When I was living in Korea, my skin was pretty simple.
The only issue that I really had was occasional breakouts during my teenage years – nothing beyond that.
It was not perfect, but it was good enough that I did not have to worry about a complex skincare routine.
After moving to the States, things changed; instead of breakouts, my skin started to feel irritated, with redness, rashes, and tightness.
As someone who had never dealt with discomfort in my skin, that experience was confusing and frustrating.
2 Potential Factors That Affected My Skin.
Looking back, I think it was the environment.
In the U.S., my skin was constantly exposed to extremes compared to my home country, South Korea.
I was either out in strong sunlight and UV exposure.
In Korea, the sunlight didn’t feel as harsh, and in Seoul—where I grew up—there were a lot of tall buildings that created shade throughout the city.
But when I first moved to the U.S., it felt completely different.
There wasn’t much to shield me from the sun, and for more than half the year, it felt like summer. Temperatures would easily go over 100°F.
Another factor was high Air conditioning.
During the summer, the AC indoors was always either very strong or too strong.
In Korea, AC at home can feel a bit costly, so we would usually go to cafes or even banks to cool down.
But in the U.S., it felt like there was no escape – everywhere I went, the AC was on full blast. AC was very nice for my body temperature, but not for my facial skin.
The sun made my skin more sensitive, and the air conditioning dried out whatever moisture I had put on my face.
Over time, I think that’s what slowly changed my skin.
When My Usual Skincare Products Stopped Working
Because of that, my skin stopped responding the same way.
Products that had worked for me suddenly didn’t feel right anymore. I consistently struggled with the dryness + tightness, and it became very sensitive.
That’s when I realized I couldn’t keep using the same skincare products and expect my skin to be “normal” again.
Since I never really had major skin concerns before, I didn’t have a specific skincare routine or go-to products. I would just use whatever I could easily find at drugstores in the U.S., as long as it said: “for dry skin”.
Through this change, I also started rethinking my skincare routine and how I was using each product.
A Product That Actually Helped
During that time, there was one product I kept reaching for—over and over again.
When I was younger, my aunt knew someone who sold aloe-based products. Whenever I had rashes or skin irritation, that was always what we used. So I think I naturally associated aloe with something that calms the skin.
Years later, when I was struggling with my skin, I came across an aloe product being advertised on social media.
And I remember thinking—maybe I should give it a try.
It was the aloe soothing gel from Nature Republic. – I have shared the link below in case anyone is interested.
(This isn’t sponsored—just something that genuinely helped my skin at the time.)
I used it constantly, especially when my skin felt irritated from the sun.
It helped calm my skin. Also, because it was so lightweight, I was able to layer it multiple times without it feeling heavy, which helped me with dryness.
Since it’s an aloe gel, it can feel a little sticky when you first apply it.
But it’s very lightweight and absorbs quickly, so the stickiness doesn’t last long.
I don’t usually use it right before makeup.
Instead, I like to use it after a shower, while I’m drying my hair, or anytime I don’t need to put makeup on right away.
Sometimes I apply a generous amount before going to bed, or just use it throughout the day when I want to give my skin a break.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was one of the first products that actually gave my skin the relief I needed. It was also very affordable, which made it easy for me to keep using it as a student at the time.
Back then, it wasn’t always easy to find Korean skincare products in the States, so whenever I visited Korea, I filled my suitcase with this product.
(But now! I am so happy that it has become much easier to purchase Korean products online without going through so much hassle)
Ending Thoughts
Looking back, I think that was the moment I started to understand my skin a little better.
It wasn’t about finding something expensive or “better.”
It was about paying attention to what my skin actually needed at that time.
And that’s really where this whole journey started.
Lately, I’ve found a skincare routine and products that work much better for my dry skin, so I’ll be sharing those next.
If you have any skin concerns, feel free to share them with me! And if you have found any skincare products that work well for dry skin, I would love to hear your recommendations too!
Thank you for taking time to read my journey 😉
Sincerely,
Hazel 🙂
Glow With Hazel :-) 
Leave a comment