Think 'steps', not 'products'

My routine, no matter how flexible and transient it may be, can be summarized down to these basic steps, in this order:All Asian skincare routines follow this outline, in my experience. I would say that the 'Active' steps are more of a Western-hybrid step, but they also exist in Asian routines as I'm using Korean products designed for that step. For that reason, I'm counting them as part of an Asian routine but they're more commonly seen in Western/hybrid routines.The Asian philosophy is about, and using the right product for the right purpose. This is about using a steak knife for steak, sewing shears for fabric, and a chainsaw for cutting trees, not one-size-fits all. For that reason, there iswhy you have to stick toAsian products to have an Asian routine; if you have a product that fulfils a certain function best, roll with it. You'll see I have a few Western products mixed into my routine myself!Theis a mainstay of the multi-step Asian skincare routine. You can read more about the double cleanse here:. In a nutshell, the double cleanse is makeup/sunscreen removal + regular skin cleanse, not actually cleaning your face twice.On days I don't wear sunscreen or makeup, I don't double cleanse since I have nothing to remove.Here are my current cleanser options:

2. Actives

Note: You'd never actually use all these in a single day, but if you did, this would be the order they'd be in.

3. Hydrators

Not only do I use sheet masks every day, sometimes I use them twice a day!

4. Occlusives

Korean Packaging; making your routine a pleasure to do, day after day.

5. Treatments/Protection

The last sample of the IOPE left from the pack I purchased; I have the full size en route from Avecko.

every night

Hydrocolloid bandages, I love you so.

Things to take away from Part I:

Cleanse > Actives > Hydrate > Occlusives > Protect/Spot Treat

Customize, customize, customize

Listen to your skin, and only give it as much (or as little) as it wants

*Disclaimer: All products mentioned are 100% purchased with my own money, with the exception of the Sunkiller sunscreen which was a Christmas gift from a friend, and my opinions are entirely my own.

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For a breakdown of what each of these are, and when/why/what I use them for,My skin is very congested, develops new clogs easily, and is acne-prone. I also have issues with Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) from old acne, as well as some serious sun damage manifesting in both darkened areas and also wrinkles. I also have huge pores from years of congestion, but those are a lost cause.So I use 'actives' daily, which means they contain active ingredients with a scientifically proven effect on skin conditions such as pigmentation, acne, and aging. You can read more about adding actives to your routine, and where to put them, here: Putting your products in order, including pH dependent acids Here are my current active options:For a breakdown of what each of these are, and when/why/what I use them for,This is where we deviate from Western routines, and Asian routines really shine. Asian routines are aware that yourto be healthy. Dehydrated skin lacks, not oil, whereas Dry skin lacks oil. This is why your skin might have felt 'dry' but the more you slathered on rich, heavy creams, the more your skin suffered from breakouts, oiliness, and even continued to have dry flakes.Imagine your skin as a sponge. If the sponge is dried out, shrunken, and hard, are you going to turn it back into a plump, soft, bouncy state by coating it with butter? Of course not. You want to soak it in, although if you do rehydrate it and then leave it alone, it will just dry out again, right? You would need to wrap up the sponge in an airtight seal to keep the water from evaporating back into the air. That's why Asian routines also include the next step, occlusives.But first, hydrators, aka my favourite things:For a breakdown of what each of these are, and when/why/what I use them for,'Occlusive' is kind of a misnomer, because technically it means something that forms an impassable barrier. In cosmetics, it means something that 'seals' things in, or out, after being layered on the skin. Vaseline is a common example. Any product that has a lot of lipids (oils/fats/emollients/etc) will have some measure of occluding effect; think back to the sponge example. If you rehydrated the sponge and then coated it in vaseline, it would slow down the evaporation of the water back into the air, although it would also become really gross. Thankfully our analogy ends there!So, applying a 'cream' type product will not only help add oil to your skin (if you have dry skin) but also help 'seal in' your hydrating products. They will also turn your skin into a clogged, greasy mess if you overuse them or layer them over already dehydrated skin.Here are my current occlusive options:For a breakdown of what each of these are, and when/why/what I use them for,This is where AM and PM routines deviate sharply. In the, your final 'skincare' step (meaning before makeup) should be, and a full-spectrum one at that. This is especially true if you are using chemical exfoliants, as I do. Some of them are photosensitizing and you not only undo all the good effects, but make things worse if you are not protecting your extra-vulnerable skin from sun damage.Note: Although I have a cushion pictured here, that is makeup, not sun protection. I have included it because I do wear it semi-regularly, and also to show that it occurs after sunscreen.For a breakdown of what each of these are, and when/why/what I use them for,In the, Asian routines feature extra skin-nourishing steps and treatments that aren't meant to be worn out of the house, like sheet masks, mask packs, sleeping masks, and visible acne treatments. These are the steps that terrify your spouse when you come to bed wearing them. Not that I've done thatSo no matter what products I happen to be using- what weather, climate, skin condition, AM, or PM, my routine will always follow these basic steps. It just becomes a matter of which products will fulfil that step.For a breakdown of what each of these are, and when/why/what I use them for,Skin is moody, at least my skin is. It can swing from oily in the morning to dry at night, or vice versa, is highly reactive to my environment, and holds grudges for weeks. I need to stay on my toes and be attentive to my skin if I want to keep it happy. Here are the key concepts from Part I:Let me stress that last part again:. If your skin tells you not to evenabout using actives more than twice a week, listen to it. If your skin wants a water cleanse in the AM and a single moisturizer, listen to it. But keep in mind that you need to be very aware of how your skin reacts, and what it reacts to, to be able to pinpoint what effects your product have, which means you need to have a comfortable base routine and introduce products. If you throw everything at your skin, you'll have no idea what caused what effects, good or bad.It's why I introduce new things one at time, two weeks apart, and use things for a month as a general rule; that way if my skin flips out (or becomes happy) I'll know what caused the change.