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How is skincare in LA different from Taiwan?

The sunscreen that's perfect in Taiwan might not even be on the shelf in LA. One face, two climates, two rulebooks: humidity and UV, how to read American sunscreen, what LA skin is thirsty for, and how to switch if you go back and forth.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

Key points

Full text

  1. Humidity: the difference shows up in the afternoon

    LA's average humidity over the year is actually about the same as Taipei's; the difference is that LA is humid in the morning and very dry in the afternoon, and when the Santa Ana winds blow in fall and winter, it's dry enough to crack your lips. Afternoons and Santa Ana season are when moisturizing matters most.

  2. UV

    LA has lots of sunny days, and summer UV is often in the 'very high' range; UV is still there on May Gray and June Gloom days, and car windows, the beach and hiking are where you get the most. 'LA's sun is more serious than you think.'

  3. In the US, sunscreen counts as a 'drug'

    The FDA regulates sunscreen as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, with Drug Facts on the back; there used to be only 16 approved sunscreen ingredients, compared with over 30 in Europe. In Taiwan, sunscreen is a cosmetic.

  4. Why can't you find Asian sunscreens on US shelves?

    Lots of ingredients used in Asian and European sunscreens still aren't FDA-approved, so brands just don't sell them in the US. In June 2026 the FDA approved bemotrizinol, the first new ingredient in over 20 years.

  5. How to read the label

    The US goes by SPF and Broad Spectrum (you can only say it after passing UVA testing), and you won't see PA+++ on the packaging; Taiwan, Japan and Korea use PA+ to PA++++. Buying in the US, look for Broad Spectrum SPF 30 or higher.

  6. Hydration: LA's priority

    Add a layer of serum or oil after toner, use a thick cream at night, keep a humidifier in the bedroom, and put lip balm in every bag; don't skip body lotion, because LA dryness starts at your shins. In Taipei, skincare is oil control; in LA, it's hydration.

  7. Facials: a standing appointment for Angelenos

    Lots of people get a facial once a month, as routine as a haircut, from deep cleansing to lymphatic massage and LED; prices vary a lot, so ask clearly your first time.

  8. The Korean body scrub in Koreatown

    Koreatown's jjimjilbangs have body scrubs, like the 24-hour Wi Spa, with men's and women's areas. Your skin is super smooth afterward, and you'll see just how much dead skin you had; put on a thicker body lotion that day.

  9. Taiwanese skincare that Angelenos envy

    Cheap, effective drugstore skincare, Japanese and Korean sunscreens with lots of ingredient options, one-stop pharmacy chains, and cheap facial massages.

  10. LA skincare your Taiwanese friends will want

    Big, cheap bottles of American body lotion, Sephora stuff (Sephora left Taiwan in 2023), local LA skincare brands, and wellness bits like essential oils, gua sha tools and rollerballs.

  11. How migratory birds switch it up

    Taipei to LA: switch to richer products as soon as you land, do extra sheet masks the first week, switch to Broad Spectrum sunscreen. LA to Taipei: switch to light, oil-control products, put away the thick cream, go back to light Japanese and Korean sunscreens.

  12. Honest reminder

    This is lived experience, not medical advice. Everyone's skin is different; if your skin is acting up, see a dermatologist, and patch-test new products first.

  13. Two-city mirror

    In Taipei, your skin learns to live with humidity; in LA, it learns to live with sun and dryness. 'Skincare is how you take good care of yourself, whatever city you're in.'

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An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).