beauty
Asia was doing face shapewear long before Skims
Image: Skims In late July 2025, Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line Skims released a new product that, like many of its garments, promises to shape and offer support — except this time, it was for the face. The item, currently sold out online, retails for $48 and looks...
Can you clear your acne with Chinese face mapping?
I’ve struggled with acne for most of my life. At different points in time, my acne flare-ups would appear in different places on my face, seeming to follow a predictable pattern: When I used heavy conditioners on my hair, I’d inevitably get acne around my hairline....
Can this French skincare product replace your cleanser?
When I first moved to the Netherlands and discovered how hard (and, therefore, drying to my skin) the water was, I was told by a local hairstylist that many Dutch women skip the tap altogether and cleanse their faces only using micellar water. As evidence of her...
The K-beauty ingredient that could replace your retinol
Let’s face it: Aging is inevitable — or at least we should all hope so. A few wrinkles and lines are a sign of a life well-lived, something we should all aspire to have. With that said, there’s no harm in trying to preserve your skin for as long as possible by using...
The DIY hair growth hack passed down for generations in China
Some of the best beauty tips are the ones that have been passed down for generations, like K-beauty’s ginseng, an anti-aging ingredient that’s been applied to the skin for hundreds of years. The same could (maybe) be said of rice water. In Asia, the cloudy, starchy...
How saunas can help (or hurt) your skin
When it comes to skincare, there are countless ways to smooth, tighten, and moisturize your way to a glowing complexion. You can zap red lights at your forehead to reduce wrinkles, or you can slather on the K-beauty staple ginseng to refresh dull skin. And, if you...
Can an African net sponge replace your exfoliants? How it banishes dull, dry skin
Skin exfoliants run the gamut from sugar scrubs to acids, promising to banish dullness and dry patches. Many of these products come in pricey little bottles that only last a few months before needing to be replenished. But if you ask many women in West Africa, there’s...