A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called “perfect skin” seems more attainable than ever.

Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you.

But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm – either physically or mentally?

Guests

Dr. Sarah Sung, The Perq Dermatology

Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin and The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry

Related Links

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic

The Classist Implications of ‘Bad Skin’ - Jaya Saxena, Racked


The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry- Dazed

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called &ldquo;perfect skin&rdquo; seems more attainable than ever. Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you. But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm &ndash; either physically or mentally? Guests
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drsarahsung/">Dr. Sarah Sung</a>, The Perq Dermatology
Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of <a href="https://arabellesicardi.substack.com/">You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-house-of-beauty-lessons-from-the-image-industry-arabelle-sicardi/51510cd8198e11f5">The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry</a> Related Links
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/skin-care-secret-wealth/579337/">The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich</a> - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190322195347/https://www.racked.com/2018/4/12/17169846/bad-skin-classist">The Classist Implications of &lsquo;Bad Skin&rsquo;</a> - Jaya Saxena, Racked 
<a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/68934/1/the-house-of-beauty-arabelle-sicardi-exposes-the-dark-side-of-the-industry">The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry</a> - Dazed Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside

The way to get "perfect" skin for all? "An unbothered existence, universal healthcare and a billion dollars."