The best tonic for an easy skincare regime

ENTREPRENEUR JIN KWON ON THE HOT RIGHT NOW KOREAN BEAUTY WAVE, SELF-CARE TIPS AND NEW SUMMER TRENDS

by RAAKHI TANVI

THERE is a lot more to Korea than K-Pop and great food. It also has a booming beauty industry and is known for the latest trends, particularly in skincare. Jin Kwon is a beauty entrepreneur and the owner and founder of TONIC15, which is a platform making Korean skincare simple and accessible.

We caught up with Jin to find out more about fast emerging Korean skincare brands and get some top tips.

You’ve really helped shine a different light on Korean skincare and demystify the 10-step routine, which doesn’t work for everyone. How did you get into this?

The 10-step skincare regime is a concept that has always been linked to K-beauty, but interestingly, people in Korea don’t really do it. I realised that the idea of the 10-step skincare routine can overwhelm and put people off who would otherwise be interested in K-beauty. I wanted to help lower that barrier and show that Korean skincare isn’t just about long-winded routines. While there are some days where I enlist multiple steps into my routine (when my skin is reacting to something and needs special attention), I generally prefer simple skincare, so it made sense for me to share my pared-back approach.

What is the main thing that you want to emphasise?

It’s not about right or wrong and down to personal preference. There are people who enjoy the time and ritual of a 10-step skincare regime and it works very well for them, but on the other side there are people, like me, who prefer a simple approach. Either is fine as long as people enjoy it and see benefits to their skin. At TONIC15, we believe that skincare and self-care should be an enjoyable journey. Whatever that looks like for an individual, we respect it.

What’s the first thing everyone should do in their skincare routine?

A thorough cleansing is a very important element of skincare. Our skin is exposed to dirt, grime, pollution, not to mention makeup, so if we don’t cleanse it properly, all of these things can clog our pores leading to acne, dehydration and over sensitised skin. I would encourage people to do a double cleanse – once to remove the makeup, and next to remove the dirt and grime from skin. I also recommend pH-balanced cleansers, which help keep the skin mildly acidic and subsequently enable the skin’s protective moisture barrier to do its job well. Cleansers that give that ‘squeaky clean’ feeling might be tempting to use, but they can strip the skin’s protective barrier causing irritation and dehydration.

What else would you consider essential to the routine?

I would advise wearing sunscreen every day – it’s such an important habit that will help maintain healthy and youthful skin. Lastly, it’s important to find a healthy balance in our lifestyle. Some simple yet essential habits that make a huge difference to our skin are drinking enough water, getting good sleep and exercising regularly. Then there are slightly more challenging things like controlling your stress-levels, but I find me-time can go a long way to reducing cortisol and adrenaline. I like to unwind with a mask – it makes me feel so refreshed.

Why is SPF so important?

SPF is considered such an important part of a skincare regime that people will never skip it. That is because sun damage caused by the sun’s UV rays damage collagen fibres, which causes the skin to age and can result in wrinkles and fine lines. Sunscreen can also help protect against uneven skin tone, pigmentation and discolouration. Because of this, sunscreen is one of the categories in Korean skincare that always sees brands seeking out innovation – they have to do this to survive and thrive in the competitive market where customers have increasingly high expectations, which is why K-sunscreens tend to be my favourite.

Tell us more about your favourite SPFs...

My top pick would be Dr Ceuracle’s Sun Gel, which is moisturising and fast-absorbing without leaving the skin greasy. My husband has oilier skin than me, but it works so well for both of our skin types – we love it! Other SPFs that I like are Klairs’ Soft Airy UV Essence and Krave’s Beauty Beet Shield.

What are good products for hair care in the warmer months?

During the summer months, I really enjoy doing a scalp and hair mask with an alcohol-free Aloe Vera gel. When I feel my scalp has suffered from too much heat and sun exposure, I’ll cool the aloe gel in the fridge before applying it to my scalp. I’ll leave it on my scalp and hair for around 15 minutes before washing it off. Not only does it cool and soothe an irritated scalp, but it also hydrates and helps strengthen my hair, leaving it looking smooth and shiny.

What are your other summer hair care saviours?

Aromatica’s Rosemary Scalp Scrub, which exfoliates the scalp and removes build up with Dead Sea salt. It also contains rosemary and other herb extracts that soothe and nourish the scalp and give a refreshed feeling on a hot summer’s day.

What key skincare trends do you see coming up for the summer?

Recently, we’ve seen multitasking and multi-purpose products pop up that are as effective as they are convenient. There are mists that function as toners, as well as essences. There watery-type essences contain actives, meaning you can combine your toner and essence into a single step. This trend will continue and I believe it’ll enable people to simplify their skincare steps during the summer, so they can nourish and hydrate skin without applying too many layers of skincare, which can lead to sweating and breakouts during the hot summer days. In the warmer months, I want to wear less makeup but worry about my skin tone, scarring and texture.

What steps and products are your favourite to help combat this?

Serums are a great way to tackle specific skincare concerns, especially when it comes to improving skin tone and texture. I’d recommend a vitamin C serum such as By Wishtrend’s Vitamin C 21.5 Advanced Serum. Due to photosensitivity, I like to use this during my evening regime, but you can absolutely use it during the day as long as you wear an SPF over the top. Vitamin C and Vitamin E work in tandem, each making the other more effective to form a natural sun protection, so I like to pair this Vitamin C serum with Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E mask. Another ingredient that helps the tone and texture of skin is niacinamide. Huxley Essence; Brightly Ever After is filled with antioxidant-rich ingredients, as well as niacinamide, and is another favourite that works so well.

Visit Instagram: @_tonic15

Jin Kwon’s must have summer products

Klairs Fundamental Ampoule Mist: This refreshing, nourishing and hydrating ampoule mist can replace toner or be used as a mist throughout the day to cool down and soothe skin during the hot summer days.

Make P:rem Radiance Me Mild Peeling Gel: Formulated with Wintergreen leaf extract, which naturally contains Salicylic acid, this peeling gel gently yet effectively exfoliates, removes blackheads and clears pores, leaving skin supple and soft.

Aromatica Smoothing Aloe Aqua Cream: This fast-absorbing, light-weight gel moisturiser is made with organic aloe vera and ceramides to sooth and moisturise skin exposed to the sun, while niacinamide helps to increase the skin’s elasticity and reduce the appearance of pores.

Dr Ceuracle Cica Regene Sun Gel: This multipurpose sun gel, which can be used as a sunscreen, essence and moisturiser, protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, while also keeping the skin moisturised without feeling greasy.