This is going to be a different sort of post. Because sometimes it’s 6:00am and you’ve been up since 4:00am thanks to jet lag and suddenly you just really want to take some pictures and write a blog post.

So here we are.

I’ve been wanting to do something about k-beauty for a while now since that is a huge part of how people think of Korea abroad. In the past few years Korean cosmetics have become popular all over the world for their high quality and relative affordability.

I’ve also held off on writing something like this for an entire year because I wanted to make sure that I actually had tried and loved any products that I talked about on this site.

Anyway, when I arrived in Korea I was really excited to try some of these products out but I had no idea where to start. I have acne prone skin and last year at the end of May, I believe thanks to a combination of the horrible air quality at the time (which my skin ALWAYS reacts to) and a skin care routine that wasn’t right for my specific problems, my skin was the worst it’s ever been.

I had breakouts all over particularly around my chin and despite all of my best efforts, and my tried and true products from America, I could not get it to calm down.

So in May I started really researching what Korean brands I should try in order to do something about my breakouts.

I started out with a toner and essence from a company called Belif. And while I think they were excellent products, although quite expensive, they didn’t really do much for my acne.

Put off from that experience and not wanting to spend so much on products that might not work a second time, I turned to a company called Innisfree which is famous in Korea for using a lot of natural ingredients from Jeju Island and being quite affordable while still high quality.

The first time I went in to look around the staff person, after looking at my skin which was rough that day, directed me to their Green Tea line. Green tea is apparently good for acne prone skin and I’ve been using products from that line ever since.

 

 

I have been using call of these consistently everyday for probably about 8 months now. I change and add different things depending on what my skin is doing at the time, but these products remain consistent.

(Disclaimer: I’m not and expert on this stuff. I only know what works for me and what doesn’t. These are just my opinions!)

So for anyone who’s curious or looking for a good place to get into Korean skin care, here are the Innisfree products that I love!

 

#1 Green Tea Cleansing Foam

 

 

This is the first step in my little routine.

And I think it was the big game changer for my skin care routine. This cleansing foam, compared to what I’ve used in the past, is quite strong. It can be a little bit drying which is why it’s important for me to use hydrating products after, but it does a really good job of cleansing the skin of all oils, makeup, and it feels like it’s really targeting the acne.

I use this every night when I wash my face and the Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning cleanser in the morning. For me this cleanser is super effective at clearing up my skin as long as I make sure to moisturize after!

 

 

#2 Green Tea Moisture Skin

 

 

This is step number two. In Korea, I’m not sure why, toner like products are often called “skin.”

This is a very hydrating toner and helps to get your skin ready for the rest of your skincare routine. From what I have heard, the general idea with Korean skincare is to use your products from lightest to heaviest. And as this one is very light, the consistency is quite watery, it’s a good place to start!

 

 

#3 Green Tea Seed Serum

 

 

This guys job is about adding nourishment back into your skin. It’s rich in amino acids and good minerals meant to keep your skin from losing hydration. So if you use a stronger cleaner that might be stripping your skin of its own good oils and minerals, this is a good way to add those back!

Also it comes in a little bottle so it’s great for travel. Sometimes If I go somewhere for the weekend and want to pack light, I’ll bring just this little guy.

 

 

#4 Green Tea Balancing Lotion

 

 

The green tea balancing lotion is a very light but effective moisturizer. It’s not as heavy as a cream so I find that it’s good for the mornings when I’m going to be putting makeup on after and don’t want a bunch of heaviness on my skin.

 

 

#5 Green Tea Moisture Cream

 

 

I pretty much only ever use this at night-time before I go to sleep, and only if my skin is particularly dry. Which it has been a lot lately since Korea’s winters are very cold and dry.

This product is super moisturizing and so heavy in fact that I have to be careful not to use it too frequently because I feel like it can clog my pores if I use it repeatedly for a few days.

But it absolutely gets the job done when you need an extra boost of moisture!

 

 

Those 5 products are what make up my basic everyday skin care routine. But I thought I’d go ahead and also mention these two products from Innisfree that I use a lot as well.

 

Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

 

 

According to the Innisfree website this product “targets pore tightening, sebum control, dead skin cell exfoliating, deep cleansing, skin complexion improvement through its cooling effect.” 

I like to use this mask occasionally on nights where I have some extra time and want to do a little bit more for my skin. I usually apply it after I’ve cleansed my face but before using all of the other products that I’ve just mentioned BUT I’m actually not really sure if that’s the correct order. Feel free to let me know if you’ve heard otherwise!

This mask leaves my skin feeling smooth and my pores noticeably smaller.

 

 

Aloe Revital Skin Mist

 

 

The aloe revital skin mist is a mist style toner that adds moisture back into your skin. I use this product after I’ve applied my makeup if I feel like my foundation is bit dry. Or sometimes I’ll just mist this on my skin after work before I go out again if I don’t feel like touching up my make up want to give my skin a little boost.

It comes out very gently and feels super cool and refreshing. And it doesn’t leave your skin feeling tacky or heavy which makes it great for using after makeup.

 

 

So that’s it! Those are my favorite Innisfree products! I think that for anyone looking to get into Korean skincare or beauty, Innisfree is a great place to start because their products are really affordable for the quality you get.

I hope this was interesting or helpful to someone out there! If you have a favorite k-beauty product feel free to let me know in the comments! Thanks as always for reading, I hope this finds you well 🙂