9 Ageless Korean Actresses And Their Top Beauty Secrets
With how youthful they look and how beautiful their skin is, it’s hard to believe they are in their late 30s and in their 40s!
With South Korea known as a beauty-obsessed country and a global trendsetter in this industry, these Hallyu stars have access to the best products and services that help them maintain their youthful look. But credit goes to their discipline as well in strictly following skincare regimens and observing a healthy lifestyle, which contributes a lot to having flawless, poreless, blemish-free, dewy, and radiant skin that's camera-ready even without any trace of makeup.
Check out and read through our list of ageless and timeless Korean actresses, and pick up a beauty tip or two from their tried-and-tested hacks:
Ageless Korean Actresses
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Son Ye-Jin, 38
The actress, who’s been part of the Korean entertainment industry since 1999, has had a huge career milestone recently with the phenomenal success of her K-Drama “Crash Landing on You,” wherein she was paired with Hyun Bin. With CLOY resulting in her newfound popularity, Son Ye-jin’s past projects are getting noticed, too. Check out her movies “A Moment to Remember” and “The Negotiation.” As for her other K-Dramas, the top two must-sees are “Personal Taste” and “Something in the Rain.”
Photo Credit: Photo from MSTeam Entertainment
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Son Ye-Jin, 38
Like many Koreans, Son Ye-jin is a fan of face sheet masks. In a Cleo interview back in 2017, Son Ye-jin said, “Recently, I’ve been using a lot of masks. In the past, I would use it around once a week, but nowadays, I use it almost everyday. Previously, I heard that it’s not good to wash your face (with cleanser) in the morning, so I would just rinse my skin with water. But I realized that my skin is oily, so I need to cleanse every morning. Even when my schedule ends late at night, I would still cleanse my face. I put in extra care into cleansing.” She makes sure to bring face sheet masks when she travels!
Photo Credit: Photo from MSTeam Entertainment
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Son Ye-Jin, 38
Koreans have become world-famous for their 10-step skincare routine. However, Son Ye-jin doesn’t follow it; she believes this formula is not for all because, at the end of the day, one’s skincare routine still has to depend on the skin type. She shares, “In my case, having too many steps is too much. I prefer something simple, around one to two steps.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @manyofactory_official
Son Ye-Jin, 38
She says she also tends to have oily skin, so she streamlines her skincare arsenal to the ones for hydrating the skin. She also believes in the benefits of putting slices of cucumber on your eyes—this is a beauty lesson she learned from her mom.
Photo Credit: Photo from @yejin_ph
Jun Ji-Hyun, 38
This actress is the lead star in famous movies like “My Sassy Girl” and "Windstruck.” She’s best known for K-Dramas “My Love from the Star” and “The Legend of the Blue Sea.” She had a cameo in the recent series “Kingdom 2;” according to reports, she may have a significant role in its third season.
Photo Credit: Photo from @stonehenge_official
Jun Ji-Hyun, 38
One of the beauty tips this mom of two has shared is a DIY face sheet mask trick. She mixes toner, lemon juice, and wine, and soaks a paper towel in this solution. Lemon is known for its detoxifying, clarifying, brightening, and lightening benefits to the skin; it has vitamin C which is an antioxidant. Red wine also has antioxidants which can help fight the signs of aging. Before you try it, however, consider your skin type and do a patch test first to see how your skin will react to it.
Photo Credit: Photo from SBS
Jun Ji-Hyun, 38
Another beauty trick Jun Ji-hyun shared with The Korea Bizwire has to do with how meticulous she is when it comes to facial cleansing; she starts by washing her face with lukewarm water then slathering on the cleanser (she doesn’t rub it on too long!), and finally rinsing her face with cold water.
Photo Credit: Photo from @junjihyun_81
Jun Ji-Hyun, 38
After cleansing, she also suggests to tap your face gently using your fingertips to massage it; doing so promotes blood flow.
Photo Credit: Photo from @junjihyun_81
Song Hye-Kyo, 38
Song Hye-kyo’s filmography includes a long list of movies and TV shows. But her remarkable K-Dramas are “Autumn in my Heart,” “Full House,” “That Winter, The Wind Blows,” “Descendants of the Sun,” and “Encounter.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @kyo1122
Song Hye-Kyo, 38
The Sulwhasoo ambassadress swears by the brand’s First Care Activating Serum EX, an anti-aging product that hydrates and revitalizes the skin. According to "Shape" magazine, she’s also said to use the anti-aging Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Creamy Mask everyday; she makes sure to bring this with her even when she’s traveling. In a Soompi article, meanwhile, it was also revealed that she occasionally uses milk as facial wash.
Photo Credit: Photo from @kyo1122
Song Hye-Kyo, 38
She’s always busy with work-related commitments that require her to put on makeup, so during her free time, she either makes it a point to wear minimal makeup or forgo it totally.
Photo Credit: Photo from @kyo1122
Song Hye-Kyo, 38
When she turned 30, Song Hye-kyo said she made some lifestyle changes and incorporated a low sodium diet as well as regular yoga sessions into her routine; she also squeezes in running and walking as forms of exercise.
Photo Credit: Photo from @kyo1122
Jung Ryeo-Won, 39
The Korean-Australian actress was a singer first before she became an actress. She became popular through the K-Drama "My Name is Kim Sam-soon," where she played the second female lead. Her K-Dramas that followed include”Which Star Are You From?,” “Bubble Gum,” and “Wok of Love,” among others.
Photo Credit: Photo from @yoanaloves
Jung Ryeo-Won, 39
Letting her skin breathe from cosmetics is one of the beauty tips she has lived by, saying in SBS E!’s “Seo In Young’s Star Beauty Show,” “On days when I don’t have filming, I don’t wear any makeup with tones or BB cream. I like going barefaced and when I wash my hair, I don’t blow dry it once.” Jung Ryeo-won adds, “I like going barefaced and when I wash my hair, I don’t blow dry it once.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @yoanaloves
Jung Ryeo-Won, 39
She’s dedicated to giving a role justice, so much so she’s said to have even dyed her hair 14 times just to get the perfect shade that would suit her role in the K-Drama “History of a Salaryman” wherein her role is a spoiled rich girl.
Photo Credit: Photo from @yoanaloves
Jung Ryeo-Won, 39
She always has to have a concealer with her to avoid dark under eyes and brighten up her face. In her "Elle Korea" interview back in 2015, Jung Ryeo-won also shared, “Also, since my lips are usually dry, I prefer a moist lipstick, and nowadays I wear Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volquite Shine No. 14 Coral In Touch every day.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @keyeastofficial
Jang Na-Ra, 39
Who would’ve thought this petite and baby-faced Korean actress is only a year away from turning 40? Throughout her almost two-decade career, she has done seven films and 26 K-Dramas, which include “You Are My Destiny” (also known as “Fated to Love You”), “Hello Monster,” “Confession Couple,” “The Last Empress,” and “VIP.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @nara0318
Jang Na-Ra, 39
Google her photos from when she debuted as an actress, and you’ll see that she hasn’t aged at all. In the KBS 2 talk show “Happy Together,” she demonstrated her four-step, 10-minute skincare routine: “Here’s my kind of secret cleansing regimen. I massage my skin when I use a cleanser. First, use your fist. Massage your chin as if you’re pushing it upwards. [Still using your firsts] Pull down the top part of your lip then with the second joint of your fingers, push the skin outward…”
Photo Credit: Photo from Rawon Culture
Jang Na-Ra, 39
“…Now use the side of your pinkies. Massage the sides of your nose in a circle, not too hard because the skin under your eyes are thin. Now for the eyebrows, can you feel the part where the bone gives way? Press that spot with your knuckles and count to three. And then, with your fist, press along your eyebrow.”
Photo Credit: Photo from Rawon Culture
Jang Na-Ra, 39
When it comes to makeup, the actress said she’s very meticulous in applying it. In an interview with SBS’ “Strong Heart,” she said, “When I go out, there is a big difference between when I wear makeup and when I don't. The impact of makeup is huge.” She once posted a photo on Twitter in which many people thought she was bare-faced. However, she revealed, “Truthfully, that wasn't a bare-faced photo. Even though I wasn't bare-faced, people kept describing it as bare-faced so I just didn't say anything. In that photo, I'm wearing BB cream, eyeliner, and even drew in my eye brows." We now understand what she meant when she said she’s meticulous with makeup—it seems the key to looking that fresh boils down to how the products were applied to look as natural as possible.
Photo Credit: Photo from Allure Korea
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Kim Tae-Hee, 40
The “Hi Bye, Mama” star just recently turned 40. Kim Tae-hee, aka the wife of Korean superstar Rain, is now a mom of two. The ageless actress’ most remarkable K-Dramas are “Stairway to Heaven,” “Iris” (which also had a movie version), “My Princess,” and “Yong Pal.”
Photo Credit: Photo from Cell Cure
Kim Tae-Hee, 40
Kim Tae-hee admits to being “picky” when it comes to beauty products. She’s very particular about the ingredients that are used in the products, so she makes sure to read the ingredients list first. “I check all of the ingredients. Even if it’s annoying to do, I make sure that there aren’t any harmful ingredients to my skin or a strong scent. I not only check products that I use on my face, I also check hair, body, hand, and even lip products,” Koreaboo quoted her.
Photo Credit: Photo from Cell Cure
Kim Tae-Hee, 40
In 2016, she appeared on OnStyle D’s “Get It Beauty” segment and talked about her beauty essentials, which include toner, essence, eye cream, and Hanskin’s Real Complexion Cream EX (a pinkish cream that’s said to brighten up her skin and give it a healthy glow).
Photo Credit: Photo from @taeheekim80
Kim Tae-Hee, 40
In a promotional interview for her film “Grand Prix,” she also said, “Since I'm in a career that requires constant camera exposure, I check my skin closely. If I feel like my skin is going to break out, I go and receive treatment from a dermatologist before filming. If my skin feels dry, I use masks or apply a lot of moisturizing cream before sleeping. If I feel like I'm going to get blemishes, I lightly apply lotion only. I'm always vigilant about taking care of my skin.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @olivialauren_official
Ha Ji-Won, 41
Those who became fans of Hyun Bin because of “Crash Landing on You” may recognize this Korean actress after watching her and Hyun Bin’s K-Drama, “Secret Garden.” Ha Ji-won has done a lot of films and TV shows throughout her career which spans more than two decades. Her notable K-Dramas include “What Happened in Bali,” “The King 2 Hearts,” “Empress Ki,” “The Time We Were Not in Love,” and “Hospital Ship.” She starred in the recently-concluded series “Chocolate.”
Photo Credit: Photo from SBS
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Ha Ji-Won, 41
She’s so youthful-looking that in the 2015 series “The Time We Were Not in Love,” she even played the role of a high school student and looked convincing at it; she was 37 years old then. Ha Ji-won has a unique beauty secret, which she shared in an episode of the show “Go Go with Unnie:” “Whenever I drink honey lemon soju, people around me always compliment my skin tone the next day.”
Photo Credit: Photo from Stylus
Ha Ji-Won, 41
In 2015, she also launched her own beauty brand called J-One whose flagship product is the Jelly Mask Pack which was crafted for those with dry skin; its ingredients include hyaluronic acid, collagen boosting peptide, lotus extracts and kombucha. According to a "Teen Vogue" article back in 2016, she uses this mask right after cleansing to ensure maximum hydration. She’s a fan of hydrating products, and cites hydrating mist as one of her essentials.
Photo Credit: Photo from @hajiwon1023PH
Ha Ji-Won, 41
The manner by which she applies her skincare products is known as “tok tok,” referring to the gentle patting motions on the skin. This is to ensure there’s no unnecessary pulling of the skin that may cause sagging. She also doesn’t use a towel to dry her face because its rough texture may be harsh on the skin. She’s a fan of cold showers too, the water temperature being below 20 degrees Celsius.
Photo Credit: Photo from BA Entertainment / Life Risking Romance movie
Gong Hyo-Jin, 40
The favorite leading lady turned 40 last April 4! Gong Hyo-jin, who has been in the industry since 1999, has starred in numerous movies and TV shows; her popular K-Dramas are “Pasta,” “The Greatest Love,” “Master’s Sun,” “It’s Okay, That’s Love,” “The Producers,” “Don’t Dare to Dream,” and most recently, “When the Camellia Blooms.”
Photo Credit: Photo from Management Soop
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Gong Hyo-Jin, 40
Gong Hyo-jin loves emphasizing her eyes through makeup, so she also pays extra attention to her eye area in her skincare regimen. A trick she does is she soaks cotton in water, puts them in the freezer for a while, and places them under her eyes to close the pores.
Photo Credit: Photo from Management Soop
Gong Hyo-Jin, 40
She prefers to match her dramatic eye makeup with subtle nude lips. This is a makeup formula that she has always loved.
Photo Credit: Photo from Management Soop
Gong Hyo-Jin, 40
Her exercises of choice are Pilates and TRX with power plates.
Photo Credit: Photo from Vogue
Choi Ji-Woo, 44
We’ve been reminded of this Korean actress’ beauty when she recently had a cameo in “Crash Landing on You.” Her K-Dramas include “Winter Sonata,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “The Suspicious Housekeeper,” “Temptation,” and “Woman with a Suitcase.”
Photo Credit: Photo from tvN
Choi Ji-Woo, 44
In a "Marie Claire Korea" interview, she talked about her skincare secrets, saying, “There is nothing in particular… I just pay close attention to my basic skincare routines. I can’t stress enough how important it is to properly cleanse and give moisture to your face. Even when I don’t put on makeup, I always make sure to wash my face thoroughly. Then I put on my moisturizing night cream before going to bed to keep my skin moist the next day. And always remember, using facial masks (once or twice a week) can help even out your skin tone.”
Photo Credit: Photo from @choijiwoo_ph
Choi Ji-Woo, 44
Another beauty tip she shared is vinegar cleansing. After using her standard cleanser, she rinses her face and follows it up with three to five drops of vinegar; she believes the acidic component of vinegar can balance the skin’s pH level.
Photo Credit: Photo from @choijiwoo_ph
Choi Ji-Woo, 44
She’s also said to love lower-body bathing with Korean alcohol Cheongju (rice wine). Half bath is one of the beauty trends Korea popularized; this is done by soaking the lower half of your body (up till the belly button) in water to boost blood flow which, as a result, relieves your skin from muscular tension and detoxifies it.
Photo Credit: Photo from @choijiwoo_ph
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