I’ve been asked a few times about my skincare routine, so I wanted to share it here.
While skincare products help, I believe that healthy skin starts with daily habits: sleep, inner peace, diet, and exercise. Before listing the products I use, I want to focus on those first.
Proper Sleep
The book Why We Sleep (affiliate link) by Matthew Walker is informative on why we should make sure to get our appropriate amount of sleep. For most people, that is 8-9 hours, but it could be more or less for some—your body will tell you if you listen to it. I don’t drink coffee after 2 pm, as caffeine stays in the system for roughly 2-12 hours, depending on various factors. Proper sleep is needed for our skin to regenerate, and I think sleep is one of the biggest factors for my current skin health.
Regulating Stress
There are a few ways I try to keep my inner peace and keep stress at a minimum. My first approach is journaling. I started journaling when I was nine years old, talking to my Diddl journal as if it were my best friend.
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If you know what Diddl is, let me know if you were as obsessed with it as I was.
I never journaled diligently every day, but would come back to it once in a while when I wanted to share an event that happened or explore how I felt about something. It is precious to me that I have access to my nine-year, 15-year-, and 20-year-old me. A little over a month ago, I committed to daily journaling, three pages each morning, and I’ve already noticed that I can concentrate on a book for longer, containing more of its content. The clarity I gain from journaling helps me feel less overwhelmed, making daily stress more manageable.
My other approach is yoga. I have been doing Yoga with Adriene for around four years now, which I started during the lockdowns. Adriene is such a sweet soul, and her lessons to ‘Find what feels good’ and ‘Listen to your body‘, truly helped me feel more in tune with my body.
Exercise
Beyond yoga, any form of movement helps promote healthy blood flow and reduce stress. The most important thing is to find something you enjoy, may that be yoga in solitude or playing basketball with friends.
Diet
Diet is another important aspect. I try to eat as little added sugar and salt as possible. I also avoid greasy and processed food and eat many foods, such as berries, that are high in antioxidants. Although I don’t agree with everything written in the book, How Not To Die (affiliate link) helped to inform me about nutrition and diet, especially living in the US. Drinking water throughout the day helps my skin look plump, so I’ll be another one of zillions telling you: Stay hydrated.
I think these approaches are not only to look younger but also to look out for our overall health.
Current Products
AM
1. Torriden Dive In Toner
2. COSRX The Vitamin C 23 (updated on June 2, 2025)
3. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Eye Cream
4. Torriden Dive In Cream
5. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen
PM
1. man:yo Pure Cleansing Oil (if wearing makeup)
2. and/or beplain Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam
3. Torriden Dive In Toner with a cotton pad
4. Jojoba Oil (affiliate link)
I use retinol once a week and the Centella Dressing Powder from Alive:Lab on pimples. Whenever my skin needs a bit more care, such as in cold/dry weather and to pamper myself for special events, I use a sheet mask.
I currently use the BOH Probioderm Collagen Remodeling Serum Gel Mask that I brought back from my Korea trip and I like it a lot.
For the most part, I keep my routine simple. I avoid fragrance in face products and prioritize hydrating ingredients over daily actives like retinol. However, I would like to add a Vitamin C and a Niacinamide product back into my routine.
I don’t wear foundation too often, and I change my pillow regularly. I like sleeping on a satin pillow for less friction, which is great for curly hair too.
Where I Find Skincare Products
As most of my products are Korean, I use hwahae to scout for new products, and only thanks to writing this post, I found out that they have an English website now.
Although I haven’t watched her videos in a while, Director Pi’s YouTube channel provides in-depth product reviews.
I usually buy my products on Jolse. There is an Olive Young Global, but I haven’t tried ordering there yet.
April 2025 Update: I have ordered through Olive Young Global, and it was great! They have more products than Jolse, and I received my order directly from Korea within a week.
There are a few products I want to switch to or some that I would like to add, so my product list will likely change throughout the year.
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I’d love to hear about your skincare routine and what lifestyle practices help keep your skin healthy.