All over the world, South Korean beauty products now seem to be all the rage—from sheet masks to meticulous ten-step skincare routines, it’s definitely one of South Korea’s most popular exports. Aside from K-Pop, that is! It’s clear that the world is obsessed with South Korean cosmetics, and it’s easy to assume that women from South Korea all have perfectly stocked vanities and stick to their intense makeup and skincare routines each day.
But let’s be real—the kind of routines that are being popularized are pretty expensive and time-consuming. Not everyone wants to invest that kind of time and money into their appearance. But with the popularity of South Korean cosmetics, women there are definitely feeling some serious pressure to look a certain way, and there’s a growing expectation that they need to look perfect before they walk out the door.
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Appearances definitely carry a lot of weight in South Korea—in fact, the country has earned the title of “plastic surgery capital of the world,” with 22% of South Korean women saying that they have had plastic surgery. It is also one of the top ten beauty markets in the world—no surprises there! From social media to billboards, women are surrounded by advertisements for beauty products.
There’s an increasing number of women in South Korea who are getting tired of it, and they’re rebelling and reclaiming the bare-faced look. The movement is called “Escape the Corset,” and everyone from YouTube beauty gurus to women’s groups on college campuses are getting in on it. The first Sunday of every month, women are encouraged to resist the urge to buy anything that supports the beauty industry and go all natural. That means not purchasing clothes, makeup, skincare, haircare, or even going to a spa or getting a haircut. Instead, the goal is to put all that time, money, and effort towards other things.
There’s no doubt that makeup and skincare can be a lot of fun—it can be a way to express yourself creatively, and who doesn’t love getting dolled up for a big night out? But it can also be easy to fall into the idea that you have to wear makeup and have perfect skin at all times, and no one needs that kind of pressure.
What do you think of the idea behind “Escape the Corset?” Let us know in the comments!
All featured image credit goes to BecBoop. You can check out the blog and learn more about Korean skincare here!
