Winter has arrived! We got our first snowstorm in the new house, and it was beautiful!
As much as I love a snowy landscape, I absolutely hate the cold weather!
I have normal skin all year round, but it is seriously Sahara dry in the winter. I used to slather on the thickest moisturizer I could find at the drugstore, which did absolutely nothing for my flaking skin.
Since starting my blog, I have tested a ton of skincare products. One thing that I learned on my skincare journey is that hydration needs to happen in layers for it to be effective.
When I first heard about the K-Beauty 10-step routine, I thought it was a crazy idea. Who has time for 10 steps twice a day? Who can afford that many products?
I soon realized that most of the 10-steps are optional. Some of the steps are used a few times a week, some of the steps are used once a day, and some of the steps can be skipped completely.
As for the affordability, I have found amazing K-Beauty brands with fantastic products that won't break the bank!
I decided to put together an all-inclusive (except sheet masks) skincare routine that will give you smooth skin during the cold winter months and will cost less than $150 without any sales.
For this routine, I partnered up with Stylevana to get you a 20% off code (yes, it is an affiliate link) that will be active until December 31, 2019.
I have personally tested each of the products mentioned in this post. Some products I have purchased myself and others have been gifted by the brands. Two of the products were kindly sent to me by Stylevana, and I am currently using them both. As always, I will note which products were gifted!
There are currently sales at Stylevana, so I will list the regular and sale prices for each product. I will also add up the totals for you at the end of the post. Don't forget, I have a 20% off code (MIMWIEDS20) that will be active until December 31, 2019.
All the steps below are used twice a day except steps 3 and 8.
K-Beauty Winter Routine:
Every great skincare routine has to start with a cleansing oil. A cleansing oil will remove all traces of dirt, makeup, and old skincare products all while intensely nourishing the skin. This is an essential step for all skin types during the winter, but it can be a great addition during any season. The PURITO From Green Cleansing Oil is formulated with Olive, Sunflower Seed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond, and Grape Seed oils. It is intensely hydrating and it doesn't leave a film on the skin. I personally apply two pumps of this oil to my dry skin and rinse thoroughly after giving my face a nice massage. I absolutely love this cleansing oil, and I have purchased it many times. It is currently on sale for $12.59 and originally retails for $22.66 at Stylevana.
After an oil cleanser, you must cleanse your skin with a water-based cleanser to remove all the oil you slathered on your face. A lot of people hate on foam cleansers because they can strip the natural oils from the skin when they are formulated with harsh ingredients. Fortunately, there are a ton of hydrating foaming cleansers made in Korea. One of my favorites is The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser. Formulated with rice water, this cleanser is nourishing and brightening. I use this cleanser as my second step cleanser following an oil cleanser. I was kindly gifted this cleanser, but I have it on my repurchase list! It is currently on sale for $5.39 and originally retails for $11.32 at Stylevana.
Exfoliation is key during the winter! Using a gentle physical exfoliator 1-2 times a week will give you the smoothest skin of your life! Just remember not to exfoliate more than twice a week or you can risk destroying your skin barrier. Stylevana kindly sent me the Skin&Lab Gently Vita Exfoliator to try out, and I fell in love! I have used many exfoliating peel products this year, and this one really stands out. It is formulated with Vitamin Capsules to help brighten the skin. As you can tell, I love to use brightening products during the winter, my skin gets so dull looking without them! I like to use this exfoliator on wet skin after my water-based cleanser. It is currently on sale for $7.99 and originally retails for $14.38 at Stylevana.
Ok, at first I was skeptical about the idea of an essence. It seemed like a money-grab to me. However, I was given a sample of the SK-II First Treatment Essence, and I was hooked! If you don't know, SK-II is extremely unaffordable, and I knew I had to find an alternative. Enter the Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence. I have gone through so many bottles of this essence, and I can't get enough! This product gives me the brightest skin, the tightest pores, and the smoothest face. The results are identical to the SK-II First Treatment Essence at a fraction of the cost! I like to apply this essence to a freshly cleansed face using my hands. It is on sale for $21.19 and originally retails for $24.46 at Stylevana.
Traditional American toners are not the same as their Korean counterparts. Unlike the alcohol heavy astringents passing off as toners in the US, Korean toners can be extremely hydrating. If a toner is hydrating enough, you can use more than one layer at a time to boost hydration levels even further! The NATURE REPUBLIC Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 90% Toner is a fantastic hydrating toner. It can be used in 1-7 layers, and your skin will love you for buying this toner. The brand kindly sent me this toner, and I have repurchased it since then. I like to apply the toner with my hands after using an essence. It is currently retailing for $7.09 at Stylevana.
Serums are a great way to add boosters to your skincare routine. You may not think that you need a serum, but you do. If you've never used a serum before, you are in for a serious treat! Just be careful, not all serums are created equal. There are some terrible serums on the market, so don't just pick one based on the packaging. My go-to serums come from iUNIK. I don't know how to pronounce the brand name, but they make some amazing products. The iUNIK Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum is one of the best serums for the winter. It is formulated with moisturizing propolis and packed with skin brightening vitamins. The brand sent me this serum, and I really love it! I like to use 3-4 drops of this serum after applying toner. It is currently on sale for $13.99 and originally retails for $25.18 at Stylevana.
Almost done! The key to winter hydration is not having to rely on a thick moisturizer. If you follow all my steps, you will be able to use a water cream without any issues all winter long! Water creams are lightweight moisturizers that layer beautifully on top of a full skincare routine. These creams don't feel heavy or clog pores. Stylevana kindly sent me the TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream and let me tell you, it is AMAZING. Green Tea is one of my favorite skincare ingredients. It is soothing, clarifying, and packed with antioxidants. I love how soft my skin feels when I use this cream, and I actually look forward to applying it every day! It is currently on sale for $10.59 and originally retails for $19.06 at Stylevana.
Ok, we are finally at the last step in the mornings. DO NOT forget to apply sunscreen every single day! It doesn't matter that the skies are gray or that the winters are dark. UV rays can pass through clouds and window panes. UV rays will damage and age your skin, so sunscreen is very important. If you can't afford to buy expensive skincare, please go to your local drugstore and find a sunscreen that works for your budget. Without sunscreen, all these skincare steps are absolutely pointless. I hope I got my point across. One of my favorite Korean sunscreens is the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 2019 Edition. If you haven't tried a Korean sunscreen yet, you are in for a shock. It feels nothing like American sunscreens, and the UV filters they use are far superior to ours. The Biore sunscreen is a fantastic option that won't dry out your skin during the winter. I recommend purchasing a few of these as backups. It is currently on sale for $6.89 and originally retails for $12.40 at Stylevana.
The only step I didn't include in this skincare routine is the Sheet Mask step. It is very hard to pick a sheet mask that will work for every skin type, so I will leave that selection up to you. A sheet mask isn't necessary, but it is a nice addition to a routine at any time of the day. I typically use sheet masks between steps 5 and 6 of this routine.
The total cost of this routine at original retail prices: $146.54 ($117.23 with the code MIMWIEDS20)
The total cost of this routine with sale prices: $94.01 ($75.21 with the code MIMWIEDS20)
Links For All The Products:
Oil Cleanser
Foaming Cleanser
Peeling Gel
Starting Treatment Essence
Hydrating Toner
Propolis Serum
Watery Cream Moisturizer
Sunscreen
Sleeping Mask
I hope you enjoyed this winter skincare routine! If you want to read all my routine posts, check out the Skincare Routines Series tab at the top of this page.
If you have any questions or suggestions. please leave them in the comments section down below. I would also love to hear about your experience with any of the products mentioned in this post!
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XO
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