Community
Skin, K-beauty, Korea trips and the beauty industry — ask and share
Lotte World Tower, HUNTR/X’s Soul Spot
The piece begins with a line that calls HUNTR/X’s “Golden” to mind, then shifts right into the story of Lotte World Tower, the building that inspired HUNTR/X’s home. After a packed tour schedule, HUNTR/X returns to a hom
0 0Namsangol Hanok Village: five free Joseon-era houses and a hanbok photo stop
At the foot of Namsan sits a hanok village established in 1998, gathering five relocated Joseon-era houses that once stood elsewhere in Seoul — spanning everything from a middle-class home to residences of yangban aristo
0 0Euljiro's 'Hipjiro' alleys: printing shops by day, hidden bars by night
Euljiro doesn't look like a nightlife district at first glance. By day it's still full of small printing shops and metal workshops that have operated there since the late 1960s — paper stacked on the pavement, delivery c
0 0Shopping in Myeong-dong
Myeong-dong is regaining its former fame as major brands aggressively open key stores in the commercial district. The area becomes even busier when Japan’s Golden Week begins in late April and early May. Lotte Department
0 0One year of the 15% US tariff: how did you adjust your pricing?
It's been a year since the 15% US tariff on Korean goods took effect on Aug. 7, 2025. What happened then In the first 10 days of August, cosmetics exports to the US fell 37.2% month on month to $36.9M Basic skincare near
Poll
How did you handle US pricing after the tariff?
Pick one to see the results
0 0Is K-beauty only for young people? 30s and 40s, tell us honestly
Does the idea that "K-beauty is for teens and twenty-somethings" still hold? Lately we get more questions from readers in their 30s and beyond. Here is what people often say. The "works at any age" camp Hydrating and soo
0 0Got sunburnt at the Fan Fest: which sunscreen isn't greasy or white?
On r/mexico, someone said they got sunburnt at the World Cup Fan Fest and asked for an everyday face sunscreen that doesn't leave skin greasy or white, ideally one sold at the supermarket. What the replies said: Tocobo,
0 0Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley: how to enjoy Seoul’s oldest hanok cafe district
Ikseon-dong is one of Seoul's oldest hanok clusters, and lately one of its trendiest. A decade ago it was a quiet residential pocket; today young entrepreneurs have turned century-old hanok into cafes, small galleries an
0 0When Your Lips Keep Flaking, When and How Should You Apply Lip Balm?
If your lips keep peeling even though you apply lip balm, when and how you apply it often matters more than which lip balm you use. Why lips tend to get dry so easily Unlike the rest of the skin on your face, your lips h
0 0Korean cushions and deeper skin tones: are there finally shades for us?
For years the complaint in Latin communities was clear: Korean cushions came in three or four light shades, and anyone with brown or olive skin was left out. On social media and makeup forums, the conversation has shifte
0 0Where did "fair = beautiful" come from? A Thai forum debates it
On Pantip, someone asked a question many Thai readers recognise: today most people seem to prefer fair skin and link it with beauty, so where did that start? Did people in the Ayutthaya era, before much contact with fore
0 0Why is kids' sunscreen so greasy, and does it ever dry down?
A post on r/EuroSkincare came from someone who bought La Roche-Posay's Anthelios UVMune 400 Pediatrics, often recommended in Europe as a body sunscreen, and was baffled. Even after 30 minutes in front of a fan it hadn't
0 1Why "limonene" and "linalool" get their own line on Korean labels
Ever noticed names like limonene, linalool, citral or benzyl alcohol listed separately near the end of an ingredient list? If fragrance bothers your skin, this rule is worth knowing. The rule in brief Since 1 January 202
0 0UAE cosmetics exports up 67%, but Hormuz risk is the wild card
The Middle East is one of the markets K-beauty export teams mention most. Korean cosmetics exports to the UAE jumped 67.2% to $286.5M. What the article says The Middle East cosmetics market is projected to grow from $19.
0 0New skincare haul: how many products do you start at once?
After a sale, when the box arrives, some people open everything at once and others add one product at a time. Everyone has a style. The one-at-a-time camp says If something breaks you out, you know right away which one Y
Poll
How many new products do you start at once?
Pick one to see the results
0 0How to Choose a Deeply Moisturizing Lip Balm: What Determines “Long-Lasting Hydration”?
There are many lip balms labeled “intensive moisture,” but how long they keep your lips hydrated varies quite a bit from product to product. You can usually tell the difference from the full ingredient list. Moisturizing
0 0Had moles removed and they are still there: is one session never enough?
On theqoo's beauty board, someone had several moles removed two weeks earlier and kept them covered with hydrocolloid patches, only to find the moles had not gone, just faded a little. The doctor had warned that deep mol
0 0What makes Korean sunscreens different? Six reviewed, one debate
On Taiwan's PTT forum (BeautySalon board), someone summed up six Korean sunscreens they had used. Their overview: Western sunscreens tend to be rich and heavy, Japanese ones light and water-resistant but drying, while Ko
0 0A Lip Balm That Feels Cool and Tingly When You Apply It—Is That Always a Good Thing? Lips That Don’t Agree with Menthol Lip Balm
There are lip balms that make your lips feel tingly as soon as you apply them. They feel cool, like they’re doing something right away. So a lot of people deliberately look for lip balms with a cooling sensation. But tha
0 0Why Your Lips Get Dry Again Soon After Applying Lip Balm: It’s Easier When You Know What Causes Chapped Lips
I definitely applied lip balm in the morning, but by lunchtime my lips feel tight again. By the afternoon, the edges of my lips are flaking white. Is it because my lip balm isn’t very good? Not necessarily. Lips are natu
0 0