Korean longevity secrets, vintage magazines + a lipstick that lasted 12 courses

A long list of global beauty secrets

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Hi,

Today’s Substack follows a loosely ‘global’ beauty theme; saved content from my recent travels including blood immunity treatments, viral longevity supplements in Korea, more J-Beauty hauls and the lipstick I wore for a 12-course Japanese degustation with wine pairings that didn’t transfer ONCE. Also, a look at the beauty pages from all vintage magazines I bought in Tokyo.

I’ll start with Switzerland. I was there last week for work (RUSSH) reasons, and while I was there I attended a dinner with international press. I sat across from a Korean editor who had the skin of a 20 year old. When he told me he was 34 I almost fell off my chair. Naturally I asked him what treatments he was into and it broke my heart when he responded ‘nothing’. BUT, he did share that he travels to Japan twice a year to have his blood taken and centrifuged (I think it’s like PRP, but not just for your face — it’s considered a form of regenerative medicine). He goes back a month or so later where they re-inject the blood in some capacity. The treatment is currently illegal in Korea, hence the travel. He said that since he started it, he hasn’t had a single cold or flu. He also told me all Koreans are obsessed with the longevity supplement ‘Timeline’. It contains Urolithin A, a compound shown to support cellular energy, muscle function and promote healthy ageing. Apparently it’s a revolution. Consider me INTRIGUED.

Onto Japan. I already have a Japanese Beauty Tourism Substack linked HERE based on a previous trip. But I’ve since been back, and bought a stack of old issues of Vogue and Elle from the 60s onwards. The beauty pages are incredible — the copywriting is brilliant and some of the features are wildly inappropriate. Personal favourite headlines include, ‘Can Tranquilizers Be Good For You?’ and ‘Does Valium Work”. The campaigns are also beautiful; you’ll never find a better mood board: