Behind every public figure's appearance lies a personal care routine. This series examines the diets, exercise habits, treatments, and beauty and fashion choices of notable figures.
Magician Choi Hyun-woo, 49, has drawn attention after sharing his personal skincare routine for maintaining youthful-looking skin. On days when he wears makeup, he cleanses thoroughly — but instead of rubbing his face dry with a towel afterward, he pats away moisture with a disposable face towel. Dermatology experts say reducing friction and irritation during cleansing is key to protecting the skin barrier.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel Tuesday, Choi said, "It feels a bit awkward to say this myself, but I'm almost 50," before walking viewers through his daily skincare habits. He said he always does a double cleanse on days he wears makeup and uses a disposable face towel rather than a regular towel to dry his face.
He particularly cautioned against vigorously rubbing the face with a towel, saying, "If you scrub your face hard with a towel, you'll ruin your skin." During seasonal transitions, he said, it is better to focus on maintaining the skin barrier than to layer on multiple cosmetics, and getting enough sleep is equally important.
Double cleansing after makeup — daily repetition can burden the skin barrier
For anyone who wears cosmetics, cleansing is the foundation of skincare. Foundation, sunscreen and sebum left on the skin's surface can clog pores or trigger breakouts, making thorough removal before bed essential.
Long-wearing or waterproof products in particular can be difficult to remove with a regular cleanser alone. In such cases, double cleansing — first dissolving makeup with a cleansing oil, balm or dedicated remover, then washing away residue with a mild cleanser — can help.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) warns that sleeping in makeup can increase the risk of acne and recommends removing it before bed. The AAD advises following up a makeup remover with a gentle facial cleanser.
One key concern during cleansing is avoiding the removal of the skin's necessary natural oils. The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, contains lipids made up of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. These lipids prevent moisture from escaping the skin and protect it from external irritants.
Using overly harsh cleansers or cleansing repeatedly can strip the stratum corneum of its lipids and natural moisturizing factors. Post-cleansing tightness, stinging and redness are also linked to these changes in barrier function.
Dermatology associations generally recommend cleansing twice a day and after heavy sweating. For those who use only a light sunscreen or wear no makeup, cleansing frequency can be adjusted based on skin condition and the strength of the cleanser used.
What matters is not mechanically increasing the number of times one cleanses, but cleansing thoroughly in a way that suits the products used and the skin's condition. If the skin consistently feels tight or burns after washing, it is worth reviewing the ingredients, amount and duration of the cleanser being used.
Scrubbing your face with a towel can dry out skin through friction
The towel technique Choi emphasized is also tied to skin barrier care. Immediately after cleansing, the skin is wet and the stratum corneum temporarily swells, making it more vulnerable — repeatedly rubbing it with a rough towel at this point can cause physical friction and irritation.
People with dry skin or conditions such as atopic dermatitis or rosacea are especially prone to redness and stinging from even mild friction. Repeatedly rubbing the skin hard can also worsen existing skin conditions.
The AAD recommends applying cleanser gently with the fingertips rather than scrubbing with a rough towel or cleansing tool. After washing, it advises patting the face dry with a soft, clean towel.
The disposable face towels Choi uses offer a hygiene advantage, since a fresh one is used each time. Towels stored in a humid bathroom after multiple uses can harbor microbial growth, so keeping towels clean and properly dried is also important.
Even with regular towels, choosing a soft, freshly laundered one and patting rather than rubbing can reduce friction. Disposable towels are not without risk either — rough materials or vigorous rubbing can still cause irritation, so technique matters regardless of the product used.
The temperature of the water used for cleansing is also worth considering. Excessively hot water can dry out and irritate the skin, so washing with lukewarm water is preferable.
A clinical trial published in September in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science examined how water temperature during cleansing affects the skin barrier.
Researchers compared cold-water and warm-water cleansing conditions in 52 adults over 10 days. The group that repeatedly cleansed with warm water showed a significant increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) — a measure of moisture escaping through the skin — while the cold-water group showed no statistically significant change.
The study was a short-term experiment using a specific cleansing product, and it illustrates the relationship between water temperature and the skin barrier during cleansing. In everyday life, using water at a comfortable temperature that does not irritate the skin and applying moisturizer after cleansing can be helpful.
Adequate sleep also protects the skin barrier — what happens after just 4 hours a night
Choi also said sleep plays an important role in skincare. "Go to bed early, put down your phone and get a good night's rest — your skin will become as smooth as a baby's," Choi said.
Sleep affects the skin's ability to retain moisture and recover. Insufficient sleep can alter the skin's physiological rhythms and heighten stress responses, leading to noticeable changes in skin condition.
A study published in the journal Skin Research and Technology found that reducing sleep time led to changes in skin hydration, elasticity and other measures.
Researchers had 32 Korean women in their 40s sleep eight hours a night for the first six days, then restricted their sleep to four hours a night for the following six days. Skin hydration, the condition of the stratum corneum, elasticity, wrinkles and skin texture were measured throughout.
Skin hydration declined significantly from the first day of reduced sleep and continued to fall as the restriction persisted. Changes were also observed in measures of skin luminosity, elasticity and wrinkles, and skin texture deteriorated significantly from the fourth day of sleep restriction.
The researchers noted that the longer sleep deprivation continued, the greater its impact on skin elasticity. The findings underscore the importance of adequate sleep in maintaining skin condition.
Protecting the skin barrier calls for managing cleansing, moisturizing and sleep together. After washing, applying a moisturizer before the skin becomes too dry is advisable, and during periods of skin sensitivity, using a small number of low-irritation products is preferable to introducing multiple new functional cosmetics at once.
Seasonal transitions in particular bring temperature and humidity swings that can easily dry out the skin. If the face feels tight right after cleansing or stings when cosmetics are applied, it is worth checking the state of the skin barrier — and if symptoms persist, seeing a dermatologist to identify the cause.
Maintaining healthy skin depends as much on daily habits as on the type and number of products used. Thoroughly removing makeup, minimizing friction during cleansing, and consistently keeping up with moisturizing and sleep are the basic steps for protecting the skin barrier.
rainbow@heraldcorp.com
