"An audacious journalistic exploration of the present and future of beauty through the lens of South Korea's booming "K-beauty" industry and the culture it promotes"-- Provided by publisher

The skincare and makeup products of Korea work together to fascinate us, champion consumerism, and invite us to indulge. Hu has spent four years in Seoul as NPR’s bureau chief, and here she turns her eye to the darker questions lurking beneath the story. When technology makes it easy to quantify and optimize ourselves— from banishing blemishes, to whittling our waistlines, even to shaving down our jaws— where do we draw the line? What are the dangers for a society where a flawless face and body are promoted and possible? What are the real financial, physical, and emotional costs of beauty work in a culture that valorizes endless self-improvement and codes it as empowerment? -- adapted from jacket