Let me share the home care routine I've been totally hooked on lately haha. Calling all combination skin types!

Hello everyone! How is your skin doing these days? Lately, I've been under a lot of stress because every time I looked in the mirror, my skin looked so dry and dull. ㅠㅠ Going to a dermatologist regularly is difficult because I don't have the time, and the cost is quite steep, so I decided to start taking proper care of my skin at home. In the past, I tried buying and applying every cream from high-end department stores that was supposed to be good, but they just sat on the surface of my skin and caused more breakouts. ㅠㅠ I must have hundreds of thousands of won worth of cream thrown away on my vanity. So, I scoured YouTube and online communities trying out all sorts of things, and I'm writing this post because I'm so happy to finally think I've found the perfect combination for my skin! ㅋㅋ

First of all, my skin type is dehydrated oily, and I have severe internal dryness. When I wash my face, it feels tight as if it’s going to tear, but as time passes, the oil in my T-zone explodes—it’s really finicky skin ㅠㅠ. So, if I apply a cream that’s too heavy, I inevitably get cystic acne or small bumps the next day, and if I use something light, the internal dryness just won't go away. Because of this, choosing basic skincare products has always been like trying to catch a star in the sky.

The method I've recently settled on and seen amazing results from is the 'skin pack' and 'three-layer ampoule layering'! It sounds fancy, but it's really nothing extraordinary; I've found that doing it consistently every single day is the most important thing. Right after cleansing, I generously soak a thin cotton pad with a rich, hydrating toner and place it on my cheeks, forehead, and chin for about 5 to 10 minutes. For this, I always make sure to use a mild toner that is completely alcohol-free and has a watery texture. After removing the pad, I gently pat the toner with my fingers to fully absorb any excess liquid that might be sitting on the surface. Then, I apply a slightly viscous hydrating ampoule in thin layers, about three times. I've found that patting it in thinly multiple times to aid absorption is the best way to tackle inner dryness, rather than squeezing out a huge amount with a dropper all at once.

If you thoroughly soak your skin with the ampoule like this and then apply a thin coating of moisturizer or barrier cream at the end, your skin stays truly hydrated until you wake up the next morning. Especially now that the weather is so unpredictable and the skin barrier is prone to breaking out, following this routine every evening definitely reduces breakouts, and my foundation applies flawlessly the next morning. Before, my skin would darken by the afternoon, cake, and crack—it was a total mess—but these days, I hardly need to do any touch-ups. If you are struggling with combination skin like me, give the skin pack and ampoule layering a try—you have nothing to lose!