The art of knowing your skin to take better care of it –
By Karenation — Skin & Skincare Journal
There is nothing brutal about Korean skincare.
Nothing rushed.
Only one intention: to listen to what the skin has always been trying to tell us.
K-beauty 's global success isn't based on flashy promises.
It is based on a philosophy of care : prevent rather than correct, moisturize before mattifying, nourish instead of camouflaging.
But with the abundance of products coming from Seoul—essences, ampoules, toners, sleeping packs, niacinamide or centella serums— how do you choose what's really right for your skin?
It all starts with one essential question: knowing your skin type.
Not the one you think you have. Not the one someone assigned to you in a magazine 10 years ago.
The one you have today.
NOW.
At this very moment.
Dry Skin: Feeding the Silent Thirst
It's a skin that seems discreet but screams silently. It pulls, it cracks, it reminds you of its presence as soon as you get out of the shower.
But it's not just a lack of hydration. It's a lack of lipids , comfort, protection.
How to recognize it?
- It feels tight after showering or when you wake up.
- The complexion appears dull and rough to the touch.
- Dehydration fine lines are more visible.
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It soaks up the moisturizer without ever feeling "saturated."
You feel a constant need for comfort.
This skin lacks lipids (natural fatty substances), and sometimes also water. It needs to be nourished deeply , without being suffocated.
Your K-beauty prescription:
- Nourishing cleansing oil with ginseng or soybean
- Hydrating toner with hyaluronic acid or rice
- Fermented Essence (Mixsoon, Beauty of Joseon) to boost radiance
- Serum rich in ceramides or squalane
- Occlusive cream with centella asiatica
- Night mask 2x/week for deep repair
Moisturizing dry skin isn't about overdoing it. It's about slowly, regularly, and patiently watering it.
Oily Skin: Balance, Don't Punish
Often stigmatized, mistreated, exfoliated to the point of irritation, oily skin is simply active skin.
It produces more sebum to protect itself. This is not a fault, it is a defense mechanism . And like any excess, it requires balance, not aggression.
How to recognize it?
- It shines quickly, even without cream.
- The pores are dilated, especially in the T-zone.
- You notice pimples, comedones or blackheads.
- Your makeup "slips" throughout the day.
Caution : Oily skin is not necessarily impure! It protects itself by producing sebum. The challenge is to balance it, not dry it out.
Your K-beauty prescription:
- Gentle cleanser with low pH , to preserve the skin barrier
- Purifying toner with tea tree or Heartleaf (Anua)
- BHA serum to unclog pores
- Lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizing gel
- Soft clay mask , once a week
- Mattifying, yet moisturizing sunscreen
Oily skin doesn't need to be mattified at all costs. It needs to be understood, soothed, and sometimes gently re-educated.
Combination skin: taming contrasts
It changes with the seasons. It shines on the forehead but dries out on the cheeks. It lives between two worlds and doesn't want to choose. Combination skin is complex , but exciting to work with.
How to recognize it?
- T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) oily, shiny.
- Drier or normal cheeks.
- Small localized imperfections.
- Skin that changes depending on the weather or cycle.
This is the most common skin condition. It requires flexibility and intelligence in choosing care. What works for one area doesn't always work for another.
Your K-beauty prescription:
- Double balanced cleansing , morning and evening
- Hydrating, but non-occlusive toner
- Targeted serum (anti-blemish on the T-zone, soothing on the cheeks)
- Gel cream for even hydration
- Localized patches if imperfections flare up
- Multi-zone mask : purifying on the T-zone, hydrating on the cheeks
Combination skin requires a smart, adaptable approach. It's not a weakness; it's a strength that needs to be rebalanced.
Normal skin: preserving the natural balance
We often say that it's "ideal," "worry-free," "perfect." But no skin is perfect.
Normal skin is above all stable, balanced skin that lives its daily life well without excess, dryness or excessive shine. "Tranquil" skin that deserves to be treated with gratitude and prevention.
How to recognize it?
- It does not pull or shine excessively.
- The pores are discreet, the texture smooth.
- The treatment penetrates well, the makeup holds well.
- She rarely reacts, except in cases of great stress or sudden change.
Your K-beauty prescription:
- Gentle cleanser , just to refresh (morning), purify (evening)
- Hydrating toner to maintain suppleness and radiance
- Light essence based on rice, ferment, or hyaluronic acid
- Radiance serum or anti-aging prevention depending on your goals
- Fluid, non-occlusive moisturizer
- Revitalizing fabric mask , once or twice a week
Normal skin is like a balanced garden. It doesn't ask for more. But it does require careful maintenance so it doesn't tip over.
Sensitive skin: speak quietly
Redness, tingling, overheating, reactions to overly powerful active ingredients: sensitive skin lives on edge. It demands silence, care, and reduction to the bare essentials.
How to recognize it?
- Frequent redness or burning.
- Reacts easily to scented or poorly formulated products.
- Tingling, burning sensation.
- Sudden intolerances to certain treatments or to the sun.
It is not a skin type in its own right , but a cross-functional characteristic . Oily skin can be sensitive, just like dry skin.
Sensitivity requires a minimalist, caring and reassuring routine .
Your K-beauty prescription:
- Fragrance-free, sulfate-free cleanser
- Toner with centella, calendula or artemisia
- Minimalist serum , like those from Skin1004 or Mixsoon
- Barrier cream with panthenol, madecassoside or ceramides
- Mineral sunscreen without harsh chemical filters
- No mechanical exfoliation , ever.
Sensitive skin isn't weak. It's just more honest. Listen to it, cherish it, protect it like you would a garden in winter.
What if your skin changed? (Spoiler: it will change)
Your skin isn't a label. It isn't fixed. It evolves with you , to the rhythm of the seasons, stress, your hormonal cycles, your fatigue, your sorrows, and your joys.
K-beauty, with its flexibility and intelligence, knows this. It doesn't impose a fixed protocol on you. It offers you modular tools , a library of treatments from which you can draw according to the days, months, and moons.
In conclusion: knowing yourself is already healing yourself
There is no perfect routine.
There's only your routine.
The one that respects your skin, your rhythm, your inner light.
At Karenation , we believe that every skin tone deserves excellence.
That every skin, whether black, dark, mixed or light, has the right to access respectful, effective and deeply sensory care.
Your Skin, Your Story.
And this story is just beginning.