Flawless: Decoding the Fixable Face in K-Beauty and Beyond

Growing up, there were only three options for taking care of your skin: Noxema, Clarisol, or Oxy. Those were the products marketed to teenagers in the United States at the time, along with the advice to avoid greasy foods like pizza if you wanted to keep your skin clear. MTV and Seventeen ads reinforced the idea that your skin was a problem that could be fixed with these products. But what if they didn't work? Well, it was probably because you had chosen the wrong one.

After years of struggling with skin issues and countless trips to the dermatologist, some have finally discovered a skincare routine that involves using oil on their face. It might have surprised their younger self, but it brought about astonishing results with fewer zits. However, as soon as the worries about acne subsided, new concerns arose: lines, wrinkles, under-eye circles, sunspots, and freckles. It seemed like there was always something to fix, and that's exactly what companies wanted us to believe. After all, how would the economy thrive if we didn't think some part of us was broken and in need of consumption? Advertisers took advantage of our vulnerabilities, exposing us to insecurities we didn't even know existed.

In her book "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital of the World," Elise Hu sheds light on how this fixable face mentality has become ingrained in Korean culture and the economy. It's not exclusive to Korea though; K-Beauty offers a unique perspective through which we can better understand the demands of global beauty cultures.

Elise Hu, a Chinese-Taiwanese-American, embarked on a journey when she arrived in Seoul in 2015 as NPR's first South Korea bureau chief. In "Flawless," she takes us along as she familiarizes herself with the meticulous standards of K-Beauty culture, grapples with her own judgments, and navigates the challenges of parenting within this culture. This book is a delightful mix of personal narrative, cultural history, insightful analysis, and moments of introspection. If you share the same fascination and mixed feelings about beauty culture, particularly the world of serums, "Flawless" is a must-read that will captivate and inspire you.

You can find Elise Hu on Instagram here and you can buy "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital" here.