I knew I had always been a beauty junkie even before I entered pre-school. I always would try out my mom's and tita's makeup! My lola also bought me my first makeup kit when I was four. In case it wasn't obvious, I also learned and wrote about beauty products for a living. Beauty is in my blood.
So, when an opportunity to fly to Seoul, South Korea came up, I told myself that it was ~destiny~. I would see where almost 60 percent of my skincare and makeup collection came from IRL.
Read on to see my K-beauty travel diary!
(JSYK, my flights and accommodation were part of a press junket. But all the other things I shopped for are all on me. My credit card was overworked on this trip, LOL!)
South Korea Visa Application Requirements
You need to get a visa when entering South Korea, and I was assisted by a travel agency. The requirements I submitted were the following:
- Visa Application Form
- Passport size colored picture (2 pieces)
- Passport - Photocopy of passport bio-page
- Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past five years
- Original Certificate of Employment - must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number (cellphone number is not allowed), and HR email address.
- Photocopy of latest ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 with signature
- Original Personal Bank Certificate/s - must include account type, current balance, account opening date, and Average Daily Balance (ADB)
- Bank Statement/s
Depending on the embassy, they would issue a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa.
READ: Your Guide To Post-Pandemic Korean Visa Application And Renewal Process
EXPLAINER: We Gotchu: Here's A Step-By-Step Guide On Scheduling An Appointment For Your Korean Visa
Flying to South Korea
I flew Korean Air and had to take the flight at NAIA Terminal 1. The lines were LONG, so I advise you to be there at least three hours before your flight to avoid problems. I stood in the immigration line for a good 45 minutes.
Please wear comfortable shoes that are easy to remove—the airport requires us to take off our shoes before entering the boarding area. The flight will take about four hours, with South Korea an hour ahead of the Philippines.
Arriving at Incheon Airport
When I got to the airport, I got a travel sim and changed my money to Korean won. But don't worry, most establishments here accept credit cards. You can also withdraw cash using your Philippine debit card at any ATM in the city.
Korea Unlimited Data SIM + T money (LG U+), P1,006, Klook
Where to stay
I was lucky to stay in Gangnam, Seoul. The Inter Continental Seoul is located near Starfield COEX Mall and Hyundai Department Store. My credit card started to tremble for her life as soon as it knew that it was in the commercial district.
There are also other hotels in the area if you want to live your Rich K-drama Bida era.
Pics or didn't happen
I love taking photos of random objects, pretty locations, and... my face. I enjoy taking selfies, so sue me. I took the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 with me everywhere. It's been years since I last used a foldable phone, and I suddenly remembered why I got into it before: It can fit inside cute micro bags.
As a shameless selfie addict, I am enjoying Flip5's fold design makes taking selfie photos and videos super easy. I don't need to look for a random object to keep my phone steady. Plus, the 3.4" Flex Window (the screen you see when it's folded), allows me to check how I look, plus I can even take wide-angle shots so the whole group can join my shot. I can also get smooth video shots while I walk with the camera-stabilizing feature. (Say hello to my vlogging era, I guess?) The auto-framing function is cool because it detects people who need to be in the shot!
Also another flex: I've been uploading my photos without the need for photo-editing apps because the color quality is *chef's kiss*. The photos are crisp and the colors are vivid. I'm so glad I brought colorful outfits during this trip to maximize my phone's ~powers~.
BTW, even in low light, the Flip5's improved Nightography capabilities improve the photos in dim lighting conditions.
Convinced to join the flip side? The Galaxy Z Flip5 retails for P64,990 for the 256GB variant and P71,990 for the 512GB variant. You can choose between Mint, Graphite, Cream, and Lavender, depending on your aesthetic. (Tip: Pre-order on samsung.com to save up P43k!)
K-beauty shopping
With all the beauty stores sprawled around Seoul, it will be hard to skip this activity. My heart beat so fast when I discovered three branches of Olive Young (South Korea's most popular cosmetics store) near my hotel.
There is also a Sephora in Seoul so if you want to try Fenty Beauty, Urban Decay, and YSL products IRL. In Hyundai Department store, luxury cosmetic brands are also everywhere. (Full disclosure: I didn't check out every beauty counter here 'cos I was in Seoul for K-beauty shopping!)
My primary goal was to hoard sunscreens and moisturizers. My skin condition has changed over the years, and I need to use hardworking hydrating products to keep my complexion glowing and supple.
If you're really serious about K-beauty shopping, you need to schedule at least half a day in Myeongdong! It's one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul. In one strip, you'll find standalone Korean cosmetics stores plus fashion boutiques.
One store where I spent a good two hours was the Olive Young flagship store! It has two levels filled with Korean beauty products. From skincare to makeup, plus wellness items, this store has everything you need.
NGL, I had three other Olive Young visits in different locations, and I still bought a basketful of items. (It's me, hi. I'm the problem is me.) I'll review these products and share my thoughts with you soon!
Just a glimpse of my Olive Young haul:
A mini haul composed of Round Lab and Beauty of Joseon SPF products, a lip tint, root touch-up makeup, and gel press-on nails.
My haul from my visit to the flagship store was massive. A lot of these were on sale!
I hoarded Piccasso and Fillmilli beauty tools during my third Olive Young visit.
I also suggest that you schedule a color analysis session when you're in South Korea. You'll discover the best colors that will flatter your skin tone and features. Knowing your color season can help makeup and clothes shopping pretty easy.
Seoul Personal Color Analysis experience by Colozart, P7,741, Klook
Final thoughts
If you're planning to fly to South Korea, make sure your kikay friends are ready to do a LOT of walking when going around K-beauty shops or even just exploring different Olive Young branches. Plus, be ready to get overwhelmed by the amount of makeup and skincare products available! I had to do slow breathing exercises to ground myself, LOL! It took everything in me not to buy the things I would see.
You must, must, must document your trip! Make sure your phone has lots of memory space to store the photos and its camera should be ~giving~. You need a mobile phone that will capture the moments just like how you saw them IRL.
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*All photos were taken using Samsung GalaxyZ Flip5.
