Not everyone believes in eye cream, but I do (perhaps it's because my allergy-prone eyes are especially vulnerable to dryness and puffiness). I like Whamisa by Glow Studio Chai Tea Eye Cream, $26 — it's soothing and hydrating and its light enough that makeup layers over it flawlessly.
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Step 10: SPF
How much would you judge me if I told you I was a beauty writer who doesn't always remember to wear sunscreen? That said, I do almost always wear a base with SPF — and for this week of K-beauty testing, I tried to stick to Korean makeup brands. I found myself enamored of the iconic 3Lab Perfect BB SPF 40, $105. Its glowifying effects, combined with the rest of my weekly routine, were considerable and caused me to make more than one double take whilst catching a glimpse of my own reflection.
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Takeaways
By the end of my week, this skin care experiment passed the ultimate test: I arrived to work harried, out of breath and feeling haggard (having only slept about five hours the night before). Running even later than usual, I'd dashed out the door without a stitch of makeup. But no sooner had I hurled my near-lifeless body into my chair when one of my coworkers turned to me and remarked, "Your skin is glowing. You look amazing." That could have been a fluke, but a second person quickly agreed, "You really do. Your skin looks SO good!"
(At that point, I said a silent prayer to the gods of Korean skin care.)
I've tried a lot of skin care products during my years as a beauty writer (by latest count, around 1000 in the last year alone) and I can honestly say that this is the best my skin has looked in a long time. You don't have to undertake every step of this time-consuming (and wallet-consuming) routine, but it may be worth introducing a few steps into your regimen. Be it a great double cleansing duo, several layers of hydrating toner, or even some adorable masks, any of the steps alone can make a world of difference.
