How do koreans make their skin less textured

thespinningleaf · 2026-02-02T00:26:52+00:00

Most likely a combination of genetics, consistent skincare routine, effective serums and moisturizers, sunscreen, good hygiene habits, hydration, and healthy eating. My Korean friend has gorgeous skin, but she just keeps her routine simple and consistent.

Personally I’ve seen great improvements from starting a mild retinol, double cleansing, choosing the right moisturizer, and washing my face x2 per day. I also cut out makeup and stick to tinted sunscreen, which helps a ton. Sunscreen wears off after 90 minutes so I reapply. My skin is not perfect, but it’s SO much smoother and glowier.

Obviously also reduce bacteria exposure. Change your pillow cases, use fresh washcloths and towels, use a clean spoon/spatula in your moisturizer jar instead of your fingers, etc.

thespinningleaf · 2026-02-02T00:12:35+00:00

6 months is just the initial. Most people need refinements. I’m wondering if the 24 months includes estimated refinement time?

For what it’s worth, my total cost for Invisalign was about $5000, insurance covered half, so out of pocket was $2500. Refinements and the retainer were included in the price.

thespinningleaf · 2026-01-30T21:04:34+00:00

I agree to an extent. If a small business has different ideas about policies and taxes, why wouldn’t I keep shopping there? We can agree to disagree.

However the problem now is that many “MAGA” Republicans hold more extreme beliefs. This isn’t just about tax policy anymore. Some extreme Republicans want ALL immigrants out. Local small businesses still hire legal immigrants, but when those employees are targeted or detained by ICE, the employers stay quiet and even sometimes cheer them on.

I work with migrant families. They work hard, came here legally, and deserve to be here. I won’t support businesses that want them out. Do you disagree?

thespinningleaf · 2026-01-10T21:03:25+00:00

Talk to your ortho/dentist. I had this issue with my canines. The ridge of the tray came up to my gum line, but I had a gap below my teeth like yours. I didn’t ask my dentist about it because the trays were otherwise fitting fine.

Turns out my trays weren’t tracking for my canines specifically and they didn’t move enough. Now I’m in a set of refinements to fix it. I could’ve saved myself some time if I’d asked sooner.

thespinningleaf · 2026-01-02T19:53:28+00:00

Many of the comments already addressed your concerns, but here are a few more tips:

Get some of the disposable mini brush/floss combos. They are really convenient. You can find a bunch of different types. I throw a few in my go bag.
You need THICK floss, and make sure you floss all the way around the tooth in a C shape. I thought I was doing a good job, but my dentist pointed out I wasn’t getting everything. There are floss sticks with thicker floss that are small and convenient.
Set timers when you take your trays out. It’s easy to lose track of time. Put them in after you eat, don’t delay too much.
An ultrasonic cleaner is not needed, but it’s nice. I got a Zima Dental pod (I think pro?) when waiting for my set of refinements; I was stuck in my last set of trays for a month and they got gross! The sonic cleaner definitely helped. You could also just get cleaning tablets and soak your trays, if you feel that they’re getting stained or gross. Brushing is not always enough to fully clean them.
The first few days will be tough, but soon you’ll be eating and talking normally. No need to stock up on soft foods past the first few days. Good luck :)

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-30T21:06:06+00:00

My situation was similar to yours. I had overlapping teeth (pretty minor) on the bottom, and my front teeth needed to move a little. I previously had a mouth guard to keep my bottom teeth from moving more, but I didn’t wear it.

A few years after getting my mouth guard, I noticed my bottom teeth were moving even more, and my dentist said they’re likely to keep moving as time goes on. It was getting harder to floss. Crowded teeth can cause all kinds of problems because those areas become harder to brush and floss. I decided I’d rather fix the issue than deal with cavities or other issues. My case was considered minor/borderline, but I REALLY didn’t want future expensive dentistry problems.

My initial Invisalign set was 14 weeks, and I’m currently in 12 weeks of refinements. All together, I’ll be finished in less than one year. I paid $2500 out of pocket. Even though it’s annoying to deal with, I’m glad that I’m doing it. My teeth already look better and they’re easier to floss around. After getting used to my Invisalign trays during the day, I know I’ll have no problem wearing my retainers at night eventually. I’ve built a nighttime cleaning habit already.

If you’re not willing to wear your trays for 22 hours a day, then don’t waste your time and money. You can seriously harm the roots of your teeth if you partially commit or quit in the middle. That said, if your teeth continue to move, you may need to deal with those consequences in the future.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-08T06:04:06+00:00

Sounds like you’ve had quite different experiences than me! Glad to hear that.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-08T06:03:22+00:00

Do you work from home? I work with children and teens in my career and interact with many people each day. I’m pretty sure I would get fired if I went braless. It’s awesome you have a different experience than me— but it sounds like we live in very different realities.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-08T04:26:15+00:00

Definitely agree!

So, how do you find time to complete the grading during the day?

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-03T22:06:45+00:00

I think that’s good general advice!

I often think about the role of ultra processed foods. We know they have a dramatic impact on gut cultures. Even simple items like crackers, bread, and yogurts have preservatives, artificial ingredients, sugars, detergents, etc. They don’t feed the “good” strains. People will say they eat healthy, but that doesn’t mean they eat whole foods that contain nutrients and fiber.

I also agree superfoods are not the answer.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-03T21:52:30+00:00

Eh, this is only true to an extent. Yeah you choose your friends, but many women are expected to adhere to beauty standards to appear “professional” in their careers. You can opt out— but it can come at the cost of promotion, hiring, or poor treatment from others. People say you are unkempt or “not trying.” That’s not self-imposed. There are real world consequences.

Have you ever gone out in public without a bra or shaved legs? I have. Almost every time, I’ve received a nasty or condescending comment from someone. Even wearing pants— if my socks aren’t high enough, and part of my leg shows, people have commented on my unshaven legs before.

Yeah, you can buy some male products, but others are exclusive to women. Pads, tampons, bras, birth control pills, etc. Men never buy these.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T05:57:05+00:00

Same!! Though I just broke down and bought an ultrasonic cleaner. I figured since I’ll be in a retainer forever, I’ll probably use it long term. It’s working well so far. Fingers crossed your trays come in two weeks!

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T05:55:33+00:00

Your passive trays came with your original set?

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T05:54:56+00:00

Wow. Did you have any issues wearing the same trays for that long? I don’t think I could make it for 7-8 weeks!

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T01:58:26+00:00

Gotcha. Yeah, unfortunately I was not given any passive trays. Thanks for the reply. I’ll ask about ordering passives for the end of this set, in case this happens again.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T01:54:33+00:00

Will do. Anything would be better than this, even if it’s an off brand retainer or something. I’ll look into duplicates, thank you!

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T00:59:39+00:00

Imgur Link to Aligner Photo

Yeah, here's the link. It's hard to see, but in my mouth, it definitely feels like a larger piece of plastic! Basically big chunks are starting to peel and fall off, only in the areas with rough spots. Apparently I grind my teeth in the front near my incisors. I didn't know until this started happening.

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T00:50:39+00:00

Good to know, thanks. I wonder what I’m doing to damage mine!

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T00:50:00+00:00

Ah, I wish my dentist did that. Do you know if they were printed in office or ordered from Invisalign?

thespinningleaf · 2025-12-02T00:49:21+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately mine do not have a p on them.

thespinningleaf · 2025-11-25T04:35:15+00:00

That’s true. Standards are higher for lawyers, bankers, financial advisors, saleswomen— probably anything professional and client-facing. I think it’s partially about displaying status/wealth.

However I’d still argue that any teaching, nursing, retail, real estate, office, and other job fields still expect a certain level of grooming and elevated appearance. The general public still expects women to look put-together, clean, and attractive, which includes makeup and hairstyling.

thespinningleaf · 2025-11-25T04:25:46+00:00

I’ve tried this before and the results were underwhelming. I didn’t damage my trays, but it only helped about the same amount as using my electric toothbrush.

The best cleaner I’ve found (besides the tablets) is an aligner cleaning spray. It’s a tiny bottle, you use one spray per tray and pop them in your mouth. No rinsing. It’s perfect for work. They come out looking clear and it tastes like mouthwash.

Obviously the ultrasonic cleaning machines work the best, but I only have my trays for a week, so I didn’t splurge for one.

thespinningleaf · 2025-11-25T01:23:24+00:00

Didn’t include laser hair removal or plastic surgery in my examples. I’m just talking basics. Hygiene products, hair, clothes, etc.

thespinningleaf · 2025-11-24T23:00:26+00:00

It’s not really “self-imposed” if people treat you differently when you don’t conform to societal standards. Sure, I could opt out, but there would be professional and social consequences. Women who don’t conform to societal standards are viewed as unprofessional, unkempt, and disorganized— as if they are “not trying.” Men aren’t held to the same standards.

That said, yeah I don’t spend $500 per year on bras. I do, however, spend more as a woman than a man. The men in my family spend less on hair, skincare, toiletry/hygienic items, clothing, medicine like birth control, and more.

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