Your Seoul guide to South Korean beauty experiences 

Seoul is widely recognised as Asia’s leading authority on all things beauty-related, spearheading trends like fruit juice makeup and chok chok (“hydrated and luminous”) skin. It also introduced us to sheet masks, snail mucin, the 10-step skincare routine and many more viral beauty trends. So, how can you not hit a few beauty hotspots while you’re in town? Rest and recharge with high-tech facial treatments, full-body massages, traditional Korean bathhouse experiences and much more on your next visit to Seoul.  

Soothing Seoul spas 

For the latest in luxury, pay a visit to Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul . Sleek and modern, the resort overlooks Seoul’s Namsan Mountain, offering a welcome respite from the bustle of the city. Its signature Royal Banyan treatment includes a massage with a warm herbal pouch dipped in sesame oil, a cucumber cleanse, a jade face massage and a herbal bath. Another first-rate option is Spa 1978  in Gangnam. Its broad range of packages promises to target any and all needs, but the red ginseng anti-ageing treatments are most popular.    

If you enjoy shopping for coveted skincare products in Myeongdong, why not go a step further and enjoy massage and beauty treatments from your favourite brands? At the Areuke Spa in Hongdae, you’ll learn how to reap the full benefits of Troiareuke skincare, with a 30-minute skin analysis that ensures facial and body treatments are tailored to individual needs. Similarly, at Sulwhasoo’s flagship store in Gangnam, you’ll find the Sulwhasoo Spa  and the Sulwhasoo Balance Spa. The former looks to tradition by using jade and white porcelain massagers for purifying and circulation-boosting effects, while the latter takes a more modern approach, with a focus on relieving stress and eliminating fatigue from busy routines. Both make use of the brand’s quality products across treatments, which range from back, leg and abdomen massages to moisturising, brightening and calming facials.    

Must-visit jjimjilbangs 

While a jjimjilbang is sometimes described as a Korean bathhouse, it’s much more than that. Comprising pools, saunas and communal lounges, these much-frequented establishments are traditional spaces of calm and comfort. Upon entering and stowing away your shoes, you’ll be given a wristband which you can use to access your assigned locker, as well as pay for refreshments and additional services. After storing your clothes and belongings, you’ll head into the gender-segregated spa zone where you can shower and bathe in cold and hot tubs – or pay extra for a thorough full-body scrub which, while rough, will leave you with baby-soft skin.    

Afterwards, change into the T-shirt and shorts provided and head to the communal area – complete with heated floors – for comfortable, all-day lounging. You’ll also find massage treatment rooms, sleeping rooms and kiln saunas where temperatures range all the way from -10°C to 80°C. Be sure to check out the restaurants on site too; no jjimjilbang visit is complete without trying Korean sauna-style eggs, known for their nutty, roasted flavour, and sikhye, a traditional sweet Korean rice drink.    

For an indulgent jjimjilbang experience, check out Cimer at Paradise City  – famously featured in the reality show Single's Inferno. Achieve true relaxation and recovery at Cimer’s Jjimjil Spa Zone, a premium healing space comprising an ice room, salt room, red clay room, foot spa and more. Free shuttle buses and trains run between Paradise City and Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, making it the perfect spot either for kickstarting your trip or ending it on a high note. 

Essential skin clinics 

Seoul’s popular skin clinics offer a wide range of non-invasive and painless procedures catering to different skin types and concerns. One of the most popular treatments is the Aqua Peel, which uses mild chemical exfoliants to cleanse and tighten pores, remove blackheads, and improve acne. Also common are laser treatments that reduce the appearance of acne scars, dark spots, and pigmentation, as well as radiofrequency lifting treatments that stimulate collagen formation, reduce cellulite, and improve skin elasticity.  

No matter what you choose, you’re sure to walk away with glowing, revitalised skin. There are numerous skin clinics in Gangnam, but Muse Clinic , Me Clinic , GU Seoul Clinic and PPEUM Clinic are among the best-known names. 

Korean personal colour analysis

For a one-of-a-kind beauty experience in Seoul, make an appointment for a personal colour analysis. The process involves having different-coloured fabrics draped near your face to assess your skin’s brightness, saturation and temperature, which allows an analyst to identify the palette best suited to your skin, eye and hair colour. Palettes are divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter, then further categorised as either bright, warm, light, cool, soft or dark, resulting in 12 distinct types.  

Aside from outlining your best everyday colours, analysts will share practical tips on how to combine flattering colours for your hair, clothing and makeup. Some may also assess your current makeup choices, and recommend a list of products that may be a better match. Check out Cocory , Color of You  and Colorize  for tourist-friendly services in English, Chinese and Japanese.   

Take K-beauty home

Even if you don’t have a trip to Seoul coming up on your calendar, you can still get your fix of K-beauty from the Cathay Shop. The moisturising Water Sleeping Mask  from LANEIGE will be a hit at any sleepover, while Sulwhasoo’s Perfecting Cushion  offers breathable, flawless coverage.  

This article was originally published in July 2023 and updated in March 2026.