One of the most common misconceptions about the 10-step Korean skin care routine is that you should introduce all of the products – or at least multiple ones – to your skin at once. This can be a recipe for irritation and breakouts. Here, we detail how to ease into the 10-step routine, and what to do if you’ve already gone too fast, too furious.

Too often we field messages from distressed readers who are experiencing issues like breakouts, redness, or even burning sensations after delving into a new skin care routine. Sometimes the culprit at the source of these concerns is an individual product, but it can also be a reaction to receiving too many new products at one time.

This is why we never recommend adding more than one new product to your routine at a time, and we always recommend patch testing first.

But what should you do if you already went full throttle on a new line-up of products and are now suffering the consequences? Read on below for pro tips from a top dermatologist.

Stop Everything

When someone is experiencing a reaction to a skin care product but they’re not sure which one, we generally recommend stopping everything other than gentle basics.

Reintroduce New Products Very Slowly 

We get it – you just invested some serious cash into new skin care products, so of course you want to use them. But patience can’t be stressed enough when it comes to skin care. Don’t start adding products back into your routine until you’re SURE that your skin has recovered.

Remember That Finding the Perfect Routine Is a Process 

Contrary to popular belief, most skin care products don’t perform miracles overnight. Generally, a product doesn’t offer real results until the second or third week of consistent use.

Bottom Line

We know it’s tempting to slather on a bunch of new products as soon as you bring them home, but bettering your skin is a marathon not a sprint. Be patient, pay attention to ingredients and how your skin reacts to them and what you’re mixing together and we promise that your skin will thank you for it.

If you’re a K-beauty addict, you’ve most likely looked at your beauty products with snail mucin and asked yourself this question: How does snail mucin get into beauty products? Here’s your answer.

From repairing skin damage and providing anti-aging benefits to soothing irritated skin and fading acne scars, snail mucin, or snail secretion filtrate, offers so many benefits. It’s truly a versatile ingredient, suitable for all skin types and concerns, and plays well with other ingredients. Studies have shown that snail mucin even helps with atopic dermatitis.

In fact, even before snail mucin became popular as a skin care ingredient, the main component of snail mucin, Chondroiton sulfate, was recognized for its ability to help improve arthritis, liver diseases, nephritis, and fatigue.

But have you ever wondered where snail mucin comes from? You might be thinking that snails are plucked from their natural habitats and forced to produce mucin, which eventually ends up in pretty packaging on store shelves. Or you might have assumed that snail mucin is artificially created in a petri dish and then mass produced to meet the high demand for snail mucin. The answer is none of the above. Read on for the scoop. 

Who collects the snail mucin?

Cosmetics companies can be roughly divided into three categories: one that manufactures the raw materials, one that creates products using those materials, and lastly, one that sells the final products. Snail mucin is created by companies that make the raw materials, which in the case of Cosrx, one brand with popular snail products, is CoSeedBioPharm Co.

Each manufacturer has its own know-how’s when it comes to collecting snail mucin, but what is common among them is the fact that they need to create an environment that’s comfortable for the snails and allow them have adequate rest to optimize mucin production. 

SMD Cosmetics, for example, keeps their snails under the care of farmers in Chile who, the brand says, “help the snails move at a slow rate to stimulate healthy and safe levels of secretion”.

What kinds of snails are used?

Because snail mucin products are applied topically, only edible snails are used in skin care products. Popular edible snail species are the Roman snail (Helix pomatia), the common ingredient for escargot, and its close relative the garden snail or petit-gris (Helix aspersa).

Cosrx’s manufacturer uses another edible species called the giant African snail (Achatina fulica). They are larger, with shells that grow up to four inches in diameter, and their mucin has been tested to be safe for topical use. These snails are grown in captivity, since they are more sanitary than those found in the wild.

How is snail mucin collected?

For Cosrx products, snails are placed over a mesh net in a dark and quiet room. As nocturnal creatures, the snails prefer this environment. For about 30 minutes, the snails are left alone to freely roam the net, leaving mucin in their trails.

Throughout the process, there is no external stress applied to the snails or the mesh net to force mucin production. This is due to two reasons. First, animal testing is illegal in Korea, and animal abuse is a huge topic that has sparked many controversies. Second, optimal mucin production occurs when snails are well-rested and comfortable in their habitat, which is why Cosrx’s manufacturer tries their best to make sure that the snails are healthy and comfortable. 

After 30 minutes, the snails are transferred back to their homes to rest and regain energy while the mucin is collected and processed for cosmetic use. The collected mucin is then processed to properly stabilize the product and make it suitable for cosmetic use before being sent over to Cosrx.

How does the quality of snail mucin differ among products?

Insofar as Chondroitin sulfate is the main component of snail mucin, the general benefits of snail mucin are the same across the board. The real difference comes down to the formulation of the product.

The Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, for instance, contains 96% snail mucin, which means snail mucin appears first in the ingredient list. There are 11 other ingredients in the product, all designed to maximize the benefits of snail mucin. The snail mucin in this essence is also processed to leave your skin tacky, a feeling many Korean skin care fans love, without being unpleasantly sticky. 

SMD Cosmetics’ beloved Saromae Snail Serum Concentrate contains 62% snail mucin from the Helix aspersa snail (enough to be highly effective, but not too much to make the product feel slimy) combined with active botanicals like licorice root to brighten and peony root to fight free radicals and to prevent signs of aging.

Then, Benton combined the power of snail mucin and bee venom (which reduces inflammation from issues like acne and plumps and firms skin for a more youthful appearance) in its Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream.

Article by Tina Cho for Soko Glam

https://theklog.co/beauty-products-with-snail-mucin/?_ga=2.3306163.2091373197.1537957181-414631016.1537957181

As soon as the weather begins to warm up and hit the 70’s and 80’s, our skin gets exposed to the sun. While we know the sun can cause sunburn and skin cancer, it can also cause you to gradually lose moisture and oil. This can make your skin appear dry, flaky and prematurely wrinkled. It can be hard to find the right beauty product to actually reverse the effects of the sun and have your skin looking and feeling radiant. An innovative natural Korean skin care line uses ancient herbal ingredients in their products. This addition to their skincare products is the exact solution you need for relieving your dry skin during the warmer seasons!

Dry skin will be the least of your worries this summer with these simple ancient herbal ingredients! Snail Serum in Korean Skincare takes your skin to the next level!

Found here: Saromae Snail Serum Concentrate

SMD Cosmetics is an effective, unique, premium, luxury skincare that is also natural, safe and non-toxic. SMD cosmetics was the first Korean skin care line to offer a non-toxic, safe, natural, premium herbal medicinal-based line. Since launching in the U.S., SMD products are being used by top celebrity makeup artists who have discovered how powerful natural skin care can really be, and how your skin can transform with the right products.

The Saromae Snail Serum Concentrate is a Korean skincare serum that is their best selling product and is the perfected result of combining the precise formulation of natural ingredients and ancient herbal science. It contains 62% pure snail filtrate extract, which is the perfect balance of efficacy and texture. This cruelty-free, all-in-one formula reduces wrinkles, dullness, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and acne scarring. It also deeply hydrates, reverses signs of aging and brightens the skin.

By Leigh-Anne Anderson

K-Beauty Trends

2017 is the year of gorgeous skin, and that’s why we had to look into this #Kbeauty trend. What’s all the hype about? Why is it such a topic of conversation? The trend is referred to as K-beauty, and it’s all about the ingredients. Celebrity make up artists are using it more and more too. We spoke with two notable celebrity makeup artists (MUAs) that shared their favorite #Kbeauty product and gave us some tips on trends to watch for this summer.

Here is Elizabeth Hoel-Chang, Celebrity Make Up Artist for the hit TV show This Is Us, on her summer skin care tips and tricks:

“I spritz a spray of rose water on my clean face before I put on my favorite natural Korean skin care products from SMD Cosmetics. I use Khiel’s SPF 50 facial sunscreen everyday under my makeup. I’ve been using SMD Cosmetics religiously since November, and now I’ve completely stopped wearing any foundation, because I don’t need it. The SMD Cleansing Oil is the perfect cleanser because it doesn’t strip my face of all the oil and disrupt my PH balance. It has been a life-saver for breakouts. Usually I’d have 4X the hormonal or summer breakouts using a stripping cleanser. I then apply a dusting of mineral powder on my face, concentrating mainly on my cheek area to correct my rocesa. Simple eyeliner and mascara, and fill in my brows. I apply a bit of bronzer or light pink blush on my cheeks and am on my way. I will sometimes blot my face with a light blotting powder, otherwise just let my face be as it is. Even if my mineral powder wears off over a long day at work, it doesn’t bother me now because my skin has repaired, plumped and become so hydrated from the help of SMD Saromae Snail Serum I also make sure I drink plenty of water and implicate more organic avocados in my diet since they are in season and are so good for your skin!”

SMD Cosmetics produces one of the most popular prestigious skin care lines in South Korea, formulated on over 2,000 years of herbal medicine wisdom. It’s a natural, premium herbal medicinal-based line that is fairly new to the United States. SMD products are being used by top celebrity make-up artists, and are also now being sold at Nigel’s Beauty Emporium in Hollywood.

We also got to interview celebrity make-up artist and photographer, Troy Jensen, to give us this summer’s hottest skin care and make-up tips and this is what he had to say: 

“I like my “muses” to come to me with radiant glowing clear skin… I love SMD Cosmetics, a K-beauty brand new to the US… Some of my clients and I use the Saromae Snail Serum on the skin under make-up for radiance. I ease my clients (Jordan Sparks, Giuliana Rancic, and Mariah Carey to mention a few) into summer make up by first warming up their complexion. I choose a sheer foundation that will give them a warm wash of color.”

Jensen continues, “At the moment I’m obsessed with Dior Skin Nude Air Serum foundation. It’s so sheer, it literally looks invisible on the skin. Next I will add a peachy glow to the skin with Two Faced Cosmetics “sweet peach glow” pallet… it has a bronzer, a highlighter and a beautiful peach blush, to give you that instant beach babe look! I even dust a little highlighter and bronzer on the eyes and top of with this seasons IT beauty trend: tinted mascara (I love Benefit Cosmetics “there real mascara” in Beyond Blue. On the lips this summer, shimmer is a big trend and rose gold is really hot. Jouer Cosmetics has created a beautiful rose gold collection for the lips: I love “the long wear lip cream liquid lipstick in rose gold” and I go over it with Jouer’s lip topper in rose gold, focusing on the center of the lip and upper bow of the lip.”

K-beauty is constantly rising to new levels of ease and innovation, and after speaking to Elizabeth Hoel-Chang and Troy Jensen, I want in!

http://www.finehomesandliving.com/New-k-beauty-Trend-Here-to-Stay/

Read more at http://cupidspulse.com/118092/product-review-summer-skincare-sun/#38e1AJDxOUgUwxpL.99

Saromae Snail Serum is something out of this world…just so we are clear!  But how is it collected everyone keeps asking?! Are snails harmed?  Are there actual snails in the serum?  The answer is, No!  Only snail mucin or filtrate…

SMD Cosmetics does not support animal cruelty or animal testing of any kind!  The snails move over a bumpy surface, which stimulates their mucus production.  The mucus is then collected, to be processed.  SMD extracts only the essential and effective elements of the mucus to make their unique formula.

Designed to offer the PERFECT balance of natural ingredients, formulation and viscosity to achieve the optimum results in texture, efficacy and absorption, SMD’s Saromae Quintessential Snail Serum Concentrate features the IDEAL 62% of pure snail filtrate.  The sticky mess of 100% snail mucin is addressed, thereby making it the perfect way to help reduce wrinkles, fine lines and help prevent the appearance of premature age.

Loaded with a many other unique herbal medicinal ingredients, Saromae Quintessential Snail Serum Concentrate is a high-performance, multi-functional serum is designed to do it ALL– deeply hydrate, smooth, repair and brighten skin, while protecting against environmental aggressors, leaving skin softer, glowing, more youthful looking and absolutely stunning.  Safe and non-toxic.

What I love is that the product is long-lasting!!   My jar has lasted me close to a year!  A little goes a long way…so worth it!

SMD Products sold here!

Top Hollywood Industry Make-up Artist, Elizabeth Hoel Chang, is over the moon with SMD products!!  She is not only GORGEOUS but SUPER talented!  She has only been using our products for a month and has seen DRAMATIC results!!! Elizabeth is a seasoned, award-winning expert make up artist and is currently working at “This Is Us.”  Elizabeth is an Hollywood Industry Leader and has worked on countless high profile projects as HEAD MAKE-UP ARTIST including,”The Kroll Show”, “Parks & Recreation”, and “The House!” We are so blessed to have her support and love!!

Elizabeth has been using SMD’s Saromae Quintessential Snail Serum and Inhyunjin Emulsion for less than a month and here’s what she had to say, in  HER OWN WORDS!  She also sent her own before and after photos, that were untouched and taken without filters!!!

Elizabeth Hoel-Chang wrote,

“It’s been month, and I’ve sent before and after photos, unfiltered, no makeup only the use of the Aloe gel, Snail cream, and Inhyunjin BioNs 2. There is definitely a difference in the redness of my skin after using the three products!! I’m also pleased to report no breakouts at all!! My skin definitely loves it!! I did notice that when I ran out of the Aloe sample (after a week) my skin was dryer even after I used the BioNs 2 or Snail Cream.. so I use the BioNs 2 and the Snail Cream together to keep my skin hydrated enough. I love these products. They feel amazing on my skin, and I feel confident I’m doing good for it by using them!!”

Let’s SIMPLIFY and breakdown the steps for INHYUNJIN!!  It will feel like when you were first learning how to drive… At first, it feels complicated and perhaps overwhelming and, once you get the hang of it, it will feel like second nature!  Just remember the shortcut, start with the lightest and most watery formulation and then end with the thickest, in texture.

For those of you who have been lucky enough to get your hands on the INHYUNJIN set, and are READY for the instructions, here it is:

1.)  First cleanse your face, thoroughly with any product that is natural and not too harsh.  (We recommend, our Saimdang Cleansing Oil).

2.)  Second step is to use the Toner.  It will be the largest of all of the bottles and it should be a white watery texture.  It is VERY healing and nourishing.  Typically, toners are used to wipe away any excess dirt and oil, but our Inhyunjin Toner is not be wasted in this manner!!  Throw away your cosmetic pads, girls (and guys, who are lucky enough to share with their very generous partners)!   Gently squirt a single pump in the palm of your hand and pat it gently into your skin.  It is super hydrating and nourishing, so your skin will just drink it up!  The heat from your hands will aid the absorption of this precious liquid, so pat away…  The Inhyunjin Toner cleanses, softens and tones the skin naturally with fermented cork tree bark extract, purifies and refines pores, while gently awakening the skin with deep hydration.  It actually helps to create a thin protective membrane on the skin to combat environmental damage.

3.)  The third step is the MOST important of all of the steps!!!  The Inhyunjin Essence is the GAME-CHANGER!!!  It’s vitamin rich formula will help to turn back time and truly change the texture and tone of your skin.  Again, take one small pump onto your fingertip and smooth it onto your face and neck, using an upward and outward motion.

4.) Fourth step is the Inhyunjin Emulsion will look and feel like a lotion, because it is.  Except like no other lotion you have EVER used!  All of SMD’s products are multi-active and multi-function.  Meaning that there are over 35-40 premium, active ingredients in each formulation, whereas most of the other products out there have only 1-3 active ingredients!  What?!   Your skin will feel like it took a deep, refreshing gulp of water after being lost in the Mojave Desert!

5.)  The Final Step for you skincare routine is the Inhyunjin Night Creme.  This last step is the MOST hydrating of all of the steps.  It is also the thickest, and creamiest of all of the steps.  It is also in the beautiful screw off top, so there is no mistaking it.  I recommend you use it in the evening, as directed, BUT, it is also AMAZING during the day, especially when the weather is particularly harsh and unforgiving.  The skin on our face is so delicate, but yet we expose it such detrimental elements like the sun, the snow, the wind and the impossibly drying indoor heater!  Please, help your skin be protected from these dreadful elements and use this cream at night to heal, hydrate and help reverse the signs of aging as you sleep.  This is the time when there is actual cell-turnover and you can really take advantage of the nourishing  properties of Inhyunjin’s PATENTED 6 medicinal ingredients that are processed 9TIMES OVER 50DAYS!!!!   The Inhyunjin Night Creme instantly drives moisture deep into the skin for long­ lasting hydration, while addressing visible signs of aging with exclusive fermented Chinese matrimony vine extracts.  You will be amazed how this powerful formula works while you sleep, to achieve silky­ smooth skin by morning!!!

The FINAL bonus is that with normal and recommended daily use, the products are designed to last about 6-8 months!!  Each product is so potent and effective that only a small amount is needed to obtain the results!

And, there you have it!  The steps to using the INHYUNJIN SET!  Please feel free to document how your skin changes with before and after pictures of yourself!  If you submit them to us, we would love to feature you!  Don’t be SHOCKED if people start stopping you on the street about your AMAZING skin!!

The first key to understanding the Korean skin care industry is to understand the legacy behind it. Koreans have among the longest documented historical civilized legacies (dating back to 8000 BCE) in the world. Skincare interest has been documented since the earliest Korean writings (700 BCE) and the Dongui Bogam, an ancient Korean medicinal text, has an entire section on preparation and use of herbal ingredients, including for skin concerns.

Korean beauty is a little breath of relaxing joy…this may also stem from the centuries-old tradition of spa and self-care in Korean culture. The Korean spa is also primarily about relaxing with other women and hanging out, rather than just ‘go to the spa, get these things done to you, leave.’ It’s frequently a family affair.

Korean routine is not merely about results (although they are certainly happy about the results). Instead, similar to the Korean spa experience itself, it’s also about the ritual: the precise order of layering; the time necessary to let essence or serum penetrate before the next product can be applied; the special patting motion for the eye cream, etc. This particular form of self-care can be empowering for women.

Korean skincare regimen sounds a bit extreme, but it all boils down to cleansing, exfoliating, treating, intensely moisturizing and applying plenty of SPF during the day. I guess the real differentiating factor between how Koreans take care of their skin and more Western routines is that in Korea, you’re programmed to start early— well before your first training bra—while our more American version of skincare tends to be a sudden mad dash to Nordstrom to buy $100 eye cream, hoping it will reverse some of the teenage UV damage when we hit the age of 30.

Step 1: The Eye Makeup Removal

Remove your eye makeup gently with good makeup remover because expecting a normal cleanser to do a detailed job is what leaves you with week-old mascara on your lashes.

Step 2: The Cleanse

Rule of thumb is, if you’re going to spend 30 minutes putting on your face, you should spend the same amount of time are take the same amount of care when cleaning it off.

Step 3: The Refresher

What we in America think of as “toning’ is an essential step. It’s believed to help remove pollutants along with any residue from your cleansers, while also restoring your skin’s pH balance. It soothes and preps your skin to absorb the next step—the essence. I’ve found Korean toners are less harsh and drying than other kinds that I’ve tried, which is maybe why they’re called “refreshers.”

Step 4: The Essence

Considered the most important step to Korean women, yet still a mystery to many.  It affects skin on a cellular level, speeding your cell turnover rate which makes skin smoother and brighter. I’ve had the most noticeable results from adding this this to my regimen.

Step 5: The Ampoule

Ampoules are super-concentrated versions of essences, and are often referred to as serums and boosters out West.

Step 6: The Sheet Mask

Sheet masks are a twice-a-week ritual, or more if your face is very dry. The wet, papery, masks (makes you look like a serial killer), are soaked in ingredients like collagen, which they in turn soak into your skin. The fun is in the variety; some masks contain avocado extracts (containing tons of antioxidants) or Vitamin E (anti-aging). The secret to sheet masks? They force your skin to absorb the nutrients and moisture better than if you just applied a cream or serum—before the product has a chance to evaporate. The immediate effects are addicting, after one use your face is slightly more plump and much brighter due to all the moisture your skin just absorbed.

Step 7: Snail Cream

You can’t skip the snail serum concentrate!!  The snail mucus solves a multiple amount of skin issues from anti-aging, acne, to evening out one’s skin.

Step 8: The Eye Cream

This is a self-explanatory product, but take note of the technique.  This leads to better absorption of the product, and of course eliminates any of that tugging and pulling.

Step 9: The Moisturizer

Really, another layer? If you haven’t noticed, Korean women are all about layering, to the point you feel your skin has been mummified.

Step 10: The Night Cream

By this point your face feels like a 6-tiered cream cake and your skin has major shine—or as Korean women like to call it, a dewy, “moist glow.” The point is, your skin needs to stay hydrated as you recharge overnight. If it’s morning time skip this step and go with plenty of SPF.

Like I tell all my girlfriends, this routine only takes about 15 minutes out of my evening (sheet masks and exfoliating packs are not really a daily thing), and it’s actually a bit therapeutic to pamper my face as I wind down for the night. The key is daily prevention and nurturing, which eliminates any need for expensive facials. Sure, if you’re stumbling home a bit toasty, barely able to take off your triple-strapped sandals, do yourself a favor and at least wipe off the day’s makeup with some cleansing tissues. Sleeping in your makeup is the universal ultimate skincare sin—whether you’re in California or Seoul.

SMD makes one of the most amazing, luxurious snail creams out there…but before I talk about why this is Korea’s hot secret to beauty, let me discuss the origins of this snail cream rage!

The use of snail slime to improve skin dates back to ancient Greece, where Hippocrates, the famous physician, reportedly prescribed crushed snails and sour milk as a way to rid the skin of inflammation. In more recent times, the use of snail creams started when Chilean farmers who handled snails for the French market noticed their skin was visibly smoother. Nowadays, it is the secreted slime discovered by these farmers that is harvested to produce snail cream, not crushed up snails.

As a snail protects itself, the slime that is excreted from its body is packed with nutrients like hyaluronic acid, glycoprotein enzymes, antimicrobial and copper peptides, and proteoglycans. All of these nutrients are already commonly added to beauty products and are thought to provide many benefits to skin.

The science behind snail slime as a viable beauty cream is mostly derived from lab studies where the effects of the slime have been tested on a variety of cell cultures. In these studies, research suggests that snail slime will stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, increase fibronectin protein production, and stimulate increased proliferation of fibroblasts.

But not all snail cream is created equal…and it is not all about how much % of snail mucus is in the actual cream, it’s about how it is filtrated, formulated and what other chemicals are in the cream. Here at SMD we do not use toxic chemicals or toxic preservatives in our products. We also have added in some other amazing ancient Asian herbal medicine to our cream to enhance it’s benefits.

Some key ingredients in Saromae Snail Serum Concentrate:

Licorice Root – One of the oldest remedies in history…was recognized in its benefits in brightening of the skin and its ability to even out the skin tone, making it an especially treasured ingredient in beauty rituals.

Forsythia Virissima – can help reduce acne, wrinkles, and facial pigmentation over time.

Safflower Seed Oil – this is a favorite in natural skincare because it’s a botanical alternative to synthetic emollients. It’s a potent hydrator and ideal for dry, sensitive complexions.

Cimicifuga Dahurica Root – used topically to treat skin conditions such as acne. It helps to improve the feel and appearance of your skin. Based on it’s intense medicinal use by Native American Indians and it’s reputation as a great cure-all, Cimicifuga appeared in 1820 in the U.S. Pharmacopeia as an anti-inflammatory, sedative and antispasmodic ingredient. It provides soothing and bactericidal properties. This product is recommended for use in anti- blemish creams, purifying face masks, and lotions.

Paeonia Lactiflora Root -is valued for the Paeoniflorin active, which has an antioxidant effect similar to Vitamin E. It also stimulates circulation with overall skin beautifying properties.The botanical prevents lipid peroxidation in the epidermal cells for healthy skin. Its extract has been used medicinally for centuries to boost microcirculation, treat inflammation and relieve pain.

Platycodon Grandiflorum Root – contains potent antioxidants that destroy these harmful radicals before they build up in your body. This leaves your skin smooth and healthy, leaving you looking younger and revitalized.

Pueraria Lobata Root Extract – this Asian botanical helps brighten skin for a more even-looking complexion.

Beta-glucan – is a natural compound, extracted from plants, that helps to maintain a youthful appearance for skin…it’s a must have anti-aging ingredient!

SMD really has found the perfect balance of ingredients and formula to elevate snail cream to the next level of skincare innovation. With 62% pure snail secretion to solve various skin concerns such as fine lines, acne, dullness and wrinkles.

Coming soon to the U.S. in 2016!!