Why Is Korean Skin Care Better Than Western Skin Care?
Ever since TikTok has become the #1 platform for products and trends to go viral, the Western world has been exposed to the many traditions of other cultures. In the pursuit of perfect skin, Gen Z and Millennials have sought out the advice of beauty gurus from around the world. As a result of this widespread sharing of knowledge, K-Beauty (Korean Beauty) has become increasingly popular in places like the United States. Western beauty focuses on the fixing imperfections rather than how to prevent them. K-Beauty has shown the Western world that beautiful, glowing skin can be possible without the use of harsh processes —- and here are three reasons why:
Natural Ingredients
Hydrating Step by Step Korean Regimen Kit from Peach and Lily
Attempting to read the label for one of my expensive bottles of skin care products usually results in a massive headache. Western products usually pack a boatload of chemicals into the formula, most of which you have probably never heard of. Some products even contain chemicals that make the skin co-dependent on the product. Korean beauty is much different. K-Beauty products usually contain more natural and effective ingredients in their formulas. Common ingredients used in these formulas are niacinamide, licorice root extract, and ginseng which have been shown to have anti-aging and brightening properties. Other key ingredients include Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, vitamins and antioxidants, green tea extract, and snail mucus. Natural formulas significantly decrease the chance of skin dryness or irritation, as well as the likelihood of dependency on a product. Another significant difference between Western and Korean product ingredients are the concentration of the chemicals used. In Western brands such as Drunk Elephant or The Ordinary, glycolic acid may be concentrated from 15-20%, opposed to K-beauty products which may contain as little as 4%. The wrong concentration of chemicals can lead to severe irritation and long term complications.
When shopping for skincare products in the Western world, there are rarely a variety of formulas for a singular product. Instead, there tends to be a “one size fits all” approach to the formula. This is the reason why most products have mixed user reviews. Companies can not expect consumers to have the same exact skin type, so making one version of a product will only benefit one type of skin. Korean beauty companies expand upon their product lines to include different formulas which allows the consumer to tailor their skin care routine specifically to their skin type.
Focuses on Skin Barrier health
In order to have hydrated, glowing looking skin, the work starts from within. Often times in western culture when we have acne or discoloration, we are taught to dry out the areas of any fluid. While this may rid the skin of the bacteria inside a breakout, drying out the skin leaves it more susceptible to cracking and letting more bacteria inside. Western beauty teaches us how to combat these imperfections, but not so much on how to prevent these issues. Knowledge of proper skin care is instilled in Korean children early on in life at a point where they are very malleable, making it easy to form healthy habits and routines. Unlike western products with harsh chemicals, K-Beauty focuses on the health and hydration of the skin barrier.
Dewy Makeup Looks
How to get dewy “Glass Skin” in 3 Steps
The influence that K-Beauty has had on the Western world in last several years can be seen when studying the shift from “matte” to “dewy” makeup looks. For a very long time, the Kylie Jenner/ Kardashian makeup looks were the fad of the makeup world. Fake eyelashes, heavy contouring and highlighting, perfectly matching brows, and a bold lip were the desirable ways to do your makeup. However without the right products and knowledge of how to pull off a full face of makeup, you risk tiring your skin out. Heavy makeup damages the skin overtime, and is also extremely time consuming to put on every single day.
Over time Western beauty has been influenced tremendously by K-Beauty, beginning to focus on selling more natural looking makeup products. Rather than dousing your face with powder to achieve a matte look, there is more of a focus on “glowy” and hydrated skin. To achieve a hydrated, lit-from-within glow, K-Beauty is all about thin, light layers of active ingredients.
References
Korean skincare vs American skincare. (2021, November 30). Korean Fashion Trends. https://www.koreanfashiontrends.com/korean-skincare-vs-american-skincare/
The Main Differences Between Korean and Western Beauty Products. (2020, February 10). The Klog. https://theklog.co/k-beauty-western-skin-care-differences/
What’s the difference between Korean and American Skincare? (n.d.). Www.lluillui.com. https://www.lluillui.com/blog/post/korean-vs-american-skincare/
