By Camille Santiago Special thanks to KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION If there’s a place any beauty girl should visit, it certainly has to be South Korea. Over the last few years, Korea has become an authority in style, music, entertainment, food, and most especially beauty, dictating trends worldwide. Familiar with the ChokChok skin, glass nails, and bright tinted glasses? We have the Koreans to thank for those. But visiting South Korea is more than just the usual tourist spots like Myeongdong, aka the land of K-Beauty. While, yes, it’s a shopping haven for beauty addicts, there are other areas in the city and beyond where you can experience Korean culture. Getting your nails done and hair styled by a professional in Korea—more so when traveling—is probably the last thing you’ll do when you are touring (or really, it won’t even be part of your itinerary!). If you want a unique travel experience, however, and to get a feel of how Koreans pamper themselves, then these are worth trying. Whether you’re a returning visitor, or a first timer, let me do the research for you as I list down some of South Korea’s most interesting beauty experiences, along with off-the-grid tourist spots and eateries that you can add to your itinerary.

Where to go for pampering

FRAGRANCE-MAKING AT AROMIND Perfume-making is quite popular in Seoul, and if you want a unique souvenir to take home, then you’ll enjoy this activity. At Aromind, you can create a scent that’s uniquely yours for KRW 60,000 (around P3,000, which includes a 50ml bottle, 12ml tester, and box). The founder Lina—who is also an aromatherapist—will be there to guide throughout the process as she gives a lecture on the basics of perfume-making and how to determine the best ratio for the scents you have chosen. Aromind, 19-7 Bukchon-ro5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea Facebook.com/aromind GEL MANICURE AT DASHING DIVA Before I leave for a trip, I always get a manicure. But before I even get down from the plane, somehow, I always find a chip in my mani. Luckily, we stopped at Dashing Diva in Garosu-gil, home to upscale shops and restaurants, for a quick gel manicure. We all know that Koreans are beauty trendsetters—nails included. Here, you can choose from getting a regular gel mani, French tip, pearl, or add gems and nail art! Dashing Diva, 656-21 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea en.dashingdiva.co.kr HAIR STYLING AND MAKEUP SERVICE AT JENNY HOUSE The country’s well-known makeup artists, hairstylists, and stylists to the stars can be found at Jenny House, one of South Korea’s top high-end beauty salons. Entering this four-story building in Gangnam is like entering heaven for beauty lovers like me—there’s the makeup room, men’s grooming room, hair styling room, and even a dressing room where brides-to-be can fit their gowns. Their aesthetic is simple, as they want to highlight their client’s youthful beauty through natural-looking makeup, clear skin, and effortless hairdo—very much like how Korean ladies are. Oh, and if you think you’re seated next to a celebrity, then you probably are because Korean stars like Han Jimin, Park Shinhye, Lee Sung Kyung, Changmin, Jessica Jung, and many more frequent this salon. Jenny House, 16-1 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea Instagram.com/jennyhousepr FACIAL AT SULWHASOO FLAGSHIP STORE When it comes to luxury Korean skincare brands, Sulwhasoo definitely comes to mind. We visited their flagship store in Gangnam, which is a four-story building covered with intricate gold brass in its interiors and exteriors. You can literally spend hours here exploring the mini museum, retail store, spa, and rooftop. Here, I got to try out their products (some of which are exclusive to this store) and spa services, which adopts Sulwhasoo’s philosophy of holistic beauty through its products and traditional techniques. After filling out a beauty checklist, the facialist assessed my form and mentioned that I will be getting the Bloomstay Care Facial, a treatment to strengthen skin’s elasticity. After the treatment, she led me to a desk where I can put on Sulwhasoo makeup to touchup. Sulwhasoo Flagship Store, 18, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea sulwhashoo.com HERB HEALING THERAPY AT THE HERB HEALING CENTER, HERB ISLAND Go on a side trip outside Seoul and revel in the beauty of the countryside—in Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province to be exact. While Herb Island is an attraction in itself, their Herb Healing Center is quite notable. Guests can enjoy the various herbal spa packages or make their own souvenirs such as aroma soap, candles, and oils, or purchase other herbal health products. One of the unique services that I tried here is their Mul (Water) Healting Therapy. It first starts with a consultation, followed by the Herb Hydro therapy, a bathing experience with herb extracts and oil. Next is my favorite part, the Herb and Hay therapy. The therapist will ask you to lie inside a manger-looking bed stuffed with hay, and place heating pads on your shoulders and stomach while you rest for about 30 minutes. The treatment ends with a herbal oil massage for another half hour. Herb Island, 35 947beon-gil, Cheongsin-ro, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Herbhealingcenter.co.kr