A Drop of SeoulThe city, distilled
EN

Beauty

The Edit

Our beauty journal — the ideas, people, routines, and products worth a closer look.

Browse by keyword

38 stories · Newest first

Flat lay with a sunscreen tube and letters spelling do not skip the sunscreen
Skincare3 min

Sunscreen as Skincare: The Korean Routine Step That Does the Most

Korean skincare treats sunscreen as daily skincare, not beach gear. Here is how to choose and use SPF for tone, texture, acne marks, and slow aging.

Woman applying moisturizer to her cheek as part of a calming barrier repair routine
Skincare3 min

A Korean Barrier-Repair Routine for Irritated Skin

A Korean barrier-repair routine focuses on gentle cleansing, calming hydration, ceramides, panthenol, and sunscreen while pausing strong actives.

Close-up of serum being dropped into hands against a peach background
Skincare4 min

Glass Skin Without 10 Steps

You do not need a 10-step routine for glass skin. The practical version is hydration, smooth texture, barrier comfort, and sunscreen used consistently.

Person wearing a sheet mask as a targeted skincare mini mask ritual
Skincare4 min

Toner Pads as Mini Masks: The Seoul Way to Use Them

Korean toner pads can exfoliate, hydrate, or calm depending on the formula. The most local-feeling trick is using them as short mini masks on targeted areas.

Minimal amber dropper bottle on a marble surface with dried leaves
Skincare4 min

Skip-Care Explained: The Korean Minimalist Routine That Still Feels Considered

Skip-care is the Korean minimalist approach to skincare: fewer products, smarter textures, and more attention to what your skin actually needs.

Bathroom counter with cleansing water, skincare bottles, and a face roller after washing
Skincare4 min

The 7-Step Korean Evening Routine for Calm, Glossy Skin

A Korean 7-step evening routine can be useful when each step has a role: remove sunscreen, cleanse, hydrate, treat, mask when needed, moisturize, and protect the barrier.

Woman applying a serum drop in front of a mirror during a morning skincare routine
Skincare4 min

The 5-Step Seoul Morning Skincare Routine

A Korean 5-step morning routine usually means cleanse, hydrate, treat, moisturize, and sunscreen. The local trick is keeping each layer thin enough to live in.

Woman rinsing her face at a bathroom sink for a simple Korean skincare routine
Skincare4 min

The Korean 3-Step Skincare Routine for People Who Hate Long Routines

The Korean 3-step skincare routine is cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning, or cleanser, treatment, and moisturizer at night. Here is how to make it feel considered, not bare minimum.

Best Korean Serums for Every Skin Type (Tested)
Picks6 min

Best Korean Serums for Every Skin Type (Tested)

The best Korean serums for oily, dry, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin — tested against real routines, with honest notes on what worked, what didn't, and one we wouldn't buy again.

Glass Skin, Realistically — What Works and What's Hype
Skincare5 min

Glass Skin, Realistically — What Works and What's Hype

Glass skin is real, but most of what gets credit for it is marketing. Here's what actually moves the needle — hydration layering, exfoliation, SPF — and what's hype.

Korean Sunscreens Worth Buying (Oily, Dry, Sensitive)
Picks6 min

Korean Sunscreens Worth Buying (Oily, Dry, Sensitive)

The best Korean sunscreens for oily, dry, and sensitive skin, chosen for real wear over a hot, humid summer — with the one everyone hypes that we'd skip.

The Korean Skincare Routine, Simplified — by Skin Type
Skincare6 min

The Korean Skincare Routine, Simplified — by Skin Type

A realistic Korean skincare routine steps guide broken down by oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin — what to keep, what to cut, and why order matters more than step count.

How Koreans Actually Care for Their Hair & Scalp
Hair & Scalp6 min

How Koreans Actually Care for Their Hair & Scalp

The Korean hair care routine starts at the scalp, not the strands. Here's how wash frequency, scalp scaling, and everyday products actually work — and where the routine falls short.

What Really Happens at a Korean Head Spa (A First-Timer's Guide)
Hair & Scalp4 min

What Really Happens at a Korean Head Spa (A First-Timer's Guide)

A Korean head spa is scalp care treated like skincare. Here's what a session actually involves, what it costs, how to book one in English, and who should skip it.