The Real Reason Koreans Have Amazing Skin - and How You Can, Too

Tweet

Buffer

Korean skin care has made its way into the lives of many Americans, and no one knows this better than Soko Glam founder Charlotte Cho. The California native spent five years living in Seoul, South Korea, learning the ins and outs of Korean beauty before launching her online shop, where she sells curated Asian beauty products. The site also doubles as a go-to blog for all things K-beauty. Now she's taken that knowledge and turned it into an addicting read - The Little Book of Skin Care: Korean Beauty Secrets For Healthy, Glowing Skin.

If you devoured her book in a few days, like I did, then you probably ended up buying a couple of sheet masks (from Soko Glam, obvi) and vowed to start a more diligent skin care routine. If you didn't read her book yet, you haven't missed out on any important secrets, because we had the chance to chat with Charlotte at her NYC book launch. The certified esthetician touched on skin care mistakes, myths, and even recommended some of her favorite products. And ladies, she really knows her sh*t.

POPSUGAR: What made you decide to write a book on Korean skin care?

Charlotte Cho: I was not planning on writing [a book] because I was in the middle of esthetician school and doing Soko Glam. I didn't have any time and I didn't think about it, but a literary agency reached out to me and said that Korean beauty is getting more and more popular, we love your blog, and think you have the perfect voice. We ended up working on a proposal and a lot of publishers out there wanted this book and thought it was something people would want to read.

PS: A common advice is to "drink lots of water" for glowing skin. Is this actually true?

CC: Drinking water is great for your overall well-being, but it doesn't necessarily hydrate your skin. Your body doesn't hydrate from the inside out. That's why you need to apply topical products that have humectants, an ingredient that brings nourishment and binds moisture to your skin. That's the only way you'll see results for a dewy glow.