Despite their increasing desire to age well, most career women don’t have the time to visit dermatologists on a regular basis, let alone afford expensive Botox, collagen or hyaluronan injections.

So more recently they have been turning to high-end skin-care products from beauty companies that replicate toning face massages or other cosmetic treatments offered by experts ― a new beauty trend, called “costhetics” in Korea.

The results may not be as dramatic as cosmetic surgery, but these products promise to restore the face’s youthful volume when used constantly. More importantly, they are safer than clinical treatments, experts say.

The French beauty giant Lancome is one of the leading skin-care brands that is increasingly introducing antiaging or line-lifting products to take advantage of the latest beauty trend.

Largely inspired by French lifting massage techniques, Lancome researchers have come up with Renergie French Lift, a retightening night moisturizer, which is also paired with a patented massage disk. 

According to the company, the dry massage disk helps to reposition facial muscles and stimulate circulation, resulting in tighter, firmer skin.

Meanwhile, two active ingredients of the cream ― resveratrol and oligosaccharides ―further tighten the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Designed to be used at night, when the skin can repair itself, the product helps retighten facial zones; cheekbones appear lifted; the forehead is smoothed; and the jawline and neck look redefined, the company said.

“A unique firming and antiwrinkle effect helps visibly smoothen and soften the skin,” said a Lancome Korea official. “This double performance treatment will decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving the skin’s firmness.”

Lancome’s Renergie French Lift is priced at 168,000 won ($165) for 50 milliliters.

Other skin-care and cosmetics brands are also joining the costhetic trend.

Korea’s largest beauty company, AmorePacific, has launched a slew of skin-care products made of selected herbal essences under the Sulwhasoo brand. Its Capsulized Ginseng Fortifying Serum (150,000 won for 35 milliliters) cleans and softens the skin.

Creme Contour des Yeux of Cle de Peau Beaute, a Japanese manufacturer of luxury cosmetics, is an intensive eye contour cream that also comes with a platinum eye massager. This sumptuous cream deeply moisturizes the skin to deliver radiance, the company said. The price is 350,000 won for 15 milliliters.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)