I Ate Like a Korean Influencer for 30 Days — My Skin Glowed

Last updated on: December 3, 2025

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent way too many nights scrolling TikTok and Instagram, wondering how Korean influencers always look so fresh, soft, and glowy. Their skin has that “I drink water and mind my business” kind of calm. Meanwhile, I was sitting there with dull skin, random breakouts, and a relationship with food that could be best described as… chaotic.

One night, after watching a creator eat a perfectly balanced Korean breakfast of sweet potato, fruit, and barley tea, I thought, What if I try this for 30 days? What if their glow is not just from skincare, but from how they eat?

So I decided to eat like a Korean influencer for a whole month. And honestly? My life—and my skin—changed more than I expected.

Here’s everything I learned, felt, loved, and struggled through.

Table of Contents

What Eating Like a Korean Influencer Looks Like

Before I started, I wanted to understand what this style of eating really means. What I found was actually refreshing.

Korean influencers don’t starve themselves. They don’t skip meals. They don’t “cleanse.” Instead, they focus on simple habits:

Lots of vegetables
Fermented foods like kimchi
Warm soups
Sweet potatoes as snacks
Lean proteins like egg, fish, and tofu
Less sugar
Hydrating teas
Smaller, balanced plates
Very little processed food

It’s not complicated. It’s not extreme. It’s just clean, colorful, and full of real food. And honestly, it felt doable.

Week 1: My Body Went Into Shock (But in a Good Way)

The first few days were… interesting. I swapped bagels for warm sweet potatoes. I replaced coffee with barley tea. I ate kimchi almost every day. And I kept meals simple — lots of rice bowls with veggies, egg, and seaweed.

Here’s what happened almost instantly:

I felt full longer
My cravings for sugar dropped
My stomach felt less bloated
My energy didn’t crash in the afternoon

Skin-wise? Nothing major yet. Maybe a tiny bit of brightness, but that could’ve been wishful thinking. But inside, I felt lighter. My body didn’t feel weighed down.

The hardest part? Missing snacks like chips or cookies. And meal prepping. Korean meals take a little effort. But once I got into the rhythm, it felt natural.

Week 2: Things Started to Change

By week two, something clicked.

My digestion was smoother. My mood steadier. I didn’t feel puffy when I woke up. And then… the skin changes began.

One morning, I looked in the mirror and thought, Hold on… am I glowing?
It wasn’t dramatic. But it was real.

My skin tone looked more even. My usual redness around the nose calmed down. And my face felt softer, if that makes sense.

I also discovered meals I genuinely liked:

Bibimbap
Soft tofu stew
Seaweed soup
Rice with salmon and veggies
Sweet potato with peanut butter

I wasn’t dieting. I wasn’t restricting. I was simply eating cleaner, fresher, and more mindfully.

Week 3: The Glow Went From Subtle to Noticeable

This week was wild — in a good way.

People started saying things like:

“You look rested.”
“Your skin looks healthy.”
“Are you doing something different?”

My breakouts reduced. My skin texture smoothed out. Even my under-eye area looked less tired.

But the biggest change was how I felt:

Clearer mind
Better sleep
More stable energy
Less emotional eating
More motivation to eat real food

I also realized how calming warm soups are. Korean influencers weren’t kidding. Starting the day with something warm made my stomach happy and kept me full.

I looked forward to meals instead of grabbing whatever was fast. Eating felt intentional.

Week 4: The Glow Was Real and Impossible to Ignore

By the fourth week, I didn’t just feel different. I looked different.

My skin was:

Brighter
More even
Plump
Less oily around the T-zone
Less dry around the cheeks
Less prone to hormonal breakouts

My face looked calmer. My pores looked smaller. My overall complexion looked naturally highlighted.

I could see the glow without needing makeup. And the best part? It didn’t feel temporary or forced. This glow felt like it came from deep inside.

Food became something that nourished me, not something I rushed through.

A Typical Day of Eating For Me Looked Like This

Breakfast:
Roasted Korean sweet potato + fruit + barley tea.

Lunch:
Bibimbap bowl with rice, veggies, egg, kimchi, and sesame.

Snack:
Seaweed chips or pear slices.

Dinner:
Grilled salmon + rice + kimchi + miso/bean paste soup.

Drinks:
Green tea or water. No soda. No sugary drinks.

Simple. Clean. Real.

Why I Think My Skin Improved So Much

I’m not a scientist, but after doing this for a month, these are the things I think made the biggest difference:

Less sugar = fewer breakouts
Fermented foods = better gut health = better skin
Lots of veggies = natural antioxidants
Warm soups = easier digestion
Lean proteins = helped skin repair
Hydration teas = reduced puffiness
Smaller portions = less inflammation

My skin wasn’t fighting me anymore. It felt like my whole body was working in harmony.

What I Learned After 30 Days

This challenge taught me a lot about myself and my food habits:

Eating well doesn’t have to be boring.
Small changes make a huge difference.
My body loves warm food.
My skin reacts very quickly to sugar.
I had been overeating without even realizing it.
Fermented foods are a game changer.
You don’t need perfection — just consistency.

And most importantly: food can be gentle, calming, and healing.

Will I Keep Eating Like This?

Not perfectly. I love my pizza and I won’t give that up. But I will keep many of the habits:

Sweet potato breakfasts
Fermented foods every day
Tea instead of sugary drinks
Veggie-heavy meals
Warm soups
Simple rice bowls

These are easy to maintain. They make me feel good. And they make my skin look better without spending hundreds on skincare.

If You Want to Try This, Here’s My Advice

Start with breakfast.
Add one fermented food daily.
Drink tea instead of soda.
Keep meals simple.
Don’t pressure yourself to be “aesthetic.”
Do it for your health, not for perfection.
Listen to your body.
Be patient — your glow is coming.

Final Thoughts: The Glow Comes From Nourishment, Not Perfection

After 30 days, I didn’t just get glowing skin. I got clarity, peace, better digestion, and a healthier relationship with food.

Eating like a Korean influencer isn’t about following trends. It’s about choosing meals that make you feel light, loved, and cared for. It’s food that feels like a warm hug.

And honestly, if a simple shift in how I eat can make my skin glow this much? I’m in.

Your glow might just be one sweet potato away.