Flex Skincare: The Korean Trend for Porcelain Skin

Many cosmetics promise facial beauty, but it's the right combination of these that yields good results. Behind these magic formulas for every skin type is "flex skincare".

Smooth and luminous, as if it were made of porcelain. This is how the skin looks after being treated with the flex skincare routine. It’s one of the many Korean methods for skin care, which recommend that we change to lighter and more effective products.

Different from other methods, this variant breaks the rigidity of certain facial beauty guides. Sometimes, traditional ways are complicated to follow, due to the use of powerful components that, far from improving the appearance, can damage it.

Flex skincare is reduced to the basics. It aims to improve face health, and give it a beautiful appearance.

What is flex skincare?

The essence of flex skincare is to tailor the facial routine exclusively to the products needed for each skin type. It also proposes the use of gentle substances formulated for day or night, summer or winter, depending on the time of application.

Cosmetics that try to delay the physical signs of aging, which is the focus of many brands in the beauty industry, aren’t enough. When you carry out flex skin care, either incorporating or excluding what the skin demands, you contribute to the reduction of wrinkles, the fading of blemishes and the early appearance of fine lines.

In this way, the Korean technique protects and nourishes the youthful dermis. The theory of those who support this technique is that skin doesn’t always require the same thing. One week it may flake and another week it may show more imperfections.

Lifestyle has a lot to do with facial condition and the relevance of flex care. The magazine Farmacia Profesional points out (article in Spanish) that unhealthy food, stress, smoking, excess alcohol, and coffee are enemies that reduce elasticity, firmness, and smoothness. Hence the need for various skin care options.

What kind of products does “flex skincare” include?

Flex skincare isn’t just for mature skin. Young people take advantage of the malleability of the method, fighting the signs of aging in advance, nourishing the face, and reinforcing the skin barrier.

Although it uses gentle blends, the ingredients penetrate without any problems and don’t cause side effects. Here are the types of products that flexible facial care provides.

Vitamin C

Actas Dermosifilográficas states (article in Spanish) that topical application of vitamin C, at a concentration of 5% and for 6 months, significantly improves the clinical appearance of photoaging, eliminating small wrinkles.

A publication from Oregon State University points out that vitamin C is an essential cofactor in enzymatic reactions. For example, in the biosynthesis of collagen, carnitine, and neuropeptides. It’s also an antioxidant par excellence.

In that order, studies show that the combination of vitamin C with other types of facial treatments, such as radiofrequency, favors the appearance and quality of the skin.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is vitamin B3 or nicotinamide. This ingredient blocks oxidative stress and exerts a facial remodeling function.

It also minimizes transepidermal water loss, increases lipid production, and smoothes wrinkles. The U.S. National Library of Medicine tells us that creams with niacinamide promote the appearance of acne-prone skin.

Other features include the following:

• Anti-inflammatory capacity
• Reduction of irritation
• Sebum-regulating capacity
• Depigmenting properties

Retinol

Products with retinol simplify the expulsion of comedones and inhibit the formation of new ones. This is what is reported (article in Spanish) in the vademecum published by Access Medicina.

Thanks to its properties, this format of vitamin A is a useful remedy for acne vulgaris, and works even better if you merge it with benzoyl peroxide or systemic antibiotics.

The magazine Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii notes that vitamin A is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an anti-wrinkle agent, capable of transforming the surface of the skin.

Ceramides

Ceramides are natural lipids, responsible for creating a protective barrier and moisturizing. These fats regulate skin permeability to expel liquids through sweat and to allow other substances, such as creams, to be absorbed.

Hyaluronic acid (HA)

HA is a glycosaminoglycan that is present in all body tissues, but which can also be infiltrated or applied topically. Its purpose is to preserve dermal structure, hydrate, repair cells, and fill wrinkles.

This substance is well accepted in aesthetic treatments, due to its results and semi-permanent duration.

Dry oils

Some natural remedies, such as dry oils, green tea or rice powder, are included in flex skincare because they’re non-harmful nutrients. These products contain vegetable oils that, when combined with an emollient and a texturizing agent, have excellent effects on the complexion, especially during seasonal changes.

The importance of following a “flex skincare” facial routine

When you know which products work best for your skin and which to remove from your routine, you’ll achieve results that your complexion will appreciate. The secret is to personalize your routine.

Even if you only use a few, light-strength products, make sure your selection is approved by your dermatologist. Complement the process with periodic deep cleansing of the face, including exfoliation.