At lunchtime, I ran into two Chinese graduate students from the university's graduate school. Both were tall, fair-skinned, and quite beautiful. As we ate and chatted, one girl from Dandong had finished her meal long ago and was waiting for us, so she took the lead in the conversation. The other girl and I listened while continuing to eat, finding it quite interesting.
The first topic was Koreans' approach to physical wellness. It started with green peppers. The lunch buffet featured a green, long, plump vegetable resembling green beans, stir-fried with sea cucumber. It was my first time seeing "green beans" in Korea, so I piled my plate high. My appetite being limited, I only took a small portion of the other dish, "stewed bluefish."After settling down, I happily popped a "green bean" into my mouth only to realize something was off—it was spicy. Dang, I'd mistaken green chili peppers for green beans. The girl from Dandong explained that green beans don't seem to exist in Korea.
Not wanting to waste food, I ate a few more peppers. Though I always prided myself on being able to handle spice, my mouth started puffing out cold air in waves.Then the girl from Dandong shared a story about dining with Korean students. One guy ate tons of peppers on the table but barely touched the meat or fish. When asked if he disliked meat or fish, he explained it wasn't that—green peppers are rich in vitamin C and contain nutrients especially beneficial for men. So he skipped the tasty meat and fish to feast on peppers instead.Suddenly it clicked—no wonder Korean cuisine features so many chili dishes: raw peppers dipped in sauce, stir-fried peppers, stewed peppers. It was all about supplementing nutrients like vitamin C. Thinking back to how many people I'd seen overindulging in rich meats and drinks, I couldn't help but sigh that moderating one's appetite and prioritizing health was wiser. With that in mind, I steeled myself and ate a few more peppers.
The girl from Dandong added that Koreans are quite knowledgeable about dietary and medicinal supplements. Eating plenty of chili peppers seems to be one reason Korean girls have such great skin. I had noticed before that Korean women generally have beautiful skin, but I had assumed it was just because of their cosmetics. I hadn't realized it was also related to their diet. She continued, explaining that Korean girls' skin isn't just about dietary and medicinal supplements; another key factor is that they place great importance on skincare.In the dormitory building where the girl from Dandong lived, there was a communal bathroom. Girls carrying large baskets filled with over a dozen colorful bottles and jars of various sizes were undoubtedly Korean. When showering, they would first apply a scrub-like lotion, then rinse it off directly. They rarely used washcloths to scrub their bodies, so their showers were generally quick.
Beyond bath products, those jars and bottles contain various lotions applied after showering—specific ones for the body, neck, feet, face, and more.Foot care products come in two types: first, an exfoliating paste to remove dead skin from the soles, followed by a specialized foot lotion. The girl from Dandong mentioned that a single packet of such lotion costs over 10,000 won, and they use it up quickly. It seems they truly spare no expense on skin care. Many Korean girls have skin on their bodies that's even smoother and fairer than their facial skin. They absolutely won't tolerate any signs of dryness on their skin.Thus, in shared bathrooms, girls with fair, delicate skin are usually Korean students, those with a yellowish complexion are Chinese students, and those with darker skin are almost certainly Vietnamese.
——Excerpted from an online blog
This reminds me of how meticulous Korean celebrities are about skincare—it’s almost like a profession for them.
Lee Young-ae: Drinks 11 glasses of water daily
Lee Young-ae has exceptionally delicate skin but is highly prone to allergies. On non-shooting days, she avoids makeup entirely. In the morning, she washes her face with cool water only, skipping soap or cleansers.Additionally, to maintain skin hydration, she drinks a full 11 glasses of water daily, avoids skin-damaging items like coffee, cigarettes, and chocolate, and loves applying fresh potato slice masks to her face.
Song Hye-kyo: Devoted to Whitening Care
With her fair complexion, Song Hye-kyo places great emphasis on whitening maintenance. She actively tries new whitening products, ensuring her skin remains radiant even after occasional poor sleep or late-night filming. For emergency skin rescue, she relies on sheet masks for instant brightening.
Choi Ji-woo: Sake-Infused Aromatherapy Baths
Choi Ji-woo cherishes cleanliness, comfort, and natural aesthetics, rarely wearing makeup when not working. Her unique skincare secret stems from her mother's bath ritual: adding Japanese sake and essential oils to hot water. This practice swiftly melts away daily fatigue, leaving her refreshed and revitalized.
Jeon Ji-hyun: Monthly Professional Facials
Jeon Ji-hyun has normal-to-dry skin that produces more dead skin cells in dry weather, making her complexion appear dull. After wrapping up shoots, she immediately cleanses her skin using cleansing oil followed by a foaming cleanser to thoroughly remove residue and prevent clogged pores.Additionally, she typically receives a professional facial massage once a month, complementing it with at-home masks the rest of the time.
Son Ye-jin: Pore Care Secrets
Son Ye-jin pays special attention to pore care. Her method involves applying a hot towel to her face before putting on a mask. This effectively removes sebum and prevents skin waste buildup that can enlarge pores.Finally, she applies toner using a cotton pad chilled in the refrigerator, dabbing it gently across her entire face to achieve pore-tightening effects.
Kim So-yeon: DIY Essential Oil Massage at Home
Kim So-yeon lacks time for spa visits, so she prefers using essential oils for at-home treatments.After her daily shower, she massages her feet and chest with massage oil to prevent poor circulation in her legs from prolonged standing. Additionally, Kim So-yeon enjoys drinking pure, naturally made beverages to help relax her nerves and purify her body.