Thanks to Jeanie Kwak for writing this guest post about her obsession with skin care, and how she cares for her skin.
I’m going to debunk a myth for you about Asian skin. We are known to have some kind of ageless secret. We have thick hair, clear skin and we never look over 25. All of this appears to be done with ease. While it is true that I was the last to mature in High school and, at age 25 I looked 16, something happened at 30. I looked, well, 30. It’s like that movie Freaky Friday, when Lindsay Lohan wakes up and suddenly she is her mom. What to do? Go to a PTA meeting and make do?
I think not. I will need to do something about this switch-up.
I am now obsessed with skin-care. What works? What doesn’t? I begin to learn words like: Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Antioxidants, Microdermabrasion. Oh, and sunscreen. It seems like all this slackness is due to the sun. If I had known that, I would not have frolicked carelessly sans the sunscreen. NOW, I read about Mexoryl and Helioplex and physical blocks like they are a god-send. I’m excited about Mexoryl because I have read that Mexoryl is a heat and photo-stable chemical that readily prevents UVA and UVB damage. It has the broadest UVA and UVB range. It first appeared in Europe but is now slowly making its way to the US. Kiehl’s carries products with the ingredient Mexoryl. So does Lancome and La Roche Posay’s Anthelios line. I use Neutrogena now which has Helioplex but I am going to make the change to Kiehl’s.
And for my new skin-regimen (which used to consist of soap and Oil of Olay cream) - I am on a daily regimen of Eucerin Q10 Cream for day and night. I haven’t thought much of the effectiveness of CoEnzyme Q10, which is a powerful antioxidant, until I tried DHC’s powerful Q10 cream, and also saw a glowing review of this antioxidant by dermatologist Leslie Baumann. DHC is a Japanese skin-care line that carries a gentle, skin-friendly line. I’ve always been a bit so-so about their products but the Q10 cream really does wonders. I woke up with soothed baby-soft skin. Even my boyfriend noticed in the morning. It is a bit pricey so I decided to go with Eucerin for now. I allow myself one expensive product a month. That way my skin is not overwhelmed by too many products.
Every night I apply Neutrogena’s Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Night Cream. I know that only a certain percentage of Retinol is effective, but I started off with a lighter version because I am new to Retinol and I wanted to start off gently before I bring out the big guns. And I LOVE what I see. Even tone, softer lines. After 2 nights! I have now been on Retinol for a month. I heard it takes about 12 weeks to see complete results. Retinol changes the skin’s turnover rate. This new skin needs to be protected (sunscreen) and maintained (moisture, antioxidants). I plan to incorporate Skinceuticals products next month. These products have a graduated higher level of Retinol. There are also wonderful reviews for the legendary C-E Ferulic Serum, which I’ve read slowly and incrementally changes the texture and elasticity of skin. I’m sold. I am super excited to buy these 2 products. One word of caution: Since these 2 products are not in stable packaging, it is important to store them in a cool dark place. The fridge, I’ve read, is a good place to keep them. Oh, and I would buy them from somewhere reputable instead of Ebay. I am going to my local Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa where they carry the full Skinceuticals line.
I will let you know where that takes me!
About Jeanie: I will hopefully become affiliated with the Future Librarians of America. I have a degree in English Literature and also have spent 3 war-torn years in a graduate program for Creative Writing. This makes me a veteran of some sort. My interests vary: architecture, astrology, Korean Food, Skin Care, Beauty, Film, Art gazing, NY Stories, Funny accents, etc.
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May 27th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I love Retin-A and Mexoryl. I wasn’t familiar with DHC. Keep me posted on the results. I might need to add it to my skin care regimen.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
thanks for the focus on asian skin! asians may age slower in asia because of the climate, but here in the US the sun does age us rapidly, i agree. i love this site and it has been a magical help to my otherwise troubled, acne-prone skin. please continue adding tips for asian skin once in awhile. thanks!
June 4th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I find your site very helpful. Will it be possible to write informations on others ethnic skins such as latinas, blacks… Thanks.
P.S: sorry if I made some mistakes, iam a French speaker.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
AH! I really need to focus on my skin too. I’m 22 but I’m already being affected by aging! :( And tell me why… I still get pimples/zits!! I’ve been using Hope in a Jar by Philosphy and it is really great! But I’m thinking about switching to a line that has like a 3-step process or something. Anyway, great entry! Thanks!
September 21st, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Loved it! I need to focus on skincare too. I want perfect skin!!
October 9th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
please continue to leave more tips about asian skincare. i, too, have been obsessed with finding a good skincare regimen since i am in my early 30’s now. i can’t seem to find one that works continuously so i am looking forward to more information. thanks!
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Great post! What about skin care for Asian babies? I know that’s off-topic, but I can’t find any information on how to care for my adopted Asian daughter’s skin, and it’s so dry that she gets what looks like rug burns in the crevices of her skin, such as under her neck or in the crook of her arm. She’s two and not speaking much, yet, but enough to tell us that the “burns” are painful. We oil her down after her baths, but she still gets these “burns” that I’m almost positive come from sweating heavily during sleep, and then the salt from the perspiration drying her skin even further. Can anyone offer any help? I would so appreciate it! –Sleepy
June 8th, 2010 at 2:32 am
I think I spend about 2 or 3 hours a day looking for new tips for my skin care regime.. such a time consuming exercise. I’m loving this blog and have shared it with my friends – more people need to know about this.
Thanks,
motoko :)
June 13th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Thanks for this blog! I also went thru the same phase with everyone telling me I looked 16 in my twenties then boom! I woke up one day when I hit 30 and my worst fear hit me..I looked my age. Now I’m scrambling to find the best products to protect my skin as I am starting to see some fine lines, brown spots that looked cute in my 20’s now look like I have dirt on my face, and laugh lines that dont go away anymore. I can share my experience with some DHC products as I have used their deep cleansing oil for almost 8 years. It is the only thing I will use on my acne-prone and sensitive skin and it completely removes all resistant make-up without tugging on delicate skin. I do follow up with my ever changing cleansers and moisturizers but this is one thing that never gets phased out. In my opinion, I have tried some of their other products too and most work well with no heavy perfumes or irritants. Prices are decent but of course still cheaper when I first started out with them 8 years ago. I highly recommend people give them a try because they are really generous with samples and my collection of samples has built up so quick from the ones that come with my orders and the ones that come inside their catalog that I can travel with just those samples alone and not carry travel bottles! I certainly keep this blog bookmarked as many of the topics and concerns are similiar to mine :) Thanks again!
June 18th, 2010 at 8:52 am
sian skin care Regular skin care routine
* Wash your face regularly with a mild face wash. If your skin is too oily then wash your face more often.
* Cleanse your face daily, if your skin type is oily cleanse more than once. Choose a cleanser that will suit your skin type in particular. For sensitive and dry skin use a moisturizing cleanser.
* Use a mild scrub to clean your skin deeply. It is advisable to use facial scrub only twice a week.
* Toning will remove dirt, if any, left behind after cleansing. Toning the skin will help the skin benefit from other products, toning should be done after cleansing the face. For oily skin, toning has to be twice a day, for dry skin toning has to be done once a day. Toning helps in reducing the pores and balances the pH level in the skin.
* For dry skin use a moisturizer, use it repeatedly through the day as per your skin requirements. For people with oily skin use an oil-free and light moisturizer.
* Wear a sunscreen with SPF 15 to 30 for protection from sunrays. If you spend more time in the sunlight use a stronger sunscreen. Sunscreen prevents wrinkles, dark spots, pre-mature aging and skin cancer.
* In the evening cleanse your face again and use a rejuvenating product such as retinoid, beta hydroxy acids, kinerase, antioxidant, alpha hydroxy acids, etc. Asians skin is more sensitive to alpha hydroxy acid than beta hydroxy acid.
October 17th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Thank you very much for your blog post-sounds like we are both on the same track! I am not Asian I was looking for a site that would tell me the ’secret’ of Asian skin! Too funny! It is not different for women that care about their skin and appearance no matter what the race it seems! And since it is the face we show the world and we will be in the skin we are in for a good long time it makes sense to treat it right and be careful with it.
There have been Asian women who have asked me what I use and have had good results with a product I use that is very inexpensive~sounds odd but ‘MILK OF mAGNESIA’ (it is for constipation and is found in that section of the store, blue bottle)put ON the face-really sloughs off dead skin, makes your pores tighter and skin soft, I keep my in the fridge, it is watery but you just smear it on let it dry and rinse, my granny did it so did my aunt forever, neither showed any thing other than fine lines even in their 80’s! I don’t know if it is the calium or magnesium in the product, but it does work well at less than $2 a bottle, thin so it lasts forver.