Skincare for Your Soul

Jude Chao has been known for tying skincare to self-care since the publication of her essay, "How My Elaborate Korean Skincare Routine Helps Me Fight Depression" on Fashionista.com in 2015. Since then, she’s published steadily, both as a freelance beauty writer and on her blog, Fifty Shades of Snail. She’s also worked in beauty marketing and consulting for both Korean and American brands. She has been featured in NYMag The Cut, called “the reigning queen of skincare” by NYMag The Strategist, and included in W’s list of “the Korean beauty experts you should follow on Instagram.” She remains active in online beauty communities, with a large network of like-minded followers and fellow content creators.

Introduction



Skincare as self-care: It’s not just skin-deep beauty

Chapter One



Figuring out what your skin needs

Skin types: Dry, normal, oily, combination
Skin conditions: Dehydrated, sensitive, UV damaged (and the causes)


On beauty standards and why "perfect" skin isn't the goal
Skincare as a healthy outlet vs skincare as an unhealthy compulsion: What to watch out for; being mindful of thought patterns. Illustrate with personal anecdote.

Chapter Two



Foundational skincare

Cleansing
Moisturizer
Sunscreen


On the mental health benefits of a basic daily routine, and tips to motivate yourself to stick to it even during those times when just the act of washing your face feels like way too much work--aka dragging yourself out of bed and into the bathroom. Illustrate with personal anecdote.

Chapter Three



Tools to improve your skin issues
Korean skincare and Western skincare: Differences and similarities and whether you need to worry about where your cosmetics come from

Introduction to different product types and what needs they serve

Toner
Essence
Serum/Ampoule
Sheet masks
Wash-off masks
Moisturizers
Sleeping packs


On the importance of spacing out new product additions and taking notes of the effects of anything added to the routine


On taking things one step at a time. Don't fall victim to completist pressure and think you have to have everything all at once; this is as true in life as it is in skincare. Tips on being comfortable with slow and incremental progress, and finding satisfaction in it. Talk about experiences with others (with permission) who've put pressure on themselves to have a "complete" routine and eventually learned to step away from the template.
Discussion of how the "10 step routine" is marketing.

Chapter Four



Ingredients to address specific skin issues

Actives
Hydrating ingredients/formulas
Moisturizing ingredients/formulas
Acne
Redness/sensitivity
Hyperpigmentation
Loss of elasticity and firmness


How to read an ingredients list
On the pleasures of learning and finding more resources to learn from: As you develop ingredient awareness and learn to read and interpret an ingredients list, remind yourself of what you're accomplishing and what you're enabling yourself to accomplish. It's personal growth, and growth should be celebrated. Illustrate with personal story.

Chapter Five



Special chapter discussing some of the most typical marketing tricks and manipulative tactics to watch out for. The beauty industry is not always beautiful inside. That doesn't mean that all the products are worthless, but it does mean that the claims on the labels may be. Use examples for each one.

Photo editing and manipulation in advertising
Fear-based marketing ("no chemicals" etc)
Implied claims and weasel words
Claims ingredients at suboptimal concentrations
Age- and gender-based marketing



Chapter Six



How to build your own skincare routine, one step at a time. Detailed and with particular effects to look out for (and to avoid) by product type.
On progress pics, patience, and inevitable mishaps. Reminder: This isn't about achieving "perfection"--it's about achieving progress.
How to recover from unfortunate encounters with unsuitable products, and how to develop a resilient attitude and optimism in the face of breakouts or lack of results. Personal anecdote. How to break anxiety spirals.

Chapter Seven



Consistency is key, and so are reasonable expectations
YMMV and why it's pointless to compare your own progress or your own results to others

Unrealistic comparisons and how detrimental they are, both to skin progress and general mental health


On learning to value your own journey and your own achievements, regardless of how they match up to others. And on learning to find a community to support you along the way. Illustrate with personal stories from myself and others.

Ch​​apter Eight



Conclusion: What we've learned along the way, where we're going, and what it means for our skin and our mental health and our lives