People in Korea are less into facial fillers and favor injectables that replenish and boost collagen production on a cellular level, like Sculptra, Dr. Lee says. Consequently, hyaluronic acid-filled syringes, like Restylane and Juvéderm, are more likely used to help moisturize the skin on a cellular level.
Age is no bar for skincare
According to Cho, preventative skincare in Korea begins when you start applying sunscreen or wearing hats and clothing that protect you from sun exposure at six months old. “Not only does this prevent sunburns, but it also hinders sun damage that can contribute to ageing later in life.
Other Korean skincare alternatives to retinol are a little lesser known abroad. These include things like adenosine, red ginseng, idebenone, glutathione and EGF.
Since ancient times, Koreans have only used natural, harsh-free ingredients for their skincare routines: green tea, “snail slime”, bamboo extracts, propolis, and honey are just some examples of the elements they used and have passed through generations.
Because sweat and oil glands are impacted by the procedure, as well, Skin Botox has become a favorite in South Korea to keep breakouts at bay. As pores essentially become smaller from the procedure, excess sebum production is reduced - excess sebum/oil can block pores and hair follicles, leading to breakouts.
According to Alicia Yoon, the founder of Peach n Lily, the secret to Korean glass skin is not the products but maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eat well and live well. Your skin will glow from within while the skincare enhances your skin further. Unfortunately, there is no way to achieve this overnight.
Also known as retinoic acid, tretinoin is about 20 times more potent than retinol. It's stronger because retinoic acid is a form of vitamin A that acts directly on the skin to boost cell renewal, turnover, and DNA damage repair.
Lastly, it all comes down to this: what kind of skin you want to achieve. If you want to achieve shiny, luminous dewy skin, definitely try out the Korean skincare routine! However, if you want soft and matte-looking baby skin, try out the Japanese skincare routine!
When it comes to skincare, Cho says Korean women use “natural skin brighteners such as rice extracts, vitamin C, and licorice, as well as exfoliators. For stubborn brown spots, they will visit the dermatologist to lighten the brown spots using lasers.”
"The most important anti-aging product in your skincare routine is sunscreen," says Zeichner. "Even incidental UV light exposure from the sun adds up over a lifetime and is the number one cause of premature aging.
A Gentle Approach to Skin Care
Koreans take a preventative approach to skin care from an early age. They view ingredients like retinol as 'harsher' and therefore a 'last resort option' against anti-ageing.
Anti-aging habits
Some Westerners tend to have thin skin and fewer melanins to protect their skin from sunlight, meanwhile Korean's skin is said to have a lot of substances that absorb and decompose the sunlight in their skin structure effectively.
Asian skincare, especially Korean skincare, is well known for keeping the skin looking young and radiant. Of course, this is all thanks to the K-beauty anti-aging products that they use. Most of which bring visible, long-term benefits to our skin.
Many plastic surgeons say that Juvederm and Restylane are the most durable and longest-lasting fillers available. Both contain hyaluronic acid and are good for smoothing wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid carries 1,000 times its weight in water and makes the skin look young, supple, and soft.
Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.
If you want to have Korean-style glass skin, you should use honey as it contains various components that are beneficial not only to the skin but also to the hair. Make sure to use only organic honey, which is high in nutrients & antioxidants and help to keep your skin flawless and smooth.
Rice waterAnother effective way of keeping your skin glowing is applying fermented rice water to your face. This fermented rice water helps in eliminating damages caused due to UV rays. This water also helps in the formation of collagen that directly helps your skin look like glass.