물광 (dewy skin) & more K-beauty language 🧴

While we were watching Kpop Demon Hunters officially enter the American zeitgeist through the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (seriously so cool to see how far they have come), we were thinking of what other Korean things have become relatively well-known, but maybe not well-understood in Western cultures.

Korean beauty products --  especially skin-care products!

The descriptions of how the products will make your skin feel, or how it will help your skin can provide a bunch of great language to bring to your everyday routine. 

Let's dive in!

Tokki does an 오이 마사지 (cucumber face mask) every night

First up, let's chat about the type of skin you may have, which would help determine what kind of products you'd be getting. 

The basic types are:

• 건성: dry skin
• 지성: oily skin
• 복합성: combination skin
• 민감성: sensitive skin
• 수부지: 수분 부족형 지성 (Oily skin that lacks moisture/is dehydrated inside)

At the end of the words is "성" which does not mean skin, but "nature" or "property". If you tack on "성" to the end of a verb, for instance, it can turn it into mean the nature of that verb or property of that verb. For example:

• 중요하다 (to be important) → 중요성 (importance)
• 필요하다 (to be necessary) → 필요성 (necessity)
• 안정하다 (to be stable) → 안정성 (stability)

Turning our attention to the products themselves, you'll find that quite a lot are actually Konglish/loanwords and are not too hard to pick up!

When you want to wash your face, most likely you'll use a type of cleansing foam. In Korean, that's "클렌징 폼" --  exactly the same. 

If you're wearing makeup, you might want some lip and eye remover. You guessed, you want: "립앤아이 리무버".

If you happen to shave (면도), you might want to get some shaving cream or foam for yourself. You can either get "면도 크림" (shaving cream, 쉐이빙 크림 can also work) or  "쉐이빙 폼" (shaving foam -- no one would say 면도 폼, though! 😂).

Layering toner (토너), lotion (로션), and essence (에센스 / 세럼 (for slightly thicker consistency)) can also be extremely time consuming, so you might prefer to look for 올인원 (all-in-one), to make it easier to do your nightly routine, especially if you are suffering from 귀차니즘 (귀찮다 = lazy, bothersome, annoying, or tedious + "-ism", a fun slang for being in a state of not wanting to do something)

Okay, so after you have done your entire routine, how would your skin look and feel?

I'll go through the most common descriptions for look and feel, then place more down below for you to peruse ☺️

Similar to English, Koreans like to have glowing skin, but there are multiple types of glowing skin. For instance:

• 물광 = 물 (water) + 광 (luster, shine, light, glow) = translucent, dewy, hydrated glow
• 윤광 = 윤 (luster, gloss) + 광 (glow) = softer, more elegant, and subdued sheen
• 광채 = 광 (light) + 채 (color, luster) = radiance

And for how your skin can feel:

• 촉촉하다 = to be moist
• 탄력 있다 = 탄력 (elasticity) + 있다 (to have) = skin that is firm and bouncy
• 탱탱하다 = bouncy 

What products do you use for your daily routine?🧴

How Skin Looks

Word Meaning Description 투명하다 Is Transparent / Clear Skin that is so clear, it appears transparent (used for extreme clarity). 맑다 Is Clear / Pure Skin tone that is bright, clean, and not dull (칙칙하지 않다). 생기 있다 Has Vitality / Is Lively Skin that looks healthy, vibrant, and energetic (활력). 매끈하다 Is Smooth Skin texture that is even and flawless (smooth like glass).

How Skin or Product Feels

Word Meaning Description 수분감 Moisture Sensation The feeling of moisture (수분), often used in positive product reviews. 부드럽다 Is Soft / Gentle Skin that feels delicate and supple to the touch. 산뜻하다 Is Fresh / Light A clean, refreshing feeling; the opposite of heavy or oily. 끈적임이 없다 Has No Stickiness Essential phrase for products that absorb quickly without a residue. 흡수가 잘 되다 Absorbs Well The product sinks into the skin quickly and effectively.