From playing the fierce doctor Yoon Myung-joo in Descendants of the Sun to stealing everyone’s gaze as an ice-cold heiress in Queen of Tears – Kim Ji-won has garnered admiration for her incredible performances in some of the most smash-hit K-dramas of recent times. If not for her acting chops, Kim Ji-won is always grabbing attention for her luminous, glowing skin that has captured the fancy of all skincare aficionados and made us go gaga over the K-beauty craze all over again! If you’re looking for a simple yet efficacious skincare routine to get the Korean glass skin of your dreams, let’s take you through Kim Ji-won’s skincare regime and beauty tips.
Despite her busy roster packed with filming schedules, sleepless nights, travelling, and other work commitments, Kim Ji-won never compromises when it comes to self-care. The My Liberation Notes star looks as graceful and radiant in her 30s, following the ‘less is more’ mantra that works wonders wherein you won’t have to overwhelm your skin with heavy products. Keep reading to know the actor’s beauty secrets.
Check out K-drama star Kim Ji-won’s five-step skincare routine
Kim Ji-won has often mentioned that she has a sensitive skin type, so she swears by very gentle and mild products that won’t damage her skin barrier. Sensitive skin is more prone to redness and irritation, especially when exposed to the sun or after a long day of work with a full face of makeup. Therefore, Kim Ji-won focuses on a routine that can replenish and soothe her skin.
Moreover, she has a unique minimalist approach to skincare and uses a single product for multiple purposes. For example, rather than investing in a hand cream or an under-eye cream, the actor simply uses a moisturising lotion for her hands and an ampoule for under eyes.
Her five-step routine is absolutely simple: she begins with cleansing and toning, followed by using ampoules. The final two steps include moisturisation and applying sunblock to lock in SPF.
Cleansing and exfoliating
View this post on Instagram
The first step of any skincare routine is washing away all the dirt and bacteria using a cleanser. The Queen of Tears star uses a gentle cleanser to wash her face which keeps skin irritation and problems like acne, excess sebum, and more at bay. Cleansing clears all your pores and preps the skin for the subsequent skincare steps in addition to giving a proper level of hydration.
In addition to cleansing, she opts for an exfoliator regularly to remove all the dead skin cells and promote cell turnover which gives a youthful and brighter complexion. Long-term exfoliating can increase collagen production, which is the key to achieving glowing and vibrant skin. Did you know that collagen accounts for about 30% of your body’s protein? This protein boosts skin elasticity and minimises the appearance of fine lines and related sagging, according to Healthline.
As for Kim Ji-won, she opts for gentler formations instead of harsh and abrasive scrubs. If you’re looking for something similar, add the Dr G Brightening Peeling Gel (costing around HKD 116) to your shopping cart right away. Suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin, this product will improve your skin texture and brighten your dull skin.
Buy Dr G Brightening Peeling Gel here
Toner
View this post on Instagram
After removing the dirt and residue, Kim Ji-won goes in with a facial toner to rehydrate her skin. She opts for a hydrating formula to boost moisture and prevent any hydration loss. Toner further pulls out deeply rooted makeup residue, dead skin cells, and grime from the skin’s pores. It helps calm your skin, balances its pH levels,minimises the appearance of enlarged pores and temporarily tightens the skin. While using facing toners is an optional step, we’d recommend not skipping it at all if you have dry and damaged skin.
The Round Lab Dokdo Toner (costing around HKD 127) is a favourite among K-beauty lovers. This lightweight, hydrating and soothing formulation is infused with ingredients to take care of your tired and irritated skin. It’s a concoction of skin-plumping glycerin, mineral-rich seawater and sugarcane extract that works wonders on inflamed skin.
Buy Round Lab Dokdo Toner here
Using Ampoule
View this post on Instagram
Another K-beauty wonder, ampoules are supercharged serums with higher concentrations of active ingredients. They’re more potent forms of serums that are used for a finite amount of time as a booster to handle a skincare crisis of sorts like discolouration, or dark spots. It comes in a vial with a dropper, usually containing enough product for a single application.
As for Kim Ji-won, she soaks a cotton pad with an ampoule, chills it in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, and then applies it to her cheeks for fresh skin. The CosRx Hydrium Centella Aqua Soothing Ampoule (costing around HKD 183) is the ultimate magic potion for those having sensitive and irritated skin. It’s a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that delivers immediate hydration for angry, red acne skin.
Buy CosRx Hydrium Centella Aqua Soothing Ampoule here
Serum/ moisturiser
View this post on Instagram
Looks like Kim Ji-won loves that extra flush of hydration, which works great against issues like discolouration, dullness, fine lines, or acne. While there are a host of hydrating serums in the market, we recommend you use the COSRX Niacinamide 15 Serum (costing around HKD 159) which contains niacinamide and vitamin E. It is ideal for fighting acne, brightening skin and scar healing. Moreover, it doesn’t contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, or oils that could irritate your skin.
Buy COSRX Niacinamide 15 Serum here
Sunscreen
View this post on Instagram
Kim Ji-won finishes her skincare routine with a dose of SPF, a step you can’t miss at any cost. Whether you’re going to work, are just running errands or are tucked at home: sunblock is a must irrespective of whether you’re indoors or outdoors. The actor opts for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with high SPF every morning. Sunscreen delays the onset of all signs of ageing, whether it is hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and more.
According to Daily Vanity, Ji-won uses the Dr G Brightening Up SPF 50+ PA+++ (costing around HKD 184). It is a non-sticky, mild formula that offers five layers of protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Buy Dr G Brightening Up SPF 50+ PA+++ here
Will you try out Kim Ji-won’s skincare routine?
(Hero and feature image credit: geewonii/ Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is Kim Ji-won’s skincare routine?
Queen of Tears star Kim Ji-won follows a simple yet effective skincare routine. The five-step regime includes cleansing and toning, followed by using ampoules. The final two steps include moisturisation and applying sunblock to lock in SPF.
- What is the best Korean skincare routine?
There’s a signature 10-step Korean skincare routine, which is followed by many celebrities as well. It includes the classic CTM method, followed by the application of Korean essences and treatments, sheet masks, eye creams, moisturisers and SPF.
- What dramas has Kim Ji-won starred in?
Queen of Tears, Arthdal Chronicles, My Liberation Notes and Descendants of the Sun are some of the most popular K-dramas starring Kim Ji-won.
Tags
Written by
Kriti Nayyar
Senior Digital Writer, Wellness, Culture, Astrology, Tech
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama, whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature & journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
