Lip Service 💋 #6 Special Edition: The Seoul Beauty Diaries
Jet-lagged but glowing—come with me as I mask, mist, and glam my way through my hometown and the beauty capital of the world.
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Ciao, beauty!
I know you weren’t expecting to hear from me until next week, but after a whirlwind return home to Seoul for some much-needed R&R, I had to drop in early. The beauty discoveries? Immaculate. Seoul has long been a powerhouse for skincare and makeup innovation but being back reminded me that the experience runs so much deeper than product shelves.
This isn’t a full-blown travel guide (though I’m happy to write one—just say the word). Instead, I’m walking you through the beauty-focused experiences, rituals, and product finds that made this trip extra glowy. A huge shoutout to A, my best friend and partner-in-crime, who let me be a tourist in my own hometown and joined me in all my cosmetic escapades.
All thoughts, opinions, and cheeky commentary are entirely my own. Every product and service featured here was purchased with my own money—no sponsorships, no freebies, just honest-to-glow reviews.
💄 First Stop: Color Analysis, K-Beauty Style
On our very first morning in Seoul, I dove headfirst into a long-awaited appointment: a personal color consultation at Design Me Personal Color. If you caught last week’s newsletter, you’re already familiar with the concept—but if not (go catch up!), here’s the quick glow-down: Color analysis is a diagnostic for your undertones, helping you determine which hues best complement your skin tone, natural coloring, and vibe. The result? A custom “season” that maps out your ideal color palette.
Here’s how it works:
Spring and Autumn = warm-toned (think golden, yellow-based hues)
Summer and Winter = cool-toned (blue-based tones and cooler shades)
Within each season, you’re either Soft (muted tones) or Bright (high-saturation tones)
The consultant began by asking about my usual style and color preferences. Then came the science: she scanned several points on my face and neck to determine my exact skin tone. (Side note: my skin tone is apparently super even across my face and neck—shoutout to my skincare routine!) After that, she draped my hair in a white cloth and held up dozens of color swatches against my skin to evaluate which tones enhanced or dulled my features.
And honestly? It was fun. Like, visibly transformative fun. I could immediately tell which colors lit up my face and which ones made me look, well, slightly ill. Grey was an instant no. (RIP to my high school uniform, but nothing of value was lost.)
The verdict? I’m a Bright Spring—aka warm-toned, high-saturation colors are my sweet spot. Think bold, juicy hues from the ROYGBIV spectrum. Cue an intense, totally-justified shopping spree that I will pretend didn’t happen.
But here’s the thing: color analysis isn’t gospel. Much like visual weight, it’s not a restriction—it’s a guide. If anything, it offers a little structure to your wardrobe and helps you shop more intentionally.
After the draping session, my consultant also gave tips on necklines and sunglasses shapes that flatter my face and body type. Then she helped build a complete makeup look based on my seasonal palette—think tones that bring harmony, not contrast, to my features.
We ended the session with a written report full of personalized suggestions: style cues, colors to wear (and avoid), and beauty tips tailored to my face and tone. It was fun, grounding, and a fabulous way to kick off the trip.
Oh, and a very special mention to my grandfather, who came along, quietly watched the whole process... and offered nonstop commentary. Iconic.
🧬 CRP: The Hair Hero You Didn’t Know You Needed
Now, I’ll admit—thanks to a delightful combo of stress, nutrient dips, and a chaotic schedule—I’ve been shedding a touch more than usual. Some might call it “malding.” I call it “crisis management in real time.”
It’s not dramatic enough for panic, but considering I’ve had thick, glossy hair for most of my life, even a slight shift in my shedding pattern is enough to send me Googling in the middle of the night. So naturally, my next stop in Seoul was a dermatologist's office—for a little magic known as CRP.
CRP, or Cytokine Rich Plasma, is essentially PRP’s sleeker, more sophisticated sister. While PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) involves drawing your blood, spinning it in a centrifuge, and injecting the nutrient-rich portion into your scalp, CRP skips the drama (and the sight of your own blood). It isolates the active healing components—specifically, the cytokines—without the messy bits. In short: all of the goodness, none of the gore.
But what does it actually do?
Cytokines are like your body’s little dispatchers for repair and regeneration. When injected into the scalp, they help boost circulation, wake up sluggish hair follicles, and encourage new growth over time. CRP is especially beloved for being gentler than PRP, with less downtime and a more refined formula. It’s ideal for early-stage hair thinning, post-shedding recovery, or those moments when you just want to intervene before things get worse.
The best part? It’s not about instant volume or filler-level results. CRP plays the long game—revitalizing your scalp’s ecosystem, reducing inflammation, and giving your follicles the biochemical pep talk they’ve clearly been missing.
As for the actual process? Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a spa day.
It started off innocently enough with a gentle hair wash—calming, relaxing, even a little luxurious. Then came the microneedling. Tiny needles rolled across my scalp to stimulate blood flow and prep the skin for absorption. Not the worst thing I’ve felt, but definitely not a vibe. And then came the main event: the CRP injections.
Reader, it was painful. Like, squeeze-the-chair-arms-and-hold-your-breath kind of painful. Imagine little pinches of fire all over your scalp, rapid-fire. Cute!
But beauty is sacrifice, no?
Still, I reminded myself—this isn’t about instant results or TikTok transformations. Hair growth takes time. This is a long game, a slow bloom. So do I know yet if it’s working? Not at all. But I’m crossing my fingers, massaging my scalp like a devoted pilgrim, and promising you I’ll spill the tea when those baby hairs start making their entrance.
💆♀️ Scalp Spa Dreams (Lived Vicariously)
Now, I had every intention of indulging in a scalp spa—but unfortunately, my poor head was still recovering from the aforementioned CRP pain. So instead, I lived vicariously through my best friend A, a certified scalp spa aficionado. And let me tell you, her experience did not disappoint.
We booked her an appointment at Juno Hair Salon, a buzzy, foreigner-friendly spot that’s been making the rounds on Seoul social media. It’s known for blending K-beauty precision with a truly luxurious salon experience.
The treatment kicked off with a scalp camera analysis—yes, a literal camera zoomed in on her scalp to assess its condition in deep detail. They broke down everything: scalp health, oil production, follicle state, and even potential buildup. Then, they tailored the entire session to her needs. A has a slightly oilier scalp with drier ends, so they focused on deep cleansing the scalp while nourishing her hair.
From my third-party observer POV? It looked heavenly. There was steam, massage, brushing, and what I can only describe as therapeutic lather choreography. A described the experience as “feeling like a dog at the groomer’s”—which, frankly, sounds like the dream. If that’s what dogs get, I’m jealous.
The result? Her hair looked unbelievably glossy, soft, and lifted at the roots—basically like she had just stepped out of a commercial. I’m 100% going next time... pending scalp trauma recovery, of course.
💅 Nailed It: Seoul Edition
Of course, we had to get our nails done—and yes, I grew mine out just for the occasion. Priorities.
One thing about Korean nail salons? They do not mess around when it comes to cuticle care. My nail artist was incredibly meticulous, going in with a nail drill to clean up every last edge. It felt surgical in the best way. And despite the precision, the entire gel set—with nail art—was done in under 30 minutes. Efficiency queen behavior.
This wasn’t your candlelit, hand-massage kind of nail appointment. It’s not “luxe,” it’s logistically elite. Fast, flawless, and straight to the point.
The best part? Nail salons are everywhere in Seoul, especially around Hongdae and Itaewon. We went to Nail’s Weather in Hongdae on a weekday afternoon, walked in without a wait, and left with beautifully done sets. Mine included custom art, and the total came out to about $60 USD. Chic and budget-friendly? Don’t mind if I do.
10/10 would go again—next time with an even more outrageous design planned.
🎬 Lights, Camera, Action
Now this might’ve been my favorite experience of the entire trip: a full-on photoshoot with hair and makeup. If you’ve ever dreamed of having your “main character” moment—this is it.
We booked with Octobee Studio, and I cannot recommend them enough. You can (and should) check out their work on Instagram. Whether you're looking for soft, natural headshots, chic couple or friendship portraits, or even next-level passport photos—they've got you. The photographer was incredibly kind and hands-on, guiding us through posing and angles with the perfect balance of encouragement and direction.
Before the shoot, he set us up with professional hair and makeup just around the corner at Hartz. Let me tell you: I have never had more makeup on my face in my life. Full K-glam. But I also looked flawless. My undereyes? Practically celestial. I’ve never seen them glow like that.
The whole experience felt like a beauty transformation fantasy—glam, glowy, and totally affirming. If you’re in Seoul and in need of a little pick-me-up (or just a reason to be ridiculously extra), I can’t recommend this enough. Photoshoots shouldn’t be reserved for weddings and graduations. Sometimes you just need to remind yourself you’re that girl.
🛍️ Olive Young Shopping Spree
I’m going to breeze through this haul because a) I picked up way too much and b) you, dear reader, likely don’t have the attention span for a 12-product deep dive (no shade—just facts).
So here it is: one-sentence reviews of everything I scooped up at Olive Young—aka Korean Sephora, but with CVS pricing. These were mostly re-purchases and longtime faves, so you know they’re good.
Biodance Ceranol Toner Pads: Gel-textured toner pads I use every morning as a mini soothing mask—cooling, calming, and deeply satisfying.
Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream: My retinoid BFF; keeps my skin moisturized, happy, and flake-free.
Aestura Bubble Cleanser: The gentlest, most non-stripping cleanser I’ve ever used—holy grail status.
Biodance Refreshing Seakelp Real Deep Mask: My go-to for hydration and glow; I rotate this with the Ceranol version depending on my mood.
Anua Heartleaf Sunscreen: Iconic. If you haven’t read my in-depth review, go do that now.
Fwee Lip & Cheek Glowy Jelly Pot: Pure fun in a pot—gives you that lit-from-within look, but not entirely transfer-proof.
Dr. Althea 345 Cream: A solid, no-fuss gel cream for everyday use. Reliable, unfussy, effective.
Filli Milli Spatula: If you’re into no-makeup makeup and not applying your base with a spatula… what are you doing?
Unove Deep Damage Hair Treatment Mask: Worth every bit of the hype—deeply moisturizing and a dream for overprocessed hair.
And that’s it from me (and my overstuffed suitcase)! If you’ve got questions about my Seoul beauty adventures—or need recs for your next trip—drop them in the comments.
Until next time: keep your skin dewy and your lips unapologetically glossy.
TTFN,
💋✨ Lauren
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in Lip Service are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer or any affiliated brands. My insights are based on personal experience, research, and a lifelong obsession with beauty—no corporate influence, just real talk. Also, I’m not a dermatologist—so while I love sharing skincare tips and product recs, always consult a professional for personalized advice.
Really loved reading about your Seoul trip! Did the CRP help?
Grandfather at the color analysis… priceless!