10 Tips For Self Isolation With Korean Beauty

[By Biscuits & Makeup] Wednesday, 1 April 2020

2020 hasn’t started off that well and we want to firstly wish everyone is safe at home, away from the madness. During these extraordinary times with COVID-19, whilst challenging, we do also have the chance to stay home and self-isolate. This helps flatten the curve in addition to helping the medical and health industry stabilise the public’s well-being. The health and safety of our LFI family is of utmost importance to us and we want to help everyone during these hard times. Self-isolating doesn’t have to be as dull as it seems. It may actually be the perfect opportunity for you to get your skincare in order or to improve on what you’re doing already. To help you with this, we’re sharing our 10 tips for self isolation with Korean beauty!

We hope this helps improve your Korean beauty skincare regime for the upcoming days, weeks or even months (fingers crossed it’s not months). Let’s face isolation with Korean beauty!

Tip 1: A sheet mask a day, keeps the bad skin days away!

If you apply one sheet mask every night for the next week, you will start to see a huge improvement in your skin. It’s an extremely affordable as well as effortless way to repair the health of your skin. Just pop on a mask, watch your favourite Korean drama and wait for a radiant, hydrated complexion! Masking not only gives you the opportunity to relax and rest, but also helps you use up the stack of face masks you’ve been hoarding all this time. We sure know we have been 😉 .

Now, if you don’t have any sheet masks lying around, not to worry! A good toner or essence soaked in with some cotton pads will do the same trick.

Tip 2: Wash your pillowcases!

One of the most common reasons why you have recurring pimples on your face may be due to your pillowcases containing impurities it has accumulated over time. This may include bacteria, gunk from your eyes in the mornings, or drool from dreaming about your man crush. Whatever the reason, we advise washing and changing pillowcases once every seven days.

Tip 3: Take your time in your skincare steps

Something we are all guilty of is taking time for granted. Even now, we may not be fully appreciating and indulging in the extra time we have at home. Cleansing is not just about the effectiveness of the products and its ingredients that it holds, but also how much time you put into really working it into your skin. You should use your hands to work the cleanser into the skin for at least 2-5 minutes. The longer you spend on working the cleanser into your skin, the better the clean! So why not?

Another suggestion we have is to also heat up your skin before you begin to cleanse your skin. This makes the cleanser a lot more effective and softens the clogged-up impurities as well as oils so it releases out of your pores easier. Do not do this step in conjunction with a clay mask as it would get rid of more than it should and you’ll find yourself getting drier skin, potentially leading to an overcompensation of oils moments later.

Tip 4: Clean your cushion sponges or face brushes

Now is also a great time to look after the sponges or makeup brushes you have neglected to clean for months! They have probably been collecting bacteria, old makeup, dirt and other impurities all this time. By cleaning your sponges and brushes, you’re keeping your face clean whilst helping to improve your skin’s health! A face full of makeup won’t make you feel as beautiful as clean skin.

Tip 5: Use the 7 Skin Method

The 7 Skin Method was introduced into the beauty industry a few years ago and still has huge benefits for your skin. Previously you may not have had the time to apply all seven layers of toner and may have only done 1-3 layers. It’s time now to try to reach the 7 layers and see how you go! It may it even surprise you what it can do for your skin!

If you don’t know what the “7 Skin Method” technique is, we have a thorough explanation on our blog post, “The Korean 7 Skin Method Explained”.  We tell you the benefits and how it is done!

Tip 6: Do the whole 10!

The average person only applies 2-3 skincare products on the daily and wee recommend that while you have the time, try out the whole 10 steps so you can get one step close to the skin you deserve. Most people have asked us, “what are the 10 steps? And what order should it be done?” Here is a quick guide for you:

Stage 1: Cleanse

1. Oil Cleanser
2. Water-based Cleanser
3. Exfoliant

Stage 2: Preparation

4. Toner
5. Essence

Stage 3: Nourishment

6. Serums/Ampoules/Oils
7. Sheet Masks
8. Eye Creams or Masks
9. Moisturiser

Stage 4: Finishing

10. Sunscreen / Sleeping Mask

You can definitely also split this routine into AM and PM. Add or remove any products to customise this routine for your skin! The general consensus is you apply the products with the lightest consistency first then the heaviest. Keep in mind not all these steps are essential but they are definitely some building blocks to give you the skin you want.

Now if you find doing the whole 10 step routine is not something in your budget, that’s okay! The next tip is for you!

Tip 7: Find way to double up!

If you’re on a budget while you are at home and self-isolating (being the amazing hero that you are) you may not have the luxury for all 10 steps in your skincare routine. This is okay! Some of your current skincare products are actually versatile and can be used for more than one purpose. Here are some double ups you can use:

1. Toner
   You can create a DIY face mask with your toner (if you have cotton sheets), use it as a moisturiser (layer it or apply it more frequently throughout the day) or put it in a spray bottle to turn it into a face mist. Toner is such an easy product to add into your lifestyle and it’s one of the more inexpensive products that you can use.
2. Face Masks
   Your face mask, especially the ones with clay or charcoal, can be used as a pimple treatment. If you suddenly find yourself with an unwelcome guest on your face, apply a face mask on top. This will suck up all the impurities and bacteria in addition to treating your skin. By doing this once a day, that little red nasty will surely go away!
3. Eye Patches
   Maybe you find yourself with some dry areas on your face but you’ve run out of sheet masks. Not to worry, eye patches can also do the trick to help hydrate skin, alleviating dryness. Keep in mind, toners may be a more cost-effective way to hydrate.
4. Sleeping Masks
   Did you know that you can use your favourite sleeping masks when you’re awake? If you have some dry patches around your face, apply a generous amount of your favourite sleeping mask on that affected area and wear it around the house. By doing this consistently every day for around 7 days, you’ll be astounded by the disappearance of the dry patch. Additionally, this ensures your skin is hydrated inside and out!
5. Gel Moisturiser
   Apply your favourite gel moisturiser as a hydrating mask. The consistency of a gel moisturiser works perfectly to lock in the moisture as well as provide your skin with the nourishment it’s lacking. Keep in mind not to leave it on for too long or else it may have some reverse effects.

Tip 8: Label dates on your skincare products

Grab a sticker as well as a sharpie and write dates of when you opened the products! This will help you keep track of which skincare products are expiring or have not yet expired. Applying expired skincare products are detrimental to your skin’s health! It’s not worth saving a couple dollars.

Tip 9: Make use of your beauty tools or gadgets

We can be caught up in the luxury of skincare beauty tools like the derma needle roller, face massagers, foreo cleansing devices, sonic skin scrubbers, jade rollers and more – but we make no use of time. They just collect dust and it’s all because we don’t have the time. Well, this is it! We are self-isolating, so why aren’t we also using these devices?

If you’re a student, use your jade roller while you’re watching a lecture or studying. If you’re a parent and your children are sleeping, get out that derma needle roller and work towards achieving that perfect skin. There’s now a time you can do it all and get perfect skin.

Tip 10: Do some light reading about your skin concerns.

Find out ways to improve the condition of your skin by having a better understanding as to why things happen on your skin. Why do you have breakouts? What’s making your skin so dry? Why are you getting blackheads? Think about your lifestyle habits, including what you eat! Once you figure out what’s going on, read up on how you can make changes either to your way of living or your skincare routine.

We have some helpful blog posts that you may find useful!

• How to remove blackheads
• What Skin type Am I?
• Skincare Habits
• Top 10 Foods for Health and Glowing Skin
• Ultimate Guide to Exfoliation
• Korean Skincare Guide: Treating Acne
• K Beauty Tips: How to Pore Care
• K Beauty Tips: How to Improve Wrinkles
• How to Use AHA/BHA
• 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine Guide and more!

We hope our 10 tips for self isolation (with Korean beauty) helps you cope with having to stay home for now. We dearly wish our LFI fam are safe and well. 

Please comment below if there’s anything you guys want us to blog about and we’ll surely deliver!