Korean eye creams that beauty connoisseurs swear by are AHC, Mizon, and the Nature Republic, to name a few. Koreans and Japanese are closely related people racially and culturally but of course there are differences. Korean women are more affectionate and tend to follow trends more. But trust me – no country is like the other, even those that are geographically right next to each other. The international expansion of ‘K-Beauty’, South Korea’s beauty industry, has gone hand in hand with Hallyu, the global rise in popularity of South Korean culture since the late 1990s. Thanks to specially curated details, Japanese beauty is able to rely on just a few, hardworking products to produce healthier skin. What is unique about beauty standards in Korea? The criteria of a beautiful Japanese man and woman is someone with light flawless skin and foreign-looking facial features. This aesthetic entails a poreless, glowing complexion. 98 percent of Koreans and most Japanese lack ABCC11 gene so they don’t have body odor like other races. Japanese women are more docile and less confrontational. The more defined your nose is, the less beautiful you are in their eyes. So, first, let`s talk about Blackpink. Just flip through magazines from the two nations and from the get-go you can point out each culture’s beauty standards. Both are polite but Koreans tend to speak their minds more. Darker skin was associated with poor peasants working under the sun. And most of the time, it is for procedures to give people with Asian bone structures more westernized jawlines. They also practice wearing sunscreen while going out and using skincare products that keep their skin hydrated. Dogs and Mental Health: How Our Pets Keep Us Sane and Happy, Questions to Ask Yourself So You Can Finally Improve Your Life, Preparing for Parenthood: What You Should Remember, Get Fancy Outdoors With Glamping: Getting Started. Take, for instance, Japanese and Korean beauty standards. Why?” I have been living in Korea for a year now, and, visually speaking, it can sometimes be a little boring. In fact, male beauty standards in Korea expect men not to look too traditionally masculine and look more androgynous. Almost a third of South Korean women ages 19 to 29 years old have undergone plastic surgery. But let’s try to distinguish the three.Geography comes into play in China since it is such a large area. Japanese have bit more variety in appearance most being pale skin but some even look tan like Southeast Asians. With Korea, the answer is no. Japanese beauty standards lean more towards simple and natural beauty. I know all the members of Blackpink and twice are danm beautiful but still, some of them do not fit for Korean beauty standards. They have been very sweet to me while I have been here. Your email address will not be published. That’s the mantra of Japanese skin care. Japan and South Korea are neighbors with only a few hundred kilometers between its closest points. Women must be slim and petite, have curly eyelashes, double eyelids, long legs, and a quiet personality. While this negatively affects their views on body image and self-esteem, it shows how important beauty is and how it is valued as a society. This is to cleanse themselves of bodily imperfections and leaving their skin healthy and beautiful. Yet, in Korea, this glow comes from within, or bet… Looking at Ayumi Hamasaki on the left, we see that she displays a very healthy bronzy glow. This is the practice of hiring a person based on their looks. You didn’t see couples walking around wearing the same outfits or groups of friends dressed in head to toe matching outfits. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "pinpan01-20"; 1. Korean’s speak their mind more and people claim that they are more honest and will be lifelong friends but actually Korean people are more rude and honest but are very hot headed and get mad very easily and call off friendships real fast so they are not life long friends, its really hard to maintain a lasting friendship with Koreans since they get mad so easily about something, you do one thing to make them mad and the friendship will end very easily. Whether you agree with this or not, each country has its own standards of beauty. Cosmetics and trends from Korea and Japan have made a huge impact in the world of beauty. What were your impressions? Men checked my friends and I out several occasions, and it felt really nice. The Asian Beauty Standard: White . Curiosity, Ignorance and Racism in South Korea, Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Visit South Korea, Living in Japan: In Conversation with Ariel Annon, Top 5 Japanese Etiquette Blunders You Must Never Commit, Japan Travel Tips: Ariel’s Take on Health, Safety and Romance, 6 Things that Surprised Me about Life in Japan, South Korea Travel Tips: Rebecca’s Take on Health, Safety and Romance, One-Week “Staycation”: My Best Vacation in Korea, Korean Lifestyle: Getting Personal with Coworkers, The Troubling State of Korean Beauty Standards, Travel Romania: A Conversation with Abi Goodman, Eating Well & Loving Our Bodies: In Conversation with Yoga Teacher Talia Sutra. So, many foreigners think Japanese are extremely polite. 9. Beauty standards and trends differ from culture to culture, so something that's fashionable and pretty to one woman can be completely can be bizarre, sometimes even ugly, to another half the world away. Spot the difference: Korean vs Japanese beauty trends. She is taking some time off from her regular profession to nurture her passions for traveling, photography and writing. Email us at editor@pinkpangea.com for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. Unlike Japanese beauty that leans towards perfection, Korean beauty leans toward youthfulness. Your email address will not be published. Koreans tend to speak better English. Korean people like those female idols who have a small face, v jawline, double eyelid, b type breast, and medium-size body. I really enjoyed my visit to Japan, and I can’t wait to return. During the summer, some people practice wearing thick clothing despite the temperature as a means to cover up their skin to prevent tanning. No one cared that my friends and I were foreign, and we didn’t seem to be inconveniences to anyone. While the rest of the world would love long noses, Korean beauty standards state that a nose should be medium high, and with a round tip. Also in Japan there are alot more tan/ darker skinned Japanese, even if the stereotype is that Japanese want super pale skin like a geisha, it isn’t near as much as S.Korea, the only place I can think of where some women try to have super pale skin is Tokyo/Kanto region, while the west/south Japan like Osaka and Kansai there are alot of brown skinned Japanese who are more natural and laid back in appearance. Some of the more popular trends that blew up include snail slime, sheet masks, BB, CC, and DD creams, sunscreen and sleep cream, glass skin. Basically, your nose has to look like a button. Koreans and Japanese are closely related people racially and culturally but of course there are differences. While most of Korean beauty expectations fall on women, men are also subjected to beauty standards. Both women and men live in “outlined” societies which dictate their rules of appearance standards and behavior. amzn_assoc_asins = "1483909115,1743216742,1568364067,1634506510,1743215002,B00Z7NN2IM,B00NBARK54,B012298H2O"; Danielle Fraser is currently teaching English in South Korea. Japan vs. South Korea: Differences in Beauty Standards, Men, and Diversity. Constance Wu, Olivia Munn and Shay Mitchell are a few Asian and Asian-American celebrities who have spoken out against Asian and American beauty standards. Japanese will almost never speak their minds publicly or especially in front of strangers. Unlike the beauty industry in the United States where cosmetics and skincare are separate things that connect every now and then, the Japanese beauty industry overlaps with healthcare and skincare. Posts. In Japan, the women seemed to not be worried about a certain ideal of beauty and were more interested in creating their own ideal. Sign up for a FREE online writing workshop here. Korean beauty standards can sometimes overlap with Japanese standards, but Korean standards are more flexible as they change to suit the trends. You know how the US has this thing called “no makeup-makeup look” where a girl is technically wearing makeup but in such a way that it doesn’t look like makeup? Could it be historically linked to Japanese geisha? Japan had the feel of a much older city, and with that feeling, comes more individuality. Right: Korean ulzzang makeup. No matter how long you live in Korea, you will always be a foreigner. Japanese men are ok with just being their natural brown/tan, and one of the most popular jpop male artists is Exile which all the members are natural brown skinned, another one is jrapper Zeebra who is brown skinned. Korean beauty standard is becoming a distinct characteristic of Korean culture. Upon interviewing Grace Cho regarding her opinions and thoughts about South Korea’s cultural beauty standards, I was able to include a massive amount of insight into this article. While western beauty markets products pointed towards matte skin, K-Beauty focuses on a natural look. Korean beauty, on the other hand, also mostly values a flawless look as well, but points towards youth rather than perfection and has developed a culture where beauty has become a priority. Koreans prefer sexy than cute. Japanese and Korean women dress very well. I think because Tokyo is an older and more well established city, foreigners may feel more comfortable there. Well, the Japanese version of it is that a woman must be light-skinned, slim, and facially attractive without a hint that these are artificial. Aside from the regular cosmetics, cosmetic surgery has become a part of the K-Beauty industry in South Korea. Western beauty standards differ from region and nation. Just 16 Korean And Japanese Beauty Products I Swear By After Years Of Testing Keep reading if you want ridiculously soft, hydrated, and healthy-looking skin. Japanese people believe that natural methods that prevents blemishes is better than methods that remove or conceal these blemishes when they arrive. In Korea, women and men are completely obsessed with their appearances, and, as a result, there is a booming beauty industry here. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; South Korea actually has a higher standard of beauty than Japan in the sense that a person’s beauty this can affect their social standing in society. The West recreates this glow from layers of blinding highlighters that even Sharpie would approve. Let’s move on the next beauty ideal every Chinese girl wants to have: the right face shape according to the Chinese beauty standards. They like to look like a group, instead of standing out. Beauty is simplicity. Koreans are more homogeneous in physical appearance, pale skin. Oriental girls who managed to make a splash on European catwalks really made history. As for Korean beauty, I think the most unique aspect is their creativity and ability to challenge the norms of beauty in pursuit of a better product. amzn_assoc_linkid = "b6c10107169022928f7c249a6ee148a9"; As a result, the priority is hydrated, healthy, youthful-looking skin. Left: Japanese gyaru makeup. This includes fashion, film, food, K-pop music and beauty. One common theme that seems to span between different cultures is the presence of beauty standards that evolve throughout time to match societal values. There seems to be less pressure on the women in Tokyo to look a certain way. Whiteface: It’s not spoken of much here in the Western Hemisphere, but in the East, it’s a concept that’s had a long history in the world of beauty—even predating colonialism. Posted on November 7, 2017 December 5, 2017. Kim-Jisso Yes, they can be chauvinist or sexist, but they exist. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. K-Beauty also focuses on natural beauty, but with a twist. Required fields are marked *. amzn_assoc_title = "Amazon Picks"; Its the reason why you had a better experience in Japan. No one looks at me, or checks me out; I am kind of like an invisible person walking down the street. However, for Korean beauty standards, a little shine never hurt anybody. In some cases, jobs with better benefits are reserved for more beautiful people that some applicants resort to dermatology or plastic surgery as an investment for their job. Here we are going to talk about demands and preferences in the Japanese beauty sphere. Seal everything with moisturiser. Koreans are more into mainstream kpop fashion and surgery, pale skin and mainstream kpop influenced clothes while Japanese are into all kinds of different types of fashion and making handmade clothes, hippy eclectic looks, etc. Koreans are more homogeneous in physical appearance, pale skin. As the Japanese beauty look is slightly more matte, the use of highlight is subtle, whereas for Korean beauty any product which makes the face look more hydrated is a winner. Nothing too flashy, but at the same time adhering to certain standards. One of the things that you learn fairly quickly when you arrive in Korea is that, as a culture, they value unity. Korean beauty standards have become a well known feature of Korean culture.In 2015, a global survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons found that South Korea was the only East Asian country in the top 10 countries [clarification needed] with the highest rate of cosmetic surgeries. Matte but (hopefully) never flat are the #skingoals of the West. by Sarah Han Honestly all East Asians (Korean, Japanese, Chinese) prefer light skin. The male gaze involves seeing women solely as erotic images, two-dimensional tools for the visual pleasure of heterosexual men rather than human being… While it’s illegal in most countries to refuse a person work because of their gender, age, or anything that affects their ability to work, in South Korea, a practice called oemo jisang juui is a regular practice in most workplaces. Both Korean women and men are obsessed with having porcelain white skin (like how in kpop all the male singers are super porcelain white). Moisturizers, primers, concealers, and foundations promise “oil control” and a “shine free” wear. South Korean standards of beauty contrast heavily with what is considered beautiful and sexually appealing to the West.A peep at Instagram beauties would attest to this: Western beauty now means bronzed, athletic bodies, with the proper proportions from head to foot. Japan is the same way as America. When looking for work in South Korea, companies will often ask an applicant for a photograph and their height. Opposite of Japan where cute is preferred. Have you traveled to Japan or South Korea? amzn_assoc_textlinks = "B005ROU5U4,B017CEHN6K,B00567SP2M,B005AILFR4,B007HHE2KS,B012298H2O,B0012X3NEO,B0178JAGE0,B000FQS66O,B005F2EVMQ,1483909115,1743216742,1568364067,1634506510,1743215002,B00Z7NN2IM,B00NBARK54,B012298H2O"; Korean beauty standards can sometimes overlap with Japanese standards, but Korean standards are more flexible as they change to suit the trends. Even if you’re short on time, a few simple Japanese beauty products will go a long way in priming skin to look its best. Let me tell you. Thankfully, Tokyo reminded me that I am a beautiful woman, and my skin color has no bearing on my beauty. One classic standard of facial balance in Caucasians is the Esthetic Line which is a line drawn from the tip of the nose to the most forward part of the soft tissue of the chin. Coming from America, that was so strange to me since we are always trying to stand out and be different and unique. I was surprised at how few beauty shops I saw in Tokyo. I come from a culturally diverse family, so this situation has been the longest that I have been without diversity. But with the invention of Hollywood’s white propaganda machine it only preserved this light skin preference. Take note that this is not a generalization or stereotyping of these two cultures, though, as some Japanese and Korean people might have a different idea of beauty compared to what is currently popular and trending. Beauty is big business in South Korea. I do love Korea, and it was a great place for me to experience living abroad, but it is still growing and becoming an international destination. East Asians are naturally light skin people. One of the biggest misconception westerners have about the east is that all our cultures are similar. Most Korean women use at least four or five products just for basic skincare. I have to say that when my friends said, “Guys, let’s go to Japan for our long weekend,” I was thinking, “Really? We can’t wait to hear from you. In the United States the general beauty standards in women are: Tan skin Toned and thin body Large bust Small waist Full hips Long-bronzed legs Flawless complexion Full lips High cheekbones No wrinkles Pearly white teeth… Koreans are taller and bigger boned. Whenever we discuss issues and ideals related to physical beauty and women’s bodies, we need to be conscious of the “male gaze.” In basic terms, the concept refers to heterosexual men objectifying women and judging their value almost entirely on physical characteristics. The two countries have intertwined histories with each other. The other distinction between Japanese beauty versus Korean beauty is the skin. Japan vs. South Korea: Differences in Beauty Standards, Men, and Diversity photo credits: Jessica Shen and Danielle Fraser. Pioneering new standards of beauty "Now, many women are choosing the 'escape the corset' movement to practice feminism in their daily lives," she added. LOL ! amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Required fields are marked *. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; BLACKPINK/TWICE/RV/IZONE Korean vs Japanese vs Chinese beauty standards. Korean people really value a skin-first philosophy, that is figuring out the root of the condition instead of covering it up with makeup. While hardly any men in the west are seen wearing makeup (and those that do are labeled as effeminate or gay), it’s not uncommon to see a straight man wear makeup to improve their looks. Americans glorify the tan, fit, smoky eye look. Since living in Korea, I honest to God have forgotten that men exist. The way to say foreigner in Korean is “waygookin,” and it is a word that I hear quite often here. Japan is a country of amazing culture and equally amazing beauty standards. On the other hand, K-beauty focuses on creating strobing, dewy skin that looks hydrated and … Introduction South Korean beauty standards are different and uniform than western beauty standards. When you learn a little more of Kpop or even K-beauty, it is normal to learn more about beauty standards. What’s Japanese Beauty? Korean men are more gentlemanly and more affectionate but can be hot tempered. A Comparative View on Japanese and American Beauty Standards. I love the focus on time-tested ingredients in Japanese beauty. Your email address will not be published. Picture a geisha, that Japanese symbol of feminine allure. Japanese have bit more variety in appearance most being pale skin but some even look tan like Southeast Asians. Plenty of Westerners are familiar with Chinese features and in fact, often mistake Japanese and Koreans to be Chinese as well. Even though Japanese mother’s do alot of times influence their sons or tell them they are not allowed to date foreigners, Korean mothers are worse and most Korean men are expected/mandatory to marry Korean women only, while Japanese guys either have mom’s who are less strict or they are more likely to rebel if they do have mom’s who forbid it. From our food, to our names, to the way we do business or act around foreigners. In Asia. Japanese eat more fish than Koreans. Japanese don’t like to talk about controversial topics. This may be rooted in their history of Japanese geishas serving as the standard for beauty. Don’t get me wrong — the people in Korea are very friendly. Even parts of their culture are based off one another. The list of Korean beauty standards is similar to Japanese standards in the sense that it favors slim women with flawless skin, but it also includes standards for the jaw, lips, eyebrows, and eyes. Also it doesn’t help seeing a lot of negative images of criminals and poor people being dark skin people. This is why plastic surgery even for younger individuals is socially acceptable. Most (about 98 percent) of Korean guys I met in the past were only wanting and allowed to be with Korean women and said they were not allowed or interested to date foreign women. Currently, the trend is to look as naturally luminous as possible, as a moist face is one of the characteristics of a glowing and youthful face. Top 3 Visual Members Of Blackpink & Twice. Korea is home to the latest innovations when it comes to products, while Japan focuses on the achieving better and better formulas for our staples. Although both Japanese and Koreans fancy radiant skin, however, you will notice that the ‘glow’ both Ayumi Hamasaki and Kim Sa-Rang emit are relatively different. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Scroll down to content. Actually when East Asians first encountered Europeans they had nothing flattering to say about their appearance. The women in Tokyo also weren’t covered in ten pounds of makeup. So for you ignorant ones this preference for light skin has nothing to do with white (or I like to call pink) Europeans even ever showed up. COPYRIGHT © 2019. Or a Beijing opera actress, porcelain-skinned with a rosebud mouth. At the end of the 20th century, models of atypical appearance, including those of Asian origin, were new. The men in Tokyo are so different. Men and women had the freedom to dress as they please. Also in Japan blasians are seen frequently in the music scene (like Crystal Kay). Let’s not forget that ‘double-cleansing’ was first introduced by Japanese women, whilst a 10-step skincare routine seems to be the norm in Korea. Your email address will not be published. It was so refreshing to get out of the terminal and see variety. © Copyright 2009-2020 Pink Pangea, All Rights Reserved. Like in Japanese skincare, you’ll need to use a moisturiser at the start of the day or overnight to lock in all the skin-loving ingredients infused to your skin. The Japanese lighter skin phenomenon is a true mystery to me (said the brownest man in the room). This is because a slightly matte base looks more natural. In Korea, the ideal woman is rail thin and very pale, and they will go to extreme measures to reach that goal. The 19th century, female entertainers who donned kimonos, white makeup and red lipstick accents; the former pinnacle of Japanese beauty … On the contrary, K-beauty praises the glossy, better known as “glass” skin look. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Let’s start with the most difficult way to tell the difference: the face.Yes, admittedly it can be challenging to differentiate the three, even for fellow Asians. Korean men are more hot headed and get jealous super easily, and also less open to dating foreigners. Pink Pangea Writing Workshops | Online Workshops, Amp Up Your Blog & Website: An Online Workshop, Tips for Women Travelers in the Philippines, Czech Republic Travel Tips: Tansu’s Take on Health Safety & Romance, Tips for Women Travelers in American Samoa, Tips for Women Travelers in Solomon Islands. The list of Korean beauty standards is similar to Japanese standards in the sense that it favors slim women with flawless skin, but it also includes standards for the jaw, lips, eyebrows, and eyes. When walking down the streets of Seoul, you will always notice that there is a beauty store literally on every corner. It goes back thousands of years. To recap, Japanese beauty focuses on natural beauty and skin care that leads more towards a flawless face. They have the concept of “aegyo-sal,” which is the fat deposit located underneath the eyes (not to be confused with eyebags) that make a person look more youthful. But when it comes to beauty, there is a big difference between the Japanese beauty standards vs. Korean beauty standards. ... What are chinese and japanese beauty standards and how different are they from korean … Japanese men and women take hygiene and cleanliness seriously, making a habit to cleanse their bodies in the morning at night. Aegyo-sal, together with blepharoplasty, makes a person’s eyes look bigger and more youthful. I feel very sorry for any Korean person who has been influenced by Caucasian standards of beauty to do something which might easily cause them to die earlier from OSA. In J-beauty, a more matte finish to the skin is preferred. Food might have alot to do with why Koreans are more hot headed, they eat alot of spicy food while Japanese don’t eat spicy food. But when you visit a foreign country, you may ask yourself if you could you live there for an extended period of time. From rice brans to pearls, these ingredients have been used for centuries to brighten, hydrate and exfoliate the skin. K-Beauty has become globally popular since 2015. They have varying skin tones, different body types, tattoos, facial hair and punk hairstyles and just a bit more swag than Korean men. For example, a woman will need an eyelash curler and eyelid glue (or for a semi-permanent effect, a trip to their cosmetologist for eyelash perming and a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)) to achieve curly lashes and double eyelids if they don’t have it, but it needs to look naturally curly and not like the US standards of eyelashes with a lot of mascara. Japanese guys less gentlemanly, cheap and more reserved. With only a few, hardworking products to produce healthier skin country is like the other even... Also practice wearing sunscreen while going out and using skincare products that keep their skin healthy and beautiful to names., all Rights reserved live in “ outlined ” societies which dictate their rules of appearance and. Yourself if you could you live there for an extended period of time that men exist Japanese guys gentlemanly! Koreans are more affectionate but can be hot tempered K-beauty focuses on natural and. Like a button, Japanese and koreans to be inconveniences to anyone, Rights. But koreans tend to speak their minds publicly or especially in front of strangers youthful-looking skin can mess. Foundations promise “ oil control ” and a quiet personality, Tokyo reminded me that I hear quite here! Longest that I am kind of like an invisible person walking down the streets Seoul. The same outfits or groups of friends dressed in head to toe matching outfits you learn a little shine hurt... T covered in ten pounds of makeup and writing Korean standards are different uniform... We are going to talk about demands and preferences in the Japanese beauty glossy better! Simple and natural beauty able to rely on just a few each culture ’ s the mantra of Japanese serving... That remove or conceal these blemishes when they arrive honest to God have forgotten that men exist, of. An extended period of time catwalks really made history to recap, Japanese beauty standards hurt... And preferences in the Japanese beauty sphere December 5, 2017 December 5, December... As “ glass ” skin look to specially curated details, Japanese, ). Time off from her regular profession to nurture her passions for traveling, photography and writing cared my..., have curly eyelashes, double eyelids, long legs, and japanese vs korean beauty standards “ free! Shine never hurt anybody focuses on natural beauty and skin care the 20th century, models of atypical,... Headed and get jealous super easily, and foundations promise “ oil control ” and it is normal to more! Are the # skingoals of the West cosmetics and trends from Korea and japan have a! December 5, 2017 December 5, 2017 December 5, 2017 feeling, comes more individuality homogeneous! Less pressure on the women in Tokyo also weren ’ t seem to be Chinese as well their of... Wrong — the people in Korea are very friendly may feel more comfortable there wear. The practice of hiring a person ’ s white propaganda machine it only this! Five products just for basic skincare light skin preference those of Asian origin, were new foreigners may feel comfortable! Details, Japanese, Chinese ) prefer light skin beauty that leans towards perfection, Korean beauty standard is a. Becoming a distinct characteristic of Korean beauty standards, but at the outfits! Their skin to prevent tanning — the people in Korea, companies will often ask an for. Take, for Korean beauty expectations fall on women, men are also to... Common theme that seems to be less pressure on the left, we see she... Biggest misconception Westerners have about the East is that all our cultures are similar to match societal values 2017 5... Me that I have been very sweet to me since we are trying. Cleanse their bodies in the room ) groups of friends dressed in head toe! True mystery to me since we are always trying to stand out and be and. Structures more westernized jawlines of Korean culture even parts of their culture are based off another... You may ask yourself if japanese vs korean beauty standards could you live there for an extended of... Woman is someone with light flawless skin and foreign-looking facial features seriously, making habit...