salicylic acid korean skincare

From Sunrise to Sunset: A Comprehensive Guide to Your AM and PM Skincare Routine

To achieve glowing, blooming skin, you need a healthy diet, lifestyle as well as additional minerals from a proper skincare routine. And I have to admit people seem to underestimate the importance of morning skincare and think morning skin care is not necessary. That’s extremely wrong since taking care of your skin in the morning helps you prepare your skin for the day ahead as well as removing leftover product from the previous night which may affect your makeup. 

The morning and evening skincare routines differ in their goals and techniques, and it’s important to understand these differences to get the most out of your products. If you haven’t planned out your AM and PM skincare routine, let us do it for you.

AM Skincare Routine

For a good beginning to a new day, you probably need to refresh yourself with a good skincare routine. In case you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help you.

Cleansing

Cleansing in the morning is important to remove any sweat, oil, or debris that has accumulated on your skin overnight. Choose a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils, and massage it onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Toning

Toning helps to balance your skin’s pH level and prepare it for the rest of your skincare routine. You would love to use a toner that is alcohol-free and contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid. Apply it to a cotton pad and sweep it over your face, avoiding the eye area. You can also apply it on your bare hands and pat them on your face like how Asian women do. To me, this is the best Korean skincare for 40s technique ever.

Serums

Serums are lightweight formulas that penetrate deep into your skin to deliver active ingredients. Choose a serum that targets your specific skincare concerns, such as hydration, brightening, or anti-aging. Apply a few drops onto your fingertips and gently press it into your skin.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing in the morning is important to keep your skin hydrated and protected throughout the day. Choose a moisturizer that contains SPF to provide sun protection, and make sure it’s suitable for your skin type. Apply it all over your face, neck, and chest.

For those who haven’t found any matte moisturizer with SPF, here are our recommendations:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid: This lightweight, oil-free sunscreen provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with a matte finish. It’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with SPF 30: This moisturizer is specifically designed for oily skin and helps to control oil production while providing sun protection. It also contains niacinamide to help soothe and calm the skin.

Supergoop! Matte Screen SPF 40: This mattifying sunscreen contains silica to help absorb excess oil and create a smooth, matte finish. It’s also enriched with antioxidant-rich plant extracts to help protect the skin from environmental stressors.

Sun Protection

Sun protection is essential to prevent damage from harmful UV rays. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and apply it generously all over your face, neck, and any other exposed areas. Reapply every two hours if you’re spending time outdoors.

PM Skincare Routine

After a busy day, it’s night time and you can spend some time for yourself now. For relaxation, you might want to start doing your daily PM skincare. 

Cleansing

You should double cleanse at night to take off your makeup and clean dirt, and oil that has accumulated on your skin throughout the day. Start with an oil-based cleanser to break down any makeup or sunscreen, then follow up with a water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities. You can also use a clay mask for deeper cleansing.

Toning

Unlike your morning routine, you might want to choose a stronger toner at night. Go for a product that contains gentle exfoliants, such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. Apply it to a cotton pad and sweep it over your face, avoiding the eye area. You can just pat the toner all over your face if the product you’re using is gentle on the skin.

If you’re looking for a cruelty-free, Paraben free and naturally derived toner that has at least 2% of salicylic acid, Azimd skincare the one spray can work well for you.

Treatments

Night time is the best time to apply treatments that target specific skincare concerns as you don’t have to go out for the next 8 hours, giving your skin more time to absorb the product. Choose a treatment that is suitable for your skin type and concerns, and remember to read the instructions before using it. If you want to retain moisture, while providing protection and enhancing the natural repair process of your skin, you should try out Essential Beauty hydrating facial serum.

Eye Cream

To hydrate and protect the delicate skin around your eyes, you might want to use eye cream. This is optional since most people who use eye cream are over 30. Choose a product that contains antioxidants, such as vitamin C or E, to brighten and protect the skin. Gently pat it onto the skin around your eyes, using your ring finger.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing at night helps to hydrate and nourish your skin while you sleep. A moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type and contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin is best for a night routine. 

Recommended Skincare Items

Bad Habit Skincare

Bad Habit is a skincare brand from the US that is focused on resetting stressed-out skin. They help people with damaged skin from bad habits recover like dehydration from too much screen time.

The brand ensures that their products do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban which might cause irritations and other skin problems.

Bad Habit is also perfect for people who are vegan since their products are 100% cruelty-free and clean.

This brand is quite popular on social media and many influencers, and even Emma Chamberlain have done a Bad Habit skincare review. Most of the feedback is positive but it’s claimed that this brand is not for people with sensitive skin.

Photo from Cosmetic Businesses

Le Mieux Skincare

Le Mieux is a skincare brand that offers a range of products for various skin concerns, including aging, acne, hyperpigmentation, and sensitivity. The brand combines science and nature to create innovative formulas that use advanced technology and high-quality ingredients.

Le Mieux products contain a variety of active ingredients, such as peptides, stem cells, and antioxidants, to improve the appearance and health of the skin. The brand also offers various types of products, including cleansers, serums, moisturizers, masks, and eye treatments.

The brand claims that their products don’t contain binders, thickeners, fillers, sulfates, or parabens. They are also a proud participant in PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Program, their products are cruelty-free and not tested on animals.

Many people have used Le Mieux’s products and left a lot of reviews. They said their products were effective, well-formulated and affordable. You can read Le Mieux skincare reviews on social media or online shopping websites like Amazon.

Photo from Create. Play. Travel

For healthy, radiant, youthful skin, you should be doing your skincare properly and frequently as well as knowing your skin and the products you use well. The key for a perfect skincare routine is understanding and being steady as skincare is a form of relaxation and self-love. And don’t be impatient if they don’t work immediately, your skin needs time to absorb. If you’re into skincare but don’t know where to start or just want to try new products, you should check out Bad Habit and Le Mieux, they might have what you need.

THE 15 BEST TONERS FOR ACNE PRONE SKIN IN 2024

If you suffer from acne, it may be time to incorporate a toner into your daily skincare routine. However, before settling on any recipe, it’s critical to evaluate your specific skin type to choose the best toner for you. We spent hours investigating the most popular alternatives on the market to locate the finest toners for acne-prone skin. We trimmed the list by taking into account criteria such as components, advantages, and overall value. It’s now time to select the best lotion for acne-prone skin.

Ole Henrikson Balancing Force Oil Control Toner

Considered as one of the best toners for oily skin, this toner contains three hydroxy acids, which pack a powerful punch against oil and acne. They act together to “exfoliate the skin, clear pores, and reduce sebum production, while witch hazel tightens pores and reduces oil further.” But don’t be concerned about it drying out your skin—botanical oils like green tea, eucalyptus, algae, and Irish moss work to moisturize, soothe inflammation, and deliver an antioxidant boost.

Paula’s Choice CLEAR Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution

This toner is excellent for acne-prone skin. It does assist with redness, oily skin, and acne-prone skin. This gentle leave-on exfoliator clears breakouts, unclogs and reduces pores, and fades red stains from previous breakouts. With ingredients like salicylic acid and BHA to treat blemishes and green tea to soothe redness, it’s no surprise that this toner is an acne-fighting workhorse. It is said to prevent breakouts, said many reviewers who have used it for a while. Yet, there are a few people expressing their disappointment towards this product, saying they have found no difference before and after using it. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Toner

This clarifying toner from La Roche-Posay prevents acne while also brightening your complexion. The oil-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free liquid product is ideal for individuals with oily, acne-prone, or combination skin. It has 0.5% salicylic acid and 0.5% glycolic acid. This exfoliating pair works tirelessly to improve the appearance and feel of your skin. This toner is recommended for people with oily and acne prone skin (that’s why it is called the best toners for acne) as well as those who have frequent breakouts on their face. 

Murad Clarifying Toner

Murad’s Clarifying Face Toner is a refreshing product that eliminates oil and pollutants while refreshing skin. The product is designed to address skin issues such as breakouts, acne scars, and redness and is aimed at people who have oily skin. The bottle is simple to use and delivers the exact amount of product required. Because of the witch hazel and algae extract, the clear liquid does not feel oily. The toner is intended to provide an additional wash when needed, and it does so with a delightful cooling sensation that leaves the skin firmer but not dry.

VICHY Purete Thermale Perfecting Toner

Pureté Thermale Toner is an alcohol-free, ultra-gentle toner that cleanses and hydrates skin for a clean, rejuvenated appearance. After using, the skin is left soft, vibrant, and pleasant. This is one of the best toners for dry skin, and it contains glycerin to moisturize as well as mineral-rich volcanic water to reinforce the skin. This product is alcohol-free and paraben-free, ensuring it is safe for sensitive skin. Furthermore, this toner is really different from other products as it can remove makeup residue and impurities. 

Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner

To purify, exfoliate, and visibly decongest acne-prone skin, use this oil-absorbing, mattifying, and pore-minimizing salicylic acid toner with soothing grape and rose water. Natural salicylic acid and botanicals are used to visibly reduce oil on the skin and lessen the appearance of pores and blackheads. This non-comedogenic salicylic acid toner visibly tightens pores and mattifies skin while diminishing facial flaws. This Caudalie toner works like a vacuum for your pores, and it has proven its effectiveness. Many customers have reported their skin being clearer after using the product. Because of the additional grape seed water and rosewater, the formula is non-irritating and safe for sensitive skin, and it will reduce inflammation and enhance your glow.

Charlotte Tilbury Daily Glow Toner

If you’re not a fan of acids, try this brightening toner. This high-performance ACID-FREE toner is enriched with high-performance ingredients, including the balancing, smoothing, and pore-refining properties of Niacinamide, resurfacing acid-alternatives Super Peptide Royalepigen P5, and plant-derived, pore-minimizing. Prickly pear extract is used to gently resurface skin, and red clover extract is used to decrease the appearance of pores. At the same time, it provides peptides and niacinamide to the skin, giving it a beautiful gleam.

Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

Tower28 is well-known for its sensitive skin-friendly makeup and skincare formulations, but this toner—which comes in a firetruck red spray bottle—is well-known for its magical ability to soothe, purify, and restore stressed-out skin. It carries the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which means it has been shown to help with eczema flare-ups, but it also helps with inflammatory acne and perioral dermatitis. This purifying face spray is pH adjusted to assist soothe and is suitable for all skin types. It is designed for all skin types, especially sensitive skin, and can be applied anywhere on your body.

Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner

Pixi’s cult-classic exfoliating toner has become a favorite among many influencers. This is because this all-in-one choice addresses several skin conditions, making it ideal for persons with combination skin. It contains oil-removing astringents, soothing aloe, exfoliating glycolic acid, and hydrating humectants, all of which are powerful toner components. It is highly recommended to use in the morning or evening, as needed. Directions: Wash your face. Using a cotton pad, apply Glow Tonic to your face, neck, and decolletage (avoiding the eye area). After that, apply a serum or moisturizer.

Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion

Originally developed in 1964, there’s a reason why this toner has remained a staple among Kiehl’s broad array of skincare products ever since. It regulates and calms greasy skin, while camphor and menthol provide cooling and refreshing sensations. It can be used all over, but it also works well as a spot treatment if you only have a few oily spots to tackle, such as your T-zone. To use the product, wet a sterile cotton pad with the oily skin toner, and then apply to affected regions of skin without making eye contact with the said product to avoid any harm. This product effectively works on oily skin and acne prone skin. 

COSRX Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner

This alcohol-free Korean toner from cult favorite brand COSRX is created with soothing Centella water that glides on gently – ideal for sensitive, acne-prone skin. It’s also cruelty- and paraben-free, as well as hypoallergenic. The Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner contains centella asiatica leaf water, which helps to calm irritated red skin, and Jeju Island mineral water, which leaves skin glowing, smooth, and hydrated. The toner is ideal for nourishing irritable and sensitive skin and has a relaxing effect. While this toner lacks the exfoliating power of some of the others on our list, it is a perfect way for anyone with sensitive skin that is easily irritated to balance the pH of their skin without any redness or inflammation.

Buttah Skin AHA/BHA Rosewater Toner

Buttah Rosewater Toner contains calming rose water that acts to reduce redness and inflammation. Being one of the toners with rosewater, it effectively balances the pH of skin and reduces oily residue as well as soothing redness and irritated skin.  It also contains chemicals that act as a buffer to offset the low concentration of exfoliating acids delivered to the skin. Most importantly, aloe vera prevents those acids from stripping or irritating the skin by restoring water. Customers like how quickly the toner sank into our skin, leaving no tightness or sticky residue. 

SK-II Clear Lotion Skin Toner

The moisturizing toner contains PITERATM, which is a trademark ingredient comprising 50 micronutrients and is the star of the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner, and AHA, which exfoliate and remove pollutants and dead skin surface cells. The micronutrients, along with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), work to improve your skin’s overall appearance, beginning with uneven skin texture. It prepares the skin for the rest of your skincare routine by conditioning the skin’s surface for a velvety finish. Upon use, the toner felt moisturizing and relaxing, and it immediately helped to improve dullness and texture. Due to the high price, it can be hard to get for many people, yet the quality is worth the price, said many customers.

Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent

This oil-control astringent for acne-prone skin is used on a regular basis to treat acne and prevent future breakouts and blackheads. It’s also soft enough to apply in the morning, noon, and night because it won’t bother or dry out your skin. The acne-fighting toner, made with witch hazel and 2% salicylic acid, is strong enough to deep clean pores and remove dirt, oil, and makeup that could otherwise cause outbreaks, yet gentle enough to use morning, afternoon, and night. While the widespread ideal of decreasing pores remains a pipe dream, Neutrogena’s astringent will help de-clog your pores, making them appear smaller.

Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

Dickinson’s toner is a drugstore bargain at only 49 cents per ounce, making it a GH Beauty Lab expert pick as well as a consumer favorite. This astringent, which contains only one ingredient, distilled witch hazel, has been a part of people’s beauty routine, thanks to its purifying and pore-minimizing advantages for their oily complexion. However, because it contains witch hazel, it may not provide enough moisturizing and softening properties for dry skin.

CONCLUSION 

To summarize, the best toner for acne-prone skin can transform your skincare routine. It treats acne, decreases inflammation, and diminishes the appearance of pores with its gentle yet effective mix. Say good-bye to acne and welcome to a cleaner, smoother complexion. With this amazing toner, you may embrace confidence and glowing skin.