With the world's biggest obsession with plastic surgery and some of the fastest-evolving beauty tech...

1. Complete Korean cosmetics shopping guide
With the world's biggest obsession with plastic surgery and some of the fastest-evolving beauty
technology, spas and cosmetic lines in the world, South Korea is a bona fide beauty destination.Â
According to a government survey, the items tourists want to purchase the most while visiting are
Korean beauty products.
With good reason. Korean cosmetic brands introduce products made from exotic ingredients
seemingly every month -- Jeju Island volcanic clay, soybeans, traditional Korean medicine and, of
course, snail guts.
Cool concept brands debut each year. In 2012, it was Frostine, "the world's first refrigerated
skincare line."
Of foreign tourists, Chinese and Japanese shell out for Korean beauty products the most. According
to Amorepacific, the country's largest cosmetics company, with 40 percent market share, Chinese
tourists accounted for a whopping 40.1 percent of total domestic sales in 2011, while Japanese
tourists accounted for 9.1 percent.
"We see Chinese customers buy three to five sets of the Sulwhasoo Timetreasure line at a time as
gifts," says Amorepacific spokesperson Sunghae Kweon. Priced at US$886, Timetreasure is the most
expensive line in the cosmetic group's portfolio.Â
Here's what to snap up while you're in town. Incheon duty free is the one exception we'll make to
our strict ban on buying gifts at the airport.Â
One beauty editor's top pick. Iope Bio Essence Intensive
Conditioning
"This was one of the hottest new items that debuted last year," says Yumi Cho, beauty editor of
"Woman Joongang" magazine.
Cho puts Iope's Bio Essence at the top of her must-have list of skin products.
Meant to be used after toner and before moisturizer, "the effect is amazing -- it smooths rough skin,"

2. says Cho.
The men's essence is massively popular with the Korean gents, and can be used in place of toner. It's
a great gift for women and men in their twenties and thirties.
Women's essence: ?36,000 (US$33) for 84ml, ?60,000 (US$55) for 168ml, men's essence: ?42,000
(US$38) for 145ml; available at most duty free stores;Â www.iope.co.kr
Great gift for moms. O HUI age recovery super anti-aging
essence
One of the higher-end Korean cosmetic brands, O HUI spent two years developing its anti-aging line
using collagen type III, also known as baby collagen, as an ingredient, which is supposed to make
the skin return to childlike softness. Women go nuts for this line.Â
?120,000 (US$109) for 45ml, available at most department stores and duty free
stores;Â www.ohui.co.kr
Don't forget to try the capsule packs, as well. innisfree it's real
mask
Here's an interesting fact: When North Korea conducted its nuclear test in February and the world
reeled in shock, the top keyword searched on South Korea's main portal site was innisfree, due to
the fact that the plant-based cosmetics brand was having a sale that day.
The innisfree masks come in a variety of options, work well and are cheap (during sales the company
promotes buy-10-get-10-free deals). Recommended varieties: royal jelly and Jejubija.

3. innisfree also carries sleeping masks, which come in tiny capsule-like containers that make cute, fun
gifts.
?950 (US$1) per mask; innisfree has stores on almost every other street. Myeong-dong flagship:
Jung-gu Myeong-dong 1-ga 64-2, Seoul; +82 2 776 0117;Â www.innisfree.co.kr
Comes with a fresh, natural scent. innisfree olive real cleansing
foam/cleansing tissue
Made with organic olive extract, innisfree's organic olive real cleansing foam cleanses thoroughly
without leaving oily residue, and has a lovely natural scent.
The same goes for its cleansing sheets, which are great for travel: Ziploc-bag a sheet for each day
you're away, and use just before the cleansing foam.
Tip: the sheets don't work all that well with waterproof eye makeup.
Cleansing foam: ?10,000(US$9) for 150ml; cleansing tissue: ?5,000 (US$4.50) for 30
sheets;Â innisfree has stores on almost every other street. Myeong-dong flagship: Jung-gu Myeong-dong
1-ga 64-2, Seoul; +82 2 776 0117;Â www.innisfree.co.kr
World's first cleansing jelly? VDL NAKED Cleansing Oil Cream
(Strong)
Launched in 2012, VDL's flagship store is located on the trendy tree-lined Garosugil in Gangnam.
Judging from the matte colors and font it's using, the brand seems to be channeling M.A.C., but has
dreamed up some innovative products of its own.

4. Top recommendation: the Cleansing Oil Cream (Strong) is a clear jelly that spreads smoothly over
skin and wipes off easily. All traces of even the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras are
obliterated, and you don't have to deal with the dripping of oil cleansing products.
It's a good gift for women in their twenties -- the brand explicitly states it markets at the 25-yea-
-old.Â
?25,000 (US$23) for 150ml, flagship: Sinsa-dong 545-19, Gangnam-gu, Seoul; +82 2 540
8092;Â www.vdlcosmetics.com
Great for use in the shower. su:m37 White award detox mask
One of the best-selling products at duty-free stores, this wash-off face mask uses naturally fermented
ingredients including the acai berry for deep cleansing, brightening and soothing. Think Bliss Triple
Oxygen mask, but with a more calming effect.
Convenient to use in the shower, after cleansing. Cover your entire face with a thick layer, leave on
for five to seven minutes, then rinse off.
?50,000 (US$46) for 100ml;Â available at most department stores and duty free stores;Â www.su-m37.
co.kr
Why can't women's face masks also have ear hangers? Hera
Homme Cell brightening dual essential mask
Korea has the largest mens cosmetics market in the world, and most Korean cosmetic brands have
an accompanying mens line.

5. Beauty editor Cho recommends the Hera Homme Cell brightening dual essential mask for men
looking to lighten dull, damaged skin. Contains caffeine, horse chestnut seed extract and
Nicotinamide -- a water-soluble vitamin.
?35,000 (US$32) for five sheets;Â available at most department stores and duty free stores;
www.hera.co.kr
Intensive overnight moisturizing. Laneige Water Sleeping
Pack_EX
This best-selling intensive moisturizing mask took top honors at the Cosmo Asian Beauty Awards in
2011 and also received the Allure Korea Best of Beauty Award the same year. We know weary
interns at hospitals who swear by this -- it's the only thing that keeps them looking human, they
say.Â
?25,000 (US$23), available at Aritaum stores, department stores and duty free stores
nationwide;Â www.laneige.co.kr
Scented body oil, minus the greasiness. illi total aging care body
oil
Hair and face products made with traditional Korean medicine ingredients have become massively
popular in recent years, and now the trend is extending to body lines as well.
illi is the latest cosmetic brand launched by Amorepacific Group. It features 20 body products across
five lines that use ingredients like ginseng, fermented beans, camellia and green tea extract.Â
Cho particularly recommends using the body oil on the thighs and stomach.

6. "There's no stickiness whatsoever, and I've noticed a definite change in my skin texture after I
started using it," she says. "When I heard it was a traditional Korean medicine product I thought it
would smell like ginseng, but was pleasantly surprised at the subtle floral scent."
?20,000 for 150ml (US$18); available at all Emart stores nationwide;Â www.illi.co.kr
Seoulista lips. Hera Rouge Holic in Seoulista
This creamy lipstick goes on divinely and stays on for hours, reminding you why lipstick should make
a return over lip gloss -- there's none of that goopy residue that spills out awkwardly over lip lines.
The summery Camellia Orange color goes particularly well with darker skin. But the Seoulista -- with
its slightly tangerine hue -- is the perfect gift from Seoul.
?32,000 (US$29); available at most department stores and duty free stores;Â www.hera.co.kr
Korea's top cosmetic invention. Amorepacific Treatment Color
Control Cushion SPF 50+/PA+++Â
It started with the phenom that is BB cream -- a light mix of sunscreen, moisturizer and foundation
that was meant to be a quick facial fix.
Then Hera debuted the "mist cushion" -- a moist compact that was an even quicker fix than BB
cream.
Amorepacific's new color control cushion -- abbreviated to "CC cushion" -- is the latest, most evolved
version that's probably the highlight of all Korean cosmetics combined. Counting bamboo sap and
green tea treatment complex as its main ingredients, "it keeps your skin moist while giving you full
coverage," raves Cho.Â

7. ?65,000 (US$59);Â available at most department stores and duty free
stores;Â www.amorepacific.com
Marie Antoinette meets Barbie. Etude House heart blusher
The Forever21 of Korean makeup, Etude House is geared toward the girliest of girls -- and Japanese
tourists.
Each store is decorated to look like Barbie's dream closet and everything in it is tiny, pink and heart-shaped.
The lip products here tend to be quite goopy, but the blushes have a great range. They're  so
affordable you can buy all the colors you've always wanted to experiment with -- like bright orange
or light purple.
The heart blusher -- think Guerlain Meteorites but instead of "pearls" you get candy-like hearts. Most
adult women won't think much of the baby pink plastic casing, but teens and tweens will love it.
Matching cute pink brushes sold separately.Â
?25,000 (US$23); Etude House has stores on every other street in Korea, but the most in the
Myeong-dong shopping district;Â www.etude.co.kr
Sliding powders. VIDI VICI Small Face Case in All That FaceÂ
VIDI VICI is Korea's most well-known makeup artist Lee Kyung-min's cosmetic line. She designed
this small face case herself after seeing her clients' makeup needs, and it's pretty much the coolest
single makeup kit ever created.

8. The round metal case has four sliding layers of face powder, highlighter, cheek blush and shading
blush with SPF 15 respectively and is another favorite of beauty editors. The blush is light and
natural while the highlighter gives skin a subtle glow.Â
?105,000 (US$95); Cheongdam-dong 129-11 Gangnam-gu; +82 3473 1519;Â www.vdvc.co.kr
Breeze for spring. VIDI VICI Illumi Styler in 02 Breeze
Although they're not as hefty as the small face cases, the VIDI VICI eyeshadows also come in
convenient sliding cases with mirrors. The bright white and pink top layer of the 02 Breeze Illumi
Styler, new for spring, is great to use as base shadows. The darker colors tend to crumble easily, so
use sparingly.
?58,000 (US$53);Â Cheongdam-dong 129-11 Gangnam-gu; +82 3473 1519;Â www.vdvc.co.kr
Perfect for popping into purses. O HUI eyeliner in Triple Brown
Three little pots of creamy baby clothes colors make up O HUI's latest eye kit. Rather than three
eyeliners, it's actually two cream shadows (colors: golden pink and light brown) and one deep brown
eyeliner. It also comes with a mirror and mini-brush -- perfect for travel.
Here's to hoping they'll add a eyeshadow applier to the next version.
?40,000 (US$36.50), available at most department stores and duty free stores;Â www.ohui.co.kr

9. Must-have for fans of Korean dramas. Laneige Silk Intense
Lipstick in Beige Chiffon
Good luck finding a Laneige store that isn't sold out of the Beige Chiffon or the Pink Garden (also
recommended). After actress Song Hye-kyo applied the lipstick in a scene in the hottest Korean
drama of the moment -- "That Winter, the Wind Blows" -- women across the country rushed Laneige
stores. Which also makes this a perfect gift for Korean Wave fans.
?25,000 (US$23), Aritaum stores, department stores and duty free stores
nationwide;Â www.laneige.co.kr
Party eyeliners for a night out in a new city. CLIO Gelpresso
waterproof pencil liner - Bloody series/ travel kit
This would make a fun gift for the "Twilight" fan in your life.
Vampire obsession aside, Clio's new Bloody Series red eyeliners aren't the colors you'd ever think to
wear, but actually look great, especially for women with lighter shades of brown hair.
No, they don't make your eyes look bloodshot. The "red" translates into more of a brown on the skin.
The Gelpresso mini-series is also great to bring along on your travels, especially if you plan on going
out at night.
Our fave: the golden khaki liner.
Gelpresso eyeliner: ?12,000 (US$11) each; Gelpresso mini series travel kit: ?15,000
(US$13.50);Â www.clio.co.kr

10. Creamy on one end, liquid on the other. The Face Shop Face It
Concealer Dual Veil
This double-ended concealer took first place in a blind test on the popular television show "Get it
Beauty," and subsequently became a best-seller for The Face Shop.
A creamy cover stick shaped like a lipstick on one end and in liquid form on the other end, the dual
concealer covers dark circles and blemishes seamlessly.
Available in three shades of beige.
?10,900 (US$10); available at the 1,000-plus The Face Shop stores
nationwide;Â www.thefaceshop.com
Vibrating coverage. IPKN Professional Auto Foundation Set
This battery-powered vibrating foundation sponge applier allows you to put your foundation on
without getting any on your fingers -- the vibration gives you a smoother, consistent application.
Although we're not huge fans of the actual liquid foundation, which comes in a separate compact
with a highlighter, the applier itself is a must-have. Once you start using it, you can never go back to
manual application.
?70,000 (US$63), available at Olive Young stores and Watsons stores nationwide;Â www.ipkn.co.kr
More on CNN: The supermodel's guide: Where to shop in Seoul
http://travel.cnn.com/korean-cosmetics-shopping-guide-652726