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South Korea didn’t become the home of glass skin simply because of good PR and amazing genetics.
Photographed by CARLOS and ALYSE. Stylist: Fiona Green. Hair: Jenni Iva Wimmerstedt. Makeup: Andrew Colvin. Manicure: Elina Ogawa. Model: Amy Wesson.
“We are super obsessed with having ‘perfect’ skin.”
Claire Chang, a Korean-born, New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist, will tell you the same thing.
If you need a recommendation, check out theNeogen Real Firming Bakuchiol Serum.
(Allure’sIngredient Indexcan share more on the intricacies of each one.)
Personally, I’m a fan of theRovectin Lotus Water CreamandCosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream.
The wide variety ofcica-spiked productsis exhibit A.
Some notable ones include theRound Lab 1025 Dokdo TonerandMediheal N.M.F Intensive Hydrating Mask.
(Western skin careis slowly but surely catching up.)
Some standouts in this category are theReal Barrierline andEtude Soong Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream.
Instead, they trust in the power of SPF and in-office treatments to keep skin bright and smooth.
The importance and accessibility of sunscreen are also much more commonplacein Korea.
They adhere like oversizepimple patchesto provide your face with the utmost protection from the sun.
(Sadly, the patches aren’t available in America just yet.)
And Koreans often start receiving in-office treatments when they are in their early 20s, Dr. Chang says.
Korean dermatologists inject neurotoxins in a variety of different ways beyond what we are accustomed to in America.
AsAllurehasoften reported, Skin Botox is an extremely in-demand procedure in Seoul.
(you’re free to check out our in-depth guide toSkin Botox.
)Baby Botoxis also a popular preventative option among younger patients, Dr. Chang says.
The latter is done because the mouth is prone to drooping as we age.
“I put it near the scalp to lift the face,” he adds.
Skin Botox is often combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a.k.a.
avampire facial, at Dr. Lee’s clinic.
you’re free to dive into theblood-based process here.
However, in Korea, it’s long been another beloved injectable option alongside its Korean equivalents.
(This procedure is nicknamed the “water glow injection.")
In America, we are more accustomed to using them toaugment and plumpfaces.
Koreans are also all about what’s often called “skin booster shots,” which do just that.
It also helps stimulate collagen production for about three to four months.
Dr. Choi says it also boosts general skin health, making it thicker and tighter.
Just like with skin-care routines, consistency with lasers is key to effective, noticeable results.
(I can attest to how youthful and stunningly dewy his complexion is.)
Thread liftshave migrated to America in recent years, so they probably need no introduction.
But that’s just the beginning of how threads are wielded by Korean dermatologists and plastic surgeons.
Several new shapes and densities are entering the market to advance their use in cosmetic procedures.
The next wave of the thread trend focuses on adding volume instead of lifting, says Dr. Lee.
He refers to this procedure as “mood threads.”
Typical threads are barbed, but mood (or mono) threads are smooth.
No one truly needs to achieve either ideal skin or avoid signs of aging.
Fine lines and wrinkles are marks of our journeys through life.
They are reminders of how far we’ve come.
However, you’re allowed to put as much effort into your complexion as your heart desires.
