Ever wish you could get skin care tips from popular beauty vlogger Renee Chow of Gothamista or Soko Glam co-founder Charlotte Cho IRL? Both of them stopped by Soko House in New York City this week to drop some knowledge and dish on their favorite products from best-selling K-beauty brand Neogen. If you couldn’t be there, there’s no need to have FOMO. We wrote down their best advice and are sharing it right here. Read on!
How to Use Micellar Water
Micellar water is a fairly simple product, but it can be tricky to know how and when to use it. Is it a cleanser? A pre-cleanser? A toner?
Renee told the Soko House crowd that it’s more of a quick fix than a staple in her routine. “It’s a good light cleanse for mid-day, or if you’re too lazy for your full routine,” she said.
Charlotte likes to use it as a base for her double cleanse to remove any excessive makeup before diving into her routine. “I’m extra like that!” she said.
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How to Protect Your Skin From Pollution
If you live in a big city like New York City or Seoul, your skin is likely exposed to a lot of pollution. Pollution not only causes acne and contributes to aging the skin, but it can also make it more sensitive and inflamed. This is why in Korean cities like Seoul, soothing ingredients such as cica are so popular.
On one of Renee’s trips to Seoul she discovered the Neogen Dermalogy Real Cica Pads. She’s a fan of the gentle exfoliating pads because they are a convenient way to freshen up and keep skin healthy and clean.
Why Natural Ingredients Aren’t Necessarily Better Than Chemical Ones
“Just because an ingredient is a chemical does not necessarily mean it’s bad, and just because something is natural does not mean it’s good,” Renee said. “You have to trust ingredients that have been around for a long time, and have been tested many times.”
Charlotte also noted that preservatives serve a purpose in beauty products and encouraged the crowd to be educated on ingredients before making snap judgements.
You Can Use Vitamin C as a Spot Treatment
There’s a list of reasons why using vitamin C in powder form is so great, including the fact that it doesn’t oxidize. Another reason to add to the list is that it can be used as a spot treatment for acne scars and dark spots. Renee said she likes to mix the Neogen Real Vita C Powder with an essence until it forms a paste and then she’ll apply it straight on a spot she wants to improve, instead of applying it over her entire face.
You Can Use an Essence as a Moisturizer if You Have Oily Skin
In the summer, you may find that a traditional moisturizer is too heavy. In this case, Charlotte recommends layering a nourishing essence like the Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence on skin (about two layers) as an alternative.
You can also skip moisturizer and go straight to a hydrating sunscreen. Charlotte revealed that her husband and Soko Glam co-founder Dave does this with the Neogen Day-Light Protection Sunscreen.
Fine Lines Can Be a Result of Dry Skin
In case you needed another reason why it’s so important to keep your skin hydrated, Charlotte said that it’s not just the hands of time and environmental damage that can cause fine lines and wrinkles to develop, but a lack of moisture. She said this is why sheet masks and face mists are so commonly used in Korea. Charlotte likes to keep the Neogen H2 Dermadeca Serum Spray – an ultra-fine refreshing formula – at her desk to ensure her skin is never thirsty.
