Skin Care Emulsion – Complete Guide
Korean and Japanese skincare practices are quickly influencing the Western beauty world.
These K-Beauty and J-Beauty skincare routines are in-depth and sometimes include 10 or more products in a regimen.
However, most of these K-Beauty and J-Beauty practices can completely transform your skin.
The skincare industry is now growing faster than ever, and we all want the next best thing to keep our skin healthy, hydrated, and youthful.
We’ve seen various products gain popularity from Asian beauty practices like essences, sheet masks, sunscreen cushions, and more.
However, the next Asian beauty product making waves is emulsions, an ultra-hydrating step in a regimen.
What is skin care emulsion?
Emulsions are a step between a serum and a moisturiser. They are almost like a serum-moisturiser hybrid, with a unique, creamy, liquid texture. Emulsions are lightweight and keep the skin hydrated.
Emulsions can help take your skincare routine to the next level by offering numerous benefits for the skin.
All skin types can use an emulsion. So, what else makes emulsions so unique, and how can you use them in your routine?
What Is Emulsion Skincare?
Usually, when we think of an emulsion, we think of liquids that don’t mix together, like water and oil.
However, what is an emulsion in skincare? It’s a lightweight moisturising liquid with its own unique texture, and you can even find it in a gel formula.
Emulsions are a cross between a serum and a moisturiser.
For example, they are thicker and less concentrated than a serum but thinner and more watery than a moisturiser.
Nevertheless, its primary goal is to soothe and hydrate the skin.
Emulsion Vs. Moisturizer
What are the differences between moisturisers and emulsions? Moisturisers usually have a thick, creamy consistency.
They nourish and keep the skin moisturised and help balance oil production, texture, and the skin barrier.
An emulsion is essentially a lightweight moisturising water cream.
It’s much runnier in texture than a moisturiser, but it seamlessly absorbs into the skin without feeling heavy.
Also, emulsions are water-based and offer the skin nutrients.
Emulsions can hydrate the face on their own, or they can add extra benefits to your moisturiser.
Emulsion Vs. Serum
Now you may be wondering what makes an emulsion different from a serum? First, emulsions are thicker than serum.
Emulsions are available in many different textures, depending on your skin’s needs.
For example, if hydration is what you seek, you might opt for a creamier emulsion or one with a gel-like consistency.
However, if you are oily, you might like a more watery emulsion or one that contains a few active ingredients.
Besides their differences in texture, emulsions aren’t as concentrated as serums.
Instead, serums will contain various active ingredients at a high percentage to benefit the skin.
Emulsions can also have active ingredients, but they won’t be as potent as a serum.
Emulsion Vs. Essence
Essence is another popular product and a step in K-Beauty skincare routines.
Like serums and emulsions, essences can offer numerous benefits to the skin, depending on its needs.
However, what makes an essence different from an emulsion?
Emulsions are a lightweight, water-based moisturiser, and essences are another moisturising component that preps the skin for better absorption of serums and moisturisers.
Essences are used after cleansing/toning and before serums/emulsions.
Benefits Of Emulsions
Surprisingly, emulsions are multifunctional skincare products, and almost everyone can find a place for them in their beauty regimen.
While emulsions are lightweight and a liquid moisturiser, they can also contain active ingredients.
Depending on your needs, you can find an emulsion to hydrate and heal irritated skin, or one that gently exfoliates and soothes acne-prone skin.
Emulsions can be more versatile than you’d think. So what other benefits do they provide?
Balance Skin’s pH
Most Korean and Japanese beauty products list their pH levels.
Knowing your product’s pH level can help ensure it pairs well with other items in your skincare routine and won’t exacerbate your skin.
However, some emulsions on the market can help balance your skin’s pH.
When your pH levels are balanced, your skin barrier is happy and healthy.
In addition, pH-balanced skin will help achieve a youthful, even, and plump complexion.
Soothe Acne
Emulsions are typically calming skincare products, which are particularly good for acne-prone skin.
As mentioned earlier, emulsions can be formulated with various ingredients to target what your skin needs the most help with healing.
For example, some emulsions can contain gentle BHAs to treat acne from within the skin and exfoliate.
Because emulsions are extra hydrating, they can still moisturise oily and acne-prone skin without clogging the pores. Now you can kiss blemishes goodbye!
Keep Oil Production At Bay
A common misconception about oily skin is that it doesn’t need to be moisturised.
Most people think oil is the same as moisture, even though it’s different. Oily skin still needs to be moisturised to combat oil production.
However, not everyone wants to wear a thick cream.
Emulsions suit oily skin types because they keep the skin hydrated without leaving a greasy feeling.
Emulsions are water-based and fast-absorbing, making them ideal for nourishing oily skin types and keeping oil production at bay.
Brighten Your Complexion
Did you know that emulsions can help guide your skin to achieving a brighter complexion?
We have mentioned numerous times that emulsions can contain ingredients beyond moisturising properties to help heal and treat your skin.
For example, you can opt for an emulsion that contains vitamin C.
Vitamin C is not only a superhero vitamin, but it’s also an antioxidant that can fight dark spots, free radicals, and signs of ageing. Your skin will look and feel supple.
Heal Your Skin Barrier
We mentioned earlier that emulsions could balance your skin’s pH levels. When the skin’s pH levels are balanced, it can also produce a healthy skin barrier.
You want your skin barrier to remain intact to fight irritation or inflammation.
When the skin barrier isn’t nourished, it can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms, including impurities, redness, changes in texture, acne, and more.
Emulsions can contain barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides to keep irritation at bay and lock in hydration.
Boost Your Moisturizer
Emulsions are versatile and multifunctional. So, an emulsion can be used on its own or before your moisturiser.
This benefit is helpful for those with dry or dehydrated skin. Emulsions can be another hydrating step to prevent water loss.
Some emulsions can even be mixed into your moisturiser for extra nourishment.
It will all depend on your emulsion, formula, and recommended use.
Some emulsions need to be layered before moisturiser, and others can even be mixed with face oil.
Regardless, emulsions can aid your moisturiser and offer intense hydration when paired together.
Can All Skin Types Use Emulsions?
You may be surprised to hear that all skin types can benefit from an emulsion.
The trick is to find one that works best for you! A serum can be formulated with specific active ingredients, and so can an emulsion. However, it will be less concentrated.
Later, we will discuss all the ways you can use an emulsion. While they can benefit almost everyone, they accommodate dry, mature, acne-prone, and oily skin types the most.
Emulsions can quench and treat the skin when it’s needed.
Oily/Acne-Prone
It might be surprising that a moisturising product would benefit oily and acne-prone skin.
When we think of skin that lacks moisture, we usually think of dry or mature skin.
However, oily and acne-prone skin needs moisture for multiple reasons.
An emulsion will keep oil production at bay, reduce the appearance of blemishes, and help strengthen the skin barrier.
It provides all of these benefits without clogging the pores or leaving a thick residue on the skin.
Mature
Emulsions can also infuse the skin with multiple anti-ageing properties.
These anti-ageing properties will improve the skin’s elasticity and firmness.
Mature skin can also be prone to feeling dry, so it will receive the hydrating benefits of an emulsion.
You’ll find that some emulsions are formulated with collagen water to increase the skin’s elasticity.
Emulsions can also contain antioxidants to combat signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Dry
If you find that your skin is severely dry, you can benefit from using an emulsion. Emulsions will also heal dehydrated skin.
However, emulsions are especially helpful for dry skin when paired with a moisturiser.
Layering an emulsion with a moisturiser will allow dry skin to benefit from both products and help prevent water loss.
Emulsions can infuse the skin with additional nourishing properties that a moisturiser lacks.
Sensitive
We’ve mentioned numerous times that emulsions can balance your skin’s pH levels and strengthen your skin barrier.
This is fantastic for sensitive skin. Emulsions that are soothing and have barrier-repairing properties can minimise irritation.
When Can You Use An Emulsion?
Emulsions can fit virtually anywhere in your routine.
However, the best way to incorporate an emulsion into your skincare routine is by following the directions on your product. Emulsions are generally safe to use morning and night.
Morning
If you like to keep things quick and minimal in the morning, you will love an emulsion.
Emulsions will infuse your skin with hydration and nutrients and layer perfectly under sunscreen. Just two skincare steps and you’re out the door!
Night
If your emulsion contains active ingredients like a chemical exfoliant, it may be best to use it at night.
Also, this will be an excellent time to pair your emulsion with a serum. It will give you the best of both worlds.
Then you can add a moisturiser if your skin needs it.
Treatment
Most emulsions are safe to apply daily. However, emulsions can also be used as a nourishing or hydrating treatment.
You can add this product to your routine a couple of times a week or whenever your skin needs some TLC.
How To Apply Emulsions
Most of us agree that applying a new skincare product to the face is exciting and relaxing.
So, how can you use an emulsion on the face? We mentioned earlier that emulsions are versatile and multifunctional.
You can use emulsions in numerous ways, and it will depend on your skin type and needs to find the best method for you.
Through testing application methods, you’ll see what your skin loves the most!
After Serums, Before Moisturizers
A general rule of thumb is to apply your emulsion between serum and moisturiser.
Layering is essential in skin care because you want all your products to work efficiently, and sometimes products can reduce the efficacy of others.
Add your serums first, then, when they are absorbed into the skin, add your emulsion. Finally, seal it in with a moisturiser.
Under Sunscreen
Because emulsions are weightless and fast-absorbing, they will work wonderfully with most sunscreens.
Sunscreens can also be thick and heavy, so using another thick moisturiser underneath won’t be ideal, especially for oily/acne-prone skin.
As A Spot-Treat
Emulsions also make an excellent spot treatment. Rather than treating blemishes, using an emulsion as a spot treatment can nourish areas of the face that need it most.
This will work beautifully for combination skin types.
Mixed In Face Oil
We mentioned earlier that emulsions could be mixed into moisturisers to boost their effectiveness and nutrients.
However, some emulsions can even be mixed into facial oil. Face oils do a fantastic job at sealing in all your skincare as the last step.
However, face oils don’t offer moisture. Instead, they lock in the moisture that is already on the face.
Adding an emulsion to a face oil ensures your skin gets all the hydrating components it needs while also sealing them in.
As A Final Step
Emulsions can also be applied on their own, without a moisturiser.
Some emulsions are even designed to be the last step in your skincare routine. However, it’s crucial to remember that emulsions give the skin hydrating and nutritional elements.
If you are particularly oily, you might fall in love with this method of applying emulsions. Your skin gets the moisture it needs while also keeping oil production and acne flare-ups at bay.
As Directed By Your Product
If you are still feeling overwhelmed about adding an emulsion into your skincare routine, follow the directions!
Every brand will provide step-by-step instructions for incorporating an emulsion into your routine.
You can also seek advice from a dermatologist to see what kind of emulsion will be best for you and how you can apply it to the skin.
While emulsions are generally soothing products, you can also perform a patch test to avoid irritation.
Patch tests are great if you use a chemical exfoliant or other active ingredients, and you want to make sure an emulsion will pair well with your other products.
Using your emulsion as directed on the labels will ensure you avoid any skin mishaps.
Overall, emulsions are lovely products to nourish the skin.
They are also prevalent in K-Beauty and J-Beauty practices. Will you be adding one to your beauty regimen?
