Guys. It’s been a long, long year. And it’s been a long five years since I first published my three-step pore clearing method over on my blog. Over those five years, that post has received over 1.2 million pageviews; the number of views increases every year, and it continues to be shared far and wide.

When I first moved to Korea approximately two million years ago (Ok, slight exaggeration, but it has been nearly a decade), I became obsessed with K-Beauty. I tried any and everything I could get my hands on. Skinfood was my first foray into Asian beauty, followed by Etude House, Missha, and The Face Shop. There were so many new ingredients that I had no idea were so beneficial for the skin—snake venom, acai berries, fermented rice—but there have been none as influential in my life (and tbh, everyone’s lives) than the humble snail.

Going on my trip to Japan at the beginning of this year, I wasn’t expecting to buy much cosmetics until the last few days when FOMO hit, and it hit hard. I had a small list of skincare and cosmetic products I wanted to buy, but seeing the price of cosmetics there, I was shocked since I am so used to the affordability of Korean cosmetics.

When I was younger, I was way invested in fashion and makeup, but not so much skincare. I changed up both my fashion and makeup wardrobe with the season—you know, berry lips for fall, bright shades for spring, coats and scarves in the winter. But now, it’s the reverse. I wear loungewear a vast majority of the time and focus on switching up my skincare routines for the season. It’s a vibe, tbh.

When I think of some of my favorite sheet masks, a good majority of them hail from Taiwan. Brands like Lovemore, My Beauty Diary, and My Scheming really have figured out how to produce some of the most thin and hydration retaining masks that I love.

My introduction to K-Beauty happened pretty much in sync with my desire to address some skin concerns that I have been battling for years. While I had tried things like Proactiv and Clinique over the years...I never really committed to a routine or stuck with a “system

In today’s world, the number of skincare product choices can be overwhelming. Even the first step in a skincare routine of facial cleansing, you are met with too many products to choose from. With that being said, Korean cleansing balms are becoming an increasingly popular choice. 

Over here in the Western beauty market, one of the greatest revelations of the Asian beauty trend has been the importance of hydration to the overall health and appearance of your skin. That distinctive plump, bouncy, almost glossy look—dewy skin, glass skin, honey skin, whatever you want to call it

6 Natural Skincare Products from Taiwanese Brand 23.5°N Tested! 23.5°N is a brand that really puts their focus on naturally derived formulas utilizing locally sourced ingredients. A majority of the extracts and active ingredients are harvested from farms in Taiwan.