Is beauty shopping in Seoul actually cheaper or just more fun?
One thing I really enjoy about traveling in Seoul, is how easy it is to find beauty products everywhere. In Korea, places like Olive Young, department stores, duty-free shops, and even small local stores have so many skincare, sunscreen, sheet masks, hair care, and makeup options. In Japan, drugstores are also really fun because there are so many sunscreens, cleansing oils, lotions, and affordable everyday skincare products.
But I’ve been wondering if beauty shopping there is actually cheaper, or if the whole experience just makes it feel more exciting. Sometimes the prices seem better because of discounts, tax-free shopping, or product bundles, but other times it feels like I end up buying more just because the selection is different from what I can find online or in my home country.
For people who have shopped for beauty products in Korea or Japan, do you think it is actually worth buying them there? Did you find better deals, or was it more about discovering new products and enjoying the shopping experience?