Written by Monica Suk
Photographs courtesy of various manufacturers

There’s nothing like getting your nails done for changing your mood. Available in five shades of pink hues and orange tones, Flora Tea Nail Vita Alpha is perhaps one of a handful of cheap nail polishes that can be applied evenly without emphasizing ridges. Don’t waste your money and time going to nail shops; Flora Tea will rescue you from your dirty-looking nails.

FYI>
www.theskinfood.com
Price: KRW 2,500

Be pretty in pink for spring. Banila Co’s The Secret Marbling Blusher pairs perfectly with the natural makeup trend. This swirl of different colors gives a natural look instead of a made-up one. You can use it either as blush or as a shimmery highlighter.

FYI>
www.banilaco.com
Price: KRW 20,000

Gel-type creams are perfect for all skin types but especially for extremely oily skin or combination skin. Nature Republic’s moisturizing cream glides on smoothly and leaves no film on your skin, giving you a refreshing feeling. If you’re looking for something lightweight to use under makeup, without a doubt, this is going to be your daily item.

FYI>
www.naturerepublic.co.kr
Price: KRW 10,950

TONYMOLY’s gel eyeliner is creamier in texture than other eyeliners and glides on your eyes well because it has no shimmer. Of course, it will smudge if you rub it ferociously with your hands, but the colored gel will last and stay opaque until you remove it with cleansing oil. This is especially recommended for people whose eye makeup gets smudged as the night wears on.

FYI>
www.etonymoly.com
Price: KRW 8,500

It takes a while to find a foundation that suits your skin perfectly, but Hera’s UV Mist Cushion will definitely shorten that time for you. The mist cushion is a liquid foundation with sunscreen, moisturizer, and whitening functions. This amazing all-in-one product is SPF 50, good to use in both spring and summer.

FYI>
www.hera.co.kr
Price: KRW 45,000

CC creams are receiving the baton from BB creams to lead the spring 2013 beauty trends. This multitasker is typically useful for people who don’t have enough time to do makeup in the morning. The new 8 in 1 formula primes, conceals, hydrates, and protects skin. You’ll soon realize that doing your makeup can’t get any easier than this.

FYI>
www.etude.co.kr
Price: KRW 14,000

Innisfree is known for selling highly effective skin care products at reasonable prices. Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence is the latest product to firm up this reputation. The main ingredient, fermented soybeans from Jejudo’s mountain area, soothes dry skin and prevents wrinkles.

FYI>
www.innisfree.co.kr
Price: 80 ml: KRW 22,000 / 150 ml: KRW 35,000

Korean-made goods to take home with you

Written by Monica Suk
Photographs courtesy of various manufacturers

Seoul is a shopping paradise, with traditional and modern commercial streets alike beckoning visitors. Your vacation here wouldn’t be complete without a tour of window-shopping and local snacks. SEOUL has chosen seven affordable made-in-Korea products to ensure your satisfaction.

Socks from Socks Pill

Bored of wearing white and black socks every day? Choosing what to wear and matching it with socks and shoes is perhaps one of the most irksome of everyday concerns. Socks Pill is your go-to shop for perfecting your style and making subtle changes in your daily routine. This Apgujeong-based select shop’s products vary in color and design and are packaged in transparent-colored capsules, which will definitely trigger a shopping spree here.

FYI>
Price: KRW 5,000–12,000
T. 02-511-4557
www.facebook.com/SocksPill
(663-22 Sinsa-Dong, Gangman-Gu, Seoul | 서울시 강남구 신사동 663-22)

GO>
Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Bundang Line, Exit 5

크게 보기

Handmade high heels from Last Avenue

A woman can never have too many shoes. High heels can come in different varieties of color, height, and material, but the most important thing to consider is whether it’s comfortable yet manages to stay stylish. Shoe designer Reina Choi uses high-quality leather imported from Italy and offers heels at reasonable prices. Located in a back alley in Samcheong-dong, the shop is in a hanok (traditional Korean-style house) decorated with acrylic shoe materials. Choi recently opened another shop in Sinsa-dong that touts a modern twist on classic style.

FYI>
Price: KRW 138,000–398,000
www.lastavenue.co.kr

GO>
LARC (Last Avenue by Reina Choi)
Store#1 (T. 02-730-7807): 20-7 Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울시 종로구 삼청동 20-7

크게 보기

Store#2 (T. 02-543-7808): #102, 651-5 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울시 강남구 신사동 651-5 #102

크게 보기

Intense Care Snail Cream from TONYMOLY

Whoever said that beauty is only skin deep must have lived during a time when mirrors had not been invented yet. In fact, beauty is all about skin. While thousands of magic ingredients come and go, driving the local beauty trends, snails have taken over the local cosmetic business. This heaven-sent product is known to soothe skin and prevent wrinkles with its thick, soft texture.

FYI>
Price: KRW 36,000
www.etonymoly.com

GO>
Myeong-dong store no. 1 (T. 02-318-7871):
66-23 Chungmu-ro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울시 중구 충무로2가 66-23

크게 보기

Handmade accessories from Hoya n More

Handmade goods are no longer limited to small markets but are making inroads into the retail market. Hoya n More is one of a handful of local small shops offering a unique shopping experience for high-quality and innovative handcrafted accessories. Best known for simple design and special materials,
Hoya n More’s selection includes dressy bags, clutches, pouches, necklaces, bracelets, and customized letterpress cards.

FYI>
Price: KRW 39,000–328,000
T. 02-517-0991
www.hoyanmore.com

GO>
[ho:ya] and more: 653-8 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울시 강남구 신사동 653-8

크게 보기

Galaxy Camera from Samsung

DSLR cameras were a thing in Korea only three years back, but why bring that heavy machine around when you can use lightweight ones that don’t require you to move photos manually? Take a look at Samsung’s brand-new Galaxy Camera and you’ll almost ask if it’s a smartphone. The Android-based mobile device works great for travelers who want to update their friends on what they’re doing in real time. Shoot, edit, and upload all at once with this amazing compact camera.

FYI>
Price: WiFi KRW 590,000 / LTE KRW 690,000
www.samsungimaging.com

GO>
Samsung d’light: T. 02-2255-2272, www.samsung.com/sec/dlight)
B1 Samsung Electronics Building (1320-10 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul | 서울시 서초구 서초동 1320-10)
Gangnam Station 강남역 (Line 2, Sinbundang Line), Exit 8

크게 보기

Premium tea from OSULLOC

OSULLOC is the country’s largest tea company manufacturing high-quality goods. Established in 1979, OSULLOC started as a green tea manufacturer and has grown rapidly since opening tea houses in 2001. From fermented tea to roasted tea and special blends, its products have built a reputation through their subtle taste that is light but full.

FYI>
www.osulloc.com

GO>
Myeong-dong OSULLOC Tea House (T. 02-774-5460):
47-1 Myeong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울시 중구 명동1가 47-1

크게 보기

Korean fried kelp from Oh Hui-sook Traditional Bugak

Bugak is a traditional snack and side dish that Korean people enjoy. Bugak is made by frying vegetables or kelp, lightly sprinkled with some sugar and salt. Oh Hui-sook, who is called the master of bugak, makes 18 different kinds of bugak with healthy ingredients including sea mustard, seaweed, peppers, potatoes, beans, and even garlic. Fried and coated with glutinous rice paste, it brings out the real taste of the main ingredient without its strong bitterness or spiciness.

FYI>
Price: around KRW 3,000 per individual bag
http://ohs.co.kr

GO>
E-mart Times Square Branch (T. 02-3468-1234): Yeongdeungpo Station 영등포역 (Line 1), Exit 5

크게 보기