Podcasts about flawless lessons

About ten years ago, Elise Hu moved to Seoul, South Korea and took a deep dive into the world of K-Beauty culture. Elise is a journalist, podcaster, and the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. She is the host of TED Talks Daily, a co-host of Forever 35, a host-at-large for NPR, and the host of Accenture's award-winning Built for Change podcast. She is also the co-founder of the podcast production company Reasonable Volume. In today's conversation, Elise opens our eyes to South Korea's intense appearance expectations and how some of those same K-Beauty trends have now made their way into American culture. She discusses how the digital world is impacting beauty standards, including increasing the pressure on all of us to “optimize” our appearance, and how K-Beauty culture's emphasis on flawless skin has made its way into Western beauty culture in significant ways.Most importantly, Elise reminds us that beauty is so much bigger than societal standards and that our worth has nothing to do with our appearance. This is such an important episode; I can't wait for you to listen!Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we've been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of “Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry.” In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Elise shares the fascinating insights she's learned from years of studying the $10 billion K-beauty industry and the cutting-edge skincare, niche makeup products, and technology that promise to optimize our appearance. Elise and How to Be a Better Human host Chris Duffy talk about the real stakes of placing a premium on our looks, why a more inclusive version of “beauty” is worth pursuing, and how we can both enjoy and push back against the very human desire to feel beautiful. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts Get more How to Be a Better Human wherever you are listening to this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we go inside the delivery and construction of a popular TED Talk! Elise Hu gets real with us about the preparation and challenges that go into taking complex ideas and molding them to fit a tightly delivered speech.Elise is an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and ‌author based in Los Angeles. She's the host of TED Talks Daily, Accenture's Built for Change, and a co-host of Forever 35. And if that's not enough, she also co-founded the LA-based podcast production company, Reasonable Volume to work with brands and companies tell their stories better. She spent time at Vice News and NPR, serving as their first-ever Seoul bureu chief. She released her first book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital in 2023. Elise and I discuss: How to react when the audience response isn't what you expectedWhat goes into crafting an exceptional talk, tightly toldOur shared love for Anthony Bourdain (I know, shocker)The “peak/end rule” in storytelling and journalismAnd the power of a callback. We also unpack why observation is the key to being a great storyteller, and why vulnerability and honesty are essential for any truly compelling speech.I imagine you (like me) will be endlessly enthralled by Elise's curiosity, wisdom, and charm. Happy listening!Connect with Elise on her website and LinkedinGrab a copy of her book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty CapitalListen to Elise on your favorite podcasts And watch her TED Talk here***REGISTER FOR MY NEXT BOOTCAMP:Design My Signature Talk is a virtual intensive where I help you develop and nail your next talk and elevate your speaking all year long.For a limited time, registrants get my bonus masterclass, Booking Better Stages, all about marketing, selling, and booking yourself as a speaker, whether you want to get paid to speak or drive business another way through your talks. Register now at jayacunzo.com/signaturetalkIMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING + STORYTELLING: Subscribe to my newsletter and learn more about me at jayacunzo.comWork with me one-on-one: jayacunzo.com/servicesBook me to speak: jayacunzo.com/keynotes***CONNECT:Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or BlueskyThis episode was produced by Ilana NevinsCover art designed by Blake Ink***ABOUT ME:I help business leaders become stronger speakers and storytellers. The goal isn't to get in front of your audience. The goal is to ensure they care. While others agonize over reach, your ability to resonate helps you compete on the influence of your ideas, not the volume of your marketing.With my clients, I help clarify + differentiate their message, craft their thinking and expertise into a distinct premise and IP they own, and develop signature speeches, frameworks, and stories to influence, inspire, and drive results.After making a name for myself as an early advocate for quality and storytelling in content marketing at brands like Google and HubSpot, I've partnered with orgs like Mailchimp, Salesforce, Wistia, and GoDaddy and consulted dozens of authors, entrepreneurs, execs, and creators on their storytelling, messaging, and public speaking.I live in the Boston area with my family as a proud Yankees and Knicks fan (yes, I'm in enemy territory). In the 60 seconds per week I'm not creating stuff for work or making my kids laugh, I like to shoot hoops, sip nice bourbons, cook with my wife, and daydream about telling stories like my storytelling hero, Anthony Bourdain. Say hi on LinkedIn or contact me here.***SUPPORT THE SHOW:Leave a review on Apple PodcastsLeave a rating on Spotify   ***Reminder to register for my upcoming bootcamp before enrollment closes next week: jayacunzo.com/signaturetalk

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing a special collaboration with Vibe Check, a podcast hosted by Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford. Sam and Zach talk to Elise about her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital”. Elise gave her thoughts on body modification, digital culture setting beauty standards, and more. Then, tune in for a TED Talk from Lindsey Kite about how body image obsession can impact mental health. 

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing a special collaboration with Vibe Check, a podcast hosted by Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford. Sam and Zach talk to Elise about her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital”. Elise gave her thoughts on body modification, digital culture setting beauty standards, and more. Then, tune in for a TED Talk from Lindsey Kite about how body image obsession can impact mental health.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

K-beauty is not a niche market. Built around dewy skin with no visible pores, big eyes, a thin body, it's the “ideal” for pop stars, celebrities, and regular people across the world. The industry, built on Korean skincare and makeup products, is the result of “hallyu” — exporting of South Korean pop culture that the government has helped sponsor since the 1990s. In her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital,” Elise Hu describes how digital filters and a booming beauty economy have transformed the industry, societal expectations, and what's actually achievable when it comes to that “flawless” finish. This interview originally aired on June 6th, 2023. 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.  Guest:  Elise Hu: journalist, podcaster, and author of “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam and Zach talk to TED Talks Daily host, Elise Hu, about her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital”. Elise gave her thoughts on body modification, digital culture setting beauty standards, and more. Then, a TED Talk from Doctors Lindsey and Lexi Kite about how body image obsession can impact mental health.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram @vibecheck_pod.You can now get direct access to the group chat! Find us on Patreon at patreon.com/vibecheck. Vibe Check listeners can now get a free three month trial to the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/vibecheck.------------------------------------------------------Elise's Recommendation:Sugarcane

This episode was originally released May 30, 2023.Elise Hu is an NPR host-at-large based in Culver City and was the founding bureau chief and international correspondent for NPR's, Seoul, South Korea office. She is the author of the new book "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K Beauty Capital." During this podcast, Hu discusses the Korean obsession with beauty and beauty products that she observed and reported on during her tenure in South Korea. She talks about the cultural pressures the beauty industry has placed on people especially women. And she reveals how those pressures affected her personally.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest-hosted by Sam Sanders: Social media, constantly seeing ourselves on Zoom, and other modern technologies are inspiring people to change their faces and bodies at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, we have more access than ever before to medical procedures to modify our appearances. That combination is resulting in a plastic-surgery frenzy. To understand the science behind how our brains process beauty, guest host Sam Sanders talks to Neelam Vashi, an associate professor of dermatology at Boston University’s medical school who has studied the connection between social media and cosmetic surgery. Then, Elise Hu, the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital, offers tips on how to navigate a world of ever-fleeting beauty trends.

Elise Hu joins us for a tale of startup bros and the hermit crabs that come between them. Buy Elise's book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. PRE-ORDER KELSEY'S BOOK, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME, HERE!!!Subscribe to our new newsletter for writing from Kelsey and Alex, blog recommendations, and bonus secrets! You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com.Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/Episode transcript here.Follow the show on Instagram @normalgossip, and if you have gossip, email us at normalgossip@defector.com or leave us a voicemail at 26-79-GOSSIP.Normal Gossip is hosted by Kelsey McKinney (@mckinneykelsey) and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs) and Ozzy Llinas Goodman. Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira) is our associate producer. Abigail Segel (@AbigailSegel) is our intern. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor.Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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 Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 19, 2023.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up, Haein Shim was taught that if she wanted to succeed, she needed to change her appearance. Shim was raised in South Korea, where a competitive job market and booming beauty industry combined to make careful beauty maintenance all but mandatory for gainful employment. By the time she was a young adult, she was spending hours a day and hundreds of dollars a month on makeup and clothes, until one day her friend asked, “Why do we spend so much money on our appearance?” That question upended Shim’s family, career and sense of self. It led her to join a movement called Escape the Corset, calling for an end to strict beauty standards. In this episode, we also speak to NPR's Elise Hu, who spent years reporting on the rise of the K-beauty and how it has impacted Korea's economy and gender politics. Her book on the subject, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital,” examines how women like Haein Shim are changing the face of beauty in Korea.

Growing up, Haein Shim was taught that if she wanted to succeed, she needed to change her appearance. Shim was raised in South Korea, where a competitive job market and booming beauty industry combined to make careful beauty maintenance all but mandatory for gainful employment. By the time she was a young adult, she was spending hours a day and hundreds of dollars a month on makeup and clothes, until one day her friend asked, “Why do we spend so much money on our appearance?” That question upended Shim’s family, career and sense of self. It led her to join a movement called Escape the Corset, calling for an end to strict beauty standards. In this episode, we also speak to NPR's Elise Hu, who spent years reporting on the rise of the K-beauty and how it has impacted Korea's economy and gender politics. Her book on the subject, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital,” examines how women like Haein Shim are changing the face of beauty in Korea.

Growing up, Haein Shim was taught that if she wanted to succeed, she needed to change her appearance. Shim was raised in South Korea, where a competitive job market and booming beauty industry combined to make careful beauty maintenance all but mandatory for gainful employment. By the time she was a young adult, she was spending hours a day and hundreds of dollars a month on makeup and clothes, until one day her friend asked, “Why do we spend so much money on our appearance?” That question upended Shim’s family, career and sense of self. It led her to join a movement called Escape the Corset, calling for an end to strict beauty standards. In this episode, we also speak to NPR's Elise Hu, who spent years reporting on the rise of the K-beauty and how it has impacted Korea's economy and gender politics. Her book on the subject, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital,” examines how women like Haein Shim are changing the face of beauty in Korea.

Author and TED Talks Daily host Elise Hu joins The Stacks to discuss her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. Elise explains how Korea became a pop culture superpower, and how she approached writing about a culture outside of her own. We also discuss "cultural technology" and anti-Blackness in Korean beauty standards, and Elise slips into journalist mode to interview Traci.The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/06/ep-309-elise-huEpisode TranscriptConnect with Elise: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack | TED Talks DailyConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired September 19, 2023.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/korean-studies

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-review

In August, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to complain about how U.S. regulations are holding local sunscreens back compared to the rest of the world. And while she didn't name any specific country, the video featured headlines that did name one nation: South Korea. On social media, Korean cosmetics are now viewed as the world's best. But where did this success come from—and, perhaps, what does it say about South Korea? Elise Hu, during her time in South Korea, tried to find out, researching and reporting on not just the cosmetics industry, but gender politics, the culture of lookism, K-Pop, and cosmetic surgery, all covered in her latest book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Dutton, 2023) In this interview, Elise and I talk about South Korea, its world-leading cosmetics industry, and what that says about gender and lookism in this buzzing East Asian economy. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host at-large for NPR, the American news network; and since April 2020, the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, the daily podcast from TED that's downloaded a million times a day in all countries of the world. For nearly four years, she was the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Flawless. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

Our obsession with beauty and appearance may be deeply rooted, but at this moment, things seem to be reaching a whole new level. Facetune and features like skin smoothing, jaw reduction, and eye enhancement that are standard on social apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and even Zoom, as well as the ubiquitous advertisements for a flawless face and body, are turning our bodies into projects to work on forever. This and much more prompted American journalist and podcaster Elise Hu to research and write her book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture From the K-Beauty Capital, which she describes as “part memoir, part social commentary, part reportage." As a former NPR correspondent in Seoul, she has experienced firsthand the dangers of the unyielding, strict beauty standards in South Korea, the world's most cosmetically advanced country, and what happens when beauty becomes associated with morality and the image of a “good person.” In this episode, Elise shares with us her unique research on technological change, consumerism, and the undeniable political, economic, and social capital of good looks worldwide. Most importantly, her book and this conversation not only scrutinize the real financial, physical, and emotional costs of beauty work, but also serve as a call to join the fight for bodily autonomy and culture change focused on endless self-improvement as the best path to empowerment. Caitlin and Ben's book recommendations: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed The Aesthetic Brain by Anjan Chatterjee Cherly Strayed on Simplify Elise's book recommendations: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, The Flesh, and L.A by Eve Babitz Try Blinkist for free for 14 days by going to [https://www.blinkist.com/simplify][2], tapping on Try Blinkist at the top right, and entering the code beauty. Let us know what you thought of this episode, or just come say hi on Twitter! Find Caitlin at @caitlinschiller https://twitter.com/caitlinschiller [2], Ben at @bsto https://twitter.com/bsto [3]. You can write us all an email at podcast@blinkist.com [4]. This episode of Simplify was produced by Caitlin Schiller, Ben Schuman-Stoler, Maria Levacic & Stéphane Obadia at Blinkist

Y'all are in for a treat — this week I interviewed for the podcast edition of Untangled. Elise is a journalist, podcaster, and entrepreneur. She is the host of TED Talks Daily, a host-at-large for NPR, co-founder of the podcast production company Reasonable Volume, and she reports for VICE News. Her book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital is fantastic, and it inspired my recent essay “The Artificial Gaze.”Guess what? For the first three people to sign up for an annual paid subscription to Untangled, Elise is offering a free, signed copy of her book. So, sign up for the annual paid subscription, and if you're one of the first three, I'll ping you for your address, and Elise will generously send you a signed copy. Huzzah!Now, on to the show!In the episode, Elise and I talk about a lot of things:* The idea of “pretty privilege” and the ways in which beauty culture is entangled with social norms, power, and technology; * How Korean beauty culture is one of the most extreme in the world and how its hypermodernity offers the rest of us a glimpse into our future; * How Elise's book might have been different if she started writing it now, amidst all the craze over AI; * Beauty filters and how they remind us of the internet of the early 1990s that felt weirder and more exploratory — like play! Listen to the end to hear Elise and I talk about our shared love of Brene Brown and how worthiness, embodiment, and mutuality can help us collectively create an alternative future.I'm grateful to for joining me on Untangled. Do yourself a favor and subscribe to her newsletter, — it is a fun jaunt through current events and pop culture, and I just added it to my recommendations list! In the show, Elise and I mentioned a few great pieces. You can find them here:* “We Have Built a Giant Treadmill That We Can't Get Off”: Sci-Fi Prophet Ted Chiang on How to Best Think About AI* Face Forward: The unpredictable magic of TikTok and Instagram beauty filters is that they make you feel more like you.If you like the podcast, subscribe to it on Apple or Spotify, review it, rate it, and share it. It really does make a difference.As always, if you have ideas about how to make the newsletter or podcast better, tell me. If you're curious about how it's all going, let's talk. If you think one of the posts misses the mark, let me know.*Until next time,CharleyAlso, definitely tell me if you like it

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Korean Wave continues and it's coming after your pores. Korean exports of beauty products have surpassed smartphones. Elise Hu is the author of "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital." Hu is a journalist and podcaster who currently is the host of "Ted Talks Daily." Flawless is inspired by her years working as an NPR bureau chief in Seoul, South Korea. The book examines how South Korea's pervasive beauty culture spread globally as the latest ripple of a Korean Wave of entertainment and tech. "Six out of 10 of all Netflix subscribers in the world have watched some sort of Korean content. When it comes to Korean beauty, Korea is now exporting more cosmetics and skin care and skin care tools than it exports in smartphones," Hu said. Hu's book is part memoir, part international investigative reporting, and well-researched. Fun fact: Elise and I are both graduates of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and our former professor connected us for this interview! On this 'Dying to Ask': How Korean beauty culture seeped into and then dominated beauty culture around the world What is technological gaze, and how it impacts your feelings about yourself How Zoom forever changed and blurred the visual and virtual world Why is glowy skin a thing? A reality check on how much beauty costs in terms of time and money And how do we get to a better balance in our lives where we're more accepting of who we actually are?

Plastic surgery is more popular than ever, and women are paying an incredible amount for it. The epicenter of the plastic surgery industry is undeniably South Korea — Seoul leads the world in plastic surgery rates. Elise Hu experienced this culture firsthand as the NPR bureau chief responsible for coverage of North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. In her new book: “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital,” she explores if our constant drive to look “better than ever” will ever be enough. In Mailbag, we hear from a listener who has a 401(k) plan from a previous employer and isn't sure what to do with it next. We also hear from a listener who is 72 and wonders where they can splurge a little! In our money tip of the week, we go over how to decide when is the right time to sell a stock. Join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter! The HerMoney with Jean Chatzky podcast is sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines. The podcast team and its host are neither employees nor clients of EFE, however, the show does receive fixed compensation and is a paid endorser and therefore has an incentive to endorse EFE and its planners. To learn more about the sponsorship, please visit PlanEFE.com/HerMoney. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast, and to learn more about Airwave, head to www.airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Frank is on vacation, Frank Buckley Interviews presents yet another "Best Of" mixtape. This week's theme is "Butts, Boobs, and Botox."Producer Bobby curates excerpts from conversations with Heather Radke, author of Butts: A Backstroy, Leslie Lehr, breast cancer survivor and author of A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me-- And You, and NPR host Elia Hu, author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patrick Braxton became mayor of Newbern, Alabama, in 2020 — but says he has been fighting to hold onto his title after the white former mayor and his council members held a special election and reappointed themselves to their positions. Aallyah Wright of Capital B News tells us more. Then, New York Times reporter Corey Kilgannon tells us about Gilgo Beach, New York, and the suspect in a spree of killings there. And, NPR's Elise Hu talks about her book "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital," which looks at the South Korean beauty industry — the third largest cosmetic and skin care exporter in the world.

Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we've been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of "Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry." In this episode, she shares the fascinating insights she's learned from years of studying the $10 billion K-beauty industry and the cutting-edge skincare, niche makeup products, and technology that promise to optimize our appearance. Elise and Chris talk about the real stakes of placing a premium on our looks, why a more inclusive version of "beauty" is worth pursuing, and how we can both enjoy and push back against the very human desire to feel beautiful. Listen and subscribe to How to Be a Better Human and more podcasts from the TED Audio Collective at audiocollective.ted.com For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

Whether you realize it or not, your beauty routine is very likely imported from South Korea. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host-at-large for NPR and host of TED Talks Daily. She joined host Krys Boyd to discuss K-beauty – which prioritizes perfection – its reach across the globe, and the consumerism that has crept into our very skin. Her book is “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital.”

It's no secret that American beauty culture, driven by Hollywood and social media, preys on our insecurities and promotes unattainable standards around the world. But another country is giving the U.S. a run for its money. In her new book Flawless, journalist Elise Hu explores the global rise and influence of K-beauty, or South Korean beauty culture, now a $10 billion industry. Hu, NPR's former Seoul Bureau chief, reveals how that city became the plastic surgery capital of the world. And she examines how other countries, including the U.S., are now embracing South Korean beauty products and practices like double cleansing and snail mucus face masks. We'll talk with Hu about how K-beauty standards both empower and constrain women, and about what it means to be “beautiful” in the 21st century. Guests: Elise Hu, NPR host-at-large and the host of TED Talks Daily; former Seoul bureau chief, NPR. Author of the new book "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital"

Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we've been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of “Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry.” In this episode, she shares the fascinating insights she's learned from years of studying the $10 billion K-beauty industry and the cutting-edge skincare, niche makeup products, and technology that promise to optimize our appearance. Elise and Chris talk about the real stakes of placing a premium on our looks, why a more inclusive version of “beauty” is worth pursuing, and how we can both enjoy and push back against the very human desire to feel beautiful. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

The popularity of Korean beauty products has spread globally, just like K-Pop. And we thought you might enjoy this conversation on the origins and rise of K-Beauty -- not only as an industry, but as a new beauty standard.  The conversation was part of a live event tied to the launch of the new book, "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital," between the book's author Elise Hu and NPR's All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang. You can also watch this conversation here: https://laist.com/events/elise-hu-flawless  To buy Elise Hu's book, visit https://northfigbookshop.com/ ((originally published June 9, 2023)) To view and attend future LAist events, visit: https://laist.com/events/

Elise Hu moved to Seoul, South Korea to set up an NPR bureau and report on the geopolitical tensions of the mid-2010s. But her new book, Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital, focuses on a different, albeit inescapable, part of life there – beauty standards and the industry driving them. In today's episode, Hu speaks with NPR's Brittany Luse about the consumerism, gender politics and technological advances that drive the booming beauty culture, and explains why the rest of the world should be paying attention...for better or worse.

K Beauty is one of biggest beauty markets in the world—and one that people travel from all over the world for. This week, Lale chats with Elise Hu, a broadcast journalist, author, and host of the podcast TED Talks Daily, whose new book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Beauty from the Korean Capital, reflects on her time living in Seoul and dives deep into the six billion dollar industry and its impact on Korean culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elise Hu is an NPR host-at-large based in Culver City and was the founding bureau chief and international correspondent for NPR's, Seoul, South Korea office. She is the author of the new book "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K Beauty Capital." During this podcast, Hu discusses the Korean obsession with beauty and beauty products that she observed and reported on during her tenure in South Korea. She talks about the cultural pressures the beauty industry has placed on people especially women. And she reveals how those pressures affected her personally.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When NPR host Elise Hu moved to South Korea to be an international correspondent, she ended up getting a crash course on Korean beauty and the country's billion-dollar cosmetics industry. She explains the rise of the industry, its appeal, and the high standards it sets for appearance. On this episode, a conversation with Elise Hu about her new book, "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty capital."

In this provocative interview, NPR host-at-large Elise Hu, author of the new book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital, talks about the rise of South Korean pop culture and its effect on global beauty standards. She explains how A.I.-generated photo filters can perpetuate discrimination; why “beauty work” now begins in elementary school; and what you can do to find balance in a culture that equates self-improvement with empowerment. Plus, we discuss how to think critically about new cosmetic treatments such as “trap Botox,” advanced dermal fillers, jaw slimming, calf-reduction surgery, and more.Products mentioned in this episode: shopmy.us/collections/177185Episode recap with links: fatmascara.com/blogSponsor links & discount codes: fatmascara.com/sponsorsPrivate Facebook Group: Fat Mascara Raising a WandSocial media: @fatmascara, @jessicamatlin, @jenn_editSubmit a "Raise A Wand" product recommendation and be featured on the show: email info@fatmascara.com or leave a voicemail at 646-481-8182 Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/fatmascara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 2023 - Seoul, South Korea makes Beverly Hills look like a one-stoplight town when it comes to the beauty rat race, and it's getting more intense every year. Elise Hu spent four years in South Korea as NPR's bureau chief, and during her tenure there, the K-beauty industry tripled to become a $10 billion industry. South Korea is home to more than 7,500 cosmetic and skincare manufacturers, and K-beauty has staked its claim as the future of skin care. With products that promise pore-less perfection, South Korea's $10 billion beauty industry is a decade ahead of any other country in innovation and heralded by many industry professionals as the best when it comes to products, regimen, and end-results. Riding the pop culture “Korean wave” and marketed by K-pop superstars and global brands, K-beauty promises flawless skin and a soothing multi-step routine. You'll find K-beauty products in any city around the world, and in the US, the biggest importer of K-beauty behind China, you can take your pick from hundreds of brands at stores from Nordstrom and Bloomingdales to Sephora and Target. But how did K-Beauty become the darling of the global skincare industry? And does the trend stop at creams and toners? Or are we in an appearance revolution that will permanently transform our faces and bodies towards a more aesthetically pleasing sameness? Elise Hu, NPR host-at-large and the host of TED Talks Daily, asked herself those questions after living and working in Seoul, the heart of the K-beauty industry. She delivers an audacious, journalistic exposé of the booming industry from the ground up in Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. In the book, Hu explores K-beauty's undeniable success and shines a much-needed light on the darker ramifications of the impossible standards and pressures that drive its growth and their effects on women in a looks-obsessed patriarchy. In a conversation with Hannah Bae, Elise Hu discusses her book and her experience in Korea. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1672-flawless

Kate learns you're supposed to wash your retainer and Doree gets a compliment and a facial on her birthday. Then, Elise Hu, author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital, joins them to discuss dining out alone as an act of self-care, how easy it is to get stuck in an algorithm-based echochamber, and the seriousness of appearance-based discrimination. To leave a voicemail or text for a future episode, reach them at 781-591-0390. You can also email the podcast at forever35podcast@gmail.com.Visit forever35podcast.com for links to everything they mention on the show or visit shopmyshelf.us/forever35.Shop our merch at balancebound.co/shop/forever35.Donate to the Forever35 Giving Circle (https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/2nlhxOl/Forever35-Podcast) to help flip the Virginia State House!Follow the podcast on Instagram (@Forever35Podcast) and join the Forever35 Facebook Group (Password: Serums). Sign up for the newsletter! at forever35podcast.com/newsletter.This episode is sponsored by:THIRDLOVE - Get %15 off your first purchase when you go to thirdlove.com.ONESKIN - Get 15% off with the code FOREVER at oneskin.co.MEJURI - Head to Mejuri.com to shop new arrivals now.DOORDASH - Get 25% off and zero delivery fees on their first order of $15 or more, when you download the DoorDash app and enter code FOREVER35. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and one of NPR's beloved hosts, Elise Hu, joins Brittany Luse to talk about her new book: Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. For Elise, what started as a professional move to Seoul turned into a long-term interest in beauty culture and the societal demand to look flawless. Elise and Brittany talk about the high price of South Korea's lookism, how the government props up beauty culture, the technological gaze, and how Korean beauty culture is spreading throughout the United States.You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at ibam@npr.org.

Elise Hu spent four years as NPR's first bureau chief in Seoul. She joins us to talk about her new book, a deeply reported and deeply reflective account of Korea's world-challenging beauty industry.Order a copy of her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. 

Elise Hu is a broadcast journalist, host of the TED Talks daily podcast, and is also host-at-large for NPR. In her twelve years at NPR, Elise has gained production experience with many shows and has filmed stories for more than a dozen countries as an international correspondent. Elise also opened the first-ever NPR Bureau in Seoul, Korea. On top of her many professional accomplishments, she is a mother of three children. With her plate full, she gives insight into leadership and the importance of forming good relationships both in and out of work. Listen in to hear more about Elise Hu's journey and her book, "Flawless Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital," coming out this May.Subscribe to ideamix radio and stay tuned for new episodes every other Thursday. On ideamix radio we speak with entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, career changers, experts, and enthusiasts for insider tips that help you build the life, business, and career you want. ideamix is the go-to destination for entrepreneurs to turn their idea into a business. Check out our website at www.theideamix.com. For comments, questions, podcast guest ideas, or sponsorship inquiries, please email info@theideamix.com.

Does beauty matter? Who gets to define it, and how, and why? And what are we willing to do for it? Journalist and author Elise Hu found herself asking those questions when she moved overseas in 2015 to serve as NPR's first-ever Seoul Bureau Chief, covering important global stories like North Korea's missile launches but living as an Asian woman in South Korea in a culture that venerated - and productized - perfection. Elise found herself thinking back to her days as a teenage model growing up in Texas and examining the pressure women - and girls - are constantly under to conform to beauty norms, with a gimlet eye to considering the industry making bank on selling the goods and services that promise physical perfection. In this final episode of Season 1 of "Your New Life Blend," host Shoshanna Hecht speaks to Elise about her new upcoming book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital,” and how we are mediating beauty culture in our own lives and to the next generation, the worrying creep of AI normalization around beauty standards, and whether we can still opt out of it. It is a packed final episode of the season and we are so grateful to Elise for her candid and insightful comments. Book pages:https://elisehu.com/flawless/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62121560-flawlessWebsite:https://elisehu.com/Social Media:https://www.tiktok.com/@whoelisehttps://twitter.com/elisewhohttps://www.facebook.com/elisehunprhttps://www.instagram.com/elisewho/

It seems like every day, new skin care products hit the market: lotions, serums, collagen boosters, light therapy, at-home lasers — potions and procedures designed to coax our skin into peeling and healing, plumping and renewing. Their promise: wrinkle-free faces, poreless, dewy skin, and an eternally youthful glow. But there's no one magic bullet to flawless skin. And what is this chase really about? On this episode, we get into the science of skin care, looking at what works, what doesn't, and what dermatologists have to say about the latest frontiers in our quest for eternal youth. We hear stories about a new treatment that uses stem cells to rejuvenate skin, some shady aspects of the Botox business, and why K-beauty has taken global skin care by storm. Also heard on this week's episode: We talk with Janiene Luke, a dermatologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California, about common skin concerns — from wrinkles to dryness to discoloration — along with what actually works (and doesn't) to treat them. Luke gives skin care advice on her Instagram and TikTok. When NPR's Elise Hu first moved to Seoul, she noticed something striking — the faces. Flawless and dewy, they beamed from skyscrapers and subway stations — monuments to one of South Korea's most popular exports: skin care. Hu explains what exactly “K beauty” is, the cultural factors that have led to its dominance, and what it says about social pressures on women. Hu's upcoming book is called “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K Beauty Capital.” We'll post a longer version of our interview when the book is out — follow our podcast so you won't miss it!