Best Asian Skincare products—the routine for busy moms
Skincare is a very personal thing because everyone’s skin type and needs may be different so there isn’t a holy grail that works for everyone. You may need to do a few weeks of trial on a specific product to see the effects, but investing in some quality brands in each category should have you covered.
Korean skincare products and Japanese skincare products have always been part of the repertoire of many Asian women, but if you live outside of Asia, these products may have been hard to acquire in the past. For instance, it’s only of recent years that there has been an explosion of interest and access in Korean beauty products in the mainstream, due to trends in K-pop and K-dramas where we see and covet the secrets to glowing, dewy skin of Asian idols.
The simple anti-aging skincare routine that busy moms can follow boils down to:
Cleanse/exfoliate
Apply toner/essence (optional)
Apply serum
Moisturize
Apply sunscreen (daytime only)
* If there’s only one thing that you can do for skin health and care though, it’s #5 Apply sunscreen.
It also goes without saying that skin health will come from diet and lifestyle too, so focusing on a diet of plenty of fruits, vegetables, and hydration is first and foremost. Then if you can, eliminate smoking, alcohol and limit coffee and sweet drinks/soda and it will do wonders for your skin.
Here are our recommendations for best Asian skincare products and brands. Note, all links go to our Amazon affiliate link, but ours recs are true.
Cleanser/exfoliator
Tatcha Rice Wash
We’re a big fan of Tatcha’s products (you’ll notice in our recommendations), a Japanese brand that is gentle and effective for luminous skin. Tatcha’s Rice Wash gently cleans your face and we didn’t find it leaving the skin dry. Even though it doesn’t claim to be an exfoliator, I’ve found that gently massaging it on the face is enough to double as an exfoliator. Tatcha does make a matcha cleanser that you can buy for the deep cleanse days, but I found that the Rice Wash will fit the daily needs.
Buy from Amazon
Toner/Essence
Tatcha The Essence
Before using Tatcha’s The Essence, I didn’t really see what the point of using a toner or essence was before. Tatcha gave a free trial bottle of The Essence in one order and I gave it a whirl for a month. Then I stopped for a month and the effects were really noticeable in terms of skin softness and overall skin radiance. Think of a toner/essence water as something that will help the follow up serum and moisturizer get absorbed better into your skin.
Buy from Amazon
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
SK-II is another Japanese beauty brand that is well-known and a favorite that many Asian women will swear by. You really can’t go wrong with buying from SK-II’s product lines. They make an excellent essence water for anti-aging effects.
Buy from Amazon
Sulwhasoo: Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Brightening Serum
Sulwhasoo is one of the best premium Korean beauty brands out there. Aside from this concentrated serum for improving your skin’s brightness, they also make some really good facial sheet masks that are worth indulging in.
Buy from Amazon
Moisturizers
Tatcha: The Silk Cream
If you haven’t already noticed, we’re a big fan of Tatcha’s! This Silk Cream moisturizer by Tatcha is the one to invest in for firming and adding a layer to lock in moisture for your skin. The only downside is that it’s pricey, but a jar will last at least 2 months so it’s a premium treat for your skin.
Buy from Amazon
LANEIGE: Water Bank Moisturizer
LANEIGE is a Korean beauty brand that has been well-known for years and is quite affordable in their pricing and is effective for locking in moisture. Their Water Bank moisturizer is packed with goodness, but because it’s a thicker and richer cream, I would recommend using this mainly at night. One of their most popular products is their Water Sleeping Mask, discovered many years ago on a trip to Seoul that I would still recommend.
Buy from Amazon
Tatcha: Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 35
The best sunscreen is the one that you’ll actually remember to wear every day. But not all sunscreens are created equal. When shopping for sunscreen, you have to make sure that the active ingredients will block out the harmful UVA/UVB rays that cause skin aging and cancer. That means it should have a significant amount (think 10-20%) of either zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide. I also prefer mineral-based sunscreens that create a barrier for your skin vs. chemical sunscreens that get absorbed into the skin.
Tatcha’s Silken Pore Perfecting sunscreen fits the bill on all of the above. The only con is that the SPF level is only 35, but if you are staying indoors most of the time, this is effective enough.
Buy from Amazon
Shiseido’s Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen
Shiseido’s Anessa line makes some of the best Asian sunscreens on the market. It’s lightweight, doesn’t leave a white residue, and best thing is that it’s at SPF 50. If you ever happen to visit Japan, that’s the best time to stock up on this item at a low price.
Buy at Amazon
innisfree Daily UV Defense Mineral Sunscreen
innisfree is a popular Korean beauty brand and their sunscreen products are some of the best to add to your daily routine. This sunscreen is nice in that it is lightweight and improves overall skin tone after applying. In terms of price, this is also the best deal, especially since it’s something that you want to apply liberally on your face every day.
Buy from Amazon