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Don't believe there's a shortcut to flawless skin? You couldn't be any more wrong!

There's a trend that's been picking up and it's totally been approved by our skincare gurus on Get It Beauty, one of our favorite Korean beauty talk shows. The show is a must-see, hosted weekly on the OnStyle network for all the beauty lovers. Sadly they stopped providing English subtitles back in 2015. This episode was hosted by actress and model Kim Jung Min, actress and former Miss Korea Honey Lee, special guest emcee Luna from Korean pop girl group F(X), and beauty editor Hwang Min Young.

This trend is called beauty layering. Beauty layering involves two things; it could be your everyday skincare routine, where you have to understand what product comes first or goes after another and which ones you can actually mix for best results.  It could also mean using more than one of the same type of product at once. For example, if you have combination skin, it is possible to use two different types of masks at once. Your T zone (oily/acne prone parts) would generally require something different from the rest of your face.

The reason for product layering is to give you a chance to target multiple skin issues at once, and also focus strongly on stubborn skin issues.

On the show, Luna revealed that dry skin has been her stubborn skin issue. Kim advised layering smart, which is using two sheet masks if dry skin is a problem for you. This is because for people with dry skin, one mask may not be enough to keep their skin balanced especially if they have sensitive skin or go out in the sun a lot. Hwang encouraged her idea, but advised us not to assume that we would be getting twice the moisturization. Multi masking with sheet masks is supposed to be a hydration boost for the skin.
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Quick beauty layering tips:
  • Kim likes to multi-mask, she uses a clay mask on her T-zone and a calmer mask on the rest of her face.
  • Honey Lee mixes coconut oil with her beauty balm or lotion, this mix is her go to moisturizer.
  • Luna mixes honey with her face cream because it calms her oily skin
  • Hwang advised us to mix body cream in our body scrubs to make the scrubs easier to spread and make the skin softer for the exfoliation process.


These are some major beauty hacks we've been provided with and personally, I hope Get It beauty starts with English subtitles again. We all need this weekly goodness in our lives! 
From sheet masks to laser treatments, I want to argue that my love is equal. The truth is, we can’t bring ourselves to choose. It is now very easy to get all your favorite K-beauty products in the West and vice versa. We can say that because of the number of brands available for us to choose from, it can be difficult to make
We can say that because of the number of brands available for us to choose from, it can be difficult to make accurate judgement or decide to stick with a particular trend.
South Korean women are known as the gurus of skincare. Long before science labs could come up with solutions for skin issues, they already had age old traditions, being passed down from one generation to the next, helping them fix skin problems with the oddest (but most amazing) natural ingredients.
If you think snail slime is weird, try horse oil or animal placenta. However, from the number of women making the change to Korean skincare every day, it is obviously worth it.
 A major strategy K-beauty lines used was presenting their K-pop and K-drama stars as the face of their cosmetics lines. This didn’t just affect their South Korean market, but the whole world considering how many people are addicted to Korean entertainment and their gorgeous stars.

For the sake of this discussion, let’s introduce some imaginary friends.


K enjoys Korean beauty trends, she lives in Seoul and is addicted to boy bands.
W enjoys western beauty trends, she lives in NZ and is newly obsessed with all things beauty and skincare.

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Skin texture and makeup
K loves a dewy but very natural look. Her main focus is building her natural beauty, she prefers making her skin look as flawless as possible, that way she can confidently go out barefaced.
W loves playing with colors and creams. She goes all out when doing her makeup- contouring, highlighting, strobing. She has no problem with simply covering up her blemishes with makeup. She also enjoys playing with colors on her eyes and cheeks.
Skin tone
K keeps her skin as fair as possible. She goes out of her way to avoid direct contact with the sun. She loves investing hugely in lightening products, sun blocks and facials.
W loves sunbathing. She prefers the bronzed glow her skin gets when its sun kissed. If K sees this, she would be appalled.
Skincare
As W gets older, she begins to see the importance of starting a good skincare routine. She has started following beauty blogs and vlogs to learn about the next best thing for her skin.
K has had a skincare routine since she was 16. Beauty is a big deal to her and she loves going through her 10 step skincare routine.
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We can see that both W and K have had different experiences with beauty. This doesn’t have to be the case anymore, because these days, you can get whatever you want, wherever you are. Due to the high interest in Korean beauty coming from all parts of the world, major western companies are beginning to produce skincare and makeup products mimicking popular K-beauty concepts. In America alone, many of their cosmetics companies now produce BB creams, serums and sheet masks.
Even with the differences, I believe your skincare choices shouldn’t be based on where you live. Take advantage of both markets available to you. Think of it this way, you have twice as much options now. 

Bae Suzy recently admitted to some pretty shocking news- she started keeping an anti-aging skincare routine at 21(last year). We know that in South Korea, some girls are put on anti aging routines as early as 11 years old. It’s crazy to think someone as fresh faced and youthful looking as Suzy started so late. She made this confession when she came on Get It Beauty recently. Although she’s totally committed to her skin and preventing any future skin issues, she admitted she started later than she would have liked.
Over time, she believes her skincare routine has evolved and she now understands just what her skin needs and the best way to use her beauty products. Some of her methods are a bit unconventional, but that’s why we love Suzy in the first place.
Let's look at some of the her special tips:

1. How she uses her serum
One of her best methods is putting on serum right after washing her face. She believes that this way, her pores are still opened up and the serum can soak into the skin properly for better results. Serums are a very important part of your skincare routine, they are loaded with anti aging ingredients that help prevent and fix skin aging signs such as wrinkles, fine lines and sun damage.
2. How she applies her BB cream/foundation 
Also, when applying coverage products- BB creams or foundations- she mixes them with her whitening essence. Whitening products are a big part of her routine, one of her best kept skincare secrets. This way she is improving her skin tone, moisturizing her skin properly and providing good skin coverage with the BB cream or foundation.
3. How she applies her lip products
She always keeps her lips well moisturized and according to Suzy, instead of the glossy tint, she prefers a matte look. To get this, she finishes her lip care with a powder to give it a matte finish.
4. Whitening her skin tone
Her main target though, seems to be her skin tone. She confessed that although she has a naturally bright skin tone, she still prefers to include moisturizing and whitening products to her routine. She uses this to maintain her bright skin and as a preventive measure against issues like sun damage that could lead to age spots.
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Suzy believes that beautiful skin should start from the inside, after all, your skin is a reflection of what you put in your body. Though she started quite late in Korean standards, it is obvious she is going all in and is intent on feeding her skin with all the right things it needs.
Habits are not that easy to get rid of once formed, but when you read the implications of these ones, you would definitely want a change. These bad habits ruin your skin, they are mistakes that can affect your skin badly but they can be prevented quite easily.

Want to learn what they are? Keep scrolling.
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1. Exercising with makeup on:
This is a big no for anybody. Makeup blocks your pores, trapping oil, dirt and the makeup itself in your skin. When you exercise, you sweat and the sweat and oils that build up in your skin need to be let out. However, if you have makeup on, your pores are sealed, which means that the sweat and oils are trapped in your skin. This eventually leads to bacteria build up resulting in acne breakouts. Overtime, these breakouts will also leave blemishes and scars on the skin.

 2. Touching your face often:
This is a habit most people are not even aware they have. Yes, that pesky pimple on your chin has been bothering you, but picking at it all day long wouldn’t help it, instead, that would make everything worse. First off, your hands are filled with bacteria all day long, everyday. When you consider all the places you touch during the day that should come as no surprise. Touching your face is only introducing new bacteria to your skin, infecting other parts of your face and leaving you even more miserable. Also, when that pimple you’ve been worrying finally pops, it’s going to infect the surrounding skin and even more pimples will sprout. Your best option? Leave your face alone.

 3. Leaving your pillows unwashed:
One of the places that build up the most bacteria is your pillow. The major reason for this is your hair. You basically rub your hair into your pillow all night long. If you are a regular female with an average hair care routine, you hair is going to have at least one type of cream or oil in it. Now imagine introducing this oil, with all the natural hair oils produced by your sebum gland onto a surface and then rubbing your face in it every night. Icky right? But that is what happens when you don’t wash your pillowcase. Many people have acne just because of that and they can’t seem to find a solution to their skin issues when it’s right in front of them. My advice? Try to change your pillowcase at least twice a week. If that’s too much and you want to pull a lazy girl move, flip it over in the middle of the week and use the other side the remaining days.

 4. Sleeping with your face on the pillow:
My best sleeping position advice is to sleep face up. Sleeping sideways or on your chest (I really hope you don’t do this) pushes your face into the bedding, pulling on your skin. For some time the only evidence of this you might see is a few sleep lines that fade minutes after you wake up. However, prolonged pressure like this on your skin can lead to slacking and noticeable loosening in the texture of the skin. Try to train yourself to sleep on your back (mummy style). It would be difficult at first but after a while, you’ll get the hang of it.

5. Dumping sun protection during winter:
Protecting your skin from sun damage on the sunny days is not enough. In fact, your skin is just as vulnerable to the harmful UVA and UVB rays during the winter. These harmful rays can reflect off snow and pass through glass into your home. They can penetrate deep into the skin, speeding aging signs and sometimes, acting as a boost for skin cancer.

 6. Using makeup after it has expired:
I think this should go without saying, you have no reason to put expired makeup on your face. It can be hard especially when you shelled out big bucks for that makeup, but toss it once it has expired. The compounds in the product can start to change and become harmful to the skin, causing negative reactions like breakouts or even worse infections.  

Old habits can be hard to break, granted, but on the flip side, consider how much damage you are causing to your skin every time you do one of the things listed above. Hopefully, that should help you make the needed adjustments. 
Han Go Eun’s youthful looks has always been a thing of marvel. For those who don’t know her very well, you might assume that she is just another start out actress who made it into fame quickly. The truth is, apart from the fact that she is an amazing actress, her popularity is also based on the fact that this beauty has refused to age.
She looks like she is just starting into her 30s when in fact, she is well into her 40s. She has openly admitted that her youthful looks have been a major reason for attention for her and even in school, girls used to flock around her awed by her skin. She also used to receive gifts from unknown people daily.

Lucky for us, she recently came on 'Get It Beauty' as a Talking Mirror guest and decided to grace us with two of her beauty tips that help her retain her youthful looks.

She uses her skincare products in an unconventional way. Let’s just say she doesn’t use products just for the purposes the manufacturer advices on. She has been able to study her skin and figure out what skin areas are similar and how she can use a product to maximum effect.

Tip 1: she uses her eye cream on more than her eyes. She dabs eye cream onto many places on her face and her neck especially her marionette lines (the lines at the lateral sides of your face). Because eye creams are infused with hydrating ingredients, this is actually a smart way to keep your skin looking plump and healthy. Dry skin can lead to a tightness that would make the skin looked pulled and brittle. Eye creams are very good moisturizers that can solve these skin issues easily.

Tip 2: she mixes her mists with her ampoules using a 7:3 measurement. The secret to her ageless beauty obviously lies in how much emphasis she puts on keeping her skin hydrated. Face mists are generally carried around in our handbags for those dry, hot moments during the day when your face needs some cool refreshment. Now, add in ampoules which are known for their ability to revive the skin quickly, and you have a love potion for your face.
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In an article on Allkpop.com, she shared her secret tips to maintaining her slim figure and a healthy body. According to her, “You have to exercise with being healthy as the goal. When trying to lose weight, you need to set aside about six months and change your lifestyle. Rather than doing yoga or fitness, I try to move around a lot on a daily basis. For example, I like to mop the living room floor”.

Although Han Go Eun’s methods are a bit unconventional and our only proof of their effectiveness is her skin condition (which is very impressive), there are no obvious risks involved. The products she uses are products we know well (and love) so this could be a fun, and hopefully helpful experiment to try out.
There are many women out there, ready to give up on their hair already. It seems like no matter what you do or put into it, your hair just stays limp and dull looking. If this describes you, I feel your pain girl. This is a very common story so you should know you’re not alone.

Your hair is a big part of your physical appearance and whether people know it or not, it is one of the first things they notice when they see you. Apart from the basic purpose of hair which is protecting the body from the elements, having beautiful hair is a confidence boost as you are assured of how amazing you look to others.

One famous celebrity I see as hair goals is Jeon Ji Hyun. Her beautiful locks are the envy of every girl. Even after she went for the big chop and traded her lengthy locks for a shoulder length bob (to film the movie Assassination) she is still the absolute hair goddess. Of course, her hair has grown back but her ability to transition between styles and colors and still keep her hair healthy and glowing is one of the reasons why we love her.

If you’re aiming for gorgeous, glossy hair like Jeon Ji Hyun’s, you should consider investing in some amazing products that would work to feed your hair with all the good stuff it needs.
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 Hair essences
If you have dull looking (maybe dry) hair, hair essences are a must for you. They work to moisturize your hair without weighing it down or greasing it up. They have a very thin consistency and will absorb into your hair almost immediately.

Hair serums
Hair serums are one-in-all packages for everything your hair needs. A good hair serum should prevent tangling, protect your hair from heat and sun damage, work as a styling product and give your hair a glossy shine.

Hair treatments
This is probably one of the best investments you can make for your hair. There are treatments for all hair issues and like breakage, brittleness, damaged hair and many others. Feel free to switch between treatments from time to time to get to all your hair issues.
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Your hair is a big part of who people see you as, you must make sure it represents you well. The trick is to keep trying, everyone would have to go through that crazy phase where they consider cutting it all off at one point, just keep in mind that hair needs patience and good attention.

Discover hair products at MIK

Turns out your 10 step skincare routine, is about to get a bit more intense. This is for a good reason though, we have been introduced to magical potions that would tackle your skin issues head on.
These potions are honestly not so new, but for our girls who haven’t been let in on the secret yet- your skin is about to get a whole lot better. They come in the form of serums, essences and ampoules. Chances are, you’ve heard at least two of these names before. Now, you’re going to find out why they are so important.
SERUMS serums are concentrated to target a specific skin issue. They don’t have the fix-it-all quality you might see being marketed in moisturizers, they are specifically designed to fix a type of issue. For example, a serum might be to fight wrinkles, dark spots or sun damage. Also, the consistency of serums is quite thick, almost oil like, this means that they should be applied towards the end of a skincare routine. Serums usually come in small bottles that have droppers for easy use. Some brand package theirs in small pump bottles.
ESSENCES when you consider the functions of both serums and essences, the easy conclusion is that they are the same. This is true to an extent because it is still possible to point out differences between serums and essences. Essences are more lightweight and less intense than serums. They are more hydrating and were traditionally designed to be used after the toner to add another layer of hydration. This does not mean that they are any less effective; they still contain high concentrations of active ingredients that are beneficial to the skin. They feed your skin with all the good stuff.
AMPOULES they are basically serums with super powers. They have a higher concentration of active ingredients and are usually used within a time range. You can use ampoules if you have a specific skin issue you want to get rid of ASAP. Ampoules work much faster and can get rid of those crisis you never saw coming, like sunburns, or it could be something much simpler, like you’re hungover and need to look alive before you get to work.

The It’s Skin Power 10 Formula line have been best sellers for a long time and for a good reason, even better than good, awesome. Although they are called Power 10, there are actually 13 products in this line. Each contains a special ingredient that helps it target a specific skin issue.
They are-
  • VC (vitamin C- brightening)
  • CO (collagen- elasticity)
  • YE (yeast- vitality)
  • GF (grifola frondosa- moisturizing)
  • WH (arbutin- whitening)
  • Q10 (Q10- firming)
  • PO (chameleon- pores control)
  • VB (Vitamin B- sebum control)
  • VE (Vitamin E- anti oxidant)
  • WR (caviar- anti aging)
  • LI (licorice- soothing and anti pigmentation)
  • Propolis (brightening, fights acne)
  • Syn-ake (anti- wrinkle)
Whatever your skin issue is, there’s a magical potion for it.
Yoojin, as a guest on Talking Mirror in 'Get It Beauty' introduced these awesome products. Also, many Korean celebs are quickly adapting to these new skincare products. 
When choosing a serum, essence or ampoule, remember to choose products that suit your skin type. Feel free to experiment with the textures, this way, you can find what you are most comfortable with. Your skincare routine shouldn’t be static, it should constantly evolve as your needs shift and change. 

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Summer to Fall Beauty Transition Tips with Yoona! 
With new seasons come new weather conditions that can be good or bad for our skin. Going from humid summer, to the dry air that comes with fall can take out the moisture in your skin, leaving you with a very confusing temporary dry skin condition.
We can’t prevent the weather change, but there are ways to work around it to make sure its effect on our skin is kept to the minimum. Your skin will need some help to get ready for the cold and dry weather to come.
One of our favorite Korean stars, Yoona, openly admitted that one of her major battles with skincare is her dry skin. It used to be a big concern for her until she devised a method that works wonders for her now. Thankfully, she was nice enough to share her method with us. This was at a press conference that was held before her concert with her girl group, Girls’ Generation. Those in attendance were blown away by how gorgeous her skin was looking. She appeared doll like with her glowing skin and was the center of attention as no one could take their eyes off her.
 
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 How to get glowing skin like Yoona:
Yoona explained that even though she has dry skin, she still manages to keep her skin glowing with a method she devised when she was looking for a solution. Her secret method is to mix about two to three drops of her facial oil with a moisturizing cream and then apply it on her face. This way, she keeps her skin hydrated and glowing.
Also, before she goes out, she makes sure she applies rich amounts of facial creams. She does this layer by layer to make sure her skin absorbs as much as possible.
This routine keeps her dry skin looking healthy and supple and prepares her skin for dry weathers so it doesn’t take a toll on her appearance.
Extra tips:
  • You also need to hydrate from the inside out. Drink lots of water, your skin needs as much hydration as it can get.
  • Avoid hot baths or showers as much as you can. If the weather is too cold for a cold shower, then try lukewarm water. Hot water is bad for both your skin and hair. For your skin, it pulls out the moisture, leaving you with a dry, tight (or pulled) feeling. 

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Have you ever woken up to annoying makeup stains on your pillow? It’s even worse when you cleanse and then try using your toner, just to find out that your makeup is still all over the cotton pad and your face.
You’re in luck then, because today, we have the cleansing routine that every girl needs, you won’t have these problems after following it. This routine was given to us by the one we all know as the “Nation’s first love”, Suzy from Miss A. She gained this name after starring in a 2012 melodrama, Architecture 101. She is the ‘maknae’ (youngest member) of her group. As the first female triple award winner in K-pop, K-drama and film, she is someone well respected and well loved.
Her upcoming drama, “Uncontrollably Fond” which she will be starred in alongside Kim Woo Bin, has fans waiting anxiously to view it, as it will not be released till summer. Recently, she collaborated with EXO’s Baekhyun on a song they titled “Dream”.
Suzy revealed her skincare routine to her viewers when she was explaining how to get her classic makeup looks. She wanted to teach them how to achieve the natural look she was wearing, but first, they had to learn how to keep their skin in its best condition so their makeup could be as minimal and natural looking as possible.
According to her, the trick is in the cleansing. This is why she dubbed her routine the ‘424 wash routine’. In total, she cleanses her face for 10 minutes.

For this routine, she uses:Cleansing oil + Foam cleanser

For her, much emphasis is on the time used to clean.This is how she does it:
This is how she does it:
  • For 4 minutes, she focuses on removing her makeup with the cleansing oil. The oil is needed to remove any product clogging the pores. Oil solubilises other oil based products such as your foundation and mascara, so they come right off.
  • For 2 minutes, she massages her face with the foam cleanser. Because ordinary water cannot wash off oil, this step is needed to remove the oil left on the skin and any traces of makeup left.
  • For 4 minutes, she thoroughly washed her face with water.

 After following this routine, don’t forget to moisturize your skin.
She stated that, “when I get older, I won’t have the skin that I do now, so I have to take good care of it. I don’t have troublesome skin though, so I don’t worry too much”. The importance of double cleansing is very obvious here. When you double cleanse, you take off all the sweat and sebum that has built up throughout the day. If you wear makeup every day, it is important to start using this routine. Constant build up of oil that doesn’t get properly cleaned out can eventually lead to uncontrollable breakouts. They can leave the skin with acne scars that would prevent a person from achieving a natural look, without pilling up so much makeup to cover the scars. 
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Suzy's The Face Shop cleansing items at MIK

That my friends, is what the word ‘selfie’ means, according to the Oxford Dictionary. Selfies have become an important part of our days, whether we realize it or not. We see at least one selfie daily on our social media timelines and probably take more. You might see selfie taking as something easily done for fun but you would be surprised at how much technicality goes into taking the perfect selfie.
For those of us who love all things Korean, we know that selfies are called selcas, which is gotten from the two English words- self and camera. Everyone takes selcas these days, we all see at least one selca on our social media pages in a day.
Important tip:  Selfies aren’t that hard to take and Irene from Byrdie.com tells us that to get the perfect selfie, “natural lighting is key”. Natural light is the best filter slash photo editor you can ever have. 

Makeup Looks That Are Perfect for Selcas
 
Winged liners
Winged liners make your eyes pop in pictures. You can go with pinkish lips or whatever colour you choose.
Smokey in Nude
Use nude brown tones to create a subtle smokey eye, you can also use bronzers to warm up your skin. Finish off with a pastel lip colour. Song Ji Hyo from Running Man, rocks this look perfectly in her selfies, and it works for her every time!
Bold Lips
If you really want to grab the attention of the camera, wear a bold lip colour. It immediately makes everything else pop. Make sure you pair it with strong brows, they go perfectly well together.
Barefaced
With the perfect lighting, you can appear most radiant in your selfies with a bare face. It’s a way to express confidence in your looks. 
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Selfie Poses You Should Try
The hand to the Cheek
The palm laying on the side of the cheek is a classic selca pose. In the picture, it would give the face a slimmer look. You can also do it with both hands, but then you need to take that selfie yeah?
 Puffed Cheeks
This pose became very common and for a good reason- you instantly get ten times cuter. Just push air into your cheeks, laugh with your eyes and click!
The Wink
Wink at the camera, you look cute and seductive at the same time.
Collaging
When you take several selfies and can’t decide on which one to post...just post all of them! You can use photo editors to make collages and add as many pictures as you want. 

If you want your selfies to stand out, you can go a step further by editing them. There are awesome free and premium applications you can use to do this on your phone like Camera360. Photowonder, Instasize (to resize your Instagram pictures), PicsArt and so many others! 
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Enhance your selfie with some of Song Ji Hyo's eye shadow palettes at MIK! (Go for smokey eyes!)