Join the Jello Skin trend (also known as Taeng Taeng)!
How about a skin reminiscent of Jell-O? During the summer, we could see how this very concept took beauty TikTok by storm, where the firm, bouncy jelly dessert became a further reference to something to strive for or be inspired by in k-beauty.
What is it, and is it something everyone can achieve? Let's break it down!
What is Jell-O?
Let's start from the beginning to paint us a picture of what we're looking for when we talk about Jello Skin. Jell-O is an American brand that produces flavored gelatin in powder form that when combined with water becomes jelly, and is often served as a dessert. The final product has a bouncy and glossy texture and appearance.
Gelatin is extracted from collagen and extracted briefly by boiling meat bones and is often found in, among other things, candy and desserts. Collagen in particular is something to keep in mind in this context, regardless of whether you consume gelatin or not! Since the name Jell-O is a brand name and thus trademark protected, the skin care trend has been named Jello Skin.
Stimulate the collagen production
Collagen is found naturally in our bodies and is a protein-based building block found in the skin and it also provides stability to other parts, such as bones and joints and has important functions for our organs and muscles. A kind of glue that holds the body together, in short! Collagen is produced all the time and is what makes the skin feel youthful, smooth and firm.
With age, however, production decreases and there comes a point where we lose more collagen than we produce, and that is why closer to the age of 30 you can experience that you start to have less plump skin and start to notice fine lines and that the skin becomes drier. This is why many products that stimulate your own collagen production are often marketed as anti-aging, where you help the production along by using ingredients that speed it up!
Why stimulate your own production and not add pure collagen instead, why not simply use a little Jell-O or gelatin on the skin? Adding collagen is somewhat controversial and there is no clear evidence that it has any effect as the collagen's molecules are too large to penetrate the different layers of the skin. Instead, use ingredients that can penetrate deeper and that stimulate cell renewal, which in turn leads to increased collagen production!
What does Jello Skin want to achieve?
Now that we know what both Jell-O and collagen are, we can take a closer look at the Jello Skin trend. As you may have already suspected, the goal here is to achieve a skin reminiscent of Jell-O; bouncy, plump, firm and preferably a little glossy and shiny! The term should therefore not be confused with Jelly Skincare, which instead deals with the consistencies of products that are usually a hybrid between gel and cream.
Is Jello Skin a new invention? Not at all! As with many trending concepts, it is based on a result-based combination of products that have been around for a long time, but have now been given new life under this name. In Korean skin care, it has already been summarized as Taeng Taeng, which is not exactly translatable, but refers to the same effect. Beauty influencer Ava Lee was the one who introduced the Jello Skin trend to the wider masses through TikTok based on Taeng Taeng when she realized the similarities to Jell-O, and the viral impact soon became a fact!
What she showed, and many after her, is how her cheeks (when her skin therapist pinched them) were firm, bouncy, supple and had a "bounce back" – the opposite of flabby. It translates to a high collagen level and focuses on how the skin feels and rather than just how it looks, and is independent of factors such as enlarged pores, rosacea or pigmentation.
Something important to remember here is that the amount of collagen in the skin and the individual starting position is largely genetic and therefore not everyone can get equivalent results. As said, the same applies to age, where a younger person may have an easier time getting an elastic bounce in the skin than someone whose collagen production has decreased over the years.
As always when it comes to the well-being of the skin, Jello Skin is also about looking at the big picture. Since cell renewal has to do with collagen production, it is also important to make sure that you have a balanced diet, make sure to exercise and sleep properly so that the body has the conditions to stay healthy and recovered.Smoking breaks down collagen faster, which is what is meant when you say that smoking ages the skin prematurely. UV radiation does the same thing, which can be slowed down by being careful with your SPF all year round.
Ingredients that will give you Jello Skin
Look for these ingredients and products:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Peptides
- Hyaluronic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Gua Sha
Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and is an antioxidant that protects cells against oxidative stress and free radicals, i.e. external stresses such as exhaust gases and UV rays. In skin care, it also evens out skin tone and adds radiance.
Vitamin E is the vitamin that strengthens the skin's moisture barrier, is anti-inflammatory and makes the skin more elastic. It has its own ability to stimulate collagen production but also has the nice property of boosting the effect of vitamin C, which makes the combination of the two excellent!
Peptides are the substance perhaps most associated with collagen-stimulating skin care, as it stimulates the skin cells and can communicate to them to behave like their "younger selves", thereby increasing collagen production. There are different types of peptides but the vast majority of them counteract aging in different ways by increasing firmness, counteracting fine lines or increasing the moisture balance in the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is not an acid in the sense that it exfoliates, but is a substance with water-binding ability and is found naturally in the body. By adding it to skin care, it acts as a real moisture booster that makes the skin hydrated, supple and healthy. Since the moisture level just like the collagen production decreases with the years, hyaluronic acid is the best for achieving Jello Skin, as it also provides the cell renewal.
Glycolic acid is perhaps best known as AHA acid. It is exfoliating and removes the dead skin cells on the skin's surface giving dull, tired skin a fresher appearance while having the ability to stimulate cell renewal for healthier, younger looking skin!
Massaging the face with a gua sha is an excellent way to achieve Jello Skin because the deep massage provides lymphatic drainage and accesses the connective tissue, which boosts collagen production. It's also decongestant and consistent use results in plump, elastic skin – just like Jello Skin! Here at GLOWiD you will find our own Angel Wing Gua Sha made of rose quartz which also improves skin texture and helps release muscle tension!