Yeppo Glow Guide, part 2: Skin cleansing the Korean way

✨ It all starts with a clean face ✨

We go through step by step the secrets behind Korean skincare, and of course, we start with cleansing, the first step in the skincare routine.

When should the face be cleansed and with what? How important is facial cleansing? And how do you cleanse the face without damaging the skin? We cover these and other questions in this article.

The importance of thorough cleansing

Korean skincare has become known worldwide for its double cleansing, a method where the face is first cleansed with an oil-based cleansing product and then with a traditional cleansing product, such as cleansing gel or milk.

To get the best results from other products, it is important to start with a clean face. And although facial cleansing doesn’t solve all skin problems, clean skin is a prerequisite for more balanced skin. When cleansing, you try to remove excess sebum, makeup, pollution from the air during the day, and other dirt from the face and neck area. If these remain on the skin, the skin cannot breathe, and over time it can more easily develop inflammation such as pimples and redness.

Gentle cleansing: what does it mean?

We often talk about gentle cleansing, but what does it mean?

Gentle cleansing means cleansing without damaging the skin barrier. That is, you only want to remove excess sebum and dirt from the skin, but nothing more! After cleansing, the skin should feel soft, not tight and dry. Gentle cleansing should not dry out the skin because this can damage the skin barrier.

If you want to learn more about how to care for the skin barrier and its importance, we recommend reading this article about the subject!

Cleansing 101: how to cleanse the face?

Yes, now we’re going back to basics, that is, how to properly cleanse the face!

When thoroughly cleansing the face, it usually takes 1-2 minutes, and besides the face, it is also good to clean the neck area and behind the ears. If you want to try the double cleansing method, always start with an oil-based product.

Using an oil-based cleanser

Oil-based products include cleansing balms and cleansing oils. An oil-based product is always applied to dry face. An appropriate amount of product is taken in the palms, rubbed in, and then applied to the face with circular motions. It is good to massage the oil in for about 30-60 seconds before rinsing off with water, which makes the product turn milky.

Pro tip! Start rinsing by first emulsifying: add just a little water to your face so the product emulsifies, meaning it turns milky as water and oil mix. After that, the product is easier to rinse off with more water 💦

Using a water-based cleanser

Water-based cleansers are the most familiar to many: cleansing foam, gel, or milk. They work excellently as a second step in cleansing or as a light cleanser for those who don’t need a strong cleansing effect. In Korea, cleansing foams are very popular because they are gentle and work especially well after oil cleansing.

Many water-based cleansers also contain various active ingredients, such as exfoliating agents. These are convenient for those who want a gentle facial scrub as part of their daily skincare routine.