The above specimen is a real-life, living person
Close your eyes. Picture, if you will, the prototypical android used to engineer today’s assembly line of K-Drama starlets.
Now open your eyes. See what I mean? Lee Yeon Hee is as “contemporary Korean” as oh, I don’t know, sticky-sweet soft serve ice cream. In other words, Lee Yeon Hee is a most curious candidate to front a beauty brand as quintessentially Japanese as SK-II.
Despatched to Singapore to plug this year’s profusion of festive coffrets, the 26-year-old actress appears terribly bashful, meek even, in the face of flashing bulbs; it’s all I can do to not reach out to stroke her silky hair and tell her everything’s fine.
One of SK-II's festive coffrets for 2014: As pretty as Yeon Hee herself!
Shyness aside, Yeon Hee has one astronomical asset – her well nigh perfect skin. I was sitting this close to her, and I’m a pretty good judge of complexion (if not character), so I can attest to her incredibly incandescent mien.
How does she do it? Apparently, all one needs to do to be a K-Beauty is to carry on being lazy. When asked for her morning regime, Yeon Hee says her only essentials are SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, sunscreen and a smidgen of BB cream, so yes, she’s one of those rare, legitimately no-makeup girls. I spy lots of glinting, green-eyed monsters – don’t be jealous!
Does she fancy any K-Beauty fads? Well, Yeon Hee hews to a surprisingly stripped down and Zen approach to beauty – which makes her appointment as an SK-II ambassador that much more believable.
Best beauty memory? The recipient of the Best New Actress at the 2008 MBC Drama Awards giggles and says it has to do with last year’s Busan Film Festival. Observation: She has visible smile lines! She isn’t an animatronic doll!
But back to her unforgettable experience. I can’t spoil everything for you, can I? You’ll have to watch our video interview for the crazy shenanigans she gets up to, plus various illuminating bits and bobs. Click “play” on the video below, and try not to get too worked up over her impossibly poreless skin.
SK-II Revival Deluxe Set, $452, consists of the Limited Edition Facial Treatment Essence (215ml), Stempower cream (80g), Stempower Eye Cream (15g) and Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask (1 piece). For more information on the festive coffrets, visit www.sk-ii.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook and YouTube.