A Jam-Packed 1-Week Korea Glow Up + Beauty Itinerary

Seoul Beauty Trip

After my last post on all the incredible, affordable beauty treatments you can get done in Seoul, I got a lot of questions on how I’d actually fit them into an itinerary.

Things like:

Which treatments I’d recommend most
In what order to book treatments
how many would realistically be possible to fit in a 1 week trip

etc

So today I’m sharing with you my very-efficient, in-and-out 7 day trip to Seoul where all I did was beauty treatments, shop and relax.

The perfect kind of trip if you ask me!

Seoul as a Solo Female Traveler

I had a little time off before the holidays so I found a cheap flight to Seoul and booked myself a solo getaway.

I’ve been to Korea many times now, so I felt comfortable going solo.

And while typically I don’t really like traveling alone, I loved this trip to Korea. I actually think the country is a great one for solo female travelers, because it’s safe, clean and easy to get around.

No one bats an eye if you dine out solo. I love Asia’s basement mall food culture.

Usually, the bottom floors and top floors of their sky-high malls are dedicated to food (more upscale dining on the upper floors, a fun food court and grocery stores/bakeries on the basement levels).

So you can try all sorts of foods and eat solo without feeling too ‘alone’.

North Korean style cold noodles (naengmyeon) are a must-try if you visit Seoul during the summer

Where to Stay

This time, I stayed in Gangnam at the Glad COEX hotel.

It was clean, modern and perfect for my solo trip! The beds were comfortable and the front desk was very helpful.

I think they also have a gym and coin laundry on site.

standard rooms at the Glad COEX Gangnam are modern, comfy and affordable

For a skincare focused trip, Gangnam is the most convenient area to stay.

But Gangnam is actually quite a large district – there’s several mini neighborhoods within it.

COEX stands for COnvention centers and EXhibition halls.

It’s in the southeast section of Gangnam, near their big event space. It’s probably more familiar to tourists for the big Starfield COEX Mall (home to that very instagrammable library)

While COEX is quite a business-y area (similar to Wall Street or Midtown in NYC), I like it because of the convenience, location and affordability.

As a side note – in addition to Starfield Mall, I recommend checking out the Parnas and The Hyundai malls nearby – they’re a little fancier with some bomb basement food courts.

Still dreaming of this buttery garlic chive bagel I had…

Right outside COEX subway station, you have tons of hotels to choose from.

A couple other great hotel options are:

Intercontinental Grand Parnas – modern + connected to the mall
UH Suite COEX – great for groups
Park Hyatt Seoul – luxurious
Shilla Stay COEX – budget friendly

When you’re walking 20,000 steps a day in Asia, choosing a hotel as close to a subway exit as possible is a must.

And as a bonus, luxury hotels in Asia are much cheaper than the rest of the world!

When to Go

This might be controversial but I think the best time for a glow up trip to Seoul is winter.

Yes, Korean winters are bitterly cold. Bundle up!

But, Seoul is much less crowded in winter.

If you visit around the holidays like I did, you can see the city all lit up and decorated for Christmas, which makes it feel cozy and cheerful.

Also, skin appointments can leave your face with some slight embossing, redness, bruising etc so it’s more easily disguised in winter when you’re all bundled up.

Read more: A Quick Guide to Seoul

a hot bowl of soft tofu soup (soondubu) to warm up over the winter

And, as someone who swears by getting laser treatments, I always try to do them during the winter. when there’s less sun exposure.

I’ve definitely noticed longer lasting effects when I do it in winter vs summer.

Your skin is untanned in winter, so the lasers are more effective. And, post-laser, your skin will be more sensitive to UV rays.

Shorter winter days and more indoor time helps protect your skin during the healing process and ensures that the results last longer.

Also, if you time your skin treatments for the winter, it typically takes a couple sessions and then a couple weeks to really ‘kick in’.

So by the time spring/summer rolls around, your skin will look its best!

Seoul Glow Up Trip

Ok, now on to the itinerary.

This is everything I chose for my trip, but — your mileage my vary.

I’m particularly focused on skin treatments Seoul does them better than anywhere else, for cheaper than anywhere else.

What to Know Before Skin Treatments

There are all these crazy social media posts, where people stack 7+ skin treatments in one session.

I personally think that’s a little too much and can be damaging to the skin, especially if you go to an unskilled provider.

Whenever I’m trying a new Derm for the first time, I start small and I book their signature treatment – what they do day in, day out.

I want to get a gauge for their skill and expertise before committing to multiple treatments.

And personal recommendations for doctors and clinics is best!

I don’t really trust what I see promoted on social media, too many are factory clinics or sponsored treatments.

After care is important.

After lasers or injections, you want to avoid heat and sun.

So, you’ll want to do any korean body scrubs, saunas, massages, eyelash extensions etc before skin treatments.

I also recommend buying a pack of face masks and wearing these anytime you go outside, after your skin treatments.

And finally, listen to the doctor’s advice. Good derms will give you printed after care instructions. Some advise you put nothing on your skin for a couple days after, others say sunscreen and moisturizer is OK.

I recommend stocking up on sunscreen and PDRN serums to use as part of your after care routine.

1 Week Seoul Beauty Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Korean Body Scrub & Settle In

are-korean-body-scrubs-worth-it-seoul-beauty-trip

Touch down in Seoul, grab your bags and head into the capital.

Chances are, you’re flying into Incheon Airport (ICN) if you’re traveling internationally.

The airport is a bit outside the city (~2 hours) and can often have early morning or late evening arrival times.

If you already have a transportation card, you can hop on the public buses.

Otherwise, you can book an AREX train into the city here

Or, book a private transfer to drive you into town.

Both are cheap and easy, but the private transfer is more convenient if you’re traveling with a group and/or have lots of luggage.

My favorite thing to do on the first day is to head straight to the Korean spa.

Every neighborhood has a public bathhouse or jjimjibang, a no-frills center with multiple bathing pools, saunas and relaxation lounges.

You do have to get completely naked, so if being exposed with strangers isn’t quite your thing I recommend a private Women’s scrub spot like this.

Korean body scrubs are elite.

An ahjumma will thoroughly scrub you down, from head to toe and slough off all the grime, exhaustion and muscle fatigue of travel. It’s surprisingly relaxing!

I’ve only ever book one of these private places.

first you soften up your skin with a long soak in a soaking tub. then they get to work!

Private scrub places are typically women only and run a little fancier.

They’ll give you tea and then leave you to have a calming bath soak to soften up your skin first.

Then, the ahjumma will come in for a full body scrub where she gets into every crevice. They put a mask on so I couldn’t see what she was doing, and all I had to do was lie there – heaven.

I opted to add on a lymphatic drainage massage and at the end, she also did a hair wash and full body wash, so I emerged feeling SO clean and refreshed.

There’s typically also a little station to blow dry your hair and apply sunscreen and makeup after.

So you can literally come off a flight looking haggard and leave the scrub looking put together!

It’s relaxing, restorative and logistically a great place to kill time.

Usually NYC > Seoul flights land at 6am before most coffee shops even open in Seoul (Korea, like most Asian countries, stays up late and starts late).

Also, your skin will be sooo baby-soft smooth.

Highly recommend!

always have to get korean bbq – in Seoul they’re famous for their charcoal grills

Afterwards, check in to your hotel, grab a bite to eat and walk around to explore.

Near the COEX Gangnam area, there’s a bunch of malls like:

The Hyundai Mall
Parnas Mall
Lotte World Mall

as well as Bongeunsa Temple for something cultural.

And if you knit or crochet, check out Nakyang Yarn shop. It’s in the area and very cute.

Day 2: Hair Cut + Scalp Spa + Color Analysis

is-a-scalp-spa-treatment-worth-it-in-seoul-korea

Another thing you should try in Korea is getting your hair done.

Korean haircuts are affordable and full service. They’ll give you a drink, thoroughly wash your hair (with a nice head massage) and cut, style and blow dry your hair.

It’s also really popular to get a digital perms or root volume perm for wavy curls and volume.

You can also try a scalp spa!

These are a full 18-step restorative scalp treatment to help cleanse all the dirt, build up and grease from each individual hair follicle.

They’ll use hair serums, ampoules, red light and more to really deep clean the scalp.

At the end, you’ll leave with your hair feeling extra soft + silky.

Hair Loss

If you’re suffering from unexplained hair loss, Seoul has hair clinics that specialize in combatting hair loss.

My cousin booked an appointment here and the doctor thoroughly analyzed her scalp and prescribed several shampoos and treatments.

Color Analysis

Afterwards, book a color analysis to figure out your color season.

They go above and beyond, helping you determine not just which shades of color look good on you, but also which makeup, hair and jewelry styles will most compliment your features.

best-desserts-and-cafes-in-seoul-strawberry-shortcake

pastries and sweets in Korea are incredible – light, full of fresh fruit or extra buttery and not too sweet

End the day with some dessert.

I love Korea’s dedication to pastries, cakes and bingsoo (shaved ice!) Any fancy department store basement food court will have great dessert options.

A couple others I like:

Sulbing
Nudake Sinsa (the Gentle Monster cafe)
Cafe Onion for pastries + cakes
Artist Bakery for pastries + cakes
Han Jung Sun for mochi with fresh fruit inside

Day 3: Makeup + Hanbok Rental + Palace Photoshoot

wearing-hanbok-at-changdeokgung-palace-and-secret-garden

Time to squeeze in some beauty + culture.

Start the morning by getting your makeup done.

Try a new look, learn Korean makeup techniques and appreciate the heavy emphasis on proper skincare prep.

Take notes of any products you like so you can buy them later at Olive Young.

This class is held at Jung Saem Mool’s artists – probably the most famous makeup artist in the country!

I used to watch her makeup show on Youtube years ago and she now has her own makeup school and makeup line.

I like her cult-favorite cushion compact. It gives a super natural, flawless finish.

Then, with your makeup all done, go to Gyeongbokgung palace, Korea’s national palace.

It’s very popular to dress up in traditional Korean hanbok outfits and take photos around the palace.

You can rent hanboks here.

As a bonus, wearing a hanbok gets you free entry into any of the palaces!

Afterwards, walk around Jongno and Bukchon Hanok Village.

They’re the cultural heart of Seoul, with many traditional clay-roofed houses that have been modernized into cafes and boutique shops.

Pick up some souvenirs, relax at a cafe with some matcha, or grab a bite to eat.

For dinner, continue the cultural theme and head to one of Seoul’s traditional markets.

Street vendors sell everything from snacks to drinks to appetizers and noodle bowls.

Seoul’s traditional markets are crowded, with a bit of everything – fresh produce, food vendors, small shops and snack stands

Gwangjang Market is famous, but become a little touristy ever since the popular Netflix show let the secret out.

Still, it’s a must visit.

Try kimbap rolls, cheesy tteokbokki rice cakes and mandoo dumplings. If you’re adventurous, Gwangjang is known for it’s section of the market that focuses on raw beef. Try yukhoe, or Korean raw beef.

You can wander around on your own, but be prepared it’s a bit maze-like.

Or book an insider tour here for a guided visit of the best stalls.

Other food markets in Seoul to check out:

Nandaemun market
Myeongdong market
Dongdaemun market

I liked Nandaemun in particular! Great clothes shopping, my favorite japchae hottoek stand and lots of homeware / baby clothes / plant stalls.

Day 4: Nails + Eyelashes + Cafe Hopping

Today’s a pampering day – a little shopping, a nail appointment and a lash lift + tint.

Start off in Seongsu, Seoul’s trendiest new neighborhood known for its pop-ups, concept stores and cute cafes.

Seongsu is often described as the Brooklyn of Seoul because old warehouses here are now being revitalized.

This is the spot to shop, filled with tons of Korean brands both new and old.

Seoul’s got a bit of shopping for everyone – lots of understated leather goods stores, clothing shops and concept stores

Shopping in Seongsu

Check out the Amore Pacific flagship, where you can get a custom foundation made by robots.

Pop into Cueren’s Seongsu store. They’re a Korean shoe brand I like that sells classic, all-leather shoes at very reasonable prices.

Then there’s Ader Error for genderless oversized fits, Archivepke for the leather bag + shoe lovers and Satur House for the Gen-Z crowd.

Don’t miss the cafes!

I’ve had some of the best pastries and most innovative coffee drinks in this part of Seoul.

Nails

Then, head to your nail appointment for some fun nails.

Seoul specializes in elaborate nail designs, with each finger nail design slightly unique.

Salons here mostly offer curated monthly ‘set’ options, where you can choose designs all for a set price (~$75 USD).

You can book a nail appointment here.

eyelash-tint-and-perm-in-seoul-korea-beauty-trip

seoul-monthly-nail-art-designs-korea-beauty-trip

seoul-nail-art-designs-beauty-glowup-trip

two must do beauty treatments while in Seoul: nails + lashes!

Lash Lifts

Afterwards, make sure to get a lash tint and perm.

Korean lash techs have a much better understanding of Asian eyebrows and lashes and know how to expertly curl each individual straight lash to a perfect C shape.

It’s super affordable (~$40 USD) and one of the best beauty treatments to do during a trip to Korea.

No more need for mascara!

Day 5: Eye Exams, Dental Work, Health Checkups + Massage

blue-light-to-kill-bacteria-and-stimulate-hair-follicle-growth-scalp-spa-seoul

For your 5th day, I recommend doing some ‘practical’ health things.

Then treat yourself to a pampering massage at the end, as a thank you to yourself for investing in your health.

We all know healthcare in America is a travesty, and each visit to Korea makes me think more and more that medical tourism is becoming the (sad) future.

In Korea, there’s a couple medical + health related treatments I’d recommend considering.

Eye Exams + Prescription Glasses / Contacts

If you’re nearsighted, make sure to pop into an optical shop in Seoul.

You can spot them in any neighborhood, on almost any random corner. Just look out for the little glasses symbol.

In Korea, a basic eye exam is dirt cheap – sometimes even free, as long as you buy a pair of glasses after.

And unlike American optometrists, they don’t charge an arm and a leg for prescription lenses.

Prescription frames range, depending on your choice of frames, but typically cost around $35 – 75 USD.

For contact lenses, just tell them your specs and they’ll hand you a box right over the counter. No waiting time, no eye exam needed, no prescription needed!

A box of daily lenses is ~$15-30 USD a box and monthlies are around ~$20-45 USD a box.

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Dental Work

I remember my Korean coworker telling me how he’d always go back to Seoul for dental work.

I’m not sure exactly why Korean dental work is so good and cheap, but it is!

Take advantage if you need any dental work and get it done in Seoul. You could also try an in-office whitening treatment.

Hospital Check Up

Full body, preventative scans are all the rage these days.

In the US, it’d cost $5,000+ for one MRI scan but you can do 15+ scans + checks at a Korean medical clinic and pay around $1,000.

Or, for a simple panel of bloodwork and hormone checks, $100-300.

If you’re visiting Seoul with aging parents or simply want to get a better measure of your own health, it’s something to look into.

Facial & Massage

After all that, treat yourself to an indulgent massage and pampering session.

I’ve always loved Sulwhasoo’s ginseng-focused skincare. It’s a famous premium Korean skincare brand focused on traditional Korean medicine.

Their luxurious flagship store in Bukchon Hanok Village offers a full menu of facials and massages.

Just visiting the store is a beautiful experience – all their products are on display to try and their gift packaging is stunning.

Or, for a similar traditional Korean medicine massage at a more affordable price point, check out Yeo Yong Guk.

It’s one of the top wellness centers in Korea and they offer a full menu of face and body massages.

You can book an appointment here.

Seoul Travel Vlog

Day 6: Skin Treatments

On the last day, get in all your skin treatments.

I recommend not booking too much else, because skin clinic visits can involve a bit of waiting.

The treatments themselves will take ~2 hours (depending on what you get done).

It’s easy to spend half the day here if you want to stack multiple lasers and treatments!

I covered a lot of the options in my Seoul Beauty Glow Up post, but I’d recommend trying:

skin botox (for glass skin)
pigmentation lasers (for moles, sun spots + uneven skin tone)
Rejuran: for skin healing (acne marks) + collagen boosting

If you’re in your 40s+, you can try some of Seoul’s most innovative anti-aging options, like:

Thermage (radio frequency energy to remodel collage and tighten skin)
Ultherapy (HIFU/ ultrasound for deep lifting)
Titanium (quick-acting laser to brighten, tighten and lift

All of these are designed to tighten skin, reduce the signs of aging and boost collage.

Day 7: Pharmacy + Olive Young Shopping & Departure

where-to-buy-rejuran-rejuall-seoul-pharmacy

On your last day, sleep in, spend the morning at a cafe to get one last black sesame latte.

Then head to the pharmacy.

Gangnam has tons of Olive Young stores and pharmacies.

Each carries slightly different stock, and will offer different sales + promotions, so I usually pop in to multiple whenever I see them.

Stock up on PDRN cream to help your skin repair and rejuvenate, and pick up a tube of melanosa if you have pigmentation issues.

Hydroquinone is available prescription free in Korea, unlike in the States!

This is the cream I bought and liked, in the higher 4% dosage. Just make sure to cycle usage, 1-2 months on, 1-2 months off.

I also like stocking up on Korean skincare and makeup in Seoul. Korean sunscreen is hydrating and lightweight and their toners and cleansers are always a must.

Lately I’ve been loving the

All super hydrating and help to build collage!

dressing-up-in-hangbok-seouls-national-palaces

And that’s it!

My 1 week jam packed beauty focused itinerary for Seoul. Let me know any questions in the comments.

Visiting Korea – Travel Checklist

Flights | Direct flights from NYC to Seoul can be limited, but I like budget Korean airline Air Premia. I also recommend taking direct flights to Japan (more flight options), then making a short stopover tip to Seoul. Check here for flight deals here and set an alert for your dates.

Hotels | Seoul is a large city, with lots of great neighborhoods for sightseeing, shopping and activities. I recommend staying North of the Han River in Myeongdong if you primarily want to sightsee and South of the river in Gangnam if your priority is skincare, shopping or beauty treatments.

Check here for deals on Seoul hotels and definitely book in advance if you’re traveling in the spring or fall.

E-Sim | Download a couple Korea-specific apps before your trip, like Naver Maps and Kakao Talk as Google Maps isn’t really up to date in Seoul. I highly recommend getting an e-sim so you can stay connected, translate menus & signs and hail a taxi. Jetpac offers affordable esims with daily packages as low as $1/ day.

Insurance | Lastly, be sure to visit Korea with travel insurance.

Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, your phone gets stolen, or a flight delay leaves you with nothing but the clothes on your back, travel insurance will help when you need it most.

Flight delays and lost baggage happen frequently and are always a pain, especially if you don’t have insurance to get quickly reimbursed! Get a quote for your trip here.

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The Best Hotels in Gangnam

Seoul in Style: The Perfect 5 Day Girl's Trip Itinerary

How to Plan the Ultimate Korea Glowup Beauty Trip

A 7-Day Beauty Focused Seoul Itinerary (jam packed!)

How to Get Around Seoul using Public Transportation

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