It's a fact that Koreans are completely invested in their skin care as though it's a necessity for everyday life. According to a report by the BBC, “South Korean women spend twice as much of their income on beauty products and make-up as their American counterparts. Meanwhile, South Korean men spend more on skincare than those in any other country.” Their daily and nightly skin care steps range from the usual cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, to a more extensive routine that reaches up to ten steps. This meticulous process is borne out of their desire to have a flawless, luminous complexion, which, to them, is a sign of youth and, ultimately, diligence.

What makes Korea's skin care distinct from others is that it combines modern technology with age-old ingredients that the locals believe to have incredible benefits to the skin. Natural ingredients that may sound quite extreme and unbelievable are pretty common in beauty products; for example, snail slime cream, volcanic lava, pig collagen jelly cream, bee venom, fish eggs, and placenta.

Here are some of the latest skin care steps that have caused a craze in South Korea and beyond.

• Koreans are light years ahead when it comes to beauty innovations, and the bubble lip mask, one of their greatest offerings, beats the common lip balm. This bubble lip mask is basically a scrub that aims to exfoliate and get rid of dead skin cells on the lips, making them softer and smoother. It also provides hydration and moisture to the lips, which makes it perfect for use in cold weather.

• There are several Korean products that address dark circles and under-eye wrinkles. One of them is the quintessential eye patch that adheres to the skin. It aims to make the skin firmer and lighter under the eyes, and it has a cooling effect that refreshes the skin.

• Rather than sit and wait in the salon for hours to get a new hair color, Koreans have found an easier, faster alternative: bubble hair dye. It is applied on dry hair and stays on for about 30 minutes. The bubble texture not only makes application easier, but the color will also be distributed evenly on the hair. It also does not stain the skin, which is a welcome innovation that saves time and hassle.

• Korean clay masks are designed to clear pores of dirt and impurities, and are also used to reduce acne, scars, and uneven skin tone. Some masks include ingredients like volcanic ash, charcoal powder, black sugar, and rice, to name only a few. These masks deliver clarifying, oil-reducing, and skin lightening properties.

• Hydration is one of the main purposes of gel creams, and some Korean products have a cooling effect to soothe and brighten the skin. The light, watery, gel-like facial formula is also perfect for oily and sensitive skin types.