Clear Skin is making a comeback with these smart fixes

Posted Thursday April 25th, 2019

The K-pop wave was not simply limited to the popularity of Korean music, movies and celebrities. Everything Korean suddenly became trendy and desirable the world over, especially the coveted glass skin or ultra-smooth skin texture which many Koreans are renowned for. Everyone wanted in on the secrets to achieve such smooth, pore-less complexion.

We speak to Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director and founder of SW1 Clinic on how we too can get started on getting our skin to a state of perfection.

Step 1: Clean Skin Well

This is the most basic and yet fundamental aspect of getting clear skin. Everyone to some degree clean their faces on a daily basis, but more than that you need to be sure you’re cleaning it well. Follow the K-beauty standards and start “double cleansing”, meaning you first wash your face with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser.

When opting for this method, be sure to look for formulas that are non-comedogenic, ie they won’t be clogging your pores, and these shouldn’t just be limited to your cleansers of choice, but also extended to other skincare products such as your moisturiser and sunscreen.

We recommend:

Lemon Quartz Ultra Soft Facial Cleansing Oil, with camellia oil melts away impurities, even waterproof makeup. Skin is left feeling well cleansed without feeling dry. Best of all, this cleansing oil is non-comedogenic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and is cruelty free.

Step 2: Find the right products

Now that you’ve cleaned your skin well, wouldn’t you want to maintain it? Look out for products that contain ingredients such as retinoids (Vitamin A), azelaic acid (Vitamin C) and niacinamide. We love Vitamin A for its ability to promote natural exfoliation, boosting skin cell turnover while clearing any clogged pores. Azelaic acid on the other hand has anti-inflammatory effects on the skin (reducing any redness and swelling in acne-prone skin) in addition to reducing the production of keratin, a protein which can block pores and lead to acne.

While you’re at it why not throw in some hyaluronic acid for further hydrating qualities while repairing the skin’s barrier.

We recommend:

Age Defy Rejuvenating and Anti-Aging Lotion, a hydrating cream packed with Vitamins A, C and E that works hard to firm and tone skin while fighting off wrinkles. It also includes hyaluronic acid to plump up skin with long lasting hydration.

Blue Orchid Balancing Moisturiser, infused with pre and probiotics to rebalance skin microbiome to help give you clear, radiant skin. Great for hydrating skin without clogging pores while calming skin irritations.

Step 3: Leave your face to the professionals

Every now and then, it’s a good idea to visit a spa to get a professional facial done for your face. A facial is a great way to thoroughly cleanse the face and rejuvenate the skin. It’s also believed that regular facials help to relax your face and tone your skin better, which in the long run will help your existing skincare products absorb better into your skin.

We recommend:

Aqua.dermabrasion, a hydro facial that radiantly revives stressed, dehydrated and overworked skin. It includes a skin-specific peel to prime the skin while three forms of vitamin-enriched saline are delivered to detox, prime and prep your complexion, plus an oxygen wrap and vitaminized antioxidant spray, to brighten your complexion.

Deep deep clean, a no-nonsense, hardworking facial that combines microdermabrasion with a fruit acid wash, 5-10 minutes of ultrasonic deep pore purging, and a targeted facial wrap to keep breakouts at bay

Step 4: Have an aesthetic doctor on speed dial

When you want to take results a notch up, find a reputable aesthetic doctor you can trust with your skin woes. Medical grade lasers and chemical peels, just to name a few, have been found to produce great results for those looking for an extra glow and radiance.

We recommend:

Vbeam Perfecta, an advanced Pulsed Dye Laser Technology that could treat redness, pigmentation, stubborn acne and acne scars, while rejuvenating facial skin at the same time. Many love it for its ability to effectively treat stubborn acne and red acne scars, while rejuvenating facial skin to unveil clearer and smoother skin. Best of all, there’s no downtime and treatment is very comfortable.

Micro-Refine, as its name suggests, this treatment refines and rejuvenates complexion using microinjections of miniscule doses of BOTOX to diminish fine wrinkles and improve the sheen and suppleness of the skin. It works by causing sweat glands and sebaceous glands to shrink and atrophy. The result? Smooth, clear skin without any loss of movement in major facial muscles.

Read More: The New Face of Botox and Fillers