Eastern beauty treatments have long been buzzed about. As Asian skincare regimens are a timely “trend” not forecast to fade any time soon, Korean beauty, or K-beauty, and its Japanese counterpart, J-beauty, have certainly earned their keep in the beauty spotlight over the years. Both routines offer a unique focus with dual benefits, so no matter which Eastern skincare school you choose to subscribe to, odds are in your favor.

The real difference beauty K- and J-beauty is rooted in cultural differences, i.e., different approaches to skincare. Both focus on hydration and the reduction of pigmentation, but Japanese beauty is considered simpler, science-driven, and focused on long-term results. The Japanese culture’s rich heritage, too, carries a minimalist, no-frills approach, with beauty experts considering skin routines like a marathon: steady steps that go a long way.

J-beauty routines are straight-forward, while Korean beauty routines focus more on layering. K-beauty loves a cute sheet face mask or two, and is all about new ingredients, textures, and formulas. Korean skincare fans love the dewy, fresh-faced look, leaving room for layers and layers of hydration. When taken to the extreme, it’s no secret that K-beauty has earned some serious clout for its 10-step regimen to give you “glass skin” in Instagram-worthy packaging. K-beauty is also no stranger to experimenting with what may be viewed as “unusual” ingredients, including snail mucin, bee-derived propolis being one of

the most normal. For starters, try MISSHA’s Time Revolution Artemisa Treatment Essence, formulated with Artemisia Annua Extract from Ganghwa, an island off Korea’s west coast. It’s lightweight and uber concentrated, so you’ll be able to do the layering that K-beauty craves. You can find it on misshaus.com for $54.

The Japanese philosophy keeps it simple and straight-forward, focusing on long-lasting results, rather than a glass-skin effect. Instead of the 10-step routine, the Japanese method is known for its two-step nightly cleansing; this is a prime example of preventative care that negates harsh scrubs and frills. In the morning, one usually cleanses the face with just water, and perhaps a face massage, whether that be with luxe rollers or carefully thought-out lymphatic movements with their hands. J-beauty is partial to lighter, velvet-like skin with minimal layers to keep things natural and resilient. TATCHA’s The Water Cream can provide just this effect.

Whether K-beauty or J-beauty, if you want to work these into your routine, hydration is really key. Massage your skin to stimulate blood flow, and if you want to have some fun, throw in a skin-soothing sheet mask.