Korean skin care has gained global popularity, with the industry ranking eighth globally and exports ranking fourth worldwide.

Korean skin care emphasizes protection from infancy using natural, gentle products.

Korean skin care prioritizes healthy, moisturized skin through a multistage process.

Koreans prioritize sunscreen from age 20-25 and a diet rich in greens and vegetables to maintain inner beauty.

Korean skin care aims to maintain a youthful appearance, and Korean beauties are known worldwide for their stunning looks.

Korean skincare products are popular in the UAE, with 60% sales growth, driven by skin care (61%) and sun protection (38%) products.

Korean skincare has become a global treasure, with sales doubling in 2024 due to social media and influencers.

Korean skin care emphasizes prevention and hydration with natural ingredients for diverse skin types.

Korean skincare trends like "glass skin" aim for a flawless complexion through innovative global solutions.

Korean skincare typically involves cleansing, toning, and moisturizing with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Korean skin care combines traditional rituals with modern science, with government investment in cosmetics development.

South Korea, the world's third-largest cosmetics exporter, uses centuries-proven ingredients in its projected $11.4 billion skin-care market by 2026.

Korean skin care, based on traditional medicine, is often affordable, with most products under $25, without compromising on quality.

Korean skin care prioritizes gentle exfoliation with PHAs, hydration, and soothing ingredients to reduce inflammation.

Korean skin care's popularity stems from its focus on gentle, nourishing ingredients, often including natural ones like snail mucin.

Korean skin care uniquely uses PHAs for gentle exfoliation.

The Korean skin care market is expected to reach $11.4 billion by 2026, driven by affordable prices and simplified routines.

The cosmetics industry produces 120 billion non-recyclable beauty packages yearly, significantly contributing to packaging waste.

The Korean skin care industry is shifting towards waterless beauty products to reduce packaging waste and carbon footprint.

Waterless beauty products can reduce water usage in manufacturing and transportation by up to two-thirds.

TikTok promotes Korean skin care with #kbeauty having 9.5 billion views.

TikTok has fueled the resurgence of K-beauty, boosting brands like Laneige and Innisfree.

Korean skin care brands use social media like TikTok for online marketing and community influence.

TikTok influencers often promote Korean skin care products to their followers through online marketing.

Korean skin care has boomed internationally due to effective ingredients, unique features, strategic marketing, and social media platforms like TikTok.

Korean skin care companies prioritize natural ingredients and gentle formulations.

Korean skin care focuses on nourishing the skin, differing from traditional Western approaches.

Korean skin care stands out for its use of unique ingredients like organic plant extracts.

Some Korean brands, like Melixir, are PETA certified for avoiding animal testing.

Korean skin care companies consider ethical standards in sourcing and manufacturing.

Innisfree, a Korean brand, commits to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

Korean skin care philosophy emphasizes hydration, nutrition, and achieving a luminous complexion.

Korean brands offer products for diverse skin types and concerns, appealing to a wide range of consumers.

Korean skin care often incorporates traditional Korean medicine and herbal ingredients.

Korean skin care is known for being affordable, with most products under $25.

The Korean government's investment in beauty brands has driven innovation and growth in the cosmetics industry.

Korean skin care has gained global popularity for its effective, gentle products and emphasis on skin health.

Korean skin care brands maintain popularity through social media trends and multi-purpose products.

Double cleansing, a Korean skincare trend, has gained international attention and contributed to the global popularity of Korean skin care.

Korean skin care's popularity endures due to its unique approach, natural ingredients, and social responsibility.

Korean skin care products, like COSRX, are clinically evaluated for safety and efficacy.

Korean skin care's popularity stems from its use of natural ingredients like snail mucin, which protects and shines the skin.

Ginseng is a popular Korean skin care ingredient known for its nourishing properties.

Korean skin care focuses on nourishing the skin, differing from traditional Western approaches that target specific concerns.

Korean skin care products uniquely utilize ceramides to hold the skin barrier together.

Centella asiatica decreases inflammation and redness, making it popular for sensitive skin.

Niacinamide helps maintain the skin barrier and regulate oil production.

PHAs are used in Korean skin care products to exfoliate without irritation.

Snail mucin is a popular Korean skin care ingredient due to its hydrating and collagen-boosting benefits.

Hyaluronic acid is commonly used in Korean skin care products to provide long-lasting hydration by attracting and locking in moisture.

The promotion of "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance" can lead to low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction, especially in women.

Unrealistic beauty standards can trigger PTSD-like responses and harm self-esteem and body image in some individuals.

The media's promotion of beauty standards can damage women's mental health.

Social media can lower self-esteem in young individuals, especially women, due to idealized body images and beauty standards.

Current beauty standards, like "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance", can harm individuals' self-perception and identity.

The language used for beauty products can perpetuate negative skin issues and create unrealistic expectations.

Women with skin conditions show brain activity similar to traumatized individuals when viewing beauty standards.

Unrealistic beauty standards, such as "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance", can lead to social isolation, depression, and other mental health issues, especially in women.

The beauty industry, including Korean skin care brands, promotes unattainable beauty standards, leading to negative psychological effects.

Social media platforms promote unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and negative self-evaluation.

The definition of "pretty" varies, but promoting "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance" can perpetuate a narrow and unattainable beauty standard.

Beauty standards, such as "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance", can perpetuate patriarchal beliefs and objectify women.

Internalizing beauty standards can lead to negative self-image, low self-esteem, and mental health problems, especially in women and marginalized communities.

The promotion of "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance" as beauty standards can negatively impact body image, self-esteem, and mental health across various demographics.

Highly concentrated products and unnecessary anti-aging cosmetics can cause skin imbalance, thinning, and overdrying.

Excessive skin care can cause dryness, redness, hyperpigmentation, pustular rashes, and clogged pores.

Using highly concentrated products excessively can worsen skin condition and impair its natural defenses.

Korean skin care products contain unique ingredients like snail extract and are gentle on the skin.

Korean skincare products improve skin health through hydration and gentle care, showing results within weeks.

Korean skin care's international boom is due to its unique approach, effective ingredients, and affordability.

Korean skin care brands focus on skin health, hydration, and nourishment to remain popular.

Korean skin care's "glass skin" concept, a smooth and flawless complexion, has driven its global popularity.

Korean skin care is a highly effective and sustainable approach, focusing on prevention, hydration, and gentle ingredients to suit various skin types and needs.

Understanding Korean skin care principles helps consumers choose products tailored to their skin types and concerns.

Korean skin care has gained global popularity, with the industry ranking eighth globally and exports ranking fourth worldwide.

Title:

Content: Go to the menu Go to the original
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Korea Cosmetics Experience Center
# Korea Vientiane l 2021-10-01
Vientiane, South Korea
Director （ PD ） ： Jin Bo
Moderator (MC): Minami Mori (Professor, Hirasawa University)
Guest: Sung Joon-soo (Head of Education and Publicity Group, Korea Cosmetics Industry Research Institute)
The heart of beauty is for everyone.
Speaking of Korea, most women will think of Korean cosmetics.
During the epidemic, the first Korean cosmetics publicity center opened in Myeongdong, Seoul.
This program has asked the person in charge of Song Zhenxiu to introduce the relevant situation for everyone.
Nan: Hello! Would you please say hello to our listeners?
Song: Hello everyone.
I am Song Jung-soo of the Korean Cosmetics Industry Research Institute, and I am mainly responsible for publicity and training work.
Now my main business is running the first K-beauty experience hall in Korea.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce our Cosmetics Experience Hall on KBS Radio Korea International.
Nan: Your Chinese is so good, how did you end up with China?
Song: When I was very young, a friend made me a Chinese food in Northeast China. As a result, I suddenly became fascinated with the magic of Chinese food, so I began to learn Chinese, and completed a master's degree in Chinese universities.
Nan: Congratulations on the grand opening of Korea Cosmetics Experience Hall, please tell us what kind of experience hall this is?
Song: Our K-beauty Cosmetics Experience Hall is the first Korean cosmetics publicity hall jointly operated by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Cosmetics Industry Research Institute.
Domestic foreigners and ordinary consumers can freely use and experience the excellent cosmetics of Korean SMEs here for free.
Nan: What is the background to opening such an experience hall?
Song: The market share of the Korean cosmetics industry currently occupies the eighth place in the world, and exports account for the fourth place, but cosmetics exports are mainly played by large enterprises, in fact, among the cosmetics of Korean small and medium-sized enterprises, there are also very many excellent products.
It is just that the public is not very familiar with them, so we planned such a project, hoping that Korean small and medium-sized cosmetics can also go to the world.
Nan: How did consumers react to the experience?
Song: Our experience hall is located in Myeongdong, in the center of Seoul, and you can see not only the famous Myeongdong church, but also the landmark Namsan of Seoul.
Because the background is very beautiful, many people can not help but pull out their mobile phones to constantly take photos.
Therefore, our experience hall can be said to be a collection of experience and leisure in one place, every day at noon and after work will be visited by many office workers.
Nan: Korean cosmetics are popular all over the world, especially in Asia. Why do you think this is?
Song: The reasons are very diverse. First of all, Koreans pay special attention to skin protection, starting from infancy to use skin care products suitable for their skin care, and then they must use sunscreen every day in adolescence to prevent UV damage to the skin.
In addition, Korean cosmetics production attaches great importance to raw materials, try to use natural affinity of raw materials, reduce the stimulation of the skin, so it is generally considered that Korean cosmetics are very safe.
Third, it should be the impact of the Korean wave craze, such as Korean opera and Korean singers and other entertainers should be said to be not small. (Photo from the guest)
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Korean skin care emphasizes protection from infancy using natural, gentle products.

Korean skin care prioritizes healthy, moisturized skin through a multistage process.

Title:

Content: According to overseas rules: what is the peculiarity of the Korean skin care system
Beauty expert Kim: Korean skin care is multistage
Photo, video: www.globallookpress.com / Erik Reis - IKOstudio; 5-tv.ru
Go to ZenFollow our news
in a convenient format
Koreans are very attentive to their appearance.
Korean beauties are famous all over the world for their extraordinary ability to maintain a stunning appearance until old age.
They carefully monitor themselves and try to take care of the skin of the face in order to remain young and beautiful as long as possible.
Butiologist Kim Bo Hyang told 5-tv.ru about the main secrets of beauty "in Korean", which will definitely provide the perfect tone and radiance.
At first, the expert noted that in Korea it is really considered beautiful when a person has healthy and moisturized skin.
That is why their facial care system is so special, and so much time is given to trying to look.
The “first secret ” is that Korean women carefully choose for themselves multi-stage individual care.
Each girl has its own skin type, its own “features ” and problem areas, for which certain cosmetics are necessary.
“Therefore, we carefully select each product and make an individual program, which consists of several stages, ” the specialist stressed.
The second rule of the Korean system is to take care of your skin, just like the skin of a baby, noted the beautiologist.
It is important to use not only effective products with active ingredients, but also those cosmetics that will not injure the protective barrier.
“The Korean standard for the production of cosmetics is one of the strictest and safest.
Therefore, Korean women choose cosmetics very picky, carefully.
That it was not only effective, but also careful for our skin, ” explained the interlocutor 5-tv.ru.
The “third secret ” is the mandatory use of sunscreens.
From about 20-25 years old, girls add special SPF creams to everyday care.
In the Korean "market" a huge number of different products that protect the skin from the sun - with different textures and filters.
Kim shared that great attention is paid to the beauty “inside ”.
Korean beauties in addition to the use of numerous cosmetics try to monitor their diet, avoiding harmful products.
“If you look at Korean cuisine, there are a lot of greens and vegetables.
And we always adhere to the fact that beauty is not only from the outside, but also from the inside, ” the expert concluded.
Previously, 5-tv.ru talked about the main mistakes in skin care.
Latest news
5: 10 p.m.
4: 54 PM
4: 38 PM
4: 22 PM
4: 06 PM
3: 50 p.m.
They are reading now.

Koreans prioritize sunscreen from age 20-25 and a diet rich in greens and vegetables to maintain inner beauty.

Title:

Content: According to overseas rules: what is the peculiarity of the Korean skin care system
Beauty expert Kim: Korean skin care is multistage
Photo, video: www.globallookpress.com / Erik Reis - IKOstudio; 5-tv.ru
Go to ZenFollow our news
in a convenient format
Koreans are very attentive to their appearance.
Korean beauties are famous all over the world for their extraordinary ability to maintain a stunning appearance until old age.
They carefully monitor themselves and try to take care of the skin of the face in order to remain young and beautiful as long as possible.
Butiologist Kim Bo Hyang told 5-tv.ru about the main secrets of beauty "in Korean", which will definitely provide the perfect tone and radiance.
At first, the expert noted that in Korea it is really considered beautiful when a person has healthy and moisturized skin.
That is why their facial care system is so special, and so much time is given to trying to look.
The “first secret ” is that Korean women carefully choose for themselves multi-stage individual care.
Each girl has its own skin type, its own “features ” and problem areas, for which certain cosmetics are necessary.
“Therefore, we carefully select each product and make an individual program, which consists of several stages, ” the specialist stressed.
The second rule of the Korean system is to take care of your skin, just like the skin of a baby, noted the beautiologist.
It is important to use not only effective products with active ingredients, but also those cosmetics that will not injure the protective barrier.
“The Korean standard for the production of cosmetics is one of the strictest and safest.
Therefore, Korean women choose cosmetics very picky, carefully.
That it was not only effective, but also careful for our skin, ” explained the interlocutor 5-tv.ru.
The “third secret ” is the mandatory use of sunscreens.
From about 20-25 years old, girls add special SPF creams to everyday care.
In the Korean "market" a huge number of different products that protect the skin from the sun - with different textures and filters.
Kim shared that great attention is paid to the beauty “inside ”.
Korean beauties in addition to the use of numerous cosmetics try to monitor their diet, avoiding harmful products.
“If you look at Korean cuisine, there are a lot of greens and vegetables.
And we always adhere to the fact that beauty is not only from the outside, but also from the inside, ” the expert concluded.
Previously, 5-tv.ru talked about the main mistakes in skin care.
Latest news
5: 10 p.m.
4: 54 PM
4: 38 PM
4: 22 PM
4: 06 PM
3: 50 p.m.
They are reading now.

Korean skin care aims to maintain a youthful appearance, and Korean beauties are known worldwide for their stunning looks.

Title:

Content: According to overseas rules: what is the peculiarity of the Korean skin care system
Beauty expert Kim: Korean skin care is multistage
Photo, video: www.globallookpress.com / Erik Reis - IKOstudio; 5-tv.ru
Go to ZenFollow our news
in a convenient format
Koreans are very attentive to their appearance.
Korean beauties are famous all over the world for their extraordinary ability to maintain a stunning appearance until old age.
They carefully monitor themselves and try to take care of the skin of the face in order to remain young and beautiful as long as possible.
Butiologist Kim Bo Hyang told 5-tv.ru about the main secrets of beauty "in Korean", which will definitely provide the perfect tone and radiance.
At first, the expert noted that in Korea it is really considered beautiful when a person has healthy and moisturized skin.
That is why their facial care system is so special, and so much time is given to trying to look.
The “first secret ” is that Korean women carefully choose for themselves multi-stage individual care.
Each girl has its own skin type, its own “features ” and problem areas, for which certain cosmetics are necessary.
“Therefore, we carefully select each product and make an individual program, which consists of several stages, ” the specialist stressed.
The second rule of the Korean system is to take care of your skin, just like the skin of a baby, noted the beautiologist.
It is important to use not only effective products with active ingredients, but also those cosmetics that will not injure the protective barrier.
“The Korean standard for the production of cosmetics is one of the strictest and safest.
Therefore, Korean women choose cosmetics very picky, carefully.
That it was not only effective, but also careful for our skin, ” explained the interlocutor 5-tv.ru.
The “third secret ” is the mandatory use of sunscreens.
From about 20-25 years old, girls add special SPF creams to everyday care.
In the Korean "market" a huge number of different products that protect the skin from the sun - with different textures and filters.
Kim shared that great attention is paid to the beauty “inside ”.
Korean beauties in addition to the use of numerous cosmetics try to monitor their diet, avoiding harmful products.
“If you look at Korean cuisine, there are a lot of greens and vegetables.
And we always adhere to the fact that beauty is not only from the outside, but also from the inside, ” the expert concluded.
Previously, 5-tv.ru talked about the main mistakes in skin care.
Latest news
5: 10 p.m.
4: 54 PM
4: 38 PM
4: 22 PM
4: 06 PM
3: 50 p.m.
They are reading now.

Korean skincare products are popular in the UAE, with 60% sales growth, driven by skin care (61%) and sun protection (38%) products.

Title:

Content: Prestigious position for Korean skincare products in the UAE
Korean skincare products sweep the UAE market
Unique and effective ingredients in the product range drive demand in the UAE and around the world
Retailers in the UAE are seeing a dramatic increase in the sale of Korean beauty products recently.
Along with the wave of popularity of South Korean drama, movies and music, the country ’ s skincare products have also gained prominence.
Shiraz Khan, Chief Operating Officer of Aster GCC Retail, said: “We have observed a significant increase in demand for Korean beauty products, both globally and within the UAE.
At myAster, we saw significant growth of 60 per cent in the first quarter of the year, with skin care and sun protection products being the most sought after, contributing 61 per cent and 38 per cent respectively to our sales. ”
Other retailers have confirmed the growing demand for them.
Jonathan Watts, General Manager of AS Watson, said: “Korean skincare has become a treasure trove in the beauty industry globally and the Middle East is no exception. We have seen a significant rise in Watson this year, with sales doubling so far in 2024, compared to last year. ”
According to e-commerce company Noon, they have taken several steps to meet the growing demand.
Retika Jain, Head of Beauty at Noon, said: “Korean beauty products are seeing huge customer demand from Noon, especially in the skincare and makeup categories, and to meet this growing demand, Noon has partnered with local and Korean vendors to offer original Korean beauty products at very competitive prices, and deliver them quickly. ”
Reasons for fame
There are several reasons for the rise in popularity of Korean beauty products according to experts.
Jonathan Watts said: “Consumers highly value the focus on skin care within Korean cosmetics, as well as the unique and effective ingredients found in the product range.
Ingredients such as Hartlev leaves and snail extract, although unconventional, are effective and gentle on the skin. ”
He said there were other factors that made the skincare package so popular among the younger generation.
He added: “The majority of Korean beauty product brands are not harsh on the skin, and are in line with the growing consumer preference for ethically sourced products.
The influence of TikTok and the boom in Korean pop culture are also major contributors to the phenomenon we see with Korean beauty products. ”
Shiraz Khan
Shiraz said the unique preparation of the products also played an important role in increasing their popularity.
“Innovative formulas, high efficiency and a cultural wave driven by Korean beauty trends through social media and influencers are all factors that have helped their spread. Korean beauty products are known for their advanced skin care techniques and natural ingredients, which attract a wide population looking for effective and gentle skin care solutions, ” he said.
Glassy skin, dewy appearance
Jonathan said that “glass skin ” among Koreans is one of the most desirable things.
“This requires a careful skincare regimen that focuses on hydration, exfoliation and nutrition, areas where Korean beauty brands excel.
Products such as serums, masks, eye masks and extracts with moisturizing ingredients are essential for a vitreous skin appearance. ”
Regardless of the appearance of glassy skin, there are many other common Korean trends.
Retika Jane said: “In double cleansing, an oil cleanser is used, followed by a water cleanser to get clean skin. ”
“The trend of using makeup for both beauty and care has also increased.
Customers want to use clean, multi-purpose products that not only work as a lipstick or dye but also moisturize the skin, contain a sun protection factor (SPF) and provide comprehensive nutrition.
“The ‘ dew ’ look is one of the top trends this year, with a particular focus on glossy lips that look fuller. ”
Demand is expected to continue significantly in the near future.
Shiraz said: “We expect this trend to continue as consumers become increasingly aware of the benefits of Korean beauty products, their popularity is not just a fleeting fad but a testament to their quality and effectiveness in meeting different skin care needs. ”
Jonathan agreed: “Korean beauty is here to stay and is likely to become an integral part of everyone ’ s beauty routine in the future.
Watson currently owns more than 30 Korean beauty brands, and we are expected to launch 10 more this year. ”
Khaleej Times - Arabic Edition
www.khaleejtimes.com

Korean skincare has become a global treasure, with sales doubling in 2024 due to social media and influencers.

Korean skin care emphasizes prevention and hydration with natural ingredients for diverse skin types.

Title:

Content: What's Hot

The Best Korean Skin Care Product Brands For 2024

K-beauty products have slowly risen to trend, becoming bestsellers on almost all e-commerce platforms. So what is all the hype about? Let us break it down for you along with the best Korean skin care brands below.

Best Skin Care Product Brands Photo: Amazon

Korean people are renowned for their sought-after "glass skin" appearance. With a growing emphasis on skin health, many consumers are turning to the best Korean skincare products for its use of natural ingredients such as ginseng and rice water, along with reliable staples like retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. From cleansers and moisturisers to face masks and serums, Korean skincare brands provide options for every budget and skin type.

Be it if you have oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin, Korean brands offer a diverse range of products tailored to address specific issues like acne, aging, hyperpigmentation, and hydration. This versatility has made Korean skincare a favourite among beauty enthusiasts seeking effective solutions at various price points.

To simplify your search for the ideal skincare regimen, we've curated a list of some of the best Korean skincare products and brands below.

Whether you prioritise gentle formulations, anti-aging benefits, or hydration, these recommendations will help you discover a brand that aligns perfectly with your skincare needs and goals. Explore the world of Korean skincare and achieve radiant, healthy-looking skin with products trusted by millions worldwide.

How to choose the best Korean skincare products

  • Identify Your Skin Type: Determine whether your skin is oily, dry, combination, sensitive, or acne-prone. Korean skincare offers targeted products for each type.

  • Understand Your Skin Concerns: Whether it's acne, aging signs, hyperpigmentation, or dehydration, prioritise products designed to address your specific concerns.

  • Read Ingredient Lists: Look for key ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration, niacinamide for brightening, and tea tree oil for acne-prone skin. Avoid products with potentially irritating ingredients if you have sensitive skin.

  • Consider Product Texture: Choose textures that suit your preferences and needs—whether lightweight gels for oily skin or rich creams for dry skin.

  • Check for Certifications: Look for certifications like K-Beauty or EWG Verified, ensuring products meet certain safety and quality standards.

  • Trial Sizes and Patch Tests: Start with trial sizes or samples when possible to test compatibility with your skin. Conduct patch tests to avoid adverse reactions.

  • Create a Routine: Build a comprehensive skincare routine that includes cleansing, toning, treating (with serums or essences), moisturising, and sun protection, tailored to your skin's needs and concerns.

How we chose these brands for you

  • Effectiveness: Each brand was evaluated for the efficacy of its products in addressing various skin concerns such as acne, aging, hydration, and sensitivity.

  • Customer Reviews: Insights from real users helped gauge overall satisfaction, product performance, and consistency in delivering promised results.

  • Brand Reputation: We considered the reputation and trustworthiness of each brand within the skincare community, focusing on their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

  • Value for Money: We assessed the pricing relative to the quality and benefits offered by each brand, ensuring you get the best value for your investment.

  • Ethical Standards: Brands that uphold ethical standards in sourcing ingredients, manufacturing processes, and sustainability practices were given preference.

Below is a comprehensive list of best Korean skin care brands

  1. Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe Photo: Amazon

Glow Recipe is a beloved Korean skincare brand known for its innovative and fruit-forward products. If you're wondering whether it's a good fit for your skin type, you're in luck—Glow Recipe caters to a variety of skin types, from dry and sensitive to oily and combination.

Their product range is extensive, featuring everything from cleansers and toners to serums, moisturisers, and masks. Popular items include the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream. These products are formulated with gentle yet effective ingredients like watermelon, avocado, and hyaluronic acid, which are designed to nourish and hydrate the skin without irritation.

This brand has carved out a strong position in the market, often praised for its fun, colourful packaging and effective formulations. The brand enjoys a solid reputation, frequently highlighted in beauty magazines and loved by influencers.

Products from Glow Recipe worth the hype

2, ILLIYOON

ILLIYOON Photo: Amazon

ILLIYOON is a rising star in the Korean skincare scene, known for its focus on gentle yet effective formulations suitable for sensitive skin types. Their product range spans from basic skincare essentials to targeted treatments, making it a go-to brand for those seeking simplicity and effectiveness.

The brand emphasises natural ingredients known for their soothing and moisturising properties, such as ceramides, panthenol (provitamin B5), and madecassoside (derived from centella asiatica). These ingredients help strengthen the skin barrier, hydrate deeply, and calm irritation—ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

While perhaps not as widely recognized as some major Korean beauty brands, ILLIYOON is dermatologically tested, ensuring safety and efficacy for various skin types, reflecting its commitment to quality and skin-friendly formulations. Feedback from users often highlights the brand’s ability to soothe sensitive skin, reduce redness, and provide long-lasting hydration.

Some of the best products from ILLIYOON range

3. COSRX

COSRX Photo: Amazon

Established in 2014, COSRX has quickly gained a strong reputation among skincare enthusiasts and professionals alike. Their products are often clinically evaluated and tested, ensuring safety and efficacy. They're particularly beneficial for acne-prone, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types, thanks to their gentle yet effective formulations.

They prioritise using minimal ingredients and focus on scientifically-backed actives that deliver results without unnecessary additives.

Their range includes essentials like cleansers, toners, exfoliants (like the popular BHA Blackhead Power Liquid), serums (such as the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence), moisturisers, and acne treatments. COSRX products are formulated with key ingredients like snail mucin, Centella Asiatica, AHA/BHA acids, and propolis, targeting issues such as acne, aging, and uneven skin tone.

The brand's straightforward approach and affordable pricing make it a favourite among those looking for reliable skincare solutions backed by science.

Popular product from this fast forward rising brand

4. LANEIGE

LANEIGE Photo: Amazon

Users have continually praised LANEIGE for its ability to deliver noticeable improvements in skin hydration and texture. Since its inception it has built a solid reputation for combining scientific research with effective skincare solutions.

Their products feature ingredients like Water Science™ technology, which includes mineral water, hyaluronic acid, and proprietary blends like the Advanced Water Science™ technology found in their Water Bank line. Popular items include the Water Sleeping Mask, Lip Sleeping Mask, and the Cream Skin Refiner, all designed to provide intense hydration and nourishment.

Many appreciate the luxurious feel and effective results of their products, especially the overnight masks which leave skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

LANEIGE's commitment to hydration and skincare innovation continues to resonate with customers worldwide, making it a trusted name in the world of Korean beauty.

Their prominent product lineup include

5. belif

belif Photo: Amazon

Belif is a Korean skincare brand that’s revered for its effective solutions, especially for hydration and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. If you're dealing with dryness, dullness, or sensitivity, this brand offers promising remedies.

They cater  to a wide range of skin types, particularly benefiting those with dry, combination, and sensitive skin. Their formulations are free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, appealing to users seeking clean skincare options.

Their lineup includes moisturisers (like the True Cream Aqua Bomb and Moisturizing Bomb), cleansers, serums, masks, and toners. Key ingredients such as comfrey leaf, oats, and calendula help soothe and nourish the skin, while maintaining a gentle approach suitable for sensitive skin types.

The brand continues to be praised for its innovative approach to skincare, making it a favourite among skincare enthusiasts looking for gentle yet powerful solutions.

Standout products include that are under $40

6, innisfree

innisfree Photo: Amazon

Innisfree has cemented its place as a staple in many skincare routines, known for its extensive range of products and dedicated retail outlets worldwide. They offer a diverse array of skincare items including cleansers, toners, essences, serums (such as the Green Tea Seed Serum), moisturizers, masks, and sunscreens.

Their products are formulated with natural ingredients sourced from Korea's pristine Jeju Island, like green tea, volcanic clay, and orchid extracts, catering to a wide spectrum of skin types. The brand is particularly favoured for its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, earning a positive reputation among environmentally conscious consumers.

Founded in 2000, Innisfree has grown into a globally recognized name in skincare, praised for its effective formulations rooted in natural ingredients. Reviews highlight Innisfree's ability to deliver noticeable results, from improved skin texture to enhanced hydration and a healthy glow.

Some staples you should include in your skincare routine

7. AESTURA

AESTURA Photo: Amazon

AESTURA has made a name for itself by focusing on products designed for sensitive and compromised skin. Their offerings cater to individuals who need gentle, soothing care, often including those with conditions like eczema or rosacea. The brand boasts a comprehensive range of products, including cleansers, toners, moisturisers, and specialised treatments.

This brand's products are formulated with dermatologically tested ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and Centella Asiatica, which help to strengthen the skin barrier, provide deep hydration, and soothe irritation.

Their key products, like the Atobarrier 365 Cream and the Theracne 365 Clear Deep Cleansing Foam, are highly regarded for their effectiveness and gentleness.

Feedback highlights the noticeable improvement in skin hydration and overall health, with many appreciating the brand's commitment to gentle yet effective skincare. If you're seeking reliable, dermatologist-approved skincare, AESTURA is definitely worth considering.

Products that may help you achieve that glass skin

AESTURA A-CICA365 Soft Calming Mask Pad

AESTURA A-CICA 365 Calming Cream with Blemish Calming Serum

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes Korean skincare different from Western skincare?

  • Korean skincare emphasises prevention, hydration, and achieving a luminous complexion through consistent and gentle care. It often incorporates innovative ingredients and practices rooted in traditional Korean beauty rituals.

How should I incorporate Korean skincare products into my routine?

  • Start with a basic routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, then gradually introduce additional products like serums or masks based on your skin concerns. Consistency and patience are important as your skin adjusts to new products.

Are Korean skincare products suitable for men?

  • Yes, Korean skincare brands often offer gender-neutral or specifically formulated products for men. These products focus on hydration, anti-aging, and soothing properties, catering to the unique needs of male skin.

How long does it take to see results from Korean skincare products?

  • Results from Korean skincare products can vary depending on individual skin types and concerns. Generally, users may notice improvements in hydration and skin texture within a few weeks of consistent use.

What does one mean when they say Korean glass skin?

  • Korean glass skin refers to a skincare trend aimed at achieving a smooth, flawless complexion with a reflective, dewy finish. It involves meticulous hydration, exfoliation, and use of lightweight, hydrating products to enhance skin radiance.

Wrapping up

Korean skincare brands offer a pathway to discovering effective and innovative skincare solutions. With a focus on quality ingredients, gentle formulations, and a rich heritage of skincare wisdom, these brands cater to diverse skin types and concerns. By choosing from our carefully curated list of recommendations, you can tap into a world of skincare known for its commitment to hydration, radiance, and overall skin health. Whether you're seeking to address specific skincare issues or enhance your daily routine, Korean skincare offers a holistic approach that blends tradition with modern science, promising visible results and a renewed sense of confidence in your skin.

Disclaimer: The above content is non-editorial and produced by a third party partner. Outlook India does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of the content*.

*The product prices mentioned in the article are subject to change

Korean skincare trends like "glass skin" aim for a flawless complexion through innovative global solutions.

Korean skincare typically involves cleansing, toning, and moisturizing with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Korean skin care combines traditional rituals with modern science, with government investment in cosmetics development.

Title:

Content: Is Korean Skin Care Really Superior? An Investigation

Photographed by Hayleigh Longman
With its shelfie-worthy packaging and a focus on intriguing ingredients like snail mucin and fermented rice water, Korean skincare has been the subject of Western fascination for years. Brands like CosRx, Innisfree, and Laneige have assumed viral social-media status, while Glow Recipe and Dr. Jart+ are now practically household names, thanks to TikTok.
Besides whipping up curiosity, Korean skin care has established a name for itself as one of the most effective and trustworthy categories in beauty. And ahead of winter, it's seeing a serious revival. In the past few weeks, searches for 'Korean skin-care routine', '10-step Korean skin care', and 'best Korean skin-care products' have made up Google's skin-care trends. While on TikTok, the hashtag #koreanskincare has seen a handful of new videos, each raking in millions of views.
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In October, a tweet and TikTok video posted by skin-care blogger @Mul_OVO went viral for showcasing the benefits of switching to Korean skin care. But is Korean skin care really better? Or have we simply got caught up in the hype?
Cosmetic Chemist and Licensed Aesthetician Esther Olu believes our obsession with K-skincare started with 'glass skin' — skin so dewy, it's almost reflective. Olu says that glass skin was the ideal and promoted "healthy-looking" and "luminous" skin standards. "Everyone wanted to have healthy skin," says Olu, "and Korean [skin care] has played a critical role in this mindset."

The Korean approach to skin care is a lot gentler and there is a distinct difference in ingredients lists compared to Western products, which can be harsh.

You could argue that the main intent of skin care everywhere is to promote healthy, happy skin. But there are some key differences. Many Western skin-care trends (such as skin cycling, peels, and rediscovering skin toners) tend to home in on ingredients such as retinol and exfoliating acids, for example glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. These are great when used properly and sensibly under the guidance of an expert but they can be notoriously irritating when overdone, as many of us tend to do.
Ask any dermatologist to pinpoint common skin gripes they regularly spot in clinic and they'll almost always reel off perioral dermatitis (a red rash that circles your mouth), burns, irritation, dryness, and a compromised skin barrier (redness, tightness, breakouts, rashes) — all a result of overdoing it on harsh ingredients.
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Of course, Korean skin care does feature the aforementioned ingredients. They do work, after all. But the Korean approach seems to be a lot gentler and there is a distinct difference in ingredients lists, too, says Olu. PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) are a lot more popular in Korean skin care, for example. Take Dr. Jart+'s recently launched Pore Remedy range, in which PHAs are the star ingredient. Much like glycolic and salicylic acids, PHAs exfoliate the skin effectively, but what sets them apart from other exfoliators is their large molecule size. They exfoliate at surface level without going too deep and aggravating skin as other acids might. Glow Recipe and CosRx are just a few Korean brands championing them and subsequently promoting a kinder approach to the controversial exfoliation trend.
In fact, Korean skin care has been something of a savior for our irritated skin barriers of late. Much of Korean skin care shines a light on reducing inflammation rather than drying out skin. "Promoting hydration as well as soothing ingredients is a primary focus in Korean skin care," confirms Cosmetic Chemist Ramón Pagán. "This is a contrast to the products we tend to see in the west, which can be more astringent or irritating to the skin with higher percentages of active ingredients."
Pagán explains that thanks to skin-care marketing in the early '00s, the Western approach to skin care has been hooked on stripping skin: getting rid of the 'bad' stuff like excess oil and clogged pores. Conversely, Korean skin care is about nourishing the skin. Reddit's skin-care obsessives concur that Western skin care can be disagreeable, particularly for those with dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin.
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@hkjennylee #greenscreen and not to mention the dupe has bifida as the FIRST ingredient while the original has it as the SECOND… tea 🙈 #koreanskincare #kbeautyblogger #kbeauty #koreanskincareproducts #kbeautyskincare ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
Olu seconds this. "Western skin-care products tend to take a corrective approach," she tells R29. "Specifically, the formulas are dedicated to solving a skin-care concern, whether it is retinol, azelaic acid, or BHAs and AHAs," which are different kinds of exfoliating acids. "[Western skin care] is meant to help with anti-aging and things like redness," explains Olu, "while Korean skin care focuses more on maintenance and skin barrier health."
It's why you'll find excellent ingredients, like ceramides (very moisturizing and hold the skin barrier together), centella asiatica aka cica (a herb that decreases inflammation, redness, puffiness, and swelling) and niacinamide (vitamin B3, which keeps the skin barrier intact and reduces excess oil) in most Korean skin care. The color-correcting cream that recently went viral on TikTok? It includes cica — and of course it's Korean.

A reason why Korean skin care is so popular — and so good — is because the Korean government is said to have actively invested in its beauty brands to better develop cosmetics.

Redditors also point out that Korean skin care includes 'special ingredients' and technologies that Western products don't. Snail mucin (excreted from snails) is a popular moisturizing ingredient among Korean brands, with influencers and experts extolling the virtues of products like CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Gel. "This is a great barrier-protecting ingredient," Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa told R29 recently, "but it also gives your skin a great shine."
Then there's allantoin, popular in Korean skin care for locking moisture into the skin, as well as rice extract (said to increase hydration, making skin plump), and bee propolis, a natural substance produced by honey bees that has been proven to smooth skin and protect it from environmental factors, such as pollution.
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Beyond the more skin-friendly and interesting approach to ingredients, it has been reported that Korean beauty and skin care is one of the country's biggest businesses and exports. As the world's third largest cosmetics exporter, South Korea's cosmetics exports outperformed home appliances, pharmaceuticals, and smartphones in 2020. Data also suggests that South Korea's skin-care market will reach $11.4 billion in value by 2026. Interestingly, one of the reasons why Korean skin care is so popular — and so good — is because the Korean government is said to have actively invested in its beauty brands in order to better develop cosmetics.
"When K-beauty was introduced to the Western market through popular channels and social media, a phenomenon was awakened, creating demand and opportunity for business," says Nina Vargas, a global business strategist for beauty, fashion, and wellness brands. "This allowed Korean cosmetics companies to obtain help from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA)." KITA is a nonprofit organization that helps small and medium enterprises enter markets abroad.
What's more, Dr. Jenelle Kim, Founder and Formulator of JBK Wellness Labs, says that Korean skin care uses the latest science to understand exactly what our skin needs. "It utilizes ingredients in new ways, while remaining committed to formulating with centuries-proven ingredients and, for some brands [like Erborian, Sulwhasoo, and Beauty of Joseon], the powers of herbal medicine." Ginseng and green tea are super popular, for example.
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Dr. Kim adds that our skin's needs change with the climate or environmental factors, like air quality, makeup trends, and hormones. Korean skin care has consistently switched things up in an effort to help us stay in balance. Pagán agrees that heritage surrounds Korean skin care. "Lots of brands use 'hanbang' ingredients, which are based around traditional Korean medicine," he says. "These are often herbal and naturally derived." Post-pandemic, when we're more interested than ever in keeping healthy, highlighting medicinal skin care makes Korean products appear trustworthy and effective, elevating them above others.
In short, skin care is an inherent part of Korean culture. Head to TikTok and you'll see that Koreans view beauty not as a luxury but as a necessity. Countless videos suggest that from a young age, people are taught to take care of their skin and to look at skin care as a preventative measure. Year-round sun protection is also a big trend among Korean skin-care lovers, with a high factor, broad spectrum sunscreen said to be one of the most important products in a routine.
Another reason Korean skin care is regarded so highly is because the majority of it is affordable. Head to Reddit and you'll spot skin-care lovers swapping reviews of Innisfree, Tonymoly, and Etude House. The promise of soothed, hydrated skin is their main pull, but so are the relatively low prices, with most cleansers, serums, and creams coming in under $25.
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Amid a cost of living crisis, it makes sense that we want to spend as little as possible on beauty products. When it comes to Korean skin care, though, tightening your purse strings doesn't mean compromising on quality. All the proven skin-care ingredients are there, from retinol to acids, just in gentler concentrations and sophisticated formulas. Some TikTokers even point out that Korean skincare often dupes brands and products that charge hundreds for very similar ingredients and results. "It doesn't matter if you spend $1 or $100. If it's K-Beauty, chances are it's great," thinks Vargas.
Over time, the 10-product routine has given way to routines with fewer steps. Excessive layering doesn't work for everyone, particularly if you have a strict budget or your skin is sensitive, reactive, or acne-prone. But Korean skin care is ever evolving and always adapting to consumer needs. Because of this, three- or four-step routines are now trending among Korean influencers. TikTokers are sharing their easy skin-care rituals, which always start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser followed by a serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. This is a quick and effective routine that dermatologists and skin-care experts often recommend for skin types across the board.
Pagán believes that Korean skin care stays fun and inventive. "It's simple but impactful and you get luxury experiences at affordable prices. You don't see Western brands readily introducing staple Korean concepts, like fermented ingredients or snail secretion." Add to that the serious investment and spotlight on nourishing the skin (rather than getting rid of the 'nasty' stuff) and it's clear to see why Korean skin care is regarded so highly. But is it better? Essentially, the very best skin care is the skin care that works for you. If it happens to be Korean, that's great. But if it's something else entirely, why switch it up?
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This story was originally published on Refinery29UK.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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South Korea, the world's third-largest cosmetics exporter, uses centuries-proven ingredients in its projected $11.4 billion skin-care market by 2026.

Korean skin care, based on traditional medicine, is often affordable, with most products under $25, without compromising on quality.

Korean skin care prioritizes gentle exfoliation with PHAs, hydration, and soothing ingredients to reduce inflammation.

Korean skin care's popularity stems from its focus on gentle, nourishing ingredients, often including natural ones like snail mucin.

Korean skin care uniquely uses PHAs for gentle exfoliation.

The Korean skin care market is expected to reach $11.4 billion by 2026, driven by affordable prices and simplified routines.

The cosmetics industry produces 120 billion non-recyclable beauty packages yearly, significantly contributing to packaging waste.

Title:

Content: Is the Humble Bar of Soap the Future of Beauty?

Bars, powders, and concentrates are the beauty world’s latest obsession. Here's why everyone's going "waterless."

(Image credit: Future)

Once upon a time, water took the top spot in nearly all beauty formulas. Whether the product in question was designed for skin, hair, or makeup, it didn’t matter— good old H2O was the first component on the ingredient list, where it was beloved for its user-friendly emulsions, non-sticky finish, and satisfying suds.

But the tides have turned. Brands are increasingly creating products without water and relying instead on butters and oils to deliver results. This shift has a ton of eco-potential, cutting back on waste, and—of course—water itself.

Despite their recent rise, the bars, powders, and concentrates that fill today’s shelves aren’t exactly new. In fact, the first shampoo bars debuted back in 1987, courtesy of Lush cofounder Mo Constantine and cosmetic chemist Stan Krysztal. There have always been “anhydrous products, or those ‘without water,’ such as face and body oils, balms, sticks, and powders,” says cosmetic chemist Marisa Plescia, research scientist at clean beauty retailer NakedPoppy. “But over the past few years, we have seen this category expand with fresh ideas and concepts.”

Rather than rebranding products that never had water in them to begin with, brands are developing water-free versions of traditionally water-based formulas, such as cleanser and conditioner.

Logistics plays a part in its rise, too. As consumers have largely moved from shopping shelves to scrolling pages, products have adapted accordingly. While companies used to compete for shelf space with bright, oversized bottles, Jenkins says, “shipping water around the world no longer makes sense.” Take water out of the equation and you’ve got yourself a smaller, more lightweight product to transport, which may translate to cost savings. (It’s hard to say, however, whether brands pass those savings on to consumers. Plus, “the cost of anhydrous materials can [actually] be higher,” says Plescia. “Water is cheap, while waxes, oils, butters, and powders are often not.”)

Ultimately, though, it comes down to supply and demand: Sustainability is finally having its moment in the sun—and forgoing water in a given product can create a domino effect of environmental benefits throughout its lifecycle. “In the last couple of years, consumers have become increasingly aware of the need to protect natural resources broadly and be more conservation-minded with water in particular,” says Mia Davis, vice president of Sustainability & Impact at Credo Beauty, a clean beauty retailer. And where consumers go, so do companies. “It's becoming more and more apparent to investors and companies that the manufacturing of products—and the disposal of them—have a huge impact on our younger consumers,” says Boma Brown-West, director of consumer health at the Environmental Defense Fund. The cosmetics industry is responsible for an estimated 120 billion beauty packages produced each year alone—most of which never gets recycled. “It's important that companies are recognizing that they have an environmental footprint and that they're actually taking action on it.”

Size, in this case, does matter. Since water equals volume, waterless beauty products are literally smaller than their traditional counterparts, and that can have an eco-friendly ripple effect. “Because you're reducing the size of a product, you're invariably reducing the amount of packaging needed,” says Brown-West. That could dramatically limit the item’s total carbon footprint. “A smaller product means more room on the truck to fit more products in,” she explains. “This can help reduce the amount of fuel that's being used to transport each product.” It can also shrink the amount of emissions, like carbon and air pollutants.

Then, there’s the recycling advantage. Some waterless products, such as solid bars, allow for more seamless recycling down the line. “If the result of making a product waterless reduces the need for smaller components, like caps, or materials that aren’t accepted by recycling programs, like pumps with metal parts, then there could be a benefit,” says Karen Hagerman, director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

That’s what led entrepreneur Kate McLeod to seek out an alternative packaging for her eponymous line of solid moisturizer bars, which she calls stones. “Our solid formula forced me to look at packaging differently,” says McLeod, who ultimately went with a bamboo holder that’s both pretty and  durable enough to be reused.

Speaking of the (environmental) devil—that’s plastic—waterless formulas make it possible to package products without the stuff at all since, depending on the formula, there’s less concern around dripping or leaking. That’s what drove the creation of HiBar, a plastic-free line of hair- and skin-care bars. “We looked at different product forms, like dissolvables and refillables, and concluded that our best chance at providing our customers with a high-quality product was simply eliminating water from the formulation,” says Dion Hughes, a cofounder of the brand. And that’s a big deal, seeing as fossil fuels are the main ingredient in plastic production. Roughly 91 percent of plastic never gets recycled, leading it to pile up endlessly in oceans and landfills.

Another perk: Preservatives aren’t really needed. After all, bacteria live their best lives splashing around in a water-rich environment; conversely, “in anhydrous formulas, the bacteria have a more of a difficult time growing since there is no water, so this risk is lower,” says Plescia. And fewer preservatives are a good thing, Jenkins adds, since “everything we use in our shower goes down the drain and into our water systems.”

These are all promising, environmentally sound reasons to swap your shampoo bottle for a bar. That said, it’s important to think about these things in context—not all water-free formulas are created equal. “A waterless product does not necessarily mean that the formula is more sustainable, that it took less energy or carbon to make, or has a great safety profile,” Davis explains. “Water is one major piece of the more-sustainable-product puzzle, but ‘waterless’ products may or may not be better for the environment or for you, the user.”

Part of that is because, while H2O might be out of the picture, there’s a whole lot of other stuff still in it. “With higher levels of other ingredients, the sustainability of those ingredients themselves can be brought into question,” Plescia explains.

Plus, Davis stresses that if you’re taking hour-long showers and drinking from  single-use plastic water bottles, choosing a waterless beauty product won’t count for much. “Waterless beauty can be great, but it is not going to solve the water crisis,” she says.

Putting a pin in the sustainability conversation for a second, waterless beauty products have a host of other pros, like payoff in terms of potency and convenience. They tend to be more concentrated—meaning they’re packed with more nutrients, vitamins, and other beneficial compounds. “What I noticed from visiting different African communities is that the herbs, oils, and butters were all so rich and pure,” says 54 Thrones founder Christina Funke Tegbe, whose beauty line is rooted in waterless body butters. “A little truly went a long way. So the advantage is a more concentrated, efficacious product that goes further, because no water is used to cut it down.” And frequent fliers, behold: Some waterless products can be a dream for travel, eliminating a step in the always-anxiety-inducing TSA line.

Yet there’s still some downside to these amped-up formulations. One big consideration? The texture. While emulsions, like your average lotion, can feel smooth and satiny upon application, “an anhydrous formula, such as a balm, can be heavier with a sometimes-greasy feeling, which may not be desired by some consumers,” says Plescia.

Before you add a product to cart, do your research on the brand itself. For one, there’s always the risk of oversight in an industry that’s historically left women of color behind, notes Brown-West, who adds that waterless brands need to take women of color’s specific needs into account when formulating products. (For example, some brands only offer a single shampoo bar option—instead of considering all hair textures, including natural hair, when making them.) Also worth keeping in mind: The potential for greenwashing, a.k.a. the false implication that a company is more environmentally conscious than it is, is high wherever sustainability is involved. Some products have always been waterless, Hagerman says, (think powdered blush) and branding them as “waterless” is just a way to cash in on the hype.

Nuances notwithstanding, experts and founders agree waterless products are a net-positive development for the beauty industry—and definitely better than buying products consisting of non-recyclable packaging filled with non-sustainable ingredients. While they may take some getting used to, it’s worth the effort. As Jenkins puts it: “In the end, your hair and the planet will thank you.”

This story appears in the May 2022 issue of Marie Claire.

Deanna Pai is a freelance beauty and wellness writer and editor based in New York; her work has appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, and many others.

The Korean skin care industry is shifting towards waterless beauty products to reduce packaging waste and carbon footprint.

Waterless beauty products can reduce water usage in manufacturing and transportation by up to two-thirds.

Title:

Content: Top 4 Skincare Trends in 2022! Waterless, Fermented Beauty and Health Care
Author: Chen Wanyu
Published: Updated:
Text: Olivia Chen @ Founder of BeautyFact
In the past two years, the global economy and people's living habits have also changed dramatically, and of course, it will affect the trend of beauty and skin care products.
More people are paying attention to the impact of products on health and the environment than they used to focus on makeup. Let ’ s take a look at the top 4 skin care trends in 2022!
More consumers are beginning to pay attention to the health and environmental impact of products, and therefore affect the trend of beauty and skin care products.
(Illustration / GettyImages)
Download “Hong Kong 01 ” App to see what ’ s happening in the city
1.
Waterless Beauty
The concept of Waterless Beauty has become a beauty trend in recent years, meaning that beauty products do not include the ingredient “water ”.
There are many ways to look hydrated, such as cleansing creams, solid balms and shampoo soaps.
According to research from Western countries, as the global population rises, two-thirds of the world ’ s population will face water scarcity by 2025, accelerating the demand for waterless products in the beauty industry.
L ’ OREAL, the leading beauty brand in the cosmetics industry, has taken the lead in pledging to reduce the amount of water used in its products by two-thirds.
The concept of Waterless Beauty has become a beauty trend in recent years, meaning that beauty products do not include the ingredient “water ”.
(Illustration / GettyImages)
2.
Continuous Packaging
Have you calculated how many cans of cosmetics and skin care products, large and small, of plastic or glass bottles, you have used? How many bottles will be truly recycled after they are empty? As people become more environmentally conscious, they will tend to patronize sustainable shops and make some contributions to the planet.
To this end, different brands will start with sustainable packaging. In addition to changing the raw materials of packaging design to make it recyclable and reduce packaging use, they have also begun to adopt the form of “Reimagine ” to increase the continuity of packaging materials.
Beauty brand The Body Shop offers direct supplement products in London, UK and Vancouver, USA.
Customers can bring empty bottles and cans to the store to “refill ” or refill them at the“ refill station ”.
This approach not only reduces unnecessary waste, but also reduces the carbon footprint and realizes the concept of sustainable packaging.
In recent years, different brands have started with sustainable packaging. In addition to changing the raw materials of packaging design so that they can be recycled and reduce the amount of packaging used, they have begun to adopt the form of "supplement" to increase the continuity of packaging materials.
(Illustration / GettyImages)
3.
Clean Beauty
People generally think that the more ingredients of the product, the more expensive the price, the better the effect, in fact, it is not.
Many of the touted counters of cosmetics and skin care products have added harmful substances that not only increase the burden on the skin, but also lead to poor and sensitive skin.
In addition, the product does not provide all the ingredients, so customers can not fully understand whether the product is suitable for their own skin.
Because of this, in recent years, niche brands have slowly risen, advocating "Clean Beauty", providing no added harmful substances, high information transparency and pure and effective products to customers, emphasizing that the skin gets the purest care, deeply loved and welcomed by people, and won the strong recommendation of many YouTubers and KOLs.
With the change in consumer awareness, specialty brands have begun to attach importance to the concept of "pure", and beauty industry leader Shiseido has acquired the non-toxic beauty brand Drunk Elephant at a high price of US $845 million (about HK $6.59 billion).
Small brands are slowly emerging, advocating "Clean Beauty", providing customers with no added harmful substances, high information transparency and pure and effective products.
(Illustration / GettyImages)
4.
Fermented Beauty
The function of daily skin care products to clean the surface of the skin has not been able to meet the needs of customers, they also hope that the product can change the condition of the skin foundation, so that it has a pleasant appearance from the inside out, and under the impetus of this desire, fermented beauty products are gradually emerging.
In addition, the fermentation process is also capable of promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as lactic acid, organic acid and acetic acid, as natural preservatives.
These acids not only help to fight aging, but also effectively fight inflammation and reduce irritation, making the skin soft and elastic.
Olivia Chen is the founder of the first beauty ingredient analysis platform in Asia. (Provided by the author)
About the author:
Olivia Chen is the founder of BeautyFact, the first beauty ingredient analysis platform in Asia.
As a child with eczema and allergies, I hope to inspire more Asian girls to pay attention to the safety of beauty and personal care products.
Beauty ingredient analysis platform BeautyFact: Instagram
(The title of the article was drafted by the editor of Hong Kong 01.)
The article is solely the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.)

TikTok promotes Korean skin care with #kbeauty having 9.5 billion views.

Title:

Content: default-output-block.skip-main

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

How TikTok Brought Back K-Beauty

While the K-beauty craze of the 2010s has waned in recent years, brands and retailers are seeing renewed interest in the category thanks to TikTok.
BoF PROFESSIONAL

Key insights

  • After K-beauty’s international spike in popularity more than a decade ago, it entered a period of decline at the start of the 2020s.
  • TikTok is leading a K-beauty resurgence. Laneige, Innisfree, Beauty of Joseon and Cosrx are among brands going viral on the platform.
  • K-beauty-inspired trends are also taking off. “Korean glass skin” saw 134 percent year-over-year growth on TikTok over a six-month period ending April 30.

When Laneige launched at Sephora US in 2017, its K-beauty identity was front and centre.

The Amorepacific-owned brand was featured in the retailer’s K-beauty endcap, a K-beauty menu bar section and multiple K-beauty campaigns. But half a decade later, hype around the category had faded, according to Julien Bouzitat, US brand general manager for Laneige and sister brand Innisfree.

“The first time, it was very successful,” he said. “The second time, not as great … [Sephora’s] takeaway was that the first wave of K-beauty had gone away.”

The K-beauty craze emerged in the US around 2012 with the rise of BB cream, and spurred countless subsequent beauty trends such as sheet masks, 10-step skin care routines and blemish patches. In the mid- to late 2010s, K-beauty fervour was so high that imported labels like Laneige and Tony Moly quickly faced competition from major US brands launching copycat products as well as from new K-beauty-inspired startups like Glow Recipe, Then I Met You and Peach & Lily.

But as K-beauty went mainstream, brands’ use of the term as a selling point died down — until now. Korean brands have TikTok to thank. The hashtag #kbeauty has 9.5 billion views on TikTok. The term “Korean glass skin,” a K-beauty trend that was popular in 2017, saw 134 percent year-over-year growth on TikTok over a six-month period ending April 30, according to data science company Spate and market research firm Circana. Sales of products that help users achieve the Korean “glass skin” look have risen, too. The viral Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is now the number one best-selling beauty product on Amazon after taking off on TikTok. The brand said it has now sold 15 million bottles as of September.

While K-Beauty’s original heyday was driven in part by gimmick marketing and attention-grabbing packaging, its resurgence is due to a new “skintellectual” age group being drawn to product efficacy. Moreover, affordable price points are encouraging cost-conscious and dupe-obsessed shoppers to buy.

“There’s been a second generation which became more [focused on the] brand-building aspect of K-beauty and this Korean skincare expertise,” said Bouzitat.

The Wave Recedes

Since the 1990s, Hallyu — the “Korean wave” — has been growing outside South Korea’s borders, as the South Korean government encouraged international exports globally. The 2010s saw an influx of Korean culture and products, especially entertainment and beauty. US-based Sephora and Ulta Beauty stocked up on Korean beauty brands, while beauty conglomerates acquired them. In 2018, L’Oréal purchased K-beauty brand 3CE parent company Nanda, while the Estée Lauder Companies bought Dr. Jart+ in 2019.

“It took skin care to a whole other level. I don’t think it will ever be the same, thanks to the influence of K-beauty,” said Lindsay Ullman, co-founder of beauty consulting firm The View from 32 and a former merchandising executive at Sephora.

But its popularity kicked off an influx of K-beauty inspired brands stateside. Soko Glam and Peach & Lily both started as e-tailers selling imported K-beauty products before their founders, Charlotte Cho and Alicia Yoon, respectively, expanded with their own skin care brands. Quickly, legacy brands like Lancôme and Clinique began introducing their own versions of BB creams, sheet masks or cleansing oils.

Momentum slowed in the 2020s. Estée Lauder Companies reported in August that Dr. Jart+’s net sales declined during the 2023 fiscal year. In the US, Sephora stopped stocking at least 10 K-beauty brands that it sold in the late 2010s, including Too Cool for School, Neogen, Amorepacific and Son & Park, and no longer highlights its K-beauty section on its homepage. Amorepacific’s profits plunged by 28.5 percent in 2022. Even upstarts like Glow Recipe and Hero Cosmetics, that once traded on being K-beauty-inspired brands, stopped using the term in their marketing and communications.

An Influencer-Led Renaissance

It’s not the multi-step routine tutorials — which were the hallmark of 2010s K-beauty — driving the category’s comeback. Instead, it’s individual viral product crazes sparked by influencers and celebrities.

K-beauty sunscreens with formulas that don’t have a white cast, for example, have been a hit with influencers. Innisfree’s Daily UV Defense sunscreen, which went viral on TikTok, was explicitly cited as one of the top-selling products driving Amorepacific Group’s North America growth this year. Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun sunscreen has received 587 million views on TikTok, driven by influencers like Ava Lee, who is working on a collaboration with the brand planned for release in 2024. While the product is not yet approved by the FDA for sale in the US, customers have tried to find workarounds, ordering from cross-border websites or unverified Amazon sellers.

Meanwhile, Laneige is seeing double-digit sales growth in the US, said Bouzitat. The brand has been a hit on TikTok for the past two years thanks in part to its ASMR product videos and high-profile brand ambassador, “Euphoria” actress Sydney Sweeney. The efforts the brand has made on TikTok are part of a broader North America marketing push on the part of Amorepacific Group, which also launched a rebrand campaign for luxury brand Sulwhasoo this year. The company also returned to profitability in the second quarter of 2023, reporting that overseas revenue grew 27 percent, boosted by 105 percent growth in North America.

Unlike prestige predecessors, affordable K-beauty brands have become a draw for TikTok’s dupe-obsessed young shoppers. Beauty influencer Stephanie Valentine, known on TikTok as Glamzilla, prompted a sell out of Innisfree’s Dewy Glow Moisturizer when she offered it as a dupe for Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer. Within 48 hours, the item sold out at Sephora US and Canada as well as on the brand’s website.

“Innovation, no matter what category you’re talking about, clients are going to always be excited about that,” said Ullman. “Korean skin care is such an innovative player, so as long as they keep coming out with new formats, new textures, new ways to talk about skin care, there’s opportunity.”

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TikTok has fueled the resurgence of K-beauty, boosting brands like Laneige and Innisfree.

Korean skin care brands use social media like TikTok for online marketing and community influence.

Title:

Content: TikTok appears as a “counter-influence ” influencer to counter the trend of rampant marketing, endorsements and shopping promotion in the community
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
What we want you to know is
The key to the counter-influence is to reverse the various endorsements, marketing and group purchases that have been rampant in the community, so that users in the community do not have the desire to unnecessary waste and excessive consumption because they see the content of the relevant endorsements.
As a result, these reactionary videos that you see on YouTube or Tiktok often lead people to cheaper alternatives or discourage people from buying a particular type of product.
Written by Taylor Mei
With the rise of influencer culture in recent years, more and more products such as clothing, beauty and personal electronics are sold through these influential people in the community or online marketing.
However, in addition to those influencers who strongly promote to consumers or emphasize what is better to buy, there is now another category of influencers who do not take a positive route to promote purchases, but focus on the theme of "what you should not buy".
This kind of behavior is also known as “de-influencing. ”
Community Propaganda Stimulates Shopping
According to The Wall Street Journal, TikTok has become the most influential online sales platform in recent years, with popular items such as hip lift socks, lip fat and green juice powder.
Major brands are also investing a lot of money in social platforms, because companies know that any video that is popular on social platforms can make any product in the video sell out.
Meanwhile, the popular hashtag “# TikTokMadeMeBuyIt ” on TikTok has attracted 40 billion views.
“TikTok is like a vehicle that sends all consumers to the checkout area, ” says Krishna Subramanian, co-founder of Captiv8, an online marketing platform.
However, even with TikTok ’ s strong ability to stimulate consumption, factory-sponsored videos and product trial videos have filled the TikTok space in recent years, making it difficult for consumers to determine which items are worth paying for.
“Every time it says, ‘ You have to buy this! ’ or ‘ You ’ re going to love this, ’ ” said Karen Wu, a 25-year-old beauty blogger.
In the plethora of product recommendation videos, TikTok users have become difficult to judge the quality of products, and anti-impact videos have become popular.
Reverse operation against overconsumption
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TikTok influencers often promote Korean skin care products to their followers through online marketing.

Title:

Content:
"Sephora kids": TikTok makeup influencers spark health warnings

Posing in videos with beauty and skincare products, pre-teen girls dubbed "Sephora Kids" have taken TikTok by storm in a trend that some specialists brand a danger to kids' mental and physical health.

Girl between the ages of eight and 12 are gaining thousands of followers on the social media platform by modelling their makeup purchases.

The trend focuses particularly on products from the brand Sephora, championed by reality TV star Kim Kardashian's daughter, North West.

Gushing over moisturizers or begging their parents to buy them anti-wrinkle cream, the young influencers pose in front of the mirror with their hair tied back, imitating popular makeup and "GRWM" tutorials.

Yet, skin specialists have warned that some of the products used in the kids' videos contain ingredients not suited to young skin, such as retinol.

"Many of the 'skin influencers' sometimes are more trusted than real physicians," dermatologist Danilo Del Campo told AFP. "This has led to an increase in consultations related to skin reactions and concerns resulting from the misuse of these products," he warned.

"Most parents do not realize there are any risks."

Parroting famous beauty influencers, the "Sephora kids" review products from high-end lines, such as moisturizers costing nearly $80.

"How can these little girls spend like, my salary, really, in skincare?" said one Sephora salesperson in a TikTok video.

It seems their parents are supporting the habit.

What are "Sephora Kids" and why is the trend alarming?

Del Campo warned young skin can be damaged by unsuitable ingredients. He has also seen "self-esteem issues" among his child patients who "feel the need to correct perceived flaws that may not actually exist," furthering the debate over social media's negative effects on kids.

Employees at Sephora have complained about the behavior of young customers in stores, with videos showing make-up counters in disarray with spilled products.

Sephora, which is part of the LVMH luxury group, did not respond to requests to comment.

Michael Stora, a psychoanalyst specializing in online behavior, said the girls in the videos are "not playing with dolls as you might expect at their age. They are the dolls."

Some mothers in the videos defend the trend as just a "game," but Stora accused parents of the "fetishisation" of their offspring.

Solene Delecourt, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley who specializes in social inequality, also believes the videos can "contribute to a very stereotypical representation of girls and women online".

"These are not women but little girls, and they are already subject to this intense social pressure," she said.

Delecourt released a study in the Nature journal this month which said that online images amplify gender bias, particularly against women.

And in recent months, TikTok and other social media platforms have come under fire over the impact of videos on young people.

In January, tech giants faced a grilling before the US Senate Judiciary Committee after being accused of not doing enough to thwart online dangers for children, including sexual predators and teen suicide.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/TikTok/@nishanoelleandfam & sparkleandchaos

More on Influencers:

Korean skin care has boomed internationally due to effective ingredients, unique features, strategic marketing, and social media platforms like TikTok.

Korean skin care companies prioritize natural ingredients and gentle formulations.

Korean skin care focuses on nourishing the skin, differing from traditional Western approaches.

Korean skin care stands out for its use of unique ingredients like organic plant extracts.

Title:

Content: Vegan Skincare ｜ The first lip balm selected by 5 Korean niche organic skincare brands is this
Author: WIW - Women in Work
Published: Updated:
In recent years, this trend of environmental protection, vegan and animal-free experiments has also hit Asia. In Korea, which has always mastered the Asian maintenance trend, natural organic care products have become popular in recent years. These natural brands are widely discussed among Korean girls.
To create flawless skin, you need to pay attention to diet, of course, many have to choose natural and harmless skin care products! Recommended 5 Korean niche organic skin care brands (click to enlarge read) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
+ 28
One Thing
The brand insists on using Korean organic plant extracts, and each lotion launched has only one ingredient, and the pure ingredients allow the skin to get more targeted care.
Each of these plant ingredients will give the skin a different nourishment, and everyone can mix and use according to their own skin.
Because each product has no compound components, only one organic and natural ingredient, it can also be used with other One Thing products.
Melixir
Melixir is a brand focused on vegan ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging, and without any animal testing, all products are PETA certified for global animal protection, plus natural ingredients, even for pregnant women and sensitive skin.
One of the brand's most popular lip balm, once voted the first easy-to-use lip balm by Korean girls, it can also do its part for the earth while protecting the skin.
Abib Cosmetic
The brand name Abib means “cereal ”, which describes the product ’ s adherence to the use of natural, pure extraction ingredients.
There are not too many varieties, but each one is extremely popular, using only pure ingredients, excluding all ingredients that may make the skin affordable, everyone can definitely use peace of mind.
One of the most popular is the “Chewing Gum Mask ”, which contains no harmful ingredients, and is very attentive, which completely fits the skin and tightly locks the care ingredients.
Related articles: Inventory 12 types of pores, moisturizing, oil control, skin care products Kick off oil fields, acne, acne (click to enlarge to read) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
+ 39
Round Lab
Although Round Lab is less well-known in Chinese areas, it has long had a reputation among Korean girls. Its star product, 1025 Dokdo Cosmetics, uses the deep ocean water of 1,500 meters below sea level in Wuling Island, South Korea, which is rich in various mineral ingredients, which can maintain the balance of water and oil in the skin.
Other skincare products also adhere to the use of Korean natural ingredients, the product is mild and also has the effect of calming the skin.
THE LAB by blanc doux
THE LAB blanc doux is the only skin care brand in the market with a patent for small molecule hyaluronic acid products, and has been ranked first in the sales volume of cosmetics on the Korean search engine NAVER.
Its products do not contain any fragrances and preservatives, and are certified by PETA without animal testing, and are certified by EWG green, which is natural and safe.
Its pure white packaging design is simple and elegant, and it is loved at a glance, and its name is actually both external and internal.
Related article ： Skincare ｜ 7 Moisturizing Sprays Powerful Makeup Remover Wearing Masks to Soothe Dry Skin (Click to enlarge) ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
+ 25
This article is reproduced under the license of "WIW - Women in Work".
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Some Korean brands, like Melixir, are PETA certified for avoiding animal testing.

Korean skin care companies consider ethical standards in sourcing and manufacturing.

Innisfree, a Korean brand, commits to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

Korean skin care philosophy emphasizes hydration, nutrition, and achieving a luminous complexion.

Korean brands offer products for diverse skin types and concerns, appealing to a wide range of consumers.

Korean skin care often incorporates traditional Korean medicine and herbal ingredients.

Korean skin care is known for being affordable, with most products under $25.

The Korean government's investment in beauty brands has driven innovation and growth in the cosmetics industry.

Korean skin care has gained global popularity for its effective, gentle products and emphasis on skin health.

Korean skin care brands maintain popularity through social media trends and multi-purpose products.

Double cleansing, a Korean skincare trend, has gained international attention and contributed to the global popularity of Korean skin care.

Korean skin care's popularity endures due to its unique approach, natural ingredients, and social responsibility.

Korean skin care products, like COSRX, are clinically evaluated for safety and efficacy.

Korean skin care's popularity stems from its use of natural ingredients like snail mucin, which protects and shines the skin.

Ginseng is a popular Korean skin care ingredient known for its nourishing properties.

Korean skin care focuses on nourishing the skin, differing from traditional Western approaches that target specific concerns.

Korean skin care products uniquely utilize ceramides to hold the skin barrier together.

Centella asiatica decreases inflammation and redness, making it popular for sensitive skin.

Niacinamide helps maintain the skin barrier and regulate oil production.

Title:

Content: Shopping

The Best Korean Serums For Oily Skin

We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team.

Elite Daily/Amazon

If you’re a K-beauty fanatic and you’ve got oily skin, you’re in luck: There are plenty of amazing Korean serums out there that target clogged pores, excess shine, breakouts, and other concerns that are commonly associated with oily skin. More specifically, the best Korean serums for oily skin contain lightweight moisturizers like hyaluronic acid and squalane (because yes, oily skin still needs hydration), as well as ingredients like niacinamide and green tea leaf extract, which are thought to help regulate excess oil production. You also don't have to worry about any $100-plus price tags, as Korean skin care products are generally quite affordable (none of the products featured here cost more than $25).

What To Consider When Shopping For A Serum For Oily Skin

As previously touched upon, you’ll want a serum that offers grease-free hydration via ingredients like hyaluronic acid (or sodium hyaluronate), squalane, panthenol, and vitamin E. Centella asiatica extract, which is beloved for its soothing and moisturizing properties, is commonly found in Korean serums, and it’s a beneficial ingredient for most skin types. Beyond that, you’ll want to choose a serum based on your more specific skin concerns: for example, if you have congested or breakout-prone skin, you probably want a serum that contains a pore-clearing ingredient like willow bark extract or rice sake. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to double up on the soothing ingredients. And if your main goal is a more even-looking complexion, consider a serum that contains a brightening antioxidant like vitamin C.

How To Apply Your Serum

You can use a serum in the morning and/or at night (though if you're using a vitamin C serum, your skin will reap the most benefits by using it in the morning layered under your sunscreen). When you apply your serum will depend on the other steps in your skin care routine, but generally, it should go on after cleansing and toning, but before heavier products like moisturizer and sunscreen. Typically, serums will come with a dropper dispenser, so all you need is a few drops, which you can then gently pat onto your face and neck.

Other Tips For Oily Skin

The causes of oily skin can range from hormonal imbalances to genetics to something as simple as the weather. In addition to incorporating a targeted serum into your skin care routine, there are several other steps you can take to help keep your oily skin balanced:

  • Cleanse regularly, and thoroughly remove makeup at the end of the day.
  • Use lightweight, oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizers (like gel creams).
  • Opt for mattifying makeup products, or use a mineral-based setting powder over your makeup.
  • Keep oil blotting sheets on hand to dab away excess oil throughout the day.
  • Try a topical retinoid at night, which can help unclog your pores by speeding up skin cell turnover.

Shop The Best Korean Serums For Oily Skin

In a hurry? Here are the best Korean serums for oily skin:

  1. Best Serum For Oily, Dehydrated Skin: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
  2. Best Serum For Oily, Acne-Prone Skin: I Dew Care Juicy Kitten Purifying Power-Green Serum
  3. Best Pore-Minimizing Serum For Oily Skin: Skinfood Peach Sake Pore Serum
  4. Best Calming Serum For Oily Skin: BePlain Cicaful Ampoule
  5. Best Vitamin C Serum For Oily Skin: Skin & Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum

1. Best Serum For Oily, Dehydrated Skin

Just because you have oily skin, doesn't mean you can skip out on moisturizing (in fact, if your skin is dehydrated, it can actually start producing more oil). If you think your oily skin is also dehydrated (or if it’s dry in some parts), consider COSRX’s best-selling Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, a lightweight serum that’s rich in snail mucin, which is a popular ingredient used in Korean skin care. Naturally full of hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, glycolic acid, collagen, and elastin, snail mucin is believed to have hydrating, repairing, and collagen-boosting benefits. (And if you're concerned about the snails, COSRX says they’re cruelty-free, as they collect the mucin from the snails rather than forcing it from them.) In here, panthenol (aka vitamin B5) and arginine further help with replenishing moisture, while allantoin works to soothe dryness and irritation. Technically, this is an essence — kind of like a serum/toner hybrid — so it has an extremely light texture and layers beautifully under other products. It’s also one of the most popular Korean beauty products on Amazon, with over 9,000 five-star ratings and counting.

Relevant review: "I have oily skin, and this stuff is incredible. Cuts down on oil production, very light but super moisturizing, and it soaks in well. The texture is exactly what you imagine snail mucin feels like, but it's not unpleasant or overly sticky."

Active Ingredients: Snail Mucin, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Arginine Size: 3.38 oz. Cruelty-Free: Yes

2. Best Serum For Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

To help treat the breakouts that often go hand in hand with oily skin, you'll typically see a beta-hydroxy acid, like salicylic acid, included in a serum. I Dew Care's serum uses willow bark extract instead, which is touted as a less-irritating BHA that has anti-inflammatory properties. You'll also find niacinamide at the top of the ingredients list, which has been shown to reduce sebum excretion rates, in addition to promoting an overall clearer complexion. To soothe and nourish inflamed skin, the serum includes a blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients like chlorella vulgaris extract (a type of algae), kale leaf extract, spirulina extract, and centella asiatica extract.

Relevant Review: "I feel like this product actually balanced my skin and made it more clear from small blemishes. Within a week, I noticed more even skin tone, and it seems to be fine with sensitive skin."

Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, Willow Bark Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Kale Leaf Extract, Spirulina Extract Size: 1 oz. Cruelty-Free: Yes

3. Best Pore-Minimizing Serum For Oily Skin

This serum makes a great substitute for a pore-minimizing makeup primer that also packs in plenty of good-for-skin benefits. Skinfood’s Peach Sake Pore Serum helps to reduce the look of enlarged pores and slow down the production of oil thanks to a combination of peach fruit extract, silica, and rice sake. Licorice root extract offers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits for anyone who might be prone to acne, and centella asiatica extract works to soothe skin and improve its overall texture.

Relevant Review: "Hands down, this is the best pore-minimizing primer I have ever used. It instantly eliminates the shine and shrinks your pores."

Active Ingredients: Silica, Peach Fruit Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate (Sake), Centella Asiatica Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Vitamin E Size: 1.5 oz. Cruelty-Free: No

4. Best Calming Serum For Oily Skin

Whether your oily skin also happens to be sensitive, or the excess oil has led to acne-induced irritation, this BePlain Cicaful Ampoule, which is made of 84% centella asiatica extract, may be a valuable addition to your routine. The plant-derived ingredient is rich in nutrients and believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The active compounds in the plant are proven to effectively treat wounds, which is why centella asiatica has become so popular for helping to soothe irritated skin. In this serum, chamomile flower extract provides further calming benefits, while hyaluronic acid attracts and locks in moisture.

Relevant Review: "I have been using this ampoule for a while and [I'm] currently on my fifth bottle. It's very lightweight and does not leave a sticky residue. I have super oily skin, so it definitely helps that the texture is very light."

Active Ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Chamomile Flower Extract Size: 1 oz. Cruelty-Free: Yes

5. Best Vitamin C Serum For Oily Skin

For a serum that helps with fading unwanted hyperpigmentation and preventing sun damage (something that can ultimately lead to more hyperpigmentation), you'll want a vitamin C serum. Skin & Lab’s Vitamin C Brightening Serum uses a synthetic form of vitamin C that’s not only less irritating, but also makes the formula more stable (vitamin C is notoriously very reactive and can lose its antioxidant benefits when exposed to heat, light, and air). Also included in the formula are niacinamide to help regulate oil production, hyaluronic acid to provide lightweight hydration, and collagen and peptides to promote firmer, more moisturized skin.

Relevant Review: "It is not irritating to my sensitive, oily/combo skin, and works great when paired with other products like glycolic acid cleansers and toners, as it helps with brightening your face and giving it a very healthy, even skin-toned kind of glow."

Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Panthenol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Peptides Size: 1 oz. Cruelty-Free: Yes

About The Author:

Marissa DeSantis has worked as a beauty writer for nearly 10 years. Her pieces can be found across print and digital publications like Bustle, Evening Standard, Teen Vogue, and InStyle.

Studies referenced:

Oily Skin: A review of Treatment Options, by Dawnielle C. Endly, DO and Richard A. Miller, DO; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605215/

Moisturizing and Antiinflammatory Properties of Cosmetic Formulations Containing Centella asiatica Extract, by A. Ratz-Łyko, J. Arct, and K. Pytkowska; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4852572/#:~:text=Centella%20asiatica%20extract%20is%20a,hydration%20and%20epidermal%20barrier%20function.

Centella asiatica in cosmetology, by Wieslawa Bylka, Paulina Znajdek-Awizen, Elzbieta Studzinska-Sroka, and Malgorzata Brzezinska; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834700/

PHAs are used in Korean skin care products to exfoliate without irritation.

Snail mucin is a popular Korean skin care ingredient due to its hydrating and collagen-boosting benefits.

Hyaluronic acid is commonly used in Korean skin care products to provide long-lasting hydration by attracting and locking in moisture.

The promotion of "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance" can lead to low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction, especially in women.

Title:

Content: Being a woman is tough. With constant changes in beauty standards, and societal pressure and restrictions, it is difficult to not be frustrated. Your weight is everyone's business, and the list is contradictory and insane. In this Reddit thread, women come forward to tell us the various beauty trends and standards that bother them.

1. "My favourite is the hilarious and wrong idea that men are visual creatures which is why women are held to such high beauty standards. And also as justification for porn."

2. "Flawless, airbrushed, skin. No acne, no wrinkles, no stretch marks, no body hair, no pores. If you don’t look like a walking blurring filter, your skin is 'gross'. Also, not being allowed to age past 30."

3. "That women shouldn’t have any body hair. It’s totally natural, we all have it. The pressure to remove all of it takes up both actual time and mental space worrying about it."

4. "That as men age they are considered more attractive. As women age, it’s considered the opposite."

5. "Body types being trends."

6. "That you're immediately unattractive if you are fat."

7. "That our clothing has to have sex appeal. Women are expected to sexually entertain men with their clothing choices. Also high heels."

8. "Our genitals needing to look like little slits. No lips, no anything. Just like a razor cut. Otherwise, it's gross'"

9. "This whole 'glass skin' social media construct. IT'S NOT REALISTIC, PEOPLE!"

10. "No stomach. It bothers me because it’s the one thing I just can’t get over myself. Every time I put on a crop top or tight dress I feel fat even though I have a perfectly normal body."

11. "That hourglass body shape is the only body shape that is perfect."

12. "Have to be skinny but not too skinny. Have some tone but don’t have too much muscle. Have to have curves but not cross into 'fat' territory."

13. "Anti-acne. It hurts, they hate it, and society tells them they should do everything they can to get rid of it. It's associated with being unclean, unhealthy, ugly... All-day long, beauty adverts for getting rid of acne. Get rid of it. You don't want it. It's gross."

14. "The idea that cellulite is gross and should be hidden. Women naturally have cellulite because we store more fat than men."

15. "White skin. No pores. Slim face. Slim nose. Slim body. No eyebags/ no dark circles."

16. "Unnaturally large lips aka the overuse of fillers in the lips. I have nothing against naturally big lips or fillers."

17. "Makeup as the baseline for being acceptable in public."

18. "That we are expected to wear a bra."

19. "Women are not really supposed to be human at all. Everything is supposed to be neatly trimmed and tucked, restrained, smooth firm and odourless. And if it isn't we are supposed to be embarrassed about it."

20. "Literally every aspect. The money and mental space it costs to find the right makeup and clothes, to shave body hair and paint nails, to go to a salon. The pressure to conform to trends."

21. "Large perky breasts, a small waist with a flat stomach, and a curvy butt."

22. "Colourism. It's inescapable throughout the world because western beauty standards permeate so deep."

23. "HEIGHT. Literally, something you cannot control whatsoever yet men/women are penalized for being too short/tall. Ridiculous."

24. "As a plus-size woman I’m extremely annoyed that the beauty standard for fat women is basically the same as other women; hourglass."

25. "Fake eyelashes being needed for every makeup look. Makes normal lashes not look good enough."

I am waiting for the day when society will just let women be.

Unrealistic beauty standards can trigger PTSD-like responses and harm self-esteem and body image in some individuals.

Title:

Content: How would you define ‘pretty?’ It should (in theory), mean many different things to different people. In reality though, it’s fair to say that society’s interpretation (or misinterpretation) of it has led to a very skewed view of it, and, as YouTuber Em Ford explores in her new video, the consequences of that are more damaging than any of us could have expected.

Just as provoking as her 2015 ‘You Look Disgusting’  film which has received over 29 million views on YouTube, it takes a hard look at women’s relationships with their appearance and the roles that the media and brands play in shaping them. “I set out wanting to discover if today's 'beauty standards' are to blame for the way we see and feel about ourselves,” says Em. “From visible skin conditions such as acne, scarring and birthmarks, to sharing why representation is so important in the media and society. This is a heartbreakingly real picture of how 'beauty' is measured, and if it’s truly ever achievable.”

In the video, Em collaborates with a Professor of Human Brain Research to test something that has never been scientifically proven before - whether the brain’s reaction and our emotions can be affected by images that show models wearing makeup, without makeup and when they're retouched.

The pictures were shown to women who had visible skin conditions such as burns and vitiligo  while they had MRI scans to track their brain activity. The results provided a shocking insight into how deeply the images affected them. Activations that are usually only seen in traumatised people were seen - some were even likened to those experienced by sufferers of PTSD. Similar responses also occurred when the women were asked to shut their eyes and visualise what ‘beautiful’ was too, showing just how far-reaching their impact can be.

By shedding light on the psychological effects today’s beauty standards can have on women, the project provides a much-needed call-to-action to the media to broaden their definition of what ‘pretty’ is. “I’ve worked with every major beauty company in the world, and this video is telling them that they are all the problem,” comments Em. Perhaps addressing the language we use for certain products could also help (such as 'cover-ups' when talking about foundations for example, which suggests that we should be hiding our skin issues). There’s a lot of work to be done, and a change won’t happen overnight. However, as long as those in positions of influence such as Em, continue to spark healthy conversation and debate in the area, we’ll be making strides in the right direction.

Watch the full video above.

Subscribe to Em’s YouTube channel here .

Follow Ayesha on  Twitter  and  Instagram .

The media's promotion of beauty standards can damage women's mental health.

Title:

Content: How would you define ‘pretty?’ It should (in theory), mean many different things to different people. In reality though, it’s fair to say that society’s interpretation (or misinterpretation) of it has led to a very skewed view of it, and, as YouTuber Em Ford explores in her new video, the consequences of that are more damaging than any of us could have expected.

Just as provoking as her 2015 ‘You Look Disgusting’  film which has received over 29 million views on YouTube, it takes a hard look at women’s relationships with their appearance and the roles that the media and brands play in shaping them. “I set out wanting to discover if today's 'beauty standards' are to blame for the way we see and feel about ourselves,” says Em. “From visible skin conditions such as acne, scarring and birthmarks, to sharing why representation is so important in the media and society. This is a heartbreakingly real picture of how 'beauty' is measured, and if it’s truly ever achievable.”

In the video, Em collaborates with a Professor of Human Brain Research to test something that has never been scientifically proven before - whether the brain’s reaction and our emotions can be affected by images that show models wearing makeup, without makeup and when they're retouched.

The pictures were shown to women who had visible skin conditions such as burns and vitiligo  while they had MRI scans to track their brain activity. The results provided a shocking insight into how deeply the images affected them. Activations that are usually only seen in traumatised people were seen - some were even likened to those experienced by sufferers of PTSD. Similar responses also occurred when the women were asked to shut their eyes and visualise what ‘beautiful’ was too, showing just how far-reaching their impact can be.

By shedding light on the psychological effects today’s beauty standards can have on women, the project provides a much-needed call-to-action to the media to broaden their definition of what ‘pretty’ is. “I’ve worked with every major beauty company in the world, and this video is telling them that they are all the problem,” comments Em. Perhaps addressing the language we use for certain products could also help (such as 'cover-ups' when talking about foundations for example, which suggests that we should be hiding our skin issues). There’s a lot of work to be done, and a change won’t happen overnight. However, as long as those in positions of influence such as Em, continue to spark healthy conversation and debate in the area, we’ll be making strides in the right direction.

Watch the full video above.

Subscribe to Em’s YouTube channel here .

Follow Ayesha on  Twitter  and  Instagram .

Social media can lower self-esteem in young individuals, especially women, due to idealized body images and beauty standards.

Title:

Content: Consistent social media usage leading to lower self-esteem, say NIMHANS researchers

‘The ideal body portrayed in the images of social networking sites has affected young women more than men’

Afshan Yasmeen
September 16, 2022 23:47 IST

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The impact of sharing and viewing images on social media and its impact on body image has been highlighted in a review article by researchers from NIMHANS, which has said that upward comparison driven by social media sites causes negative self-evaluation and negative social perception attitudes, particularly among young individuals.

The review article titled “Making the body public: Implications of the new standards of body-image” has been recently published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry.

More among women

“Usage of Social Networking Sites (SNS) is linked to body image problems among young women and men and this link may strengthen with time. Users with an obese body size tend to report body dissatisfaction due to exposure to SNS. The ideal body portrayed in the images of SNS has affected young women more than men in how they view their bodies. Studies also point to consistent social media usage leading to lower self-esteem and acting as an agent of manifesting social comparison. Heavy use of SNS can as well lead to negative self-esteem,” Manoj Kumar Sharma, Professor at the Department of Clinical Psychology, who also heads SHUT (Service for Healthy use of Technology) clinic at NIMHANS told The Hindu. He is the corresponding author of the review article.

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Online behaviour

“Users with pre-existing psychological illnesses such as anxiety and eating disorders have been shown to be more affected by social media platforms. A person’s online behaviour might be connected to offline behaviour. Inappropriate actions such as body exposure in a public forum are replicated, repeated, accepted, and institutionalised. There is no physical threat as it is a technology-mediated dialogue,” he said.

Pointing out that the number of comments on a video's page represents how well these videos are received, Dr. Sharma said frequent use of social media may enhance body dissatisfaction and the desire for losing weight in young adults, making them more vulnerable to health issues.

To enable young people to follow more body positive profiles and have more body appreciation, the article has recommended social media literacy programmes for young people. The literacy programmes should be aimed at preventing social comparison to unrealistic photographs that idealise thinness, fitness, and aesthetic perfection, as well as their negative impact on body image.

Appearance-focussed

Shantharaju Siddegowda, faculty at the Department of Media Studies at Christ University in Bengaluru, who is part of the research team, said SNS, like traditional media, are typically appearance-focused, as users submit images of themselves that are good-looking and beautiful, enhanced by online editing tools.

“The habit of posting selfies or short videos itself seems to have served multiple purposes. If a person takes a selfie or records the self, it is mainly for internally focused motivations, including self-evaluation and other social comparisons. Subsequently, if the same has been done for public consumption, the user tends to be driven by external factors, including attention-seeking, gratification, and validation,” he said.

Idealised portrayals

“Histrionic personality tends to be positively associated with the need for social validation and desire to be in the public domain, leading to social media addiction. As a result, many of the photographs shared on social media platforms are idealised and overly attractive, leading to body dissatisfaction among other users. SNS use has been linked to body image problems and disordered eating, according to a growing body of evidence,” he added.

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Current beauty standards, like "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance", can harm individuals' self-perception and identity.

Title:

Content: DEEP DIVE

Thin bodies weren't always attractive: A brief history of culturally relative beauty standards

The notion that fatness is unattractive is a recent (and psychologically damaging) phenomenon

Published December 27, 2022 4:39PM (EST)

Which Is The Weightier? (Artist John Doyle/The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)

More than two out of every five American adults is obese, meaning that more of us are experiencing fat shaming to the extent that it's become a mainstream topic of public discourse. In just the past week, this public discussion has fixated on Darren Aronofsky's new film "The Whale," which some see as fat-phobic; and the public bullying of plus-sized supermodel Ashley Graham, who was shamed for being "fat" by former Miss New Jersey Sameera Khan. Of course, most fat-shaming in the United States does not happen in discussion forums that millions read, but rather in quotidian moments in everyday people's lives. And many may be surprised to know that it wasn't always this way: beauty standards — along with which body sizes are seen as attractive — are nebulous, and have changed frequently throughout history and culture. Rather, we are socialized to desire a specific size.

Opal Stacie is a wellness blogger and YouTuber who recalled to Salon that, although she struggled with her weight as a child, as a teenager she was regarded as thin and desirable. Instead of being ignored or rejected by the men that she liked, Stacie felt she had pretty privilege, a term for the social benefits that accrue to individuals widely regarded as physically attractive. She became, in her own words, "a party girl" — but when she gained more than 100 pounds after her pregnancy, her friends stopped inviting her out and men started ignoring her again.

While many cultures and individuals still preferred slender women and muscular men, others idealized being "plump as a partridge" as indicative of both health and wealth.

"My friends would go to exclusive parties in South Beach [Miami] clubs and, as a larger woman, it's a lot harder for like those promoters to look past the fact that I'm 'the big girl,'" Stacie told Salon. "They don't want the big girl in the club. They want all the pretty skinny girls in the club."

That Stacie used the terms "pretty" and "skinny" separately is apt, as "skinny" has not always been a social prerequisite to being regarded as "pretty." Indeed, human cultural history is proof that our ideas of what constitutes beauty are ever-changing, and not tied to a specific weight. In other words, "pretty" is not hardwired into our DNA. Subjective social mores alone lead to "thinness" and "prettiness" being viewed as inextricably linked — and if that status quo ever changes, shifting social standards will be what changes it.

"If you look at beauty magazines, thin has been in for the last hundred years," explained Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson, Director of the Doerr Institute and Professor at Rice University, who specializes in studying unconscious biases. At least as far as America is concerned, Johnson pointed out that the current preference for slender physiques traces back to the 19th century, when magazines and other disseminators of popular opinions started popularizing muscular men and slender women to the public. Before the age of mass media, sexual preferences were as varied as the cultures that held them. While many cultures and individuals still preferred slender women and muscular men, others idealized being "plump as a partridge" as indicative of both health and wealth. People were more flexible overall about what was considered "attractive," both individually and collectively, because different body types lend themselves to different potentially favorable interpretations.

"I would say that the most 'in' thing is to look and be healthy, from a dating/evolutionary view," Johnson wrote to Salon. "This means that curvy women should be preferred because they have greater fertility. Likewise, thinner or muscular bodies suggest you have lower risk of disease." When people face stress, with a high risk of disease and low resources, they are inclined to prefer heavier people; by contrast, individuals with wealth and power may be more inclined to thinner bodies.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter The Vulgar Scientist.

So why did mass media start imposing monolithic beauty standards on the public? While there was never any deliberate conspiracy specifically determined to hurt the self-esteem of obese men and women, it is undeniable that a small group of powerful people had distinctly conservative agendas for promoting that notion. In the 1840s, Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham insisted that women who did not follow a plain and abstemious diet (which made them skinny) were immoral as well as unhealthy. In addition, with more and more people abandoning the countryside and moving to the city, sedentary lifestyles became common and, as a result, so did obesity. This made it easier for businesses and social critics to propagandize against fatness because, simply put, the existence of more fat people opened up potentially lucrative opportunities for doing so.

The Industrial Revolution played a major role. Because garment manufacturers created standardized clothing sizes in order to more efficiently sell their wares, men and women alike began defining their physical appearance by numbers created by other people. This, in turn, made it profitable for businesses to push certain looks as "right" and others as "wrong," with undergarments like corsets becoming increasingly popular so that women would forcibly move their fat around to achieve the "attractive" look.

"People who are pretty receive a long list of benefits – people think they are smarter, more conscientious, kinder."

If all of this sounds like human beings coming up with new ways to create "winners" and "losers" in a realm where such designations may not have otherwise existed, you would be correct.

"The thin ideal isn't new— look at Ancient Greece. Every culture throughout history has had rigid expectations about body size and beauty," explains Virginia Sole-Smith, author of the forthcoming book "Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture" and writer of the Substack newsletter Burnt Toast.

Sole-Smith said that white supremacy has also joined more commercial incentives for imposing a "thin ideal" on Americans. "Beauty ideals are always tools for upholding social hierarchies, so they are defined by whomever has the most power and privilege to lose. But we can trace the modern American thin ideal back to white supremacy and the end of slavery; Sabrina Strings explores this in her ground-breaking work, "Fearing The Black Body." Idealizing thin, white bodies was a way to continue to other and discriminate against Black people."

While Americans may argue that the racist, sexist and crassly commercial imperatives that fueled the modern version of the "thin ideal" have diminished, the privileges embedded in those ideals remain very strong.

"People who are pretty receive a long list of benefits – people think they are smarter, more conscientious, kinder," Johnson told Salon. "They are hired more easily, receive higher starting salaries, more promotions. They are preferred in dating contexts and some evidence suggests they have happier marriages. The benefits tend to be stronger for men than women because pretty can carry a penalty for women."

While it may seem counterintuitive for there to be a "penalty" for being pretty, as Johnson emphasized, being a "pretty" woman can also have disadvantages. Her own research has demonstrated that point.

"In certain cases pretty women are seen as less competent or a worse fit for masculine jobs given their femininity," Johnson observed. "One study I did with a colleague showed pretty women are trusted less." Just as "pretty" women have an advantage of being noticed, they can also be targeted for hostility by people who feel insecure around them or assume they have negative personality traits like cruelty or promiscuity. Although Johnson's research suggests that women with pretty privilege tend to be aware that people are often nicer to them as a result of their attractiveness, they also encounter unflattering generalizations about their personality because of unfounded assumptions based on their looks.

Fortunately, body positivity movements are gradually chipping away at the assumptions that cause billions of people to hate their own physique.

"There is a lot more diversity in what is perceived as attractive now, thanks to more awareness about body positivity and inclusivity of all different body shapes," explains Dr. Nicole Avena, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Mount Sinai Medical School and a visiting professor of health psychology at Princeton University. "Also the waif-y, super skinny ideal that may have been popular in the 1980s and early 1990s has been replaced with a curvier ideal for women. As to whether or not there are data that actually support this, I think it is hard to say because the definition of pretty varies over time, cultures and individual's preferences."

"You can be the most physically ideal man or woman out there, but if you are a jerk and no one can stand you, then you aren't going to be viewed as 'pretty' for very long."

Avena also pointed out that — while the phrase "true beauty is on the inside" may just seem like a meaningful sop to help the feelings of so-called "ugly people" — evidence suggests that a great personality can indeed compensate for a supposedly unattractive physical appearance.

"I personally think phrases like this [pretty privilege] put an unnecessary emphasis on physical appearance being the only thing that makes people attractive," Avena wrote to Salon. "Personality, humor, values, etc all also play a role, and these are discounted when we focus purely on how someone looks. You can be the most physically ideal man or woman out there, but if you are a jerk and no one can stand you, then you aren't going to be viewed as 'pretty' for very long."

This observation is true, but it does not numb the sting of losing pretty privilege after gaining weight. Feminist health blogger Morgan May knows this firsthand as a 20-year-old when she stopped taking Adderall, developed a binge eating disorder and gained more than 40 pounds. Although she had previously been a "hot girl" according to "Eurocentric beauty standards," she lost that and still remembers the disappointed face of a boy who saw her post-weight gain after being attracted to her pre-weight gain.

"This was the first time this had ever happened to me and I was shocked and confused," May wrote "I had usually been the 'prize' men wanted to be with amongst other women, so this was mortifying and heartbreaking. I knew why it had happened, but because I had felt so out of control of my body, I blocked it out and moved on, not knowing what to do about it." May says she was eventually able to shed her excess weight. Looking back, she has advice for people who fear they have lost pretty privilege — never give up on striving to be the best possible version of yourself.

"I don't believe in ever submitting to our own victimhood and I think a large part of why I've successfully un-f**ked myself in various ways is because I will never ever give up the fight for my life and my goals, even if it takes years," May observed. "I don't believe other people should change their preferences to make me feel more comfortable and I don't believe in redefining standards of beauty. I think if you have a problem in your life, you should fight tooth and nail — a plethora of approaches be they coaches, hypnotherapists, nutritionists, etc. to achieve the most powerful version of yourself possible, period."

Opal Stacie, by contrast, witnessed firsthand how young children are socialized to believe that fatness and unattractiveness are synonymous.

"I just recently told my son who's like five years old that pretty is not synonymous with fat, because he's going through a little stage where he's doing name-calling and he started telling me that I'm fat and ugly," Stacie told Salon. "I said 'Being fat is not synonymous with being ugly. You can call me fat if you want to, but you can't call me ugly.'"

By Matthew Rozsa

Matthew Rozsa is a professional writer whose work has appeared in multiple national media outlets since 2012 and exclusively at Salon since 2016. He specializes in covering science and history, and is particularly passionate about climate change, animal science, disability rights, plastic pollution and a wide range of political issues. He has interviewed many prominent figures (reflecting his diverse interests) including President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak (1999-2001), animal scientist and autism activist Temple Grandin, inventor Ernő Rubik, epidemiologist Monica Gandhi, theoretical cosmologist Janna Levin, mRNA vaccine pioneer Katalin Karikó, philosopher of science Vinciane Despret, actor George Takei ("Star Trek"), climatologist Michael E. Mann, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson (2012, 2016), actress Cady McClain ("All My Children"), Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman (2000), Ambassador Michael McFaul (2012-2014), economist Richard Wolff, director Kevin Greutert ("Saw VI"), model Liskula Cohen, actor Rodger Bumpass ("SpongeBob Squarepants"), Senator John Hickenlooper (2021-present), American Public Health Association Executive Director Georges Benjamin (2002-present), comedian Bill Burr ("F Is for Family"), novelist James Patterson ("The President's Daughter"), comedian David Cross ("Scary Movie 2") and right-wing insurrectionist Roger Stone.

MORE FROM Matthew Rozsa

Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Beauty Standards Deep Dive Health Obesity Pretty Privilege Psychology The Whale Trauma Weight Gain Weight Loss

The language used for beauty products can perpetuate negative skin issues and create unrealistic expectations.

Title:

Content: How would you define ‘pretty?’ It should (in theory), mean many different things to different people. In reality though, it’s fair to say that society’s interpretation (or misinterpretation) of it has led to a very skewed view of it, and, as YouTuber Em Ford explores in her new video, the consequences of that are more damaging than any of us could have expected.

Just as provoking as her 2015 ‘You Look Disgusting’  film which has received over 29 million views on YouTube, it takes a hard look at women’s relationships with their appearance and the roles that the media and brands play in shaping them. “I set out wanting to discover if today's 'beauty standards' are to blame for the way we see and feel about ourselves,” says Em. “From visible skin conditions such as acne, scarring and birthmarks, to sharing why representation is so important in the media and society. This is a heartbreakingly real picture of how 'beauty' is measured, and if it’s truly ever achievable.”

In the video, Em collaborates with a Professor of Human Brain Research to test something that has never been scientifically proven before - whether the brain’s reaction and our emotions can be affected by images that show models wearing makeup, without makeup and when they're retouched.

The pictures were shown to women who had visible skin conditions such as burns and vitiligo  while they had MRI scans to track their brain activity. The results provided a shocking insight into how deeply the images affected them. Activations that are usually only seen in traumatised people were seen - some were even likened to those experienced by sufferers of PTSD. Similar responses also occurred when the women were asked to shut their eyes and visualise what ‘beautiful’ was too, showing just how far-reaching their impact can be.

By shedding light on the psychological effects today’s beauty standards can have on women, the project provides a much-needed call-to-action to the media to broaden their definition of what ‘pretty’ is. “I’ve worked with every major beauty company in the world, and this video is telling them that they are all the problem,” comments Em. Perhaps addressing the language we use for certain products could also help (such as 'cover-ups' when talking about foundations for example, which suggests that we should be hiding our skin issues). There’s a lot of work to be done, and a change won’t happen overnight. However, as long as those in positions of influence such as Em, continue to spark healthy conversation and debate in the area, we’ll be making strides in the right direction.

Watch the full video above.

Subscribe to Em’s YouTube channel here .

Follow Ayesha on  Twitter  and  Instagram .

Women with skin conditions show brain activity similar to traumatized individuals when viewing beauty standards.

Title:

Content: How would you define ‘pretty?’ It should (in theory), mean many different things to different people. In reality though, it’s fair to say that society’s interpretation (or misinterpretation) of it has led to a very skewed view of it, and, as YouTuber Em Ford explores in her new video, the consequences of that are more damaging than any of us could have expected.

Just as provoking as her 2015 ‘You Look Disgusting’  film which has received over 29 million views on YouTube, it takes a hard look at women’s relationships with their appearance and the roles that the media and brands play in shaping them. “I set out wanting to discover if today's 'beauty standards' are to blame for the way we see and feel about ourselves,” says Em. “From visible skin conditions such as acne, scarring and birthmarks, to sharing why representation is so important in the media and society. This is a heartbreakingly real picture of how 'beauty' is measured, and if it’s truly ever achievable.”

In the video, Em collaborates with a Professor of Human Brain Research to test something that has never been scientifically proven before - whether the brain’s reaction and our emotions can be affected by images that show models wearing makeup, without makeup and when they're retouched.

The pictures were shown to women who had visible skin conditions such as burns and vitiligo  while they had MRI scans to track their brain activity. The results provided a shocking insight into how deeply the images affected them. Activations that are usually only seen in traumatised people were seen - some were even likened to those experienced by sufferers of PTSD. Similar responses also occurred when the women were asked to shut their eyes and visualise what ‘beautiful’ was too, showing just how far-reaching their impact can be.

By shedding light on the psychological effects today’s beauty standards can have on women, the project provides a much-needed call-to-action to the media to broaden their definition of what ‘pretty’ is. “I’ve worked with every major beauty company in the world, and this video is telling them that they are all the problem,” comments Em. Perhaps addressing the language we use for certain products could also help (such as 'cover-ups' when talking about foundations for example, which suggests that we should be hiding our skin issues). There’s a lot of work to be done, and a change won’t happen overnight. However, as long as those in positions of influence such as Em, continue to spark healthy conversation and debate in the area, we’ll be making strides in the right direction.

Watch the full video above.

Subscribe to Em’s YouTube channel here .

Follow Ayesha on  Twitter  and  Instagram .

Unrealistic beauty standards, such as "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance", can lead to social isolation, depression, and other mental health issues, especially in women.

Title:

Content: CERCA
Venerdì 13 Ottobre 2023
Aggiornato: 00:03
Temi caldi

comunicato stampa

EADV Congress: Study reveals significant stigma associated with female adult acne

13 ottobre 2023 | 00.01
LETTURA: 2 minuti

BERLIN, Oct. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New research reveals that acne significantly influences how individuals are perceived in social settings. Faces with acne are seen as less attractive, trustworthy, confident, successful, dominant and happy, with adult female acne having the strongest negative effect.

This ground-breaking research, presented today at the EADV Congress 2023, assessed the effect of different anatomical variants of acne on natural gaze patterns and social perception.

The researchers tracked the eye movements of 245 participants who viewed neutral and emotional faces of females with both clear skin and clinically relevant anatomical variants of acne (emotions included 'happy', 'angry' and 'neutral'). Images were rated for acne-related visual disturbance while emotional faces were rated for valence intensity. Separately, a group of 205 online survey respondents were asked to rate the personality traits of the individuals depicted in the images.

The survey found that faces with acne were perceived as significantly less attractive, trustworthy, successful, confident and dominant.

Notably, the results showed that adult female acne concentrated around the 'U-zone' (around the jawline, mouth and chin) received the lowest scores for attractiveness and was considered the most visually disturbing. Happy faces with female adult acne were also rated as less happy than clear-skin faces.

In adults, acne is known to have serious consequences, including a psychological impact, low self-esteem, social isolation and depression.

Multiple studies have previously shown how the perception of pejorative physical characteristics can lead to social distress, including social isolation, higher biologic stress and even poorer health.

Discussing the study's findings, Dr Marek Jankowski, the lead author of the study, states, "I've consistently seen that adult female acne leads to more social challenges compared to adolescent acne and these findings reaffirm this. However, what was truly surprising was images depicting generalised acne, covering a larger area with more lesions, received more positive ratings than images featuring adult female acne occurring in the 'U-zone'."

"Treatment needs to focus on improving the quality of life of patients, not just reducing the surface area impacted by the acne. Unfortunately, this is not currently a goal when treating acne, with therapeutic guidelines still advocating for certain treatment modalities based on the number of lesions, irrespective of their location."

"These results clearly emphasise the emotional and psychological burden experienced by individuals with acne", Dr Jankowski adds.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eadv-congress-study-reveals-significant-stigma-associated-with-female-adult-acne-301953456.html

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The beauty industry, including Korean skin care brands, promotes unattainable beauty standards, leading to negative psychological effects.

Title:

Content: WhatsNew2Day
Latest News And Breaking Headlines

SCHLOTT: Everyone is getting in on sick ‘Instagram face’ craze

‘Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?’

It is a story as old as time: women and girls struggling with their own image and comparing themselves to their peers.

Social comparison is, after all, a fundamentally human instinct. But in a disturbing departure from the past, today’s social media technology has supercharged our natural obsession with beauty, and the results are terrifying.

I would like to know.

As the oldest member of Gen Z, my generation was the first to grow up fully connected to social media, and as the platforms transformed, my peers did the same.

I created my Instagram account when I was just 11 years old and watched social media evolve from a digital forum for innocently sharing photos of beautiful sunsets and fancy meals to a full-fledged social wrestling arena.

Apparently, everyone felt the need to keep up with the digital Joneses by posting provocative and revealing photos of themselves in the act of the most expensive and glamorous activities possible.

Gen Z developed a dual sense of self: the real and the digital. And as we absorbed these unrealistic versions of each other, we became increasingly unhappy with the real person looking back at us from our mirrors.

‘Catwoman’ Jocelyn Wildenstein 82, at an event (left) in 2020 without editing or filters. To the right is a heavily leaked snapshot posted on her Instagram.

Who, in fact, is the most beautiful of all? Real me or Instagram me?

Social media hadn’t morphed into the beast it is today when I first joined, but I do worry about girls only a few years younger than me whose posts have been saturated with doctored images for as long as they can remember.

I was lucky enough to have a few more years of wisdom and life experience under my belt when influencers flourished and photoshop rampant took over social media platforms.

But, still, I can remember times in my teens when I felt less than, holding my developing frame to standards of beauty that were not only unrealistic, but often literally unreal, thanks to digital retouching.

The situation has only gotten worse since then and the ultimate culprit for today’s young women feeling increasingly bad about themselves is filters.

Do you have a big pimple? No problem, delete it from your post.

Do you think your face looks too big? Don’t worry, cut it out digitally.

Do you want whiter teeth, stronger cheekbones? Easy, filters have you covered.

Literally.

These instant photo editing lenses can be applied to images and videos in real time on most major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, virtually changing users’ faces.

To illustrate how dramatically they can alter a user’s appearance, I’ve applied three of the most popular Instagram filters to my own face and compared them to my unedited version.

Writer Rikki Schlott tests out Instagram’s face filters. Social media technology has fueled our natural obsession with beauty, and the results are terrifying.

It’s me, but it’s not. It is a distorted version.

The images are crowdsourced amalgamations of features thought to be ideal: cat eyes, a smaller nose, a narrower chin, contoured cheeks, full lips, and a poreless complexion.

The end product is something called an ‘Instagram face’. A mix of Frankenstein, and like the monster, this force has taken on a life of its own.

Of course, altering photos is nothing new. In the past, airbrushed models graced advertisements and magazine covers.

What’s different is the ability to alter one’s appearance, which didn’t really catch on until the mid-2010s with a photo-editing app called Facetune.

It all started harmlessly enough, when Snapchat introduced the technology in 2015 and users could transform their faces into a cute dog or make it look like a rainbow was coming out of their mouths.

Since then, it has taken a downward turn.

Virtually every Kardashian, for example, has been involved in a photoshop scandal.

Like Kim, who was recently exposed for bizarrely editing her trapezius muscle out of photos to make her neck appear longer. Or Khloe, who has often been criticized for leaking the face of her four-year-old daughter.

And the phenomenon is intergenerational, as exemplified by 82-year-old Jocelyn Wildenstein, often known as ‘Catwoman’, who recently made headlines for a much-leaked photo from New York Fashion Week.

Instagram accounts like @celebface and @beauty.false expose celebrities and influencers who alter their photos. They each have more than a million followers.

Author Rikki Schlott writes that altering photos is nothing new, but what’s different is the ability to alter one’s appearance, which didn’t catch on until the mid-2010s.

The images are crowdsourced amalgamations of features thought to be ideal: cat eyes, a smaller nose, a narrower chin, contoured cheeks, full lips, and a poreless complexion.

The use of social media filters is now prevalent among girls, according to the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which surveyed 1,551 girls aged 10 to 17 and 2,528 mothers between February and April 2022.

The survey found that more than half of girls used filters on a daily basis and four in five admitted to digitally altering their appearance before the age of 13.

This should be cause for concern.

More and more people, especially girls, are struggling to deal with their actual appearance, developing a phenomenon that researchers have called ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’. Dysmorphia is an obsession with one’s perceived flaws.

Meta, owner of Instagram, has internal research revealing that “teenagers blame Instagram for the increased rate of anxiety and depression” and the platform worsens the “body image of one in three girls.”

In fact, 42 percent of young people today think that social media is harmful to their mental health.

Studies from around the world have consistently pointed to an association between social media use and poor self-image, particularly among girls.

Indian researchers analyzed hundreds of subjects and found that groups using filtered and altered selfies experienced decreased confidence and a sense of physical attractiveness, while also experiencing a greater sense of social anxiety and a greater desire to undergo a test. cosmetic surgery, a trend that was especially prevalent in women.

In 2018, 55 percent of plastic surgeons said they had been told by patients that looking better in selfies was a motivation to go under the knife.

New York City plastic surgeon Lara Devgan told CNN that about half of the people who come in for consultations come with digitally altered photos of themselves that they’d like to mimic in real life.

There are even reports of plastic surgeons using Snapchat in the operating room.

I don’t think big tech moguls are conspiring in some back room to destroy the mental health of teenage girls, but it’s abundantly clear that they’re doing very little to stop these trends.

After all, their technology successfully hijacked the brains of an entire generation, and now their business model depends on keeping young people glued to their screens.

Social media isn’t going away any time soon, and it’s unrealistic to ask Gen Z to completely disconnect from the digital world, as online connectivity is critical to making and keeping friendships in our modern age.

But parents of young girls, struggling to build their self-confidence, need to be especially aware of how social media can affect their children’s mental health.

At the end of the day, it’s not the beauty of the digital avatar that matters. We should all look in the mirror and love the real person we see looking back.

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Social media platforms promote unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and negative self-evaluation.

The definition of "pretty" varies, but promoting "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance" can perpetuate a narrow and unattainable beauty standard.

Beauty standards, such as "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance", can perpetuate patriarchal beliefs and objectify women.

Title:

Content: Beauty, as we know it largely, has made us prisoners of the patriarchal man’s belief wherein the feminine image projected does not even minutely represent us; and the pressure to look like it, has had most women starving. Ugliness, like moral insanity, has a definition that kept changing overtime. It kept taking what was absolutely natural and then calling them abnormal, even though they were ubiquitously present. Since industrial revolution, beauty has become something that is done to a body rather than being a part of it. As women released themselves from the feminine mystique of domesticity, the beauty myth took over its lost ground (Naomi Wolf, 2002). Men that are upholding patriarchal structures couldn’t find a key to our mouths and hence are using our insecurities related to our bodies as one. It is, now, used as a weapon to regulate and control women into being passive citizens of the society. It’s clear that images of feminine beauty are used against women’s advancement.

Beauty norms have reduced women into mere objects to be looked at and appreciated for the aesthetic and not intellectual ability. Pop culture has furthered and fuelled that belief. A good example is that of the popular, all white sitcom from the 90s FRIENDS. Starting with the portrayal of fat Monica and Rachel’s big nose; it gives into the traditional stereotypes that a person needs to be skinny to be beautiful. The fat-phobic jokes in the show further alienated and triggered people suffering from eating disorders. It’s triggering, not because of Monica losing weight but because of some of her best friends made jokes about it. The show wholly neglected the mental and emotional trauma one would face because of fatphobia and as they showed people laughing and joking about it, normalised fatphobic narratives as a result.

A big nose is normally a physical feature present in people of colour, which is often deemed as a drawback to one’s beauty. On that note, noses are also political as they define a person’s ethnicity, by extension of which one could even argue that rhinoplasty, done to “fix” one’s nose, has severe racist implications. The popularity of getting a nose job stems from years of brainwashing that a thin nose is attractive and anything remotely different from that is unacceptable. Beauty norms are such that it could even make people hate their ethnicity, in one way or the other. The colonisation of beauty standards is not just witnessed in the hate towards a big nose; it is also present in wide foreheads and many other physical features that are not euro-centric. In Malcolm X’s ‘Who taught you to hate yourself’ speech, he clearly asks the people,

“Who taught you to hate the colour of your skin? Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the shape of your  nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from  the top of your head to the soles of your feet? Who taught you to hate your own kind? Who taught you to hate the race that you belong to so  much so that you don’t want to be around each other?..”

Beauty has been transformed into an industry whose control lies in the hands of media that can singlehandedly produce and disseminate  beauty ideals and norms. It contributes to the mental and intellectual subservience of people’s mind especially women from a very young age. A 2017 study found that 84% of top grossing movies for children promote weight stigma. Shinchan, a cartoon popular among Asian households has one episode in which his mother body shames him (a 5 years old) and says that nobody will like him if he is fat. Children watching their favourite characters body shame others not only leaves a deep impact on their minds but also affects how they behave and deal with the stigma around their body image. This transforms their way of looking at themselves and other people around them.

An ethnographic study with children aged between 8-12 to understand how children differentiated between ugly and pretty found that most children, including people of colour, see white-skinned people as someone who is pretty and kind. The study also revealed the high magnitude of work needed to overcome the pervasive racist system children are exposed to from a very young age. Internalised white superiority and toxic beauty standards are reinforced in children through visuals, especially through films of Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella. Society tends to make little girls believe that the only way to gain happiness is by attaining these beauty ideals.

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Also read: Why I Learnt To Decolonise Eurocentric Beauty Standards

In India, beauty is not just an aesthetic term, but it has also been used  as a tool to discriminate and vilify the historically marginalised caste communities and uphold the pride associated with one’s caste location. A moustache, for  example is a symbol of both beauty and caste pride in the Hindu community. Manusmriti, a religious text of Hinduism, did not allow Dalits to sport moustache. Traditionally, sporting of moustache by a Dalit man is considered to be a heinous crime in Manusmriti. This is reflected in many cases that come up everyday about Dalit men getting beaten up for sporting a moustache.

Regulation Of Clothing And Its Relation To Beauty Standards

Clothing and beauty are complementary to each other. Kathy Peiss said that beauty is not just an aesthetic term but also depicts one’s class and social status. Indian society has a history of regulating what and how women wear clothes. This not only just restricts one’s freedom, it also encourages non-expressive beauty standards. Clothing helps a person express  oneself. Restricting what a person wears also restricts their course to achieve a healthy relationship with their body, hence contributing to the regulation and subjugation of women’s body autonomy, which has been the goal of beauty myth all along. Kerala, during the 18-19th century, had restricted men and women of lower caste communities to wear upper body clothes. Only upper-caste women of certain clans were  allowed to wear upper body clothes. This was not only a symbol of  power but also one of purity and hence, in relation with beauty standards at that time. Though, earlier there was no norm of covering breasts in India, Kerala’s Travancore kingdom followed a different ‘tradition’. A breast tax was levied if women covered their breasts. This led to the Channar revolt, where Nadar women defied the kingdom officials, converted to Christianity and covered their upper body as an act of resistance.

Marriage And The Beauty Myth

Sander Gilman describes cosmetic alteration and surgeries as a form of ‘passing’ where a person takes on a new identity to access privileges and status, leaving behind the oppression that came with their former identity. Beauty, if looked at from Gilman’s perspective, is more about survival than about materialistic happiness for women.

Marriage as an institution in India, has helped in the perpetuation of societal beauty standards amongst women to an extent  that women are forced by their own family members to bleach their skin, lose weight and use harmful cosmetics on their face. A woman, after being called out numerous times to change a certain aspect of her body loses her self worth and power of assertion, which traditionally has been a desirable trait in a wife. An ideal and desirable wife in India is someone who’s “pure”, less assertive and loyal. British-Nigerian actress Beverly Naya reflects on this in Skin, a 2019 Netflix documentary that she produced. She says that dark-skinned women are made to feel that if they’re not light-skinned, they may not find a man or have a successful career.”

Also read: The Black And White Challenge And Tokenist Women Empowerment

Use Of Beauty As A Tool To Demean Women In A Political Arena

The judgement of ‘women’s beauty or the lack of it’ doesn’t stop even after accomplishing greats in their career as seen in the case of Mayawati, the first Dalit woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Once, Shaina NC, a member of BJP, made a jibe on Mayawati, saying that she didn’t know if the BSP leader was a ‘he’ or ‘she’. This conventional idea of femininity largely determines beauty standards in Indian society. Mayawati has short hair and hence does not fit the stereotypical gender expression of an Indian women with long black hair.

In a political arena as well, the way a women politician looks and dresses up receive numerous remarks, especially from male politicians. Beauty standards are used to bring the women politicians down, dismiss and ridicule their opinion and establish the dominance of the men.

Featured Image Credits: Upasana Agarwal

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Internalizing beauty standards can lead to negative self-image, low self-esteem, and mental health problems, especially in women and marginalized communities.

The promotion of "glassy skin" and "dewy appearance" as beauty standards can negatively impact body image, self-esteem, and mental health across various demographics.

Title:

Content: Lying about self-care.
Do women need beauty products for skin freshness?
Social media platforms surround us with endless barrage of beauty, skincare and hair product nominations.
“Influencers ” or“ Influencers ” drown us with their experiences with products that they claim have changed their lives forever, exhibiting a complex, multi-step daily skincare routine in the context of self-care.
This behavior seems to revolve around buying more products, which accumulate in front of us until sometimes their contents expire without us having time to use them.
This leads us to question the extent to which we actually need these products, and their great role in shaping our notions of self-care and the ideal form.
Influencers often appear through many photo filters with clear skin like glass, shiny eyes and pink lips, which makes us believe that the lotions they recommend are effective, and leads us to believe that we need them.
According to a study conducted by the University of the Basque Country and published in the "African Journal of Marketing Management", questions arise about all these preparations, and are they really necessary or are we victims of marketing lies that are no longer limited to the traditional form of television advertising, but are seeping to us through the means of communication?
Why buy what we don ’ t need?
The desire to look good is a natural human desire, but social media has turned this desire into an endless race toward perfection.
According to a study published by the African Journal of Business Administration, those who buy beauty products often do so under the influence of emotional impulses more than the actual benefits of these products.
Researcher Vanessa Abolaza explained that "consumer satisfaction increases when a cosmetic brand helps to promote positive emotions and remove feelings of anxiety and guilt about not caring about appearance."
The irony is that if brands want to achieve this effect they implicitly drive consumers to create negative feelings about themselves, by choosing ideal advertising faces, resulting in negative comparisons that drive consumers to buy products to calm these feelings.
With the rise of online buying, consumers are increasingly relying on reviews and ratings of other customers that are online, especially videos that allow other consumers to see using the product.
The recommendations of friends and shop workers come in the following ranks, at a time when the role of traditional advertising has declined significantly.
What products are necessary in a skincare routine?
Speaking to The New York Times, Dr. Ahmed Amin, assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg University School of Medicine, noted that everyone now offers skincare tips and inundated people, while dermatologists recommend keeping your skincare routine as simple as possible, including basic steps: cleaning, moisturizing and sun protection.
You need to wash your face with a cleanser suitable for your skin type one to two times a day.
For moisturizing, you can use the same moisturizer morning and evening, as you don ’ t need to allocate a night and day moisturizer.
Dermatologists advise to pay attention to the protection of the skin from the sun, because exposure to ultraviolet sunlight leads to increased production of free radicals and damage to collagen, which accelerates the appearance of wrinkles and increases the risk of skin cancer, as well as increases the production of melanin, which leads to the appearance of spots on the skin.
So look for a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
These are the basics, and additional products such as serum, eye creams, antioxidants and retinol are unnecessary and can be dispensed with.
When adding anything new to your skincare routine, doctors recommend trying one product at a time and using it for at least three weeks before adding another.
They also warn against applying multiple layers of different products without consulting a dermatologist, as the ingredients of the products can interact with each other, leading to an allergic reaction.
Doctors stressed that increasing the number of ingredients used may damage the skin barrier, exacerbating skin problems or creating new problems that require more lotions to treat.
Therefore, it is best to wait and make sure that each product is effective before moving on to another to keep the skin healthy and avoid complicating its problems.
Doctors ’ Skin Care Guidelines
Experts emphasize that there are many products that can be dispensed with in a skin care routine.
For example, the skin does not need exfoliators in the form it promotes.
According to doctors, the cycle of skin cells extends to about 28 days, as the skin regenerates and gets rid of dead cells naturally.
Also, masks or “Chit Mask ” are not necessary, as the same benefits can be achieved by using the ingredients in these masks in the form of cream or serum.
For moisturizers, a facial moisturizer can be used to moisturize the neck without the need for a dedicated product.
Doctors are advised to rely on the advice of a trusted dermatologist rather than the recommendations of digital influencers, as many of these recommendations are funded by beauty companies to increase their sales.
Remember, taking care of your skin does not require complexity or significant spending, but basic products and the right guidance from specialists.
Source: Al Jazeera + Websites

Highly concentrated products and unnecessary anti-aging cosmetics can cause skin imbalance, thinning, and overdrying.

Title:

Content: Zvezda
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What can lead to excessive skin care: we deal with the expert
Autumn is considered the best season for beauty treatments.
But this does not mean that it is time to get all the creams and hard peels from the shelves at once, otherwise you can overdo it with care and harm the skin.
The phenomenon of skin care is a new concept of the XXI century.
This is not a disease or a medical term, but a characteristic skin condition that appears from the abuse of care products and various procedures.
Photo: WMJ.ruWMJ.ru
Alena Milichkina is an expert on the quality of the chain of stores "Rainbow Smile"
Video of the day
4 reasons for the appearance of the phenomenon of alimentary skin
Previously, the problem of excessive care did not exist, and the lack of nutrition or hydration of the skin concerned women much more.
What contributed to the emergence of a new syndrome?
1 Multi-stage Korean care system
The trends of the multi-stage Korean care system have also borne fruit.
The “porcelain ” faces of the girls are really impressive.
But the Asian type of skin in density differs from the European one and involves the use of more concentrated means.
Not every care system is universal, and what fits one skin can hurt another.
Therefore, multi-stage care with powerful means first gives a noticeable stunning effect, and then leads to the very phenomenon of alimentary skin.
2 Highly concentrated products
In the range of non-professional cosmetics appeared highly concentrated products that can be bought in ordinary stores.
But according to the rules, they need to be applied in doses and not regularly, but in courses.
Some active components have a cumulative effect, and their excess leads to imbalance in skin processes.
But the manufacturer ’ s recommendations are not followed by everyone and use concentrated funds on an ongoing basis.
3 Anti-aging cosmetics
Young girls sometimes decide to take the aging of the skin under their strict control and begin to use anti-aging cosmetics without the need.
The slowdown in collagen production begins at the age of 25, and before this age, the processes in the skin are already debugged, and it copes on its own.
There is no need to stimulate collagen synthesis, and an anti-aging cream in 20 years is simply not needed.
Prevention of signs of aging of the skin can result in its thinning and overdrying.
4 The desire to get everything at once
In the age of technological development, people learned Photoshop and beauty filters.
Women see on the screens of their smartphones the perfect faces of bloggers and celebrities without a single flaw and wonder: “What needs to be done and how much to pay for it to look the same? ”
In pursuit of non-existent ideals, the cosmetic shelf is replenished with new means.
I want to spread all the best at once, so that the effect is fast and noticeable.
How the Skin Reacts to Excessive Care
Characteristic changes for alerted skin: it becomes loose, dull, porous, dry and prone to inflammation.
Immediately after cleansing, there is a feeling of discomfort.
The skin can begin to shine strongly, even the dry type.
At the same time, peeling may be seen in certain areas.
From excessive cleansing, the main function of the skin is violated - protective.
The skin becomes thinner and becomes susceptible to infections, irritations and allergic reactions.
Consequences relevant: small pimples, dryness, redness and hyperpigmentation.
The problem of dehydrated skin is much more common, but even with hydration you can overdo it.
When we apply a moisturizer to the surface, the skin absorbs as much as it needs.
Anything that has not been absorbed creates a greasy base that becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.
As a result, pustular rashes, clogged pores and greasy shine are formed on the face.
The balance is disturbed, and from excessive moisture, the skin can either dry hard, or vice versa, begin to produce too much fat.
How to avoid overeating?
Basic care products include cleansing, moisturizing and a targeted remedy to solve a specific problem: sun protection, getting rid of wrinkles, grease or inflammation.
The cleaning process includes:
• hydrophilic oil or micellar water to remove cosmetics
• gel or foam for washing
• tonic or lotion without alcohol to return the skin to a comfortable pH level
It is not necessary to add cleansing masks, scrubs or acid peels to this process every day, because the increased deprivation of the skin of the surface layer violates the water-lipid mantle.
Irrational layering is not required in further skin care.
In the minimum basic care include a moisturizer, Sanskrit on days of active sun or cream with antioxidants.
You need to apply a moisturizer twice a day, and evening moisturizing of oily skin can be completely missed.
Doing this more often is simply not necessary.
Of course, the care can include essences, serums, hydrolates or highly concentrated products.
But they can not be used on a permanent basis and must necessarily take into account the peculiarity of the compositions.
For example, cream with retinol or anti-age agents are recommended to use courses.
And some compositions are poorly combined with each other, which is why multilayer care can worsen the condition of the skin.
With face masks, too, you need to be careful.
The concentration of active ingredients in tissue masks is higher than in the cream, and acid or clay masks are quite dry.
So that the skin does not overload and has time to update, do not apply masks daily and follow the recommendations of the manufacturer.
The main negative consequence of excessive care is that the skin loses the ability to live independently and can not defend itself.
It is very important to choose the right care so that it supports and enhances the protective function of the skin, and not suppresses it.

Excessive skin care can cause dryness, redness, hyperpigmentation, pustular rashes, and clogged pores.

Using highly concentrated products excessively can worsen skin condition and impair its natural defenses.

Korean skin care products contain unique ingredients like snail extract and are gentle on the skin.

Korean skincare products improve skin health through hydration and gentle care, showing results within weeks.

Korean skin care's international boom is due to its unique approach, effective ingredients, and affordability.

Korean skin care brands focus on skin health, hydration, and nourishment to remain popular.

Korean skin care's "glass skin" concept, a smooth and flawless complexion, has driven its global popularity.

Korean skin care is a highly effective and sustainable approach, focusing on prevention, hydration, and gentle ingredients to suit various skin types and needs.

Title:

Content: According to overseas rules: what is the peculiarity of the Korean skin care system
Beauty expert Kim: Korean skin care is multistage
Photo, video: www.globallookpress.com / Erik Reis - IKOstudio; 5-tv.ru
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Koreans are very attentive to their appearance.
Korean beauties are famous all over the world for their extraordinary ability to maintain a stunning appearance until old age.
They carefully monitor themselves and try to take care of the skin of the face in order to remain young and beautiful as long as possible.
Butiologist Kim Bo Hyang told 5-tv.ru about the main secrets of beauty "in Korean", which will definitely provide the perfect tone and radiance.
At first, the expert noted that in Korea it is really considered beautiful when a person has healthy and moisturized skin.
That is why their facial care system is so special, and so much time is given to trying to look.
The “first secret ” is that Korean women carefully choose for themselves multi-stage individual care.
Each girl has its own skin type, its own “features ” and problem areas, for which certain cosmetics are necessary.
“Therefore, we carefully select each product and make an individual program, which consists of several stages, ” the specialist stressed.
The second rule of the Korean system is to take care of your skin, just like the skin of a baby, noted the beautiologist.
It is important to use not only effective products with active ingredients, but also those cosmetics that will not injure the protective barrier.
“The Korean standard for the production of cosmetics is one of the strictest and safest.
Therefore, Korean women choose cosmetics very picky, carefully.
That it was not only effective, but also careful for our skin, ” explained the interlocutor 5-tv.ru.
The “third secret ” is the mandatory use of sunscreens.
From about 20-25 years old, girls add special SPF creams to everyday care.
In the Korean "market" a huge number of different products that protect the skin from the sun - with different textures and filters.
Kim shared that great attention is paid to the beauty “inside ”.
Korean beauties in addition to the use of numerous cosmetics try to monitor their diet, avoiding harmful products.
“If you look at Korean cuisine, there are a lot of greens and vegetables.
And we always adhere to the fact that beauty is not only from the outside, but also from the inside, ” the expert concluded.
Previously, 5-tv.ru talked about the main mistakes in skin care.
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Understanding Korean skin care principles helps consumers choose products tailored to their skin types and concerns.