Marker 01

Marker 02

In 2015, journalist Elise Hu moved to South Korea to open the NPR Seoul bureau. During her time in South Korea, she witnessed the rise of K-beauty culture or “Korean beauty.”

K-beauty encompasses a multitude of beauty treatments. It doesn’t just include luxury skincare lines, and expensive facemasks; there's also LED light therapy, injections, fillers, and a myriad of options for plastic surgery.

These procedures are becoming an increasingly normal part of daily life in South Korea, but also in the United States. They are also more accessible than ever to anyone that wants to change the way they look.

Although some are starting to question the pursuit of keeping up with today’s beauty standards, this multibillion dollar beauty industry isn't going away.

Today, Elise Hu joins us on Where We Live to talk about her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.

We talk about the pursuit and pain of keeping up with today’s beauty standards.

GUEST:
Elise Hu: host of TED Talks Daily and also a host-at-large for NPR. She is the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital

In 2015, journalist <a href="https://elisehu.com/">Elise Hu</a> moved to South Korea to open the NPR Seoul bureau. During her time in South Korea, she witnessed the rise of K-beauty culture or “Korean beauty.”
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/k-beauty-the-exhausting-skin-care-regimen-that-may-be-worth-the-effort-1459970031">K-beauty encompasses a multitude of beauty treatments.</a> It doesn’t just include luxury skincare lines, and expensive facemasks; there's also LED light therapy, injections, fillers, and a myriad of options for plastic surgery.
These procedures are becoming an increasingly normal part of daily life in South Korea, but also in the United States. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshwilson/2023/01/18/cosmetic-surgery-is-on-the-rise-with-technology-and-hollywood-is-at-the-centre-of-it/?sh=23dffb3a1d91">They are also more accessible than ever to anyone that wants to change the way they look.</a>
Although some are starting to question the pursuit of keeping up with today’s beauty standards, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/the-beauty-market-in-2023-a-special-state-of-fashion-report">this multibillion dollar beauty industry isn't going away.</a>
Today, Elise Hu joins us on Where We Live to talk about her book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667034/flawless-by-elise-hu/">Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.</a>
We talk about the pursuit and pain of keeping up with today’s beauty standards.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Elise Hu: host of TED Talks Daily and also a host-at-large for NPR. She is the author of<a href="https://elisehu.com/flawless/"> Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital</a></li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.