KGLOW

I learned the hard way that a bad makeup remover can completely ruin your skin barrier—and it happened to me in the most frustrating way possible. During a trip from the US back to Korea, I relied on a pack of classic American drugstore makeup remover wipes I had picked up before my flight. The moment I opened the package, I was hit with an overpowering, synthetic chemical smell that made my eyes water. But being exhausted from the long flight, I used them anyway. Big mistake. By the time I landed in Seoul, my skin was already throwing a fit. No matter how gently I tried to swipe, those harsh, scented wipes forced me to rub repeatedly to get off my waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation. That night, the skin around my eyes and across my cheeks was bright red, burning, and severely inflamed. Even splashing cool tap water on my face made my skin sting like crazy. Desperate for relief, I walked straight into a local Olive Young the next morning. I was blown away by how many gentler,...