Unwind in a traditional jjimjilbang bathhouse in the morning and pursue a K-pop beauty makeover by lunch—the hippest, hottest and most heritage beauty finds converge in Seoul. Here in the Land of the Morning Calm, cutting-edge skin science, groundbreaking beauty trends and centuries-old rituals are met with equal devotion.
It’s hard to make an overstatement about the impact of K-beauty. Not only infiltrating, but now palpably setting standards for the beauty industry worldwide, there’s no shortage of places to stock up on its finest skincare and make-up offerings in Seoul. Discover cult and emerging brands at Olive Young, a beauty junkie’s playground, before immersing yourself in the time-honoured skincare rituals of Sulwhasoo. The latter’s flagship store doubles as a spa, where you may treat yourself to an indulgent facial or body treatment.
Indeed, such restorative spaces abound in the city. Tired beauty shoppers will delight in a session at Christian.unv, head spa to the stars including Zendaya and Ashley Graham, and a day of unwinding at luxury spa and aqua complex Cimer at Paradise City. And be sure to leave Seoul with the best souvenir of all—a K-pop star-approved make-over at Woosun Hair & Make-up.
Peruse Vogue Singapore’s edit of Seoul’s best beauty addresses—and what to pick for your trip to the buzzing city—below:
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Nonfiction
For some time now, Korean perfumery has been attracting the attention of fragrance connoisseurs the world over. Among the brands leading the pack is Nonfiction, which stands out with its distinctly minimalist designs and unique approach to olfactory storytelling. Drop in at their signature store in Hannam to discover the scents within a tranquil interior.
Nonfiction, 242, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 2 790 4097. instagram.com/official.nonfiction
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Spa Gogyeol
A personalised approach to beauty and self-care is where it’s at for the team at Spa Gogyeol. Offering a modern take on traditional Korean manual therapy techniques, step into the spa’s cocoon to undergo a facial or body treatment in alignment with your unique needs.
Spa Gogyeol, 3F, 34, J&C Building, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul(132 Seonneung-ro 132-gil), South Korea. Tel: +82 10 7682 1297. instagram.com/spa_gogyeol
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Amore Seongsu
Amorepacific is a giant of South Korea’s beauty scene, counting brands like Laneige, Etude and Innisfree within its portfolio. For K-beauty aficionados, a stop by their flagship store Amore Seongsu is a must when in Seoul. While away hours in this industrial space, where you’re free to test an array of products in the Beauty Library while perusing activations from mixing your own make-up shades to visiting the Seongsu Flower Shop.
Amore Seongsu, 7 Achasan-ro 11-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 2 469 8600. instagram.com/amore_seongsu
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Rom&nd Pink Office
Rom&nd fans rejoice—for the popular beauty brand has opened its first brick-and-mortar outlet. The aptly named Pink Office is hard to miss with its bright fuchsia exterior, and is a haven for any make-up lover looking to explore and experiment with a wealth of cosmetic options. From juicy lip tints to roll-on cheek blushers, it’s all here.
Rom&nd Pink Office, 88 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. instagram.com/romand_us
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Christian.unv
Head spa to the stars, this establishment has pampered the likes of Zendaya, Michael Fassbender and Ashley Graham in its cosy, private space. It marries revitalising scalp and neck care with total wellness, from stress relief to anti-ageing, through the hands of its expert therapists.
Christian.unv, B1, 252, UN village-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 70 4833-5105. instagram.com/christian.unv
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Olive Young N Seongsu
No trip to South Korea is complete without multiple, nay—daily—trips to Olive Young to stock up on health and beauty essentials. However, its N Seongsu space is a beauty junkies’ playground. Dedicated to discovery, the multi-storey store boasts immersive activations of cult and emerging brands, with year-round exhibitions, one-on-one beauty makeovers and a café to boot.
Olive Young N Seongsu, Factorial Seongsu, 13 Yeonmujang 7-gil, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 2 497 6589. oliveyoung.co.kr
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Sulwhasoo Spa Flagship
Atop the pinnacle of luxe K-beauty brands sits Sulwhasoo and with it, the most sumptuous facials and body treatments, drawing from Korean hanbang culture. The space offers two distinct categories of experiences in its Heritage and Contemporary spas—the former geared towards intensive, time-honoured rituals.
Sulwhasoo Spa Flagship, B1, 18, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 2 541 9272. sulwhasoo.com
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Cimer at Paradise City
Located in Paradise City, this expansive (it’s 13,000 square metres) luxury spa and aqua complex has something for everyone. From the music-filled aqua spa zone housing the Cave Spa and LED-clad Virtual Spa with zones such as Milky Pool, Hinoki Pool and Outdoor Infinity Pool to the contemporary version of a Korean dry sauna, this healing centre is worth a trip for the memories and Instagram stories alone.
Cimer at Paradise City, 186 Yeong jonghaeannam-ro 321-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea. Tel: +82 2 1833 8855. p-city.com
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Woosun Hair & Make-up
Here’s where K-pop royalty gets glam. Led by make-up virtuoso Lee ‘Maeng’ Myung-sung—the genius behind Blackpink’s directional looks—and hair guru and co-founder Kim Sunwoo, the salon counts Zico, actress Park Min-young and Girls Day’s Hyeri as clients. If entering your It girl era, consider this Gangnam-based salon the ultimate beauty destination for celebrities and mere mortals alike.
Woosun Hair & Make-up, 122-9 Chungdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 2 540 1107. instagram.com/woosunofficial
