There’s a reason that some of the latest and greatest products and treatments in the beauty world hit big in Asia before we even hear about them in the US—Asian women don’t mess around when it comes to their skin. That’s why we spoke with Kennis Fu of Hong Kong’s premier medical spa, Per Face, to find out what skincare cues we should take from the east.
“The market is different in Asia and in America. In the US people like tan skin,” says Fu, who adds that most Asian women are mainly in the market for whitening and anti-aging treatments. Among these treatments, Per Face uses SkinCeuticals Advanced Laser Treatment—a laser that targets the skin’s melanin to lighten and brighten dull and hyperpigmented skin.
But above all, Asian women go out of their way to protect their skin from harmful UV rays. “Asian women hide from the sun for anti-aging purposes and to keep their fair skin,” says Fu. “We all know the sun damages the skin—it’s our biggest enemy.”
Even Fu’s eight-year-old daughter is well aware of the importance of sunscreen and wears it on a daily basis. “There’s a smaller percentage of skin cancer in Asia because we don’t like to go in the sun and we start wearing sunblock very young.” The most popular sunscreen sold at Per Face is SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 ($32).
And it’s not just sunscreen that they start applying at an early age; they also start entire skincare routines young. For example, Fu’s daughter already uses cleanser and night creams.
Because Asian women take a preventative approach to their skin starting from a very early age, it pays off in the long run. Fu says that most women don’t see a single wrinkle until they’re in their 40s.
