These days, I really feel that as I enter my 40s and 50s, "if I don't take care of myself, it shows immediately."

Now, if I eat a little too much in the evening, my face is puffy until lunch the next day, and fine wrinkles appear here and there that can't be covered by powder. Living in Miami with the sun and sea breeze, I often forget to apply sunscreen, and if I get too much sun, dark spots appear right away.

After applying sunscreen haphazardly and going out, I feel like my cheeks are stained, and each time I wonder if my husband will say something, thinking I should go get some treatment. There are many places to get treatments here in Miami. There are plenty of nice medspas, and they offer massages and various laser and lifting programs. The problem is that it costs a lot.

Honestly, American skin clinics feel a bit different compared to those in Korea. Here, it feels less like skin care and more like "I'm indulging in a luxurious rest like a movie star right now." But when it's over, the reality is the same, and all that remains is the credit card bill. In contrast, when I get treatments in Korea, they do double cleansing, scrubbing, extracting blackheads, steaming to make me sweat, and then apply a mask, with the staff's skills being almost master-level. After lying down for an hour, I feel like my skin has suddenly come back to life.

I found out that these days in Korea, skin care isn't just about using an LED mask; devices that lift facial elasticity with EMS microcurrents and warm the skin with RF high frequency to awaken collagen are all the rage. The LED masks have different functions based on color, and there are many all-in-one devices that combine toning and lifting.

There are sonic vibration cleansing devices that can be used comfortably at home while also providing a massage, blackhead suction devices, and even iontophoresis functions to enhance retinol absorption. What used to require a visit to a skin care shop for lifting, elasticity, and pore care can now be done at home in just 10 minutes a day, so I understand why everyone is using them.

Especially after turning 40, there's a feeling that "if I don't take care of myself today, it will show on my face tomorrow like a receipt," so having at least one of these devices gives me peace of mind. Ultimately, Korea seems to have a strong combination of technology and meticulous skin care, which is why the home care market continues to grow.

These days, I consciously drink water, take collagen, apply sunscreen in two layers, and wear a hat tightly when going out due to the pressure of "if I don't take care of myself, my face will collapse."

But sometimes I think it might be more beneficial to get several months' worth of treatments all at once when I go to Korea. The effects are certain, the prices are much more reasonable than in the U.S., and with the dollar being strong these days, it makes sense. Anyway, Korea has some kind of 'revitalizing technology.'

Since Korea isn't a place I can easily visit, I have to make an effort to take care of myself here. When I think about daily skin care, I remind myself to just try to be a little more consistent today.