I received my first skin care program when I was 11 years old. It was a Christmas gift. I still remember the packaging. Four plastic tubes in a row visible through a transparent pouch with a denim pattern synonymous with the 1980’s. It included a cleanser, a honey and almond scrub (so sticky!), a clay mud mask and a moisturiser. I remember thinking what is this? But I used it, and my obsession with caring for my skin began. In fact, it led to a long career within the beauty industry. Still, decades later, the obsession continues. I am always trying new products and going back to old favourites. I can’t imagine going to bed without cleansing my face! I look for products that work in synergy with my skin, support skin health, and nurture my skin where it is at. I have a new skincare love now, K-Beauty.
It’s a phenomenon rich in history and blending modern skincare innovation. The products I am using are luxurious, and my skin feels and looks great! I am on board! Let me share a little about K-Beauty with you. It is fascinating!
K-Beauty is short for Korean beauty and refers to beauty products from South Korea. It has gained popularity as it focuses on treating and preventing skin concerns such as dullness, dryness, photo-ageing and acne. The ‘glass skin’ trend of a luminous and poreless complexion is a distinctive feature of K-beauty. It has a rich history, beginning with the Three Kingdoms (Goryeo, Baekje, Haja) Period, 57BCE, with make-up invented for women to look healthy and enhance their natural beauty. Throughout its ages, K-Beauty has always had a philosophy of using natural ingredients, such as ground beans, gourd stems, castor oil, apricots and peaches, and I hear even snail slime.
Beauty standards evolved with each Dynasty, and these ancient traditions brought something to the table concerning women’s beauty that is still relevant today. The Silla Dynasty attached cultural and political importance to lighter skin, where beauty standards were related to ‘within a beautiful body, rests a beautiful soul’. I love that! The Goryeo Dynasty, where ‘everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it’, centred around elegance, where upper-class women wore minimal make-up to avoid being confused with tavern workers or entertainers. Because of this they invested much of their time in skin care. Women living through the Joseon Dynasty idolised flawless skin, with a feminine beauty criteria of Sambaek, ‘the three whites’ including eyes, skin, and teeth. Samheuk ‘the three blacks’ were hair, eyebrows and pupils and the three reds, Samhong referring to the lips, cheeks and peachy fingernails. With a theme of ‘flowerlike face, moonlike figure’, women pursued the balance of outer and inner beauty during this time. Those traditions are still true today, with K-beauty offering natural, distinctive, and harsh-free ingredients that deliver skin benefits of health, hydration, and brightness.
Side note: during my research and reading, it was interesting to learn about the changing roles of women in society through each Dynasty. Through the Goreyo Dynasty, women led the way in their homes and had freedom and equal inheritance rights. Later in the Joseon era, that changed, unfortunately.
The influence of K-pop and Korean dramas has played a role in popularising K-beauty globally. The flawless skin of Korean celebrities and actors has become aspirational for many, contributing to the increasing demand for Korean skincare products. The Hallyu wave (Korean wave) has carried entertainment and beauty trends across borders.
K-Beauty is also famous for offering extensive skincare routines. I watched a video where the young women interviewed mentioned they spent a couple of hours per day on their skin. Some skin care programs include ten to twenty steps and a daily face mask. They are meticulous! I am not that invested! I mean, I am in for some weekly me time and will enjoy a mild peel and some specialised products, but I am giving you a maximum of 15 minutes for my skincare routine on a daily basis! 😂
The history of K-beauty is a fascinating journey that intertwines tradition, innovation, and cultural influence. It is a beauty phenomenon that is still evolving. It has transformed skin care; you may have used a BB cream and not realise its history is in K-Beauty. It makes women and men (Korean men use more skincare than anyone else) focus on self-care and embrace their natural beauty. More of which we all need to do! I believe that skincare is part of our overall well-being, and developing a routine that gives you a moment to yourself each morning and night can build your confidence and align us with a focus on self-love. Taking the time to look at yourself in the mirror and whisper, “I love you just as you are, and I spend this time because I deserve to be my best” while you are applying your moisturiser is just as transformative as the product you apply to your face. If you want to learn more about skin health and the products I use, pop over to my beauty website here.
As always, remember when you fall in love with yourself, everything else falls into place.
OM xx
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