Netflix’s Squid Game toppled all blockbuster shows, garnered record-breaking streaming numbers and made the cast members a household name. Squid Game’s skilled pickpocketer Sae-Byeok aka HoYeon Jung became unfathomably famous, not only because of her acting prowess but also her natural beauty. A celebrated top model and actress in South Korea, Jung represents Korean beauty at its finest with her glass-like skin. Want to know the secrets to her enviable complexion? Keep reading as we unravel the skincare routine of HoYeon Jung as well as her beauty tips for flawless, dewy skin.
Did you know that Jung was Korea’s top model before making her acting debut? From working with A-listers like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, as well as Fendi, gracing covers of prestigious magazines to minting brand ambassadorship deals with luxury skincare and cosmetic brands including Lancôme– the actress has scored plenty with her gorgeous skin and svelte figure. Here’s all you need to know.
HoYeon Jung skincare: Her secret to achieving Korean glass skin
The K-drama star has a simple, minimalistic approach to skincare which was inspired by her mother. What’s even better is that all the products in her vanity are budget-friendly and you can emulate her routine without burning a hole in your pocket. HoYeon Jung has spilt her skincare secrets in multiple interviews. She stresses that the key to good skin is taking care of yourself inside and outside. Her skincare is accompanied by healthy lifestyle habits like drinking lots of water, being particular about your diet and most importantly, abiding by a fitness regime.
She uses facial massage techniques to reduce puffiness
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Face massages are great for reducing puffiness as well as imparting a healthy glow by increasing blood circulation. HoYeon Jung uses her fingers to massage her face. She uses her thumbs to massage the brow bones in an outward motion and goes towards the temples.
The benefits of a facial massage are as follows:
- Boosts blood circulation to give a healthy glow
- Helps in the smooth and even application of skincare products
- Reduces puffiness as well as skin inflammation
- Evens out fine lines, wrinkles as well as boosting collagen
- Alleviates tension and stress
There are many good quality Jade face rollers and Gua Sha tools, curated especially to soothe your face muscles. If not, you can always use your fingers for a deep massage.
HoYean Jung preps her lips and uses anti-stress oil
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The actor uses a moisturising lip balm to pucker her lips before applying any lipstick or lip liner. She blots out her lip balm with a tissue to remove excess product before starting her makeup. Jung’s holistic approach to skincare also includes applying an anti-stress oil behind her ears instead of perfume. Given the hectic and gruelling schedules of South Korean stars, an anti-stress oil works wonders in managing such a hectic lifestyle.
Clearly, Jung’s key to radiant skin is maintaining inner peace and a stress-free lifestyle. In a conversation with Lancôme (via South China Morning Post), she emphasised that true beauty comes from feeling happy and at peace with oneself. She has also mentioned in past interviews that she practices meditation and focuses on her breathing before sleeping, rather than indulging in screen time or reading books.
The actor begins her skincare with toner, essence and moisturiser
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HoYeon Jung starts off her skincare with a custom toner, essence, and moisturiser kit from Clinique Korea. All of which scream hydration. While toners smooth out the skin, essences deeply hydrate the skin’s barrier and finally a moisturiser creates a protective wall between the skin and makeup.
While we don’t know the exact details of the products Jung uses, you can opt for the Clinique 3-Step Introduction Kit which consists of a cleanser, a skin lotion, and a moisturiser. You can also customise your Clinique kit to target specific skin concerns. Pick your base and then choose what active ingredients you want in the formula to curate products specific to your skin needs.
If you also love a good dose of hydration like HoYeon Jung, let’s familiarise you with what ingredients you should look out for when choosing a skincare product. We spoke to Anna Flores, the founder and creator of the wellness and beauty cabin in Hong Kong named The Chaless. According to her, Hyaluronic acid serum binds and locks hydration to keep your skin moisturised throughout the day. She recommends products with ingredients like ceramides, glycerine, squalene, vitamin E as well as Niacinamide as they bind the moisture and hold your skin together.
Moreover, Anna suggests consuming natural fatty acids found in salmon, olive oil and avocado to help boost natural moisture in the skin.
Try the Clinique iD custom skincare here
Serums and eye creams are HoYeon Jung’s skincare favourites
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Serums are nothing but lightweight moisturisers with higher concentrations of ingredients directed at addressing a specific skin issue like pigmentation, wrinkles, and dark spots. Anna Flores strongly advocates using serums. “Serums are designed to protect, and guard our skin from free radicals, delay signs of ageing as well as boost the production of collagen,” she said.
They’re infused with brightening agents and added nutrients, minerals and vitamins to achieve healthy and glowing skin. When it comes to serums, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. Each serum is designed specifically to counter skin issues like pigmentation, wrinkles, sagging skin, acne skin, and lacklustre and drying skin among others.
Talking about her own skincare routine, Flores mentioned that she uses Hyaluronic Acid serum + niacinamide + Vitamin C in her AM routine. Meanwhile, for nighttime, she rotates Retinol every other day with a combination of my Vitamin C and Niacinamide.
HoYeon Jung religiously uses sheet masks
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If you follow K-beauty, you know sheet masks are a staple that every celebrity uses in their skincare. HoYeon Jung uses sheet masks before going to bed to soothe her skin when it feels extremely sensitive. Each sheet mask has its own target as well as benefits.
According to Flores, cotton masks, microfibres as well as bio-cellulose masks are bio-degradable with hyaluronic acid and have no chemicals. Fused with hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration, these masks are suitable for mask junkies and can be used daily. As for anti-ageing masks, Flores mentioned that they have glycolic acid and should be used not more than two to three times per week.
HoYeon Jung follows a ‘good shower’ hack for the skin
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Did you know there’s a ‘good shower’ for your skin? Well, Jung does. In an interview, she revealed a tip from her dermatologist, which was to hold the water from the shower in your hands first, and then wash your face with that. Because if you let the water from the shower hit your face directly, it can aggravate the skin. If you think about it, this actually makes a lot of sense.
While steam from the shower can be helpful for opening pores and loosening debris, you should always be careful not to let the water spray directly onto your face as the pressure may be too harsh. It’s best to wash your face separately from the rest of your body.
Anna recommends the ‘right’ cleanser to clean your face. “Dry skin should opt for a creamier cleanser to avoid stripping skin off its moisture. “I love to start with Thalgo Velvet Cleanser and twice a week I would do a mild facial exfoliation,” she added.
The skincare expert also suggests using a tinted moisturising sunscreen in your morning routine that doubles up as moisturiser and SPF.
That’s all for HoYeon Jung’s skincare and beauty tips!
(Hero and feature image credit: hoooooyeony/ Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is HoYeon Jung’s skincare routine?
HoYeon Jung has a very simple and minimal approach to skincare. She emphasises massaging and prepping the skin thoroughly with oil, essence, serum, sunscreen as well as toner. On days, she also uses sheet masks to give her skin an extra dose of hydration.
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Written by
Kriti Nayyar
Senior Digital Writer, Wellness, Culture, Astrology, Tech
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama, whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature & journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
