East Asian cultures have long been heralded for their health and beauty secrets. In recent years, skincare trends such as skip-care, the Korean 10-step skincare routine, and more have become increasingly popular worldwide.
The reason is simple: Asian skincare products work!
Today, we will be reviewing six (6) of the top skincare secrets passed on from Korea, China, and all of East Asia.
1. Clean Skin is Healthy Skin
One of the pillars of Eastern skincare is keeping skin clean. After all, many common skin issues such as acne and oily skin are caused in part by insufficient hygiene.
Many young adults lead extremely busy lives. Daily face cleanses can fall by the wayside. So, washing your face before bed might just be the most important part of your skincare routine.
East Asian cultures rely on the restorative powers of a good night’s sleep to leave skin young and glowing. This “beauty sleep” simply requires a good face cleanse before you turn in for the night.
2. Use Sunscreen this Summer (and All Year Round)
Summer is coming, and with it will come long, hot days. For your skin, this can actually be a major concern. The sun can cause any of the following common skin issues:
- Skin discoloration and uneven tone
- Age spots (solar lentigines)
- New or darkened freckles
- New or exacerbated wrinkles
- Benign or malignant skin growths which can include potentially serious conditions such as melanoma and basal cell carcinoma
We understand that getting out and enjoying the sun is one of the best parts of summer. Asians understand the respect the potential damage induced by excessive sun exposure and are big believers in the protective benefits of sunscreen. This is backed by extensive research which shows the effectiveness of sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and aging.
3. Charcoal Exfoliation for Healthy Skin
Charcoal seems to be everywhere these days. East Asian practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been utilizing charcoal for many centuries.
Traditionally, charcoal has been used both topically (on the skin) or as a dietary supplement. When it comes to healthy skin, charcoal can be used as part of a natural exfoliation regimen.
Charcoal infused konjac sponges offer a gentle way to effectively remove dead skin cells from your face and other body regions.
These products can be used either with or without additional cleansers. Charcoal sponge exfoliation achieves a deep clean without damaging the healthy skin beneath.
4. Harnessing the Power of Asian Herbs for Health and Beauty
Dermatology and herbology have gone hand in hand for as long as TCM has existed. Asian skincare routines often rely on simple yet potent ingredients to deliver natural solutions to common skin issues. Powerful herbs for skin health include:
- Ginseng: A powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient sourced from panax, ginseng is used extensively in TCM and Korean remedies.
- Ginger: Commonly found as a part of traditional Asian diets, ginger also has anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and skin soothing properties.
- Argan oil: A medium density oil, argan oil is an effective moisturizer for all skin types.
- Aloe vera: Often used for its soothing properties, aloe vera can effectively treat minor skin burns.
Many of the Asian brands emphasize the importance of adopting the use of a herbal skincare routine.
5. “Facial Yoga” for Youthful Skin
Believe it or not, one of the hottest skincare trends today is performing daily facial exercises.
These facial yoga movements have several health benefits. Facial exercises and massage can promote healthy blood flow to the face and surrounding areas. It also helps to mobilize the lymphatic fluid in the face, thereby decrease any swelling.
This has a natural anti-aging effect by reducing visible wrinkles. Facial skin will feel tighter, younger, and appear healthier.
It is also worth noting that facial exercises share many of the same benefits of traditional yoga. Muscles can be strengthened, and practitioners may feel a deep relaxation.
Unlike some modern medicinal practices, Traditional Asian healthcare takes a more holistic approach without focusing purely on the superficial.
6. Stick to a Simple Skincare Regimen for Best Results
If you read this article remembering only one thing, let it be this: simple and effective skin care is more desirable than unnecessarily complex beauty routines and products.
One Asian trend with which we do not agree is the Korean 10-step beauty routine. Ten steps is expensive, time consuming, and impractical for most individuals.
Instead, consider fine-tuning your skincare regimen to your individual needs. Many busy men and women have experienced fantastic results using our simple oil and serum combo pack.
This regimen leaves skin nourished, moisturized and youthful with only a few drops per day. By harnessing the power of potent TCM ingredients, these products simplify the user’s skincare routine, and by proxy, their lives.
We believe a simple routine is best for skin health.
Dr. Wang Herbal Skincare Fuses Eastern and Western Skin Science
Dr. Wang Herbal Skincare is a family business started by Steven Wang, MD and Gui Wang, LAc. Our co-founders have been working together for over two decades to offer holistic, innovative, and effective skincare products. We are guided by three primary principles: formulate skincare products with proven efficacy to promote skin health, harness the power of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and utilize the latest modern medical breakthroughs.
To learn more, view our family of products or read what publications like The New York Times and Reader’s Digest have to say about Dr. Wang Herbal Skincare.