Beauty In North Korea Is Vastly Different From Trends In The South [PHOTOS]

Beauty trends in South Korea are followed internationally, even the experimental rubber face masks.

The beauty of women in North Korea is a subject that’s rarely documented, but Romanian photographer Mihaela Noroc was able to visit the hermit nation to capture the unseen trends.

“Beauty is everywhere, and it’s not a matter of cosmetics, money, race or social status, but more about being yourself," wrote the 30-year-old Noroc.

“Women of North Korea are not familiar with global trends but this doesn't mean that they are not preoccupied by their looks. They have a passion for high heels and usually wear classic outfits, always accompanied by a pin, on the chest, representing the country's former leaders."

Very different from South Korea, where streets are aligned with different skincare and cosmetic stores, women in North Korea find it difficult to come by beauty products, according to the U.K. publication The Telegraph.

“Most North Koreans traditionally used skin toner and lotion only,” wrote Je Son Lee, who now lives in South Korea.

Noroc was accompanied by guides and only allowed to visit certain locations for her photography project, “The Atlas of Beauty,” according to The Huffington Post. Although she was reportedly closely monitored by authorities, Noroc was able to visit four different cities and photograph women in factories, universities, parks and subway stations.

Beauty in North Korea has changed.

Wealthy North Korean women have been able to purchase more expensive skincare products from South Korea through a local trading firm, according to a report earlier this year. Cosmetic surgery has also reportedly been on the rise.

North Korea has also reportedly begun to develop their own skincare product line.

“From 2000 North Korea began to produce its own cosmetics line called ‘You and I’ in its Hamhung factory. This cosmetics line was created to be supplied to high-ranking government officials, as well as to be exported,” wrote Lee.

“They added a line of nutrition cream to skin toner and lotion - at a time when you could buy other cosmetics for $5-10, these cost $250-300.”