Korean beauty has established a decent foothold in Western beauty markets and online trends. That said, trends from other cultural beauty industries, particularly those from Japan, are gaining ground. The Mochi skin is just one of many Japanese beauty trends gaining interest within Western online beauty spaces, and it doesn’t seem to be going away.
The main difference between Mochi Skin and K-Beauty’s Glass skin is that mochi skin focuses on a texture inspired by the titular mochi, aka Japanese rice cakes. While glass skin focuses on a wet, mirror-like effect, mochi skin focuses on a more natural, pillowy, soft, smooth, satin look.
This isn’t the first time mochi skin has appeared, though it has been rather recent within mainstream spaces. Typically, mochi skin trends tend to reappear after the summer months, when glass skin is far more popular, and well into autumn. That said, while popular, mochi skin isn’t seen as a full replacement for glass skin; instead, many see it as both an alternative for different skin types and one acclimated for colder weather.
According to ELLE, mochi skin focuses more on hydration, barrier support, and less exfoliation. The focus on hydration positions mochi skin as a skincare regimen rather than being purely cosmetic. This would also make it more understandable that mochi skin is popular during the colder months, since cold weather notoriously causes dry skin. Ultimately, those shouldn’t have to decide to strictly follow one trend. Instead, focus on what suits their own skin type and use methods safe for their skin to achieve that look.
