If you travel to Seoul, this is how and where you buy your makeup / skincare products.
Lately lots of items comes with both English and Korean information on the back, but not all.
In the larger tourists areas there are staff who speaks, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Vietnamese and English. But to be on the safe side, Google items before you go :) Or take a photo, go to a cafe google and go back!
Koreans love their skincare and make up both men and women in all ages. Lots of non-Koreans are picking up on this and all I can say is that South Korea is HEAVEN for all skincare and makeup lovers!
And don't worry about the hotel locations, you can find stores in every corner! Even in apartment areas (for those who prefer AirBnB).
The bigger crowd means items you might want can be sold out! But there are so many shops you should not be too alarmed. Just walk to the next block or go to another area and you will find it.
Below I will mention the larger and more popular areas, I think these areas are good to include if you are quite new to Seoul. The more you go there and have time, the more areas to explore!
Examples of Drug stores/Roadshop Korean brands
A'pieu, April Skin, Banila Co,Club Clio, eSpoir, Etude House, Holika Holika,
Innisfree, Missha, Peripera, The Face Shop, The Saem, Tony Moly...
Then you also have stores such as Olive Young, Boots, Watsons that hold several brands.
Following are popular Areas in Seoul to go shopping.
I'd suggest these for the new ones travelling to Seoul! Below you find 11 different areas
1. 종로 Jongno
A long road, it starts at Jonggak station (종각) and you can walk until Jongno 5 ga 종로5가.
Along the underground you find a mix of make up and fashion goods, above ground the same.
On the way you also pass Insadong, the traditional Korea, here you will see all the make up shops written in Hangul instead of Alphabet!
How to get here
Line 1 Jonggak (종각)
Follow the underground walk way till the end and exit.
Or walk back, exit and walk the upper grounds.
2. 명동 Myeongdong
This is in the heart of Seoul and to Koreans this is almost like travelling abroad.
There are so many tourists here, you find more people speaking a foreign language than Korean.
Bring your passport to get Taxfree. There are at least 5 of each roadshop store in this area!
Boots recently opened a MEGA store here!! They hold both domestic and foreign brands
In this area you also find Lotte Department Store, Lotte Duty Free, Lotte Young Plaza (You can find lots of Kpop goods), Restaurants, Clothes shops like H&M, Forever 21, Uniqlo and Spao.
In Lotte Department store you find more high end brands of skincare products. You can also buy Duty free, you select and pay now and pick up at the airport. Don't for get to bring your ticket and passport!
The Duty free section is always crowded, you have to fight for what you want!!! Mostly it's because of the Mainland Chinese tourist. As a Westerner it can be a bit scary but in Chinese culture they are not used to lines/queues. So when we think they cut in line, that's just how they do it. Nothing rude, just Chinese way, that's what my mainland Chinese friends have told me!!
How to get here:
Subway Line 2 to Euljiro Il-ga (을지로 입구)
For Myeongdong Exit 6
For Lotte Department Stores Exit 7
Subway Line 4 to Myeongdong (명동)
Exit 6
3. 신촌/이대 Sinchon/Edae
A few stops away from Myeongdong connecting 3 universities creates an great area for shopping and eat cheap! Start of by getting off at Ewha station, exit 2 or 3. Walk around the alleys and walk further down towards Yonsei and you will get to Sinchon. Here you also find the Uplex and Hyundai shopping malls and lots of great places to eat!
How to get here:
Line 2 to Sinchon (신촌)
Exit 1,2,3 or 4
or
Ewha Womans University (이대)
Exit 1, 2, or 3
4. 홍대 Hongdae
A heart of shopping, food, party and artists all coming together! This is Hongdae and this part of Seoul never sleeps! Take exit 9 and follow the people! Here you find everything the teens and University students want. No matter age, it's great to visit! Here they have the largest brands plus Olive Young shops which carry multiple brands!
In this area you also find: Interesting galleries, Trick Eye museum, Hello kitty cafe, Snoopy cafe, K-drama locations etc.
How to get here:
Line 2 to Hongdae (홍대)
Exit 9
5. 동대문 Dongdaemun
If you have heard about Korea, you must have heard of the Big East Gate, that is exactly what Dongdaemun means. Although this is the home for fashion, the makeup and skin industry has opened it's doors here as well! You find the bigger brands here, not the largest shops but enough to make you satisfied!
How to get here
Line 2,4,5 to Dongdaemun History and Culture park (동대문문화역사공원)
Exit 13, 14, 15 for shopping
Or
Line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun (동대문)
6. 대학로 Daehakno
This area is home for small screen plays, cinema etc. It's called University road.
Here you find lots of restaurants, shops and parks. A great place to visit, usually very crowded!
Walk around the main streets and alleys and you will find it all, it's a great place to get lost!!
How to get here
Line 4 to Hyehwa (혜화)
7. 잠실 Jamsil
Jamsil or Lotte Town is also a great area to mix fun with shopping and amusement.
The reason why it's called Lotte Town is because the big Korean company Lotte has let built several buildings in this area!
The Lotte buildings hosts several shopping complex buildings with lower brands and high fashion brands. You also find Lotte Hotel, Lotte Duty Free, Lotte World - In-and outdoor amusement park. Lotte Mart (like US Walmart), several shops and restaurants.
In Lotte Department store you find more high end brands of skincare products. You can also buy Duty free, you select and pay now and pick up at the airport. Don't for get to bring your ticket and passport!
How to get here
Line 2 or 8 to Jamsil (잠실)
8. 건대 Konguk University
Another large University area around Line 2. Here you also find most Make up brands and also cheap fashion, just like the ones added on above. I'd say this area is not as popular among foreigners as the other ones but it sure host lots of great places!!
How to get here
Line 2 or 7 to Konguk University (건대)
9. 코엑스 COEX (Samsung station)
I'm not sure if it still is, but it's said to be the largest shopping mall in ONE single floor!
Here you find it all, all the make up brands plus more!
You can also find Lotte, and I believe Shilla duty free here. At least they used to have Shilla. Lotte is still there! Of all the Lotte Duty Free "stores" I prefer this one, it's less crowded and I actually found some items cheaper than in the Myeongdong branch!.
How to get here
Line 2 to Samseong (삼성)
10. 강남 Gangnam
The famous Gangnam area! I prefer the "underground mall" inside the station itself. It's huge but you won't get lost, there are numbers for each exit and maps, just walk around it. Here you find lots of make up shops, clothes etc. Go up above ground and you find even more!
In this area you also find: This is also home of Samsungs Digital Plaza (D'light), always a fun stop for tourists! Lots of offices so if you take the "wrong" exit it will bring you to the office districts.
You also find lots of shops and good restaurant. Next to the Shin Nonhyeon station in the cellar floor you have the Kyobo bookstore, here you can also find magazines, cds/dvds and also lots of stationary.
How to get here
Line 2 or Shin Bundang line to Gangnam (강남)
Exit 10 or 11 for shopping streets
Or
Line 9 to Shinnonhyeon 신논현
Exit 5 or 6 for shopping streets
Exit 7 for Kyobo books
11. 고속터미널 Express bus terminal
Actually this place is best for the cheaper fashion. But you can of course find all the make up brands here too. You also have the Central City (센트럴시티) feature Megabox cinema and Shinsegae department store so you can also find high end brands and great places to eat!
In this area you also find: Banpo Brigde, it lights up in the evening and you get a great watershow! Worth the visit! If you want to travel outside Seoul this is one of the main bus stations.
How to get here
Line 3, 7 or 7 to Express Bus Terminal (고속터미널)
12. 압구정/신사 Apgujeong/Sinsa
Along Line 3 you find these two areas, start at either and walk between.
Apgujeong is a hotspot for high end brands, you find most luxurious brands here. It's also a great place to go clubbing at night.
In Sinsa you have the famous Garosu-gil. This area attracts a lot of people every day!
You find all the make up and skincare shops but also foreign and domestic brands and lots of fun cafes and restaurants.
In this area you also find: Gourmet 434, a luxurious food court. You should know that Koreans love to eat and in each mall they have a food court. To compete the CEO decided to bring in some of the best restaurants into a food court! Here you can have a delicious meal and get some of the best of Seoul!!!
How to get here
Line 3 Apgujeong (압구정)
or Sinsa (신사)
13. 용산 Yongsan
This place hold a mix of electronics and fashion mall.
It also has a huge cinema and usually shows Korean movies with subtitles as the American Army base is not too far away. The Yongsan complex is large and great to spend time if it's rainy outside.
In the cellar they also have an E-mart, similar to the American Walmart. Here you can buy both make up and foods.
How to get here
Line 1 Yongsan 용산
Exit 2 or 3
or
Line 4 Shin-Yongsan 신용산
Exit 3, aprox. 4 min walk
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