South Korea has become an influential force for Filipinos when it comes to popular culture. For years, the country has changed how people see new and emerging trends ranging from music to video games to even beauty standards worldwide, including the Philippines.
In this article, we will look at the history of Korean beauty products, how it spread to other countries like the Philippines, as well as the positive and negative effects of using this widely-popular skincare trend.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KOREAN BEAUTY TREND
South Korea’s beauty trend dates back to 57 B.C. It was during this era where Koreans looked to skincare to look “healthy” by relying on facial scrubs, lotion and eyebrow ink to improve their physical appearance.
As the Joseon period began, subtlety and emphasis on inner beauty became the popular beauty trend. That didn’t stop the sale and use of cosmetics as face creams, powders, and lipsticks were introduced.
In 1961, shortly after World War II ended, the newly-founded South Korea government banned the sale of foreign products. This allowed the South Korean cosmetics industry to develop and flourish into the billion-dollar behemoth that it is today.
This also developed the country’s obsession with having a perfect “outside beauty” that conforms a person’s physical appearance. This trend became a norm among Koreans up until today.
Having “glass skin” is the current trend in South Korean beauty. “Glass skin” refers to achieving a crystal-clear complexion with no visible pores as much as possible, thereby creating a luminous and translucent look.
THE EFFECTS OF THE HALLYU WAVE ON PHILIPPINE BEAUTY
The 1990s saw an influx of South Korean trends exported to neighboring countries. This phenomenon of globalizing anything Korean evolved into what the Chinese called the “Hallyu Wave.”
The Philippines would then experience the Hallyu Wave in the early 2000s when Korean media was introduced to the Filipino audience.
This trend in popular culture would then bring South Korean beauty standards into the minds of Filipino women. According to Dr. Maria Stalensek, Korean beauty trends work better on Filipino women than Westerners since Korean standards appeal better on Asian skin.
Korean skincare brands also promote a healthier approach on cosmetics by using natural ingredients on their products. The rise of Korean Pop Music, or KPop, also helped in the popularity of these beauty trends.
There’s no denying that South Korea has revolutionized the concept of physical beauty with its trends and products. This change has caused people, including Filipinos, to take care of their skin better.
