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Troiareuke: A Review Of The Prescription Skincare Brand
Troiareuke takes its name from the ancient Greek word “foundation” or “beginning”. Their company offers holistic options like chroma therapy, aromatherapy, and herb therapy for skin concerns such as aging, blemishes, dryness and sensitivity. This is a cruelty-free Korean beauty brand that manufactures all of its products in Korea. The brand actually started as and still is a spa brand that caters to clients with acne and skin problems. Their clients were so happy with treatments at the spa and asked for products to take home so the brand expanded and produced prescription skincare cosmetics for home use. Whether your skin has been affected by environmental factors, emotions, or your…
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Korea Cherry Blossom Forecast 2026: Bloom Dates and Best Viewing Spots
Spring in Korea doesn’t really feel like spring for many locals and visitors until those beautiful light pink cherry blossoms bloom. One minute the trees are bare, and the next the streets, rivers, and parks turn soft pink, and then it’s gone again in what feels like the blink of an eye (some years it really is that fast if it rains). There are numerous places to see cherry blossoms in Seoul and around Korea with some being more popular than others. You could really walk down the most mundane neighborhood and see cherry blossoms, so while you should and probably will seek to find some of the touted best…
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Jumiso: Toner, Serum & Cream Review
About a year ago I was introduced to the brand Jumiso through the KBeauty Collective here in Seoul. The collective seeks to promote awesome clean Korean beauty companies and their products. Jumiso (주미소) is a Korean beauty brand that wants to “give smiles to their customers”. Their name literally means that with the words 주 (ju), to give; and 미소 (miso), smile. Jumiso is a subsidiary of the KBeauty brand Helloskin and the products feature some adorable design and packaging. All of the Jumiso products are manufactured in Korea and their top priority is listening to their customers. All of their products are cruelty-free and vegan friendly too. Want to learn…
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Where to Stay in Jeju Island: Best Hotels, Resorts & Areas for Every Budget
Jeju Island might look small on a map, but once you start planning a trip, you realize very quickly that choosing the right area to stay matters a lot. This is not the kind of place where you’ll pick a hotel and everything will be within 20 minutes of it. It won’t. If you want beach cafes, waterfalls, resort stays, Udo Island access, or an easy airport base, where you stay in Jeju will shape your entire trip. Jeju Island has been called the Hawaii of Korea and it is gorgeous. There is a ton to do whether you want to visit Jeju in the winter or the summer. Just…
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ShuShu and Sassy: The Kid Friendly Skincare Brand & The Kids Beauty Salons In Seoul
There are kids’ cafes all over Korea but now there are also kids’ spas and beauty salons too! If you’re looking for the cutest most Instagrammable places to take your kids in Seoul, it has to be ShuShu and Sassy (슈슈앤쎄씨). When our little lady was younger we visited the Tayo Kids Cafe and the Pororo Kids Cafe but she is quickly getting too old for all of that madness it seems. One of the hottest trends in Korea right now is taking kids to get their own manicures, pedicures and glittery hair extensions and my daughter really jumped right onto that bandwagon. Children wanting to mimic their parents is…
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The Australia Chamber Of Commerce Australia-Korea Business Awards 2020
This past weekend I was invited to attend the prestigious Australia-Korea Business Awards hosted by the Australia Chamber of Commerce, or AustChamKorea. The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AustCham) was established in 2008 and now consists of more than 250 members representing Australian services, manufacturing, energy and financial industries. AustCham supports Australian companies in Korea and Korean companies looking for business opportunities with Australia to meet the interests of both countries. Getting to attend these events as a bystander that isn’t affiliated with a Korean or Australian company makes for a unique experience where I become more of a spectator and it’s brilliant to learn about some awesome companies…
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Signiel Hotel: The Tallest Hotel In Seoul With The Best Views Of The City
SIGNIEL Seoul is one of the best luxury hotels in Seoul, Korea. It is in the tallest building in Korea and that should tell you that it most definitely features the best views of the city. You will literally be seated above airplanes and helicopters. I looked out the window after a massage to see helicopters flying at least five floors lower than where we sat. That is just amazing and I could have easily spent my entire stay just gazing out the window watching the tiny ants below and the lights flicker on in the evening. SIGNIEL Seoul is not only amazingly high, but it is gorgeous and the staff…
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Petite France: How To Get There From Seoul & What To Do There
Petite France (쁘띠프랑스) is one of those popular spots for tourists to get away to when they head out of Seoul. It’s in Gapyeong, an area that has a lot to do so it’s a great area to take a day trip from Seoul to see not one, but multiple fun things. From gardens and parks with light festivals to farms, islands, and unique villages, there’s a ton to do in the area. So, it’s no wonder there are tours that head out there daily and often include a stop at Petite France. Petite France is one of those Instagrammable hot spots to the east of Seoul in Korea that…
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Suguksa Temple: Seoul’s Only Golden Temple in Eunpyeong
I have lived in Seoul, Korea for quite awhile and I have seen a lot of Buddhist temples here. I love a visit to a temples in South Korea. They are peaceful and calming and beautiful. Often set up on the mountain or in forests, the views are good and the ambiance lovely. Most temples in Korea are painted reds and greens and maybe there’s a bit of yellow and white in the artwork. That’s pretty standard so when I saw a glimmer of gold as I drove down the street near my house and saw a sign for a temple, I was intrigued. After visiting Suguksa Temple (수국사), I…
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O’Sulloc Tea: Why It’s The Best Souvenir Or Gift From Korea
Ever wonder what the best souvenir in Korea is? It’s one of the top asked questions in expat groups. People are headed home and want to take a gift. Family is coming and want to take gifts back. While there are various options, I think O’Sulloc tea is the absolute best souvenir and gift from Korea. Not only is it from Korea and homegrown, but it’s also a premier product. O’Sulloc Tea is one of those brands that can convert people I think. It’s just that good. Honestly, I’ve given a ton of Korean-centric gifts in the past decade while living in Korea from the metal chopstick sets with holsters…
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Gyeongju Korea Travel Guide: Best Things To Do, Temples, Tombs & Tips
If you haven’t heard of Gyeongju, Korea yet, then you need to! Though Andong, Korea is often referred to as the most traditional city in Korea, Gyeongju is the most historical you can visit. Gyeongju (경주) was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly 1,000 years and is referred to as “the museum without walls”. Everywhere you turn you can find a site with historical relevance to see. The city actually has more tombs, temples, pagodas, palace ruins, and other historical artifacts than any other place in Korea making it one of the most historically important destinations. Plan a visit to the royal tombs, ancient temples, and UNESCO World…
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Seoul Travel Guide: Tips From A Local Who Has Lived Here Since 2006
Seoul is huge, and when you start planning a trip to the capital of Korea it can feel overwhelming. There is a lot to see. The city has earned global attention not only for a beautiful culture but for the Hallyu wave that has reshaped how the world sees Korean food, music, beauty, and television, and the city itself has grown and changed significantly over the past two decades. I first came to Seoul as an English teacher in 2006. I’m still here. Having lived through every season, every major neighborhood transformation, and every wave of new developments, this is the guide I’d want someone to hand me if I…
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The Best Kept Secret In Ulsan, Korea is the Taehwagang River Bamboo Forest
The Taehwagang National Garden (태화강 국가정원) is the most beautiful bamboo forest in Korea that I have visited and I have visited a few. When I walked into this gorgeous forest of green bamboo shooting into the sky, I remember wondering why I’d never heard of it. The Damyang Bamboo Forest is known far and wide in Korea and yet, there are other bamboo forests. There’s even a bamboo forest I visited on Geoje Island near Busan that is really off the beaten path too. Suffice to say, this bamboo forest in particular is a stunner… a massive stunner. If you haven’t visited Ulsan, Korea, it’s definitely time and when…
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Do I Need A Fine Dust Mask In Korea?
We aren’t living in a smog filled polluted country all of the time, but when it’s bad, it can be pretty bad. While most advanced countries in the world are decreasing their reliance on coal for energy, Korea has actually been increasing their coal-fired power plants. We could get into the reasons and place blame, but that’s really for another article. For this one I want to answer the questions I have been getting from tourists. Do I need a fine dust mask in Korea? Which fine dust mask is best for Korea? Can I go outside when fine dust levels are high? This is useful information for not only…
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A List Of The Best Korean Subscription Boxes 2026: From Korean Beauty Boxes to Snack Boxes
As I was on the Internet checking out the gifts to give friends and family back home, I ended up down a rabbit hole of Korean subscription boxes. I had no idea there were so many and they are awesome to say the least. Subscription boxes are a great way to show someone that you care and if you’ve got a Korea lover in your life, then they’ll love anything on this list. While I culled together the best gifts to give Korea lovers in another post, I decided subscription boxes absolutely needed their own post because there are so many and they are super cool! Here are the best…
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A List Of The Best Gifts To Give Your Korea Loving Friends & Family
More and more people around the world are interested in Korea whether it be due to K-Pop or K-Dramas, or a friend that lives in Korea and can’t stop talking about it maybe, I’m not sure. Whatever the case, there are is a ton of interest in South Korea these days and there are plenty of unique gifts to send our Koreaphile friends and family abroad. Whether you need a gift for the K-drama fan, K-pop fan, or maybe the Korean language learner, I’ve got you covered. Here is the ultimate list of Korean gifts suitable for any holiday. Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just…
