Washing your face was once as simple as splashing water and using foam cleanser on your skin. Then, beauty brands started coming up with genius skin care products that don't just boost your glow, but also restore your youth. And let's not forget the Korean skin care routine that still baffles many people today. Still, even with all this going on, you're missing a crucial step in the quest for perfect skin: a facial massage.

If there's one thing you have to remember, it's that the way you apply your skin care cocktails is just as important as their supposed benefits. By kneading your face gently, for example, you awaken your products' active ingredients and help your pores readily absorb them. Facial massages also drain excess water, creating a slimmer-looking face and eliminating a puffy, sleep-deprived complexion. Another benefit: It drains toxins, thus creating the most coveted, natural glow from within. Japanese and Korean women have incorporated this step into their skincare routine for decades now, and they have never looked back.

So how do you include a radiance-boosting and detoxifying facial massage when you'd rather use your extra minutes for catching up on sleep? The secret is to use gentle, circular movements on the center of the face, and upward strokes on the sides of the face and neck when applying your mainstay skin care products (foam cleanser, serum, and moisturizer).

You can also lightly pat your skin when putting on serum to help the product penetrate the skin better. But if you've got extra time, level up your skin care game and do a complete facial massage. To better demonstrate the right way to do it, watch the video below.

PHOTO: Instagram @ Stylenanda Korea