Korean skincare has become popular in the US over the years. Everyone wants their skin to be as soft, clear, and dewy looking as the Korean models in beauty and skincare advertisements.
But why is it that Koreans have such good skin? In this article, we’ll outline 9 reasons why. Keep reading to find out more.
Why Do Koreans Have Good Skin?
1. Skincare Is Big In Korean Culture
Having flawless skin is a priority in Korean beauty standards, so naturally, skincare plays a big role in their lives and culture.
You might think, “But Americans take care of their skin too!” American skincare routines generally involve using face cleanser and toner, and then applying moisturizer.
On the other hand, most Koreans use 10 different products in their daily skincare routines! Here’s what they use:
- Oil-based cleanser: Removes makeup, sunscreen, and lotions
- Water based cleanser: Removes sweat and dirt
- Exfoliator: Removes dead skin cells
- Toner: Balances the skin’s pH levels and moisturizes
- Essence: Hydrates the skin and enhances your complexion
- Serum: Reduces blemishes and shrinks pores
- Sheet mask: Absorbs nutrients and moisture into the skin
- Eye cream: Prevents eye wrinkles and dark circles
- Moisturizer: Replenishes moisture in the skin and makes it softer
- Sunscreen: Protects the skin from the sun
Doing this skincare routine religiously is one of the reasons why Koreans have such beautiful, glass-like skin.
2. Ingredients In Korean Skincare Products
American skincare products often have long lists of ingredients, half of them most people don’t even know what they are or how to pronounce them.
Most of the time, these ingredients are harsh chemicals that do the job of clearing acne, but can also have adverse side effects that can cause your skin to look even worse than before.
For example, common side effects of Benzoyl Peroxide, which is used in many American acne-clearing skincare products, include burning, itching, and redness.
However, with Korean skincare products, the ingredients are natural, gentle on the skin, yet still effective. Some ingredients include:
- Aloe vera
- Cucumber
- Fermented rice water
- Ginseng
- Green tea
- Honey
Utilizing these ingredients in their skincare products are why Koreans have such healthy looking skin.
3. Sunscreen
We all know how harmful the sun’s ultraviolet rays can be on our skin. Every time we go to the beach, we apply sunscreen on our faces and bodies to protect our skin from getting sunburnt.
But going to the beach isn’t the only time you should apply sunscreen; especially when you live in a sunny area. Generally, you should apply sunscreen to your face every day.
As we mentioned earlier, one of the products Koreans use in their daily skincare routine is sunscreen. This product prevents the skin from developing the following:
- Wrinkles
- Fine lines
- Leathery appearance
- Discoloration
- Redness
So, Koreans have such good skin because they protect it from the sun using sunscreen.
4. Use of Asian Skincare Tools
It’s standard in American skincare to massage moisturizer into your skin with your fingers after washing your face.
However, in Korean skincare, tools such as Gua Sha stones and jade rollers exist for this purpose. These Asian skincare tools aid in why Koreans have such youthful skin.
Gua Sha itself is a traditional Chinese medicine practice in which you use a tool (a Gua Sha stone) to gently scrape inflamed areas on your skin to promote better circulation and healing.
Jade rollers work in a similar manner to Gua Sha, but Koreans also use them to massage facial oils or moisturizers into their skin. This allows the skin to absorb the product more thoroughly.
Using both of these tools in their daily skincare routines, Koreans are left with hydrated, dewy looking skin.
5. Pimple Patches
Although Koreans have good skin, it’s not uncommon for them to have a breakout every once in a while. No matter how tempting it may be, the #1 rule with blemishes is to not pop them.
Popping your blemishes can cause an open would on your face that can end up scarring. This would ruin the skin’s appearance, which is important in Korean beauty standards.
Korean skincare lines popularized a solution that nullifies the temptation to pick or pop blemishes: pimple patches.
Pimple patches absorb the drainage coming from your blemishes while simultaneously applying a wound healing gel to the site to aid in faster healing.
Using pimple patches rather than picking at their faces when they get a breakout helps Koreans keep clear, healthy skin.
6. Korean Diets Improve Acne
Certain foods can cause acne flare ups. Greasy foods like fast food and dairy products are big contenders for bad skin. It just so happens that many of these foods are popular in America.
On the other hand, foods that are popular in South Korea actually improve acne. Some anti-acne dishes that Koreans eat often include:
- Eggs
- Fish
- Kimchi
- Seaweed
- Soybeans/soy products
Eating healthier means your skin will look healthier, and this is definitely the case for Koreans.
7. No-Makeup Makeup Look
It’s popular in America to do heavy beat-downs when it comes to makeup. However, this much product can make your skin look cakey, and can even end up clogging your pores.
In South Korea, the beauty standards are different, and therefore so are the preferred makeup styles. Koreans like to do the natural, no-makeup makeup look.
This involves light products like BB cream, concealer only on problem areas, and subtle eyeshadow and blush.
The end result enhances your looks while covering any imperfections, but doesn’t look heavy. So Koreans may not have good skin, but good makeup skills instead.
8. Skilled South Korean Cosmetic Surgeons
Having good skin may not always be a natural occurrence. Cosmetic surgeries and procedures can get rid of wrinkles, sagging skin, and even unwanted scarring in some cases.
Coincidentally, South Korea houses some of the best cosmetic surgeons that specialize in face transformations. Some common procedures they perform make you look younger and healthier.
So, the reason why Koreans may have young and healthy looking skin could just be that they’ve had work done to achieve that look.
9. Good Genetics
The truth is, not all Koreans have good skin. It may just be that the majority of Korean people we see in the media have been blessed with good genetics.
We know that acne can be caused by poor diets and poor skincare. However, one thing many may not know is that your genetics can impact whether or not you have acne.
In this case, we already mentioned Korean diets and skincare being reasons why they have good skin. So, the conclusion may just be that Korean skin looks good because of genes.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why Canadians are so polite, why the British Monarchy still exists, and why it rains when someone dies.
Conclusion
Of course, good skin is not subjected to any one group of people. How your skin looks is mostly a reflection of how well you take care of yourself. Koreans just happen to do that well.
We hope that this article helps anyone looking to achieve the Korean glass-skin look. Remember to enforce a proper skincare regimen and eat healthy anti-acne foods.