When I first heard about the "new" trend in Korean skin care, dubbed "cloudless skin," I almost rolled my eyes. Another one?, I thought, thinking back to the two previous K-Beauty stories we've covered, first on "glass skin" and then on "honey skin," both of which are centered around achieving a hydrated and healthy complexion. How could this be any different?, I asked myself. Nevertheless, I reached out to a few Korean skin-care experts to learn more about "cloudless skin," and more importantly, how it compares to the two aforementioned trends. Little did I know, I was in for a bit of a surprise.

"Unlike glass skin, mochi skin, and honey skin, 'cloudless skin' is not really a trend," Liah Yoo, a YouTuber and founder of the skin-care brand KraveBeauty, tells me. "It's the ultimate skin condition that motivates Korean women to do skin care so deliberately, and it's a term that's been used in many advertisements for decades," she explains.

Put simply, cloudless skin refers to a completely clear, flawless complexion. See where the "cloudless" descriptor came into play? But, the difference between it and the former fads, if you will, is that it's much more connected to the "healthy aura" that one exudes from the inside out, as well as someone's emotional state. (For instance, Yoo says you would hear this as a compliment a lot when you fall in love, whether it be with a partner or with yourself).

Alicia Yoon, the founder and curator of Peach & Lily is on the same page as Yoo, explaining to me in a lengthy response via email that "cloudless skin" refers to an inner, healthy radiance. "Think of a young child who has yet to see skin damaged by the elements — skin is so full of life, vibrancy, and seems almost transparent," she says.

On the flip side, according to Yoon, as we get older and go through the daily wear and tear that's inevitable (especially if you live in a big city), you'll see the underlying damage and dark spots that have sprouted over time, below the surface of the skin. "[It's] the constant exposure to pollution, UV rays, and stress," Yoon says, the latter we know has the potential to greatly impact the overall health and vitality of our skin.