Perfect skin, the Korean way

SEOUL, South Korea — Whenever I look at Korean women and their poreless, unwrinkled, mask-like complexions, I’ve more than once resisted the urge to yell, “Seriously? It’s like you’re Photoshopped!” (Give me strength, Emma Stone.) I always just assumed that they lucked out in the genetic lottery — until I heard about their 12-step skincare regimen. All that effort? It made their perfection a lot easier to accept.

When The Face Shop (TFS) opened its doors in the Philippines six years ago (they celebrated their sixth anniversary last month), it was just the resource I needed. However, despite their strong presence here, I never could quite bring myself to do the other steps, apart from double cleansing (makeup oil remover, followed by foam cleanser), toning, applying eye cream, moisturizer, and SPF. Occasionally, I’ll exfoliate and when the mood strikes, I’ll wear a mask. But facial massage, emulsions, essences, serums, and eye serums? I’d rather put on my night cream and hope for the best. 

This might explain why Stella Kim, the training manager for the TFS overseas market, was a little baffled when I mentioned that I didn’t use an essence (or a serum) during our interview in Samcheonggak, a small mountainside resort in Seoul. It was the second day of my three-day trip to South Korea, sponsored by TFS, where they presented their Arsainte Eco-Therapy Serum. Our actual conversation is as follows:

“Oh, what do you buy if essence is not really popular (in the Philippines)? You prefer a serum?”

“Um, in the Philippines, we just cleanse, tone, and moisturize.”

“Oh, really? In Korea, we normally use two to three different serums!”

Once she got over the initial shock of my revelation, Kim went on to explain the importance of serums and essences: “Toner and moisturizer, they actually protect and function on the very outer skin. Serum is a concentrated essence. It goes very deep inside your skin — in the dermis — so that’s why if you have any skin problem, like wrinkles, lines, sagging skin, essence is the key — not any other stuff.” That certainly changed my mind about Korean skincare products.

The Natural Story

When TFS first launched in 2003 in the Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, it was the first Korean cosmetic company committed to nature. Their brand essence is “high-quality cosmetics made with ingredients from nature,” such as flowers, grains, plants, fruits, mineral water, and oriental herbs from the brand’s very own organic farm to nourish and revitalize the skin. The Arsainte Eco-Therapy Serum is both a natural and organic product that follows the seven-free system, meaning it is free from parabens, artificial colorants, alcohol, ingredients extracted from animals, Benzophenone (used to prevent sunburn, it raises concerns about generating too many free radicals in the body), Triethanolamine (found in most hypoallergenic products, it causes irritation, dryness, and is potentially toxic and carcinogenic), and mineral oil (petroleum-based and causes premature skin aging and acne).

Made for those with dry and sensitive skin, Arsainte Eco-Therapy Serum is also known as the Golden Ring Serum because the product’s essential oils — golden palm oil and macadamia nut oil — settle on top of the serum’s base, which is comprised of 100-percent-natural bamboo extracts, hyaluronic acid, and natural moisturizing agents. To use, simply shake the bottle and apply with a cotton pad. You can use it after your toner and before your essence, serum, and moisturizer because the product acts as a “booster serum,” meaning it aids the absorption of your existing essence, whether it is for whitening, anti-aging, etc.

Kim’s product introduction also included a demonstration of the Arasainte Eco-Therapy Aromatherapy Facial Massage, which consists of five steps:

1. Using all your fingers, stroke down from your forehead to your temples. Repeat three times.

2. Lightly press on your temples for three to four seconds.

3. Using all your fingers, press for three to four seconds on your eyes, cheeks, and chin.

4. Lightly tap your face using your fingers (also called “piano tapping”).

5. Using both your palms, swipe your face from the center to the side. Repeat three times.

A “Kerker” Convert

Our trip to Seoul was also for the launch of the nine Face Shop Top Girls from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand, in Fradia, a beautiful waterfront event space that literally floats over the Hangang River. Representing the Philippines was the lovely, lithe, and tall 23-year-old Monalyn Luna, who impressed popular Korean comedian and event host Kim Seong Won with her radiant skin and poised, pageant-ready answers. It was no surprise that the Philippine Airlines flight attendant beat out thousands of other Filipinas who applied to be the TFS Top Girl Philippines and 3,000 won (P15,000), a media tour in South Korea, and the privilege of becoming TFS Philippines’ official ambassador for one year. Look out for her standees and other promotional material in TFS stores nationwide. ?

Also gracing the event were global TFS ambassador Kim Hyun Joong (who currently represents the brand in 22 countries) and TFS Korea endorser Kim Bo Reum. Kim Hyun Joong first gained international popularity when he appeared in the Korean soap Boys Over Flowers (Boys over what?). I have no interest whatsoever in Koreanovelas, but I will say this: I don’t normally like boys who are prettier than me, but his beauty was oddly mesmerizing. As for Kim Bo Reum, I’ve grown immune to looking at girls who are prettier than me, but her immaculate skin, hair, and body made me want to jump out over Fradia’s protective rails and into the Hangang River. Whatever TFS products they’re using, I’m buying. Fortunately, I received a bottle of Arsainte Eco-Therapy Serum that Kim Hyun Joong uses over his makeup and after removing it, apart from applying morning and night. Apparently it healed his dry skin that had been damaged by heavy makeup and harsh studio lights. (So help me, I’m taking skincare advice from a dude.)

If I needed any more convincing that The Face Shop and the 12-step Korean skincare system were the key to perfect skin and preventing aging, they were it. Thankfully, I don’t have to go back to Korea to get started.

* * *

The Face Shop Arsainte Eco-Therapy Serum will be available this August at TFS stores nationwide.