Community
Skin, K-beauty, Korea trips and the beauty industry — ask and share
Two sunscreen recalls this year, same reason: the SPF may not match the label
2026 has been a rough year for sunscreen trust. Two recalls stand out, and both come down to the number on the tube. Medik8 (Australia and New Zealand): On April 1, 2026, all unexpired batches of Medik8 Physical Sunscree
0 0MoCRA in 2026: GMP and fragrance-allergen rules still pending, recall power already live
Law firm Foley & Lardner summarized where FDA cosmetics oversight stands in 2026. Think of it as a "next step" check for teams that already handled the MoCRA basics (facility registration, product listing, safety substan
0 0Refill stations: are they worth keeping from a brand's point of view?
Refill stations for shampoo and body wash in big stores and zero-waste shops are more common than a few years ago. But brands that have run them seem divided on whether they pay off. The case for Shows sustainability thr
0 0Lotte World Tower & Lotte World Mall
Lotte World Mall is a shopping and tourism destination where you can enjoy the latest fashion trends and a refined lifestyle. It is home to Lotte Avenuel, Korea’s largest luxury department store. One-stop shopping and cu
0 0Mecenatpolis
Located near Hapjeong Station, Mecenatpolis is a high-rise mixed-use shopping complex with 34 stories above ground and 7 basement levels. Inside the apartment complex are Lotte Cinema, Homeplus, a variety of restaurants
0 0Should you pause retinol in summer? Communities are split
Every time the weather heats up, the same question appears: "Do I need to stop retinol for summer?" The "take a break" camp Retinoids are known to make skin more sensitive to sunlight With more outdoor time and vacations
0 0Seoul Through the Lens of Hollywood Stars
The second installment of the sci-fi series Dune, Dune: Part Two, recently premiered in Korea and quickly became a major hit. With the film’s release, the Dune cast also came to Korea and drew considerable attention. Tim
0 0K-Beauty Places Born as Complex Cultural Spaces
Cosmetics brand stores are evolving. They are being reborn from places that simply ‘sold’ cosmetics into spaces that offer consumers more than that and, further, embody brand values in a sensory way. Along with modern in
0 0Bukchon Hunters Gourmet Outing Playlist
Bukchon is a neighborhood where the atmosphere of old alleys coexists with the individuality of small business owners. Only when you meet the small shops filled with Bukchon’s own craft, tastes, and stories do you see th
0 0What do you restock most on a K-beauty haul?
Whether you shop in Seoul or order online, most hauls end up being repurchases, not new discoveries. Beauty forums often say the same few categories disappear fastest. Usual suspects: Sunscreen: used daily, in generous a
Poll
Which category do you restock most often?
Pick one to see the results
0 0Bukchon Hunters’ Curated Souvenir Shopping Playlist
Bukchon is a neighborhood where the atmosphere of old alleys and the individuality of small business owners coexist. Only after meeting the small shops filled with Bukchon’s own craftsmanship, taste, and stories can you
0 0Can retinol work if you rinse it off in seconds? A lawsuit asks exactly that
A US class action filed in December 2025 targets Dove's retinol cleansers: body wash, body cleanser and body polish. The argument in the complaint: The products are lathered on and rinsed off in the shower Retinol needs
0 0Leaving Seoul with one free kilo of luggage. What fills it?
Everyone who shops in Seoul knows the moment: the suitcase is closed, the scale says there is room for about one more kilo, and you are standing in a drugstore. Forum threads about Korea hauls tend to split into camps: S
Poll
One free kilo in your suitcase leaving Seoul. What goes in?
Pick one to see the results
0 0Sightseeing by day, shopping by night: planning an evening beauty run in Seoul
On a packed itinerary, beauty shopping always gets pushed to the evening. Go without a plan, though, and you'll end up staring at closed shutters. Here's what travellers commonly share. 1. Check opening hours first Even
0 0Ordering at Korean kiosks: small tricks that save a lot of stress
From fast food to cafés and even some restaurants, self-order kiosks are everywhere in Korea. They are a common source of mild panic in travel threads, so here are the tips people repeat most. Before you tap anything Loo
0 0Gwangjang Market
As one of the liveliest traditional markets in Seoul, it is also easy for travelers to visit because it is located in the center of the city. This traditional market, which formed in the early 20th century and has a long
0 0What's your beauty shopping budget for a Korea trip?
Planning a Korea trip always brings up the same question: "How much should I set aside for beauty shopping?" On travel forums, the answers are all over the place. The usual types: The list-maker: decides in advance what
0 0eSIM, physical SIM or pocket Wi-Fi for Korea: what did you pick?
Staying online matters more in Korea than in many places, because map apps, taxi apps and restaurant queues all live on your phone. The three options people compare eSIM: set up before you fly, no shop visit. Check that
Poll
How did you stay connected in Korea?
Pick one to see the results
0 0Can you run a customer's review video as an ad? Where the line is on UGC reuse
Videos customers post on their own often outperform brand ads. So teams keep asking whether they can run UGC (user-generated content) as ad creative. There is more to check than it seems. Issues that come up Scope of per
0 0Chinese names vs Korean names for common skin clinic treatments
Treatment names in Chinese-language guides often don't match what Korean clinics call them. Here's a reference table (for understanding names only, not a recommendation of any treatment). Common Chinese name Korean Rough
0 0