydrate beyond the surface, so it’s best to apply an ingredient that’s a humectant (like hyaluronic acid) or an emollient first for best results.

+Have you used any of the above as a face moisturizer? Share your experience below! What other ingredients do you have questions about?

The post The Best (and Questionable) Single-Ingredient Moisturizers to Apply on Dry Skin appeared first on The Klog.