Discover Korea

Introduction: So… Which Vitamin C Serum Should You Actually Buy? Walk into a beauty store and look for a Vitamin C serum , and suddenly something that sounded simple becomes surprisingly complicated. Vitamin C 5%. Vitamin C 15%. Vitamin C 23%. Pure Vitamin C. Vitamin C derivatives. Dark spot serum. Glutathione C. Vitamin C booster… Wait. Aren’t they all Vitamin C? Not exactly. Vitamin C is one of the most popular skincare ingredients for brightening dull skin, improving the appearance of dark spots, supporting collagen production and providing antioxidant care . But different Vitamin C products can contain different forms and concentrations of the ingredient. That means the strongest serum is not automatically the best serum for your skin. Today, we’re going to make Vitamin C much easier to understand. We’ll look at the different types of Vitamin C, what they can do for your skin, how to choose the right concentration and how to use a Vitamin C serum correctly. And because knowing the ...

                   Do We Really Need 10 Skincare Steps Every Morning? If you love K-Beauty, you have probably seen those beautiful Korean skincare routines with bottles lined up across the bathroom counter: cleansing oil, cleanser, toner, essence, serum, ampoule, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen…and sometimes even more. They look wonderful. But there is one little problem. Who has time to do all of that every single morning? Before we begin, I want to make something clear about the products shown in the images in this post. They are examples of the types of K-Beauty skincare products you can commonly find at retailers such as Olive Young . I am not saying that you need to buy every product shown, nor do you need to use a particular brand to follow these routines. Think of the images as a visual guide. Your skin is different from mine, and your morning schedule may be completely different too. The goal isn't to collect ten bottles. The g...

  My Everyday Routine for Mature Skin, Dark Spots, Hydration, and Protection From the Australian Sun Introduction: Why I Started Paying More Attention to My Skin Living in Melbourne has made me more aware of how important skincare and sun protection can be. Australia’s sunshine can be intense, and as I have gotten older, I have noticed that freckles, dark spots, and dryness seem to demand a little more attention than they once did. My skin does not always feel as naturally hydrated as it used to, and I find myself thinking more carefully about the products I apply before heading to work. However, there is one small problem. My mornings are busy. Between getting ready for work, managing household responsibilities, and trying to leave the house on time, a complicated ten-step skincare routine simply does not fit into my day. About two weeks ago, I decided to simplify everything. Instead of applying numerous products, I began following four basic steps: Toner → Serum → Moist...

  A Colorful, Savory and Easy Korean Noodle Dish for Any Occasion Introduction – Have You Ever Tried Japchae? Have you ever seen a plate of glossy Korean glass noodles mixed with colorful vegetables and wondered what it was? That beautiful dish is called Japchae (잡채) , one of Korea's best-known noodle dishes. Japchae is made with chewy Korean glass noodles called dangmyeon (당면) , usually made from sweet potato starch. The noodles are mixed with vegetables such as carrots, onions, spinach, and capsicum, along with beef or other optional ingredients. One thing I especially like about Japchae is that it isn't spicy. People who are new to Korean food sometimes think Korean dishes are always hot and spicy because foods such as kimchi and tteokbokki are so well known. But Korean cuisine has many mild dishes too, and Japchae is a perfect example. Its flavor is savory, slightly sweet, and wonderfully nutty from sesame oil. Today, I'm going to show you how I make Japchae at home, al...

  Sunscreen Is More Than Sunburn Protection: UV Damage, Wrinkles, Dark Spots, Skin Cancer and Daily Skin Protection Introduction: “Why Do You Wear Sunscreen Every Day?” Living and working in Australia, I often notice something interesting when it comes to sunscreen. I apply sunscreen every morning as part of my skincare routine. Sometimes my colleagues at work see me using sunscreen and ask: “Why do you wear sunscreen every day?” Some of them are genuinely surprised when I tell them that I apply it even when I am not planning to spend hours outside. Their questions made me realise that many people still think of sunscreen mainly as something you use when you go to the beach, swim outdoors, play sport, or spend a hot summer day under the sun. For me, growing up with Korean skincare habits, sunscreen has always felt a little different. In Korea, it is very common to hear that sunscreen should be the final step of your morning skincare routine. You may even hear people say that you sh...