Eastern vs Western Beauty Standards- Skincare (11/8)
Maya Angelou once said, “we delight in the beauty, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty,” a metaphor indicating the expressions derived from the concept of what beauty is defined as. The societal norms of “beauty standards” is something that has been observed for quite some time now and is continuously affecting women of different cultural backgrounds. I find it a true phenomenon just how there are so many different indications of what beauty is defined as and the specific criteria catered to both the Western and Eastern culture.
The phrase ‘beauty standards’ can often times be interpreted differently due to its vague meaning, thus may causing confusion. In the field of skincare, according to BBC News, it was reported that “South Korean women spend over twice as much of their income on skincare and beauty products than American women, while South Korean men spend more money on skincare than those in any country.” This emphasizes how greatly South Korean people prioritize skincare and skincare products more than any country. With the two cultures having very different ideas in beauty, the belief of ethnocentrism, the tendency to view cultures from the perspective of one’s own, arises when highlighting the issues of the levels of beauty in a Westernized and Eastern perspective. Specifically, Korean people see transparency of the skin to be their form of beauty. Korean women see the use of less makeup to be a symbol speaking to greater beauty. Often times, Korean women would use skincare products such as serums and facemasks in order to give a dewy and a more natural complexion. On the other hand, many American women heavily depend on full-coverage of the face; this means covering any discoloration or blemishes on the facial complexion.
The 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine, a routine that is commonly used among many South Korean women, has been a very popular concept for maintaining their skin. The first two steps, the oil cleanser and the foam/cream cleanser, would be used to take off any makeup from the face. Once you dry your face with a clean towel, you would go on ahead and apply your toner, essence, emulsion, and serum. These products help rejuvenate your face and give you the proper vitamins for the skin. The seventh step, the sheet mask, would be an optional step that can be taken several times a week. Lastly, you would apply eye cream then seal the face off with moisturizer. These products give hydrating and nourishing properties for the skin. Sunscreen is an additive and optional step people can use when exposed to the sun. I say this long arduous skincare routine to emphasize that South Korean women are “the number one consumers of cosmetics items in the world applying between 5 to 9 beauty products to their skin every morning and evening”. The idea of applying multiple types of products to their face truly highlights how much effort is put into maintaining face aesthetics and beauty.
