The most defining steps of the Riman Ritual (so important that it’s included in both the full and mini rituals) is the “Boo-Se-Boo” step. But what is it? And why is it efficacious?
“Boo” stands for booster, and “Se” for serum; Boo-Se-Boo refers to Steps 5-7 of the Signature RIMAN ritual and steps 2-4 in the Essential RIMAN Ritual in which you spray your face with the Booster EX, apply a few drops of Serum EX, and seal in the moisture with a second round of booster spritzes. The reason these steps are so important is not only because they prime your skin for the remaining steps, but because they offer the most potent administration of ByoungPool, our hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and skin protecting keystone active.
In K-beauty, hydration is the first focus for skin treatment. Hydrated skin not only functions at its best, but it also looks its healthiest. A major reason why K-beauty has so many steps is that the appropriate layering of certain ingredients allows for either a better absorption of ingredients or a better chance to see improvements in your skin, especially since actives are traditionally less potent than in Western treatments. For example, a retinol treatment at the typical levels seen in the US market (0.3% active retinol, 0.5% active retinol) is aggressive enough that it could irritate the skin and limit the potential to use it with other products. With Korean skincare, actives are at much lower concentrations, so you get the chance to play around with layering different products for a unique efficacy.
Better Absorption: It is important that you apply specific products to your skin at specific times in your routine for a variety of reasons. The most relevant to our BooSeBoo process is that you should always start with your thinnest products first and work your way to the thickest i.e. start with toner at the very beginning, end with moisturizer (or sunscreen, if during the day). Our Booster EX is water thin and absorbs quickly into the skin; not only does it prepare the skin for future treatment, but its introduction directly after cleansing allows for its 88% of ByoungPool water to be absorbed fully, unhindered by the potential barrier other products would cause. The serum is next in viscosity, providing a slippery, yet water-like consistency that the skin easily absorbs post-booster. But why the additional booster spray? That additional mist is meant to lay on top of the serum (only for a short while, as it will get absorbed quickly due to the similar viscosities of the serum and booster). This final spray “locks in” the water-based treatments before you apply the Active Cream EX. It’s the same thought behind using a refresher mist throughout the day even though you might have otherwise finished your routine; this second layer slowly soaks into the skin for an additional “boost” (Get it?).
Enhanced possibility of skin improvement: So why do you need both the booster and the serum? It is the same reason you might layer an overnight mask on your nightly moisturizer; as one layer is slowly absorbed, the other waits on top for its time to shine. The serum and booster are similar in formula yet vary in viscosities, which allows them to interact differently with the skin but administer the same hydrating, calming, and nourishing benefits of ByoungPool. Spraying the booster, waiting for it to absorb, and then layering the serum doses the skin with layers of ByoungPool, mushroom extract, and our 17-amino acid complex, all of which aim to gently hydrate the skin.
So, why Boo-Se-Boo? Boo-Se-Boo is an easy way to prep and nourish your skin at the beginning of your Riman Ritual. The double-dose of hydrating actives ensures your skin is at its healthiest, which makes the following treatments that much more efficacious. With this, you can feel confident that your skincare routine is a self-care ritual.
