While we’ve been diligently keeping to a 12-step Korean skincare regimen to achieve poreless, translucent “glass skin”, there’s another trending K-beauty skin that’s been showing up on TikTok. It’s called… “jello skin”.
What is “jello skin”?
Just look at its name and you could imagine what “jello skin” is. It’s skin that’s so plump and elastic that if you touch it, it should spring back almost immediately.
Photo source: @glowwithava/TikTok
In other words, skin that has a bouncy, jello-like quality to it? That’s “jello skin”.
The name “jello skin” was coined by Korean beauty influencer Ava Lee, better known as @glowwithava (her handle on TikTok and Instagram). She came up with the name when she had a facial done by a celebrity facialist, Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine, and he commented about how amazed he was by the collagen she had in her skin.
@glowwithava JELLO SKIN ? we want that bounce back people! #jelloskin #collagen #beautytipswithava #bouncy
“When I pinch your skin, it moves immediately back […] it just folds back to its place – that just shows you that you have enough of a support cushion underneath,” he said, going on to exclaim, “it’s like the perfect consistency of jello.”
@glowwithava explained that the quality of bouncing back quickly is described by the term “taeng taeng” in Korean, but since there isn’t a translation for that phrase in English, she decided to call skin that has that kind of bounce “jello skin”.
Difference between Korean “glass skin” and “jello skin”
While, for Korean “glass skin”, the focus is put on external skincare (cue: the 12-step K-beauty skincare routine), “jello skin” is bringing attention to not just external skincare, but also lifestyle.
Photo source: @glowwithava/TikTok
@glowwithava emphasises that in addition to skincare, getting youthful, plump, elastic skin depends largely on other factors including diet and sleep.
So, how can you achieve “jello skin” like Ava’s? We take some tips out of the beauty influencer’s book.
How to achieve Korean “jello skin”?
1. Start eating healthily
For @glowwithava, one big part of keeping her skin plump and firm is by keeping a healthy diet. Her diet includes superfoods like blueberries, green tea, dates, avocado, and mushrooms.
@glowwithava superfoods can be overrated but these 5 aren’t ?? #beautyfoodwithava #jelloskin #superfood
Blueberries
Blueberries are an antioxidant superfood, meaning that they’re rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamin C and potassium. Since the job of antioxidants is to neutralise free radicals that cause ageing effects on the skin, blueberries are a great food to include in your diet for younger-looking skin.
Green tea
Green tea doesn’t have to be a beverage that you reserve only for meals at sushi restaurants. Instead, as green tea contains the active ingredients polyphenols, also called catechins, they have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making them the ideal beverage to add to your daily diet.
Dates
An ingredient that’s commonly used in Chinese teas and dishes is dates, and it’s an excellent source of vitamin C and D. These are vitamins that help to improve your skin’s elasticity, as well as keep it nice and smooth.
Avocado
If you’re addicted to avocados, then you’ve got at least one thing right, because these fruits are rich in healthy fats and an entire host of vitamins that will make your skin look visibly better, if you eat them on a regular basis.
You can even make the most of each avocado fruit by saving the seed. Break the seed into several pieces and let them dry for a few days. Then, blend it into a powder and mix it with yoghurt or coconut oil.
You can use massage this mixture onto your face for exfoliation, and then rinse it away with lukewarm water after.
Mushroom
Mushrooms may look modest but, really, they’ve got strong antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation and irritation for the skin.
In addition, the mushrooms that are known for being anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory also contain phenolic veratric acid, which is a compound that helps reduce wrinkles. Translation? The more mushrooms, the merrier (and plumper your skin)!
@glowwithava a typical day to maintain my #jelloskin ✨ what meal is your fav? #collagen #beautyfoodwithava #eatthistoglow
2. Don’t skip on skincare
Ava Lee and her sister do skincare together. Photo source: @glowwithava/TikTok
Although lifestyle habits, like diet, have a big role to play in achieving “jello skin”, skincare is still essential to getting that glassy glow. For Ava, her secret is to make sure that her skin is always hydrated and protected – which means lots of moisture-boosting skincare products as well as sunscreen!
In a TikTok video featuring her sister, she also introduced the types of Korean skincare products that she uses in her nighttime regimen, which are rice water toner, propolis serum, and ceramide cream.
@glowwithava baby cheeks for jello skin baby ? #jelloskin #kbeautyroutine
What is propolis? Propolis is a resin-like ingredient that’s made from beeswax and tree sap, and it’s one that many Korean beauty products use.
Tosowoong Propolis Sparkling Ampoule
If you’re looking to start including propolis in your skincare, you can start with Tosowoong Propolis Sparkling Ampoule, which helps to hydrate the skin and give it a dewy glow. It’s made with 80% propolis and is lightweight on the skin – check, and check.
Shop Tosowoong Propolis Sparkling Ampoule for RM132.60 on Shopee.
CORSX’s Propolis Light Ampoule
Should you prefer a product from a more familiar Korean beauty brand, then CORSX’s Propolis Light Ampoule is the one for you. It’s made with 83.25% propolis extract to moisturise, soothe, and fight against inflammation. And, you know that CORSX’s skincare products are ones that you can trust.
Shop CORSX Propolis Light Ampoule for RM54 Lazada.
3. Make sure to move your facial muscles
According to Ava, moving her facial muscles is another one of the ways that she gets her skin to look as plump and jello-like as it is.
Photo source: @glowwithava/TikTok
There’s truth behind her practice. While there aren’t enough studies to conclusively prove that facial workouts are effective in achieving firmer skin, experts do suggest that facial exercises can help to fight gravity. When you build muscles in the face, it also potentially keeps fat where it belongs, thereby giving you plumper, firmer skin.
@glowwithava follow these 5 mantras for #jelloskin ? #agingwell #beautytipswithava
There’s also another tried-and-true way to move the muscles in your face and improve your complexion, and that’s with gua sha. Gua sha doesn’t help to build muscles in the face, but it does help to boost blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and encourage lymphatic drainage.
Photo source: Pexels
These, in turn, help to soften the fine lines and wrinkles on the skin, temporarily firm the skin, brighten the complexion, and depuff. Translation? Healthier, more radiant skin.
So, to get your facial muscles moving, you can start by purchasing a facial tool to give yourself a gua sha massage at home. The next time you book a facial appointment, you can also go for a gua sha facial instead.
