10 beauty habits I wish I knew in my 20s (no one told me these)

No one ever told me about this thing, so I had to learn the hard way. Buying expensive products that didn't work for my skin and constantly looking for quick fixes. Now that I did my studies, I finally know which habits actually transform my skin and my body in the long run. If I had a younger sister, I wouldn't tell her to buy this or that. I would tell her to build this habit instead. They cost little to nothing, but they actually make a huge difference over time. Today, I'm sharing 10 beauty habits that I wish I'd known in my 20s, along with action plans so that you can follow Step by step, easily. The first beauty habit I wish I'd known in my 20s is to start wearing foundation as late as possible. I love this quote, the best time to start wearing makeup is when you don't need it. Because once you start using it, it's hard to go back. You already saw that transformation like smoother, flawless skin and it's really easy to just start relying on it. Obviously, foundation itself is not bad for your skin. There are a lot of factors that cause breakouts. But wearing foundation all day can leave your skin feeling dry And dehydrated so that it can cause more breakouts My first experience with foundation is when I was in the middle school. My friends were all wearing, so I borrowed one from my friend. And there was a moment, the power of foundation. It made my skin so flawless and smooth and my complexion got a little bit brighter. So I look prettier. From that moment, I started using foundation more and more. By high school, I got to a point where I couldn't leave my house without wearing it. I was so used to seeing myself with foundation. So if I didn't wear it, I felt I felt less confident and just felt like I'm naked. Eventually, my skin started to feel uncomfortable throughout the day. And I started to have that breakouts whenever I wear foundation. Looking back, I wish I started using foundation much later. So in my mid-twenties, I stopped wearing foundation at all and just focused more on my skincare and just taking care of my skin. After about nine months without wearing it, my skin got so much better and looked healthier. So now I wear foundation only for special occasions or events. I don't wear foundation every time I do my makeup and I'm completely comfortable going foundation free whenever I meet new people. It's not because I have flawless or better skin. It's because I stopped relying on it and started to upset my natural skin itself. Here's the action plan to go foundation free or just to feel comfortable without it. If you're already using foundation, it's not too late because I stopped wearing it in my mid twenties. If you're over twenties or thirties, you can still do that. Again, if you're already using it, If you normally use two pumps of foundation, you can slowly start using just one pump and then half pump and just not at all. Second, learn how to use concealer instead. Just because you're not wearing foundation, it doesn't mean that you want to cover big pimples or obvious hyperpigmentation on your face. So instead of covering that with full coverage foundation, you can still cover it with less amount of concealer effectively. That's where spot concealing comes in, I have a full video about how to do spot conceal and get a really thin layer of concealer while still covering perfectly. So you can check them out after watching this video. If you haven't started using foundation yet, but are thinking about it, here is what you can do. First, ask yourself why you want. If it's just because everyone is wearing it, think twice. There are plenty of people, including me, don't wear foundation every day. Second, start with the skin tint instead. Instead of starting with a full, full, Full coverage that will give you a huge transformation. Start with the one that gives you lightweight, very natural coverage so that you can get used to seeing yourself with small difference. And then by getting older, when you need more coverage, you can go a little bit more coverage products. The second habit that we should have known in my 20s was learn how to remove eye makeup properly. If you still see that black residue from your eyeliner or mascara after washing your face, your eye makeup isn't completely removed yet. Another quick test is take a clean Q-tip after cleansing, Gently swipe around your lash lines. If you see the eyeliner or mascara residue on the Q-tip, you are not removing properly. When I start wearing makeup, I didn't know how to remove my eye makeup properly. I didn't even know there was a separate eye makeup remover. So I tried to remove everything with water-based cleanser, which didn't work. Then I realized I need to use the oil cleanser, but some mascara need more time or too stubborn to remove it completely with oil cleanser. So I had to rub my eyes so harshly, which end up like sensitizing. my eyes and my eye got really irritated unlike the skin on your cheeks or forehead the skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most delicate in your face that's why eye cream exists this area needs more hydration to help prevent dryness that's why it's so important to use the right eye makeup remover and a proper cleansing routine to remove your eye makeup effectively without causing irritation or more wrinkles here's an action plan on how to remove eye makeup properly First make sure your eye makeup is completely dry. If your lashes are Since these are wet, the makeup remover won't work really well because it's made of oil. Oil doesn't mix with water, so make sure your eye area is completely dry. Second, use a mascara remover and apply it on your lashes. I used a Japanese mascara remover that's perfect for stubborn, waterproof mascara. Just comb it through your lashes like you're applying mascara. Next, soak a cotton pad with an eye makeup remover. Make sure the entire cotton is fully wet, even the edges. If the part of the pad is dry, it can cause friction And then press and hold for 5 seconds. Instead of swiping right away which won't dissolve your eye makeup completely, gently press the cotton pad on your eyes and hold it there for about 5 seconds. This gives the remover enough time to melt the makeup so it comes off much more easily. Last step is instead of rubbing, gently swipe the cotton pad. If there is any residue left, fold the cotton pad to a clean side or use a q-tip soaked with eye makeup remover to remove the remaining makeup. This way, you can remove your eye makeup completely in a much gentler way. The next beauty habit I wish I'd known in my 20s was applying sunscreen every single day on my face and my neck. If I could only keep one skincare product out of everything I own, it would be sunscreen. Not the most expensive serum or cleanser. Growing up, no one ever told me how important sunscreen was or how much sun exposure affects my skin over time. There are tons of scientific studies to prove that wearing sunscreen every single day is the best way to keep your skin looking young. I started skincare in my 20s, and since then, I've been wearing sunscreen religiously. And I always follow two-finger rule. I squeeze sunscreen along the full length of my index and middle fingers, then apply that amount to my face and neck. That's the amount you need to properly protect your skin. I started running outdoors last year, and that's when I realized I needed sunscreen more than ever. Being outside for over an hour in direct sunlight, I could literally feel the sun hitting my face. When my skin got a little red from the heat, I'm using... Sunscreen was helping protect it. My skin always recovered well afterwards, and that's how I realized how important sunscreen is. Action plans for this step is very simple. Just apply sunscreen every single day. But if you want to make it absorb better and sit well under your makeup, you can follow this step. First, find a sunscreen you enjoy wearing every day. Instead of forcing yourself to use a sunscreen that's greasy or chalky, find one with a texture you actually enjoy wearing every single day. Look for something that's lightweight, hydrating, but not Not greasy, leaves no white cast, and works really well under makeup. This new Haruharu Wonder Centella Cloud SPF checks all the boxes. And it's even broad-spectrum SPF 60+. To protect our skin from the sun, we need UVA and UVB protection. That's what broad-spectrum sunscreen gives you. And SPF 60+, gives the top-tier UVB protection. And it blocks over 98% of UV rays. So if you are wearing every single day, you are giving your skin a very high level of UVB protection. I've been using this every single day for the past two weeks, both under makeup and on its own. And it's been so comfortable to wear throughout the day. And I found that the texture is very enjoyable. It has a lightweight serum-like texture that feels really hydrating without being greasy. It absorbs really quickly, which makes it perfect for summer. And it doesn't leave any greasy residue, which I love about. Once you find the perfect sunscreen, you can wear it every single day. Now it's time to apply it. Follow the two-finger rule. Squeeze sunscreen along the full length of your index and middle fingers. Instead of applying it all at once, which can make your look chalky, divide it into three parts. One for your cheeks, one for your forehead, one for your nose, chin, neck, and other small areas that are easy to miss. And repeat it again. And if you're wearing makeup afterwards, wait for like 5 to 10 minutes instead of going into makeup right away. This gives the sunscreen enough time to fully absorb, so your makeup stays so much better on top and lasts longer throughout the day. This way, wearing sunscreen every day becomes more enjoyable, and also it won't ruin your makeup. If you're trying this Harada Wonders new sunscreen, make sure to check the description box. Next habit I wish I'd known in my 20s was cleaning makeup brushes regularly. If your makeup brush is like this, this is a sign that you need to clean your brushes. Especially if you see that random people's popping up every time you're wearing makeup. Especially foundation or concealer brushes or any brushes you use with liquid or cream products need to be cleaned regularly because these formulae contain water, oil, and moisture. They leave your brushes damp so that bacteria can grow really quickly. Powder brushes can go a little longer between washes, but brushes with liquid or cream product gets much dirty faster. Here's our action plan to properly cleanse your makeup brushes. First, for deep cleaning brushes, you can do like once a month. When I learned makeup in South Korea, I was taught to deep clean brushes with shampoo or brush soap with water. First, add a little shampoo with warm water and swirl your brushes in it to help melt away makeup. If the brushes is heavily stained, you can apply a small amount of shampoo, Directly onto the bristle. For bigger brushes like powder or blush brushes, dip them into warm water with a little conditioner to keep the bristle soft. But deep cleaning brushes every single day isn't realistic unless you're a makeup artist. So when I learn makeup in the state, almost all makeup artists use this brush cleaner. It's much quicker way to clean and disinfect your brushes after each use, especially the one you use for foundation and concealer. You can pour it into a spray bottle, spray it onto a paper towel, Then gently wipe the surface of the brush until the product comes off. This way your brushes stay much cleaner, your makeup applies better, and you're less likely to deal with random breakouts or just random pimples popping up. Next habit I wish I'd known in my 20s was nourishing my skin from inside out. I'm a firm believer that you're what you eat. I don't expect my skincare or any other skin treatments to be like a one-time magical quick fix. Obviously, good skincare can help but it won't change your skin overnight. It's more about the lifestyle and what you put in your body. Recently, I completely cut out sugar, snacks, and junk food for a month. I used to think that they were just treats for myself, but they really weren't. Since then, my skin has become so much cleaner. My body feels much less bloated and I feel so much more energetic. Even when I was working out constantly, I was still eating ice cream and junk food here and there. But this time, I cut out them completely and I realized that working out isn't enough. If you don't fuel your body with good food, you're not getting the most out of your workouts. You can actually do it with healthy swaps instead of cutting everything at once. I didn't change everything overnight. I just made small swaps. Instead of cream cheese on my morning toast, I started using butter. Instead of eating ice cream at night, I switched it to cold fresh watermelon. I also stopped drinking sugary drinks and started making honey water instead. They're just small changes, but they're so much easier to stick with instead of cutting everything at once. Over time, those small habits became just one of my routines. I chose the healthier option. Actually, instead of forcing myself to choose that, that's how small habits can become more natural for me. The next beauty habit I wish I'd known in my 20s was to start drinking caffeine as late as possible. My first experience with caffeine or coffee was back in high school. My mom used to drink that iced coffee every single day and it looked so good, so I kind of wanted to try. And when I tried that sip, it was so bitter. But I slowly started drinking more and more and I started liking it Because not only the taste of coffee, Coffee was good, but also it made me more awake and focused. I started with the sweet Korean pack coffee and I switched it to canned coffee that you can find at convenience store for a stronger cafe. And I started buying that espresso drinks that you can get from coffee shop. And I even got to a point I was drinking twice a day. I couldn't start my day without coffee. I couldn't really function. So I became so addicted to coffee itself. Then I slowly started to realize how it was affecting my health. I became so anxious every time when I drink it because my heart would beat so fast. I would get the quick energy but after 2-3 hours, I would feel more drained and feel more tired for the rest of the afternoon. So I learned that instead of relying on that fake energy, I need to get the real energy that I can get from good food, good sleep, and just healthy lifestyle. If you're already drinking coffee, here's an action plan. First, drinking earlier. Try to drink it at least before 10am. This can help protect your sleep which can Get your more like natural energy the next day. Second, slowly reduce how much caffeine you drink. From twice a day, once a day. From two espressos to one espresso. Half an espresso, decaf or matcha or black tea. But please remember matcha and black tea can have more caffeine than coffee depending on how much you drink. I used to drink more caffeine of matcha than I used to drink for one cup of coffee. So I limit myself 2.5 grams of matcha powder. So it gives me gentler, steadier boost of energy. energy than coffee and my sleep got so much better. I fell asleep so easily and I don't feel like drained or tired throughout the day. If you get a better sleep, your skin will look much glowier and healthier, and your body will feel more energized throughout the day. Now let's talk about the body. I want to share my four absolute non-negotiable for my body and my body skin in general. They made such a big difference in the long term, and these are things I really wish I'd known in my 20s. First thing is never using that body shower puff I wish someone like told me sooner I thought that I had that sensitive skin because my skin got itchy every time after shower and I didn't know it was because of the shower puff then I stopped using it and just switched it to my hands I just washed my body with my hands with the body wash and my skin got much less irritated and never felt sensitive I know they make your body wash foams up really well but they're actually not the best for your skin Every time you use it traps dead skin, Skin cells inside, then it stays wet in your warm, humid bathroom, which makes it the perfect place for bacteria to grow. On top of that, the shower puff can be pretty rough on your skin. Scrubbing with them every day can damage your skin barrier and leave your skin feeling dry, irritated, and more sensitive. Instead of using that very rough puff that might irritate your skin, start using your hands. It might be awkward at first, but you'll actually realize how smooth your skin becomes, especially if you have red, Bumpy or very sensitive skin, treat it as your face because you don't use that puff on your face when you wash your face. Try to take care of your body skin like your face skin. Next, I mean I wish I'd known earlier is never neglecting my neck skin. When it comes to skincare, we put so much effort on our face but we completely forget about our body and our neck skin. The truth is the skin on your neck is more fragile and more delicate than your cheeks and your forehead. There's There's absolutely nothing wrong about getting more wrinkles or aging but i still want to keep my bodies and my neck matching with my face and looking youthful and healthier which makes me feel just good about myself ever since i entered my studies i started noticing that horizontal lines like wrinkles on my neck and back in my 20s i never thought that i would worry about my neck skin first action plan you can do is fix your posture and stretch your neck every time you look at your phone try to bring it up to eye level instead of looking down i I also like doing a stretch called ceiling kiss. Sit up straight, look up at the ceiling, then pucker your lips like you're trying to kiss the ceiling. Hold for five seconds and repeat it a few times. You'll feel a nice stretch through the front of your neck. Second, bring your skincare down to your neck. Don't stop at your jawline. I always bring my retinol down to my neck to help smooth fine lines over time. Next, keep your neck moisturized. The neck doesn't produce as much oil as the rest of your face, so it dries more easily. Lock everything with a... rich moisturizer, body cream, or body butter. And the last thing, don't forget sunscreen. Your neck gets just as much sun exposure as your face. Every morning, apply sunscreen to your neck and chest too. If you stay consistent with these four habits, your neck will age much better over time. Out of everything on the list for the body, I would say this is the absolute most important thing, which is start working out early, especially strength training. I honestly didn't realize the importance of this until like my late 20s. When you're younger, Your body is biologically primed to build muscle much easier. So if you build a foundation early, your body creates that muscle memory. So it makes it so much easier to stay toned, Strong and healthy, well into your study and beyond. I talk a lot about my strength training journey on my channel and how it has completely transformed my body, my health, and my confidence even. I actually started getting personal training during COVID. At the time, I was stuck at home. I had no energy and I was in Korea, so I just ordered delivery food every day and I was kind of sick of it too. I was always bloated and my skin was not that great, so I just wanted to change my lifestyle completely healthier version. I started personal training, more strength training. I focus on my diet. I cook a lot for myself and I became so much healthier. My skin became cleaner and my energy level was best than ever. I even insisted my mom doing it. She's in her 60s. She started to notice that she has less pain on her arms which she used to have before. She said she doesn't feel sleepy during during the day anymore and now she doesn't nap anymore so she felt more More energized throughout the day. For action plan, I'm gonna start with very beginner friendly version. If you don't know anything about working out, you just start from zero. I feel like first thing you can do is follow YouTube tutorials. There are tons of 10 minutes, 15 minutes workout tutorials. You can do it with your body without dumbbells or anything. Once you slowly get used to moving your body and more ready to like move forward, you can start personal training. I know it's really expensive, but you can just do like one free trial. and ask a lot of questions. Even like one session or three sessions, you can get like the most out of it asking a bunch of questions. The goal is not to keep purchasing the sessions. The goal is to actually gain that ability or skills that you can do it by yourself. So keep asking about how you can correct your posture so that at the end, you can do your own weight training workout without any help. And the last habit I wish I'd known sooner is eating more protein. I am in my healthiest. In this era, I cut sugar, junk food, and everything, and I started to focus more on protein. I've been eating steak every dinner for a month now, and it completely changed my skin, my health, my body, and just everything. The amazing part is I got my period last week, and I used to have that period pain like cramps a lot, but I didn't have that much pain last week. And all I did was cutting all that junk food and eating more protein. But my lifestyle was the same, so I truly believe that my diet. Diet was the main reason they improved my period cramp. Even when I started personal training journey, all the personal trainers told me that I need to eat more protein to grow muscles and protein is good for your body. Especially red meat is packed with iron, zinc, and vitamin B. Women lose iron during their periods, which cause fatigue and weakness. But by eating more steak, you build up your iron reserves. So your body feels more resilient when your period actually arrives. Plus eating heavy protein like steak completely stabilize your blood sugar, It keeps your hormones balanced. Now we know everything how important eating more protein is. Here's an action plan, like easy to follow for beginners. First, prioritize protein every meal. You can start your day with two eggs, which is really great source of protein. For lunch, you can use chicken, have it with your regular meal on the side. And also for dinner, you can have your steak on the side and you can just enjoy the other meal that you usually eat. So instead of trying to eat all that protein all at once, One protein on the side and you're not just sick of it because you can still enjoy your normal meal with just protein. That's what I've been doing for the past few years. Even when I eat ramen, I always put the protein on the side so I can have more balanced meal. So these are all the habits that I wish I knows in my 20s. I hope you guys find it helpful. Please remember these habits won't change your skin overnight. It takes at least some months for you actually to see the results. I've been experimenting a lot for my body. And these habits are what actually make me a huge difference in my body and skin. Please let me know if there's any habits that you actually saw the difference in your body and your skin. I'd love to know about that. Thank you so much for watching and I will see you in the next one. Bye.