Little Magazine 6
Gettin’ Covid-Clean
Article 6
June 9, 2020
Korean Spa-ahhh
We’re all doing it. We’re masking now. So what are the facial repercussions, exactly? The friction, the germies, the layers, the trapped air. Just so much awesomeness all over your face, all day long. Today we’re going to cover how to get Covid-clean. Face and body (can’t forget our corporal skinz). I have Dr. Rad (hi babe!) to thank for today’s article. He’s eyeballs-deep in PPE all day these days. To all you front-liners and medical-fielders, hats off. You are the heroes of this generation and we will forever be indebted to you. Thank you.
Let’s get to it. Let’s talk body, first, for funskies. We’ve all heard about it. Those esoteric Korean spas, with those mysterious Korean scrubs. What exactly is it, though? What makes it special? Admittedly, I’m a pretty “bad Korean.” Born and raised in So-cal, Laguna, I was sheltered from the glorious Korean-spa culture until my early twenties. But please, allow me to share my one-step-ahead-of-ya knowledge. A fellow Kor-Am girlfriend finally took me to a small neighborhood K-spa. Awkwardness of initial birthday-suit-glory-amidst-strangers aside, it was life-changing. You get over the nekkedness quickly, because, well, you realize that no one else really cares about you. They’re just trying to get their best skincare-life on.
After witnessing and partaking in the customs and rituals of K-spas for a few years now, I’ve come to realize that the nonpareil of this entire situation is the body scrub. Here’s how it goes IRL: a sturdy yet scantily-clad Korean grandma (it’s strangely fitting, though, in a kitschy kind of way) instructs you to lay face-down on a slippery bed, usually in an open, collective room. As soon as your face hits the bed, you hear the sound of what almost seems like two sandpaper pads rubbing against each other. Then she goes… to town. The first time is shocking, uncomfortable, even painful, for super-newbs. After a while, though, you seek the scrubby pain. You miss it. Like a good little Pavlovian doggy, you learn to distinguish that exquisite sandpaper sound to mean unequivocally, unbelievably soft, nubile, baby skin.
DIY K-scrubby thingy
I consulted a professional Korean “Fob” friend of mine regarding this ritual (sup Ash!). Apparently there are three key elements that go into it. So, to save you the potential awkwardness of the birthday-suit-grandma-in-black-lingerie situation, just do the best part—the scrub—in the comfort of your own home. Here is the secret to that baby-skin life:
1. The quintessential “italy towel.” (8pcs/ $5.73) And nope, IDK why they call it that. It’s like as acceptable as sandpaper can get for your skin. These little suckers last forever, too.
2. Epsom Salt. ($4.87/ 3lb. bag) Self-explanatory. You can find this at any drug store. Any flavor works.
3. Irish Springs bar soap. ($3.97/ 8-bar pack) Why? Again, IDK TBH. It has to be Irish Springs, though. This much I know. This is the secret to this secret recipe. Scratch your heads all you want, but it works!
Directions: before you go in to your scrub appointment, the front desk ladies request you to soak in the sauna for 10-15 minutes. This is to “bloat” and soften your skin. It facilitates the dead-skin removal process (so fun!). So at home, do all your other deeds in the shower and save this step for last so your skin has a chance to “bloat.”
Next, you take your wet italy towel (one hand in each like little mittens), dip it into epsom salt (about a tablespoon) and rub together, then swipe over the Irish Spring Soap generously, and scrub in small movements, starting from your feet/lower legs and moving up. You start here because it’s less sensitive. Starting on your upper body is intense. Also, big, wide, sweeping movements will prove deadly. Seriously, it hurts. Pretend you have a sticker on your body that you’re trying to scrub off. You’ll notice almost immediately that little rolls of dead skin will start to collect all over your body. It’s equally horrifying, satisfying, gross and awesome all at the same time. Rinse as needed, re-moisten and re-dip into salt and soap, respectively, as needed. The first time, one pass is sufficient. At the K-spa they do this 3 times over the entire body. (Note* Keep it neck-down! Our facial skin cannot handle this level of scrubbery.) Afterwards, while your body is still wet, take an oil and rub all over entire body. If you wanna treat yourself, try Leland Francis’s Luxe Body Serum. ($80) Pat yourself dry and use a thick body cream afterwards. You’ll be feelin’ yourself all day, literally.
Mask all day, mask all night.
It was fun for a minute, not having to wear makeup and being able to mask. Now, breakouts galore and novel skin irritations later… we’re over it. So what do we do about it? It’s life as we know it, now. So here’s your new routine:
1. Clean your skin. Like really clean your skin. This doesn’t mean scrub harder or be harsher. It means be thorough. Oil-Second Cleanse-Toner-Serum-Cream is the comprehensive formula. 5-steps. No time for that s***? Try this: Micellar water-Toner-Cream. It’s better than using wipes or nothing at all!
2. Sensitive skin? Try a mild but thorough physical exfoliation ($27) with gentle products, like Skinesque’s Enzyme Cleansing Powder, for a more thorough cleanse. This Silicone Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush’s mechanical movement will literally shift and move dirt and debris out of your pores. I like this one because it’s ergonomically-friendly, price-point-friendly, and water-proof.
3. Nourish your skin. Mask when you can. Your poor skin’s going through some extra stuff, so you need to give it some extra TLC. Not sure where to start in the mask world? Skinesque has a great 3-for-1 situation (on sale at $17.50/ 5-mask box), a no brainer. Or this box o’ masks is $38 for 30 sheets. I like to keep mine in the fridge and apply cold.
PRO-TIP: Remember, whether you’re cleansing or applying products, always use gentle, circular or patting/tapping upward motions on your face. This helps facilitate product absorption (hair follicles/pores face tend to face down on the face), and it has collective lifting/anti-aging effects.
Tippy-Tips:
BeautyStylelist’s 3 cents
This week we pick Beauty Guru Tiffany aka BeautyStylelist’s (26k followers on instagram) brain about some of her favorite things:
1. Favorite Products or service right now?
I’ve been a big fan of Korean enzyme peels for the past years. It’s a quick skin booster to resurface and oddly satisfying to see the dead skin roll off.
(Here’s a suggestion: Dr. G’s brightening Peeling Gel- $14, if you want to try one out.)
2. What is something you’d like people to know?
Skincare and skin is constantly changing. Being aware of your body and mind is crucial to be able to treat any outbreaks or skin issues. Everything starts from within.
3. What’s your ultimate beauty secret?
Being aware of your body is the best secret to advice I can give. Changing and shifting your treatments products, lifestyle, diet, and sleep will change your skin to be its best.
Happy Tuesday! See you next week. :) -Renee