a day ago
Jennifer Rock on the skincare trends worth trying in 2025
Jennifer Rock, CEO and founder of Skingredients and The Skin Nerd, joined Laura Fox on RTÉ 2FM to discuss skincare, 'shedding', K-beauty and Irish skin. Listen back above.
Kicking off a lengthy discussion covering all things skincare, Laura and Jennifer dove into the world of K-beauty.
Korean beauty, also known as K-beauty, is an umbrella term for skincare products and methods from South Korea. For the most part, the goal is to achieve 'glass skin' that looks poreless and plump.
"It tends to be associated with a 10-step skincare range," explains Jennifer, listing eye creams, moisturisers, daily sheet masks, toners, cleansers, essences, suncreams, and a range of serums as being part of the process.
Having travelled to South Korea to study the extensive practice herself, the Dublin woman says she was blown away by the sheer volume of products available.
"I have never in my entire life seen so many skincare products in the space of three, four, five, six streets. It is mind-boggling," she insists. "It is a paradise for any skincare lovers out there."
Something that Jennifer does appreciate about K-Beauty is their enthusiasm for sprays as she says that using cotton pads could potentially be irritating to the skin.
As for her standout products, the CEO notes that milky toners are both hydrating and brightening, and can be followed by an essence - a lightweight hydrating serum that typically features hyaluronic acid - for a glowy look.
"Essence was the key piece that I took from it; it's all about essentially bringing moisture to skin," she says, explaining that when skin is wet, it will retain products more effectively.
A recent trend to have taken the skincare world by storm is snow mushrooms. This 'snow fungus' - officially named Tremella Fuciformis - is derived from Chinese medicine, and can be found in many serums, toners, and moisturisers.
The current 'it girl' ingredient is similar to hyaluronic acid but may be better suited to skin that is sensitive (or battling an Irish climate of sun, wind and rain all within the hour).
It is also a lot less sticky than hyaluronic acid and is both hydrating and anti-ageing as it draws moisture to the skin.
The next trend to tackle? Micro-current devices.
These pricey gadgets deliver a small current that contracts muscles and helps to keep the skin lifted and toned. However, Rock insists that it is best to have this procedure done in a clinic rather than at home.
"You can't really do at home what can be done in a clinic," she explains, with the caveat that at-home skincare does offer the opportunity for repetition.
Essentially, a professional session is best, but if you're determined, you can achieve similar results through a consistent routine: "They do work but the responsibility, in that sense, is down to you using it," she says.
If you are shopping for a device, Rock recommends getting something that has 10-600 on the box, which means it is within the bandwidth of currents that actually contract the muscle.
Ultimately, when it comes to skincare trends, although there is plenty of unsolicited advice on social media, it is usually best to trust the advice of qualified professionals and the recommendations of trusted friends.
