Good morning everyone! It's time to wake up and get ready for a brand-new day! (^_^).

The first thing I do in the morning is cleanse my face with a cleansing foam or oil. Pictured here is the Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam. I have tested and used many different South Korean cleansing foams in the past, but unfortunately, most are no longer available. One South Korean brand I completely trust for effective cleansing and hydration is Laneige. Their products are pricey, but in my opinion, they remain among the best on the market. Including this one. It has been around for over ten years and continues to be a popular choice.

It is a highly effective cleanser that thoroughly removes makeup residue and pore-clogging impurities. At the same time, it hydrates the skin, preventing unnecessary moisture loss or that tight, uncomfortable feeling. Personally, I tend to use it as a morning cleanser or an evening cleanser when I’m not wearing makeup, but it is certainly capable of removing face makeup as well.

The cleanser is enriched with blue hyaluronic acid. Its effectiveness is enhanced by Fucoidan (derived from deep-sea algae. Specifically brown algae).

You need a fingertip-sized amount of paste for a standard amount of lather. Create the foam by mixing the paste with water in your hand; I personally like to add the water gradually until I’m happy with the result. To create even more foam, I recommend using a "foaming net." This invention from Taiwan helps generate a rich lather from cleansing foams like this one. Simply wet the net and rub it against the paste. This produces more foam than usual, allowing for a gentler application on your face.

Apply the foam to your face, but avoid the eyes! This product is not gentle on the eyes and can cause irritation. Massage it gently into your skin to let it work, and allow it to sit for a moment to provide hydration. Then, rinse the product off your face with water.

If you’ve done it right, your face feels soft and cleansed, with a subtle glow. You can feel the hydration, and you don’t get the sense that anything has been stripped away.

My next step is to use a hydrating toner or milk to add an extra layer of hydration to my face. For this, I use the Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk. It is a hydrating milk toner that needs to be shaken well before use. You then apply it to your face. This product is inspired by the ancient Korean tradition of using rice bran water (migamsu) for radiant skin. This toner combines the hydrating power of rice extract and rice-derived amino acids with a sebum-regulating powder to deeply nourish and purify your skin. It doesn't feel greasy and leaves the skin with a radiant glow.

It is important not to neglect the delicate skin around the eyes. Time for eye cream! My current eye cream is the VT Cosmetics Cica Collagen Eye Cream. It features a stainless steel massage tip that does most of the work for you. Keep massaging until all the pink collagen capsules have been absorbed. The collagen is low-molecular-weight and derived from fish; fish collagen effectively soothes and hydrates delicate skin, making it ideal for the eye area. Additionally, the product contains centella extract and three types of hyaluronic acid for soothing and hydrating care. It is a bit pricey (depending on where you buy it), but effective in the long run.

The fourth step in my skincare routine is optional. I call it optional because not everyone will need this product. I have experienced skin redness since childhood, and depending on the weather or climate, those areas can sometimes feel sensitive. When that happens, I like to use the Some By Mi AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum.

The primary goal of this serum is to regulate an oily T-zone or oily skin, but I use it because its high tea tree and centella content helps combat hypersensitivity and enlarged pores.

That is why I really only use it on the areas of my face that are sensitive at the time. Usually, that means my nose and the surrounding skin.

AHA removes dead skin cells and impurities from the skin's surface. BHA removes impurities and sebum from the pores. PHA prevents moisture loss from the skin.

Other key ingredients:

Niacinamide: Effective against skin aging; reduces the appearance of fine lines. Stimulates ceramide production and fades hyperpigmentation.
Salicylic Acid: A chemical exfoliant that penetrates deep into the pores; also offers significant anti-inflammatory effects.
Tea Tree: Potent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties; proven effective against acne.

After using a serum, I like to seal it in with a nourishing cream. My current choice is the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream. It is enriched with traditional Korean herbal ingredients. Such as ginseng and orchid extract to hydrate, brighten, and firm the skin. The formula also helps strengthen the moisture barrier, keeping the skin hydrated for longer. The texture is slightly tacky, but it absorbs quickly, leaving the skin feeling nourished, hydrated, and cared for. The product is available in both a tube and a jar, depending on the size you purchase; a single jar contains 50 ml of cream.

The final step in my morning routine is sunscreen. I keep saying this out loud for numerous times: SPF is important. Ladies and gentlemen, please use that sunscreen. Even in winter! Over time, you’ll really notice the difference in your skin depending on whether or not you use SPF. Even if you really don't feel like doing the rest of your routine, at the very least make sure to apply this for the day ahead!

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is a sunscreen I’ve been using for about seven years now, and it remains a huge favorite of mine. I always keep a good stock on my shelf, and this is yet another tube I’ve almost finished.

I have a review of this product on my blog that covers everything you need to know. So, if you’re interested in one of my all-time favorites, definitely head over to my blog to read it. This product is also easily available at any South Korean skincare store and through online skincare shops.

The only downside to this sunscreen is that it is not water-resistant. This is truly a sunscreen designed for everyday use or for wearing under makeup.

Good evening, everyone! After a day at work, an outing, or a party, I like to remove my makeup quickly yet effectively. I do this using the Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil.

The oil is naturally light and gentle, allowing it to glide easily over a face covered in makeup. The product enables the makeup to lift off the face with ease.

It dissolves impurities without clogging pores and simultaneously acts as a skin-conditioning agent to smooth the skin. Ginseng seed oil helps protect the skin barrier.

After cleansing my face in the evening, I apply the VT Cosmetics Cica Collagen Eye Cream before moving on to a serum I use exclusively at night: the Anua Peach 70% Niacin Serum. This product smells sooooo incredibly good and, in my opinion, hydrates the face amazingly well!

My face always feels soft, hydrated, and nourished when I use a normal amount of serum. Recommended for dry skin types!

The final step in my evening routine is usually a sleeping mask. When I use a weekly mask, I skip the sleeping mask for that evening.

My current sleeping mask is a trip down memory lane: the MISSHA Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask. This product has been on the market for over 15 years. I used this sleeping mask when I was 16 (so, 15 years ago for me), and I still remember how much I loved using it! It used to come in a tube that was half silver and half gold, but the packaging has changed over the years to the current design. The new look is much more understated, but don't worry, it’s still the exact same product it was all those years ago!

I’m always so incredibly happy when I use this, because to this day I can’t believe it still exists. I started reviewing so many products back when I was much younger that I completely forgot about this one, until the day I found it online again. It’s honestly crazy. Like how could I forget about this one? Shame to me! :X

This mask is designed to be worn while you sleep. It is a thick, creamy mask that absorbs gradually overnight. Snail mucin is the key ingredient. It's one of the oldest used ingredients in the beauty world and known for soothing and repairing troubled skin suffering from redness, dullness, uneven tone, wrinkles, and more. Snail mucin is a restorative ingredient; while not exactly appealing in its natural state, its beneficial effects on the skin have been evident for centuries.