‘Skinimalism’: The secret to Mun Ka-young’s ‘True Beauty’
German-born South Korean actress Mun Ka-young walked into the dimmed hall of Capella Bangkok in Thailand, fresh-faced and resplendent in a flowing white dress, her ebony strands bouncing with every step.
She had just been declared the first Asia-Pacific ambassador for Radiesse and its “Me, My Skin with Radiesse” campaign. A pioneer in regenerative skin treatments, Radiesse continues the conversation started by Step Zero, the preskin-care aesthetic treatment by Merz Aesthetics that prioritizes simplicity, efficacy and functionality in skin care.
The campaign is an invitation to refresh and reset by focusing on skin health and regeneration. It’s a chance to rediscover a “newfound activator that has been there all along” and reinforce the skin’s foundation, resulting in revived youthful glow and elasticity.
According to Merz Aesthetics senior vice president for regional marketing in the Asia-Pacific Sylvia Lee, Radiesse represents the pursuit of efficiency as well as “skinimalism,” which refers to the simplification of skin-care routine, paring it down to only the absolutely necessary steps to achieve optimal skin health.
“Radiesse is the only regenerative biostimulator capable of regenerating not just collagen and elastin, but five key components of the skin’s structure for up to a year or longer,” said Dr. Owen Sunga, Merz Aesthetics senior vice president for regional scientific and clinical services in Asia-Pacific.
These five key components are collagen types 1 and 2 (to improve skin structure, elasticity and thickness), elastin (to restore elasticity for voluminous skin), proteoglycans (to provide nourishment and glow) and angiogenesis (or the growth of new blood vessels, to sustain long-term health of new skin tissues).
To do this, Lee explained that Radiesse stimulates the body’s natural renewal processes to restore youthful-looking skin right at the source.
“We’re trying to restore health, make our tissues look good and healthy and normal and youthful,” added Australian plastic surgeon Niamh Corduff, RiverEnd Aesthetics clinical director.
Regeneration
“Say, I cut your leg off,” she said. “You’re going to heal with just a fibrous patch—that’s what our body does as we get older. It just throws in collagen, collagen, collagen, collagen. But it all gets chucked in haphazardly and forms a patch. That’s replacement.
“But wouldn’t it be cool if I cut your leg off and, over a few weeks, I can see new skin, new muscle, new fat? That’s regeneration.”
According to the website, the entire procedure can be done over one’s lunch break. The doctor injects the filler under the skin, and Radiesse immediately helps smooth out lines and wrinkles. It can also help eliminate severe facial folds as well as correct volume loss in the back of the hands. The effect can last a year, or even more.
“We are actively working to educate healthcare professionals and their patients on Radiesses’ unique clinical benefits,” said Sunga.
Lee added that the introduction of Mun as regional ambassador for the campaign signals a new era for Radiesse.
“This campaign, along with the continued success of Step Zero, underscores our strategic focus on highlighting the importance of skin health and laying the groundwork for a streamlined regimen.”
Skin’s changing needs
“I am honored to be part of the Merz Aesthetics family, a company that owns a brand that embodies confidence and well-being,” said Mun in a statement. “To me, Radiesse represents a journey of self-renewal that begins with the skin and extends to every facet of life.”
During the press conference, the “True Beauty” actress remarked how the campaign’s message resonates with her because it builds confidence by promoting long-lasting skin health improvement. “Beyond skin health, it helps you find your true self.
“Knowing how to release your stress in your own way is really important in managing your battle with stress. That’s one thing that I found that comes directly with inner confidence, and that really helps me a lot,” she said, adding that putting her feet and legs in a warm tub helps her relax.
According to her, she keeps her own skin care routine simple yet efficient, taking note of her skin’s changing needs. Aging, she added, is a very natural thing that everyone has to go through.
“The most important thing is actually the foundation of the skin,” she added. “One thing I’ve tried to focus on is just to manage the well-being of the overall self, and then try to groom myself so I can become a great adult. That’s my goal at the moment.”
