What to See, Eat and Do in Korea (and Beyond)
COSRX is a hypoallergenic skin care brand for sensitive skin. It was and continues to be exactly that. There are obviously A LOT more skincare options now, but there has never been a point (since 2015) where a COSRX product hasn’t been a part of my daily skincare routine.
One of my recommendations when shopping in Korea is a fragrance. It’s hard to put my finger on what it is, but Korean fragrances just hit different. And it’s not just the fragrance. It’s the packaging, theming and concept that goes into the whole package. Shopping for a fragrance in Korea is a whole experience in its own right and Hotel Dawson is no exception.
At the top of my list of must buys in Korea are daily hanbok or modern clothes and accessories inspired by traditional Korean designs. And while there are many amazing Korean designers out there, Leesle continues to dominate the top of my recommendation list.
Greedy Scent is, without a doubt, pretty to look at. The perfume-making stations have samples of each scent in small glass beakers with ground glass toppers giving everything a vaguely ‘potions master’ vibe.
If you’ve been looking up Korean fashion brands, then no doubt you’ve come across the name “Blue Elephant”. But, because Blue Elephant is a newer brand, you might not know exactly what it is. Then, it’s a good thing we’ve got you covered.
While I’m not really a summer person, one thing that I look forward to every year is Hanbok Expo! What is Hanbok Expo? Hanbok Expo (한복상점) is a yearly convention where hanbok designers (both traditional and modern) from all across the country gather to sell, showcase and promote… well… hanbok! The hanbok industry has flourished so much since I first wrote about it back in 2016.
If you’re looking for a unique souvenir to commemorate your trip to Korea… why not get a daily hanbok or modern clothes inspired by traditional Korean designs? There are so many amazing designers, it can be overwhelming. Especially if you’re looking for something in particular. So here are some of my favorite brands and why I like them.
Whether you’ve just moved to Korea or are just stopping by for a visit, you will inevitably come across the ever-popular store, “Daiso.” I’d consider Daiso to be a “dollar store” equivalent, but with way more variety and much better quality (speaking as someone born and raised in the US).
Korea is on its way to being a pet-centric society. Seoulites, in particular, absolutely love their pets (us included). There are more and more pet friendly places from restaurants and cafes to malls and movie theaters. So, of course, there are also all sorts of pet boutiques, clothing and toy stores. But what if I told you there was a special supermarket just for pets?
Korean fragrances are always at the top of my recommend list of things to buy when in Korea. The designs and scents are beautiful and unique, you’d be hard pressed not to find something you like. Plus they also make great gifts for family and friends!
I highly recommend checking out the Fwee flagship store in Seongsu. They have dozens of shades to choose from and plenty of little makeup stations to swatch colors to your hearts content. There are even little helpful color charts to help pick colors according to your skin tone.
Matthew Chang Perfumes specializes in floral inspired fragrances that really give off this romantic fairytale vibe. I’m not usually into flowery scents, but this line is so light, lovely and perfect for the spring that I couldn’t resist! So, while they’ve totally won me over with their perfumes they just dropped their new line of hand wash and body lotion and I wanted to check it out.
