While taking off your makeup with micellar water and a cotton pad, you might notice your skin feeling a bit dry, red, and irritated— even if you’re using a gentle cleanser.

Turns out, this discomfort often comes from the rubbing of the cotton pad on your face, especially if your skin is on the sensitive side.

But worry not! We’ve come across this Korean skincare hack that’s making waves on TikTok, and it tackles this issue head-on. And guess what? You only need one simple tool for a thorough, irritation-free cleanse.

Intrigued? Keep reading for the full scoop!

Why Does Your Skin Reacts After Cleansing?

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Photo credit: Depositphotos.

While micellar water is generally gentler compared to traditional cleansers, it still might have ingredients that can potentially irritate your skin.

Cleansers with unnecessary surfactants, such as foaming agents or preservatives, can be a bit too harsh, stripping away the skin’s natural barrier.

Even if your micellar water is loaded with oils or emollients, the friction from rubbing or applying pressure with a cotton pad or your hands can cause additional irritation, resulting in skin reactions like peeling, itching, and redness.

The Korean Hack to Minimise Irritation During Face Cleansing

@saeroniee

One of the best skincare hacks I have tried~ I still like to rinse my skin after this because I did not wipe if off with a cotton pad! 🪽💦 #skincarehack #cleansingwater #cleansinghack #korean #kbeauty #tips #viral #skincare #sgbeauty #fyp #foryou

♬ Blue Butterflies – JHIN

This simple trick, popular among Koreans, involves creating foam with micellar water before applying it directly to the skin—all you need is a foaming pump bottle!

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Pour micellar water into an empty foaming pump bottle.

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Step 2: Dispense two to three pumps of foam and gently massage it into your skin in circular motions.

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Step 3: Rinse it off with water, and voila—clean skin without the unwanted redness and irritation.

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This hack works wonders for a double cleanse, and the best part? You get to use your favourite micellar water while saving money on constantly buying new cotton pads.

Where To Find Foaming Pump Bottles?

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Foaming Soap Dispenser Bottle (250ml) retails for RM4.83 on Shopee.

Featured image credits: @lipyvalerina/TikTok, @saeroniee/TikTok, @euniunni/TikTok.