Don’t worry if you have not jumped on the K-beauty train – it’s not too late. Korea is the place for all things skincare, and it’s well worth the trip. This was my second trip to the capital city of Seoul, and I decided my main focus would be a fulsome glow-up. A Seoul skincare trip, not for the faint of heart, as I scheduled 11 treatments in a week!
Timing matters, especially if you are going from one side of the city to another. For the record, these treatments last between 2 to 3 hours on average. Hot tip – if you are visiting Seoul for your first time, I would not recommend packing in all of these treatments. When planning a Seoul skincare trip, I would only schedule a couple treatments a day, in between a day of sightseeing/shopping to break it up. Be mindful of the treatment time, and the travel time between appointments.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and would like some English assistance, I used two services that were able to coordinate treatments over email: Creatrip (You can earn points for future treatments) and Beauty Day Korea.
Here are the details of my Seoul Skincare treatments:
ParkJun Beauty Lab Cheongdam Branch – A massive location in Gangnam with attentive service. To kick off my trip, I received the full spa treatment. This included a facial with rejuvenating ampoules. And like many facials in Seoul, it started with a 3D skin analysis. You start out with a fantastic chair massage, and then it was time for the custom facial and head spa. The head spa focused on stem cell regeneration. After the 15 steps, I was given a quick look at my scalp again, which was completely clean of any shampoo buildup and skin. To finish, I had my hair blow dried smooth without defaulting the volume. It’s a fantastic way to start a Seoul skincare trip.
AuriQi and Oyeseo Yaksa – I met Oyeseo in her Itaewon studio (along with an English interpreter) for ear seeding. She gave me the rundown of ear seeding and how it evolved from Dr. Paul Nogier’s research of auriculotherapy, who derived it from Traditional Chinese medicine. Ear seeding uses 120 acupressure points in the ear to stimulate nerves and release pressure in the body.
This is performed by placing tiny seeds on specific ear acupressure points. These points can treat anything from anxiety to dark eye circles. Left on for 72 hours, you would squeeze the acupressure points three times a day. The AuriQi ear seeds themselves are made from clay and germanium and instructions in the kits make it easy to manage your beauty and health needs through ear therapy. This was a very unique experience, and it is gaining traction in the health and wellness space.
SEIAN Donggyo – This is a fantastic alternative to a traditional jjimjilbang. A jjimjilbang is a public bathhouse (read: while the bathhouse is gender separated, you will be naked with strangers). If you are not quite ready for that, this is a woman’s only private bath and body scrub – and a standout on any Seoul skincare itinerary. It was incredibly private, as there were only a few treatment rooms. The pressure of the ‘regular’ scrub was intense, but my skin was left silky smooth. There are multiple packages to choose from which include hair and face treatments depending on your needs.
Inko Seoul – I visited last year, and I was so impressed with the service that I wanted to go again. The 3-D skin analysis is amazing. Something that is exciting, compared to last year’s results – I have increased my hydration over the year. Unfortunately, I had quite a few blackheads that I needed extracted. But that is a story for another time. I left with a new Olive Young shopping list and a deep-cleansed face. The perfect foundation for the other treatments I had planned for the rest of my Seoul skincare trip. I would recommend having this treatment at the beginning of the trip so you have your shopping list to refer to as your trip unfolds.
Delphic Clinic – Located in Gangnam, I went to Delphic clinic to receive ONDA lifting and fat dissolving injections. The clinic is extremely foreigner friendly – everyone in the clinic speaks English, and most importantly, a doctor performs the treatment. ONDA lifts and tightens from inside. Compared to the Thermage and Immode (which I had last year) laser, the ONDA laser is both heating and cooling at the same time. Working in conjunction for maximum effect – the Fat dissolving injections destroys fat cells permanently. There is zero downtime which is perfect for going about your busy schedule after the treatment.
BeautyOn Clinic – Conveniently located close to Meyongdong street station. I really liked the service at this clinic because they provided me with an in-person English translator for the entire length of my appointment. After a consultation, I received the following six treatments: Whipped Cream Peel for exfoliation, Pico Laser for pigment removal, Genesis Laser for skin regeneration and texture, Clarity Zoom Pass for overall brightening, LDM ultrasonic for deep hydration boosting hyaluronic acid levels and LED light therapy to reduce inflammation. I left the clinic only slightly flushed and joined the crowds in Myeongdong.
Another hot Seoul skincare travel tip: Time your most invasive treatment (like facial lasers) towards the end of your trip. I had mine the day before I left Seoul, so the downtime recovery would be on the plane ride home.
Dupibondang – My last treatment in Seoul was scalp scaling. This included a diagnosis and a deep clean of my scalp to increase circulation. After the 3D scalp analysis, I found out I had a dry scalp, which hindered growth, and I was applying shampoo and conditioner all wrong. The treatment for this includes a daily tonic and a weekly application of serum with a scalp dermaroller. Results are not instant, so I am excited to track my progress over the next few months. This treatment is more about ongoing scalp education, rather than a one-time head spa. Both are valuable in different ways.
Other treatments that I completed during the trip included a traditional enzyme bath which I used Beauty Day Korea to book, a lash lift at Sel Love Beauty, body massage at CCLime and nails at 5×5 Studio. If it was my first time in Seoul, out of these four additional treatments, I would choose getting nail art done at 5×5. While the appointment was close to two hours, the detail was incredible and a great way to close out my trip.
I hope this round-up gives you some insight on the vast treatments you could do when you are in Seoul and some inspiration for booking your next trip.
All that Seoul skincare will work up an appetite – satisfy your Korean food cravings closer to home with our roundup of the best Asian restaurants in London.
