It's been a while since I've written one of these Seoul, Korean Shopping Guides. I love these, personally, and whenever I write about these... I miss Korea so much! I really enjoy shopping and am the type of person who can just wander around, look at stuff, and not have to buy anything. Well, that didn't happen on my last trip to Seoul, Korea (I bought a decent amount of things :o ) but hey, I guess it gave me more experience to give you tips and my guide on shopping in the Express Bus Terminal.

Let's get to the breakdown...

By the way, before I get to all the information, I'm going to actually write a separate post about shopping in Dongdaemun Market! I put them together in the video since I did it all in the same day, but I think it deserves a separate post :) And the pictures are blurry because I took it directly from the video. It's really hard to take video, talk, and take pictures all at once. So I hope it's ok :)

The Express Bus Terminal

Description

There are TONS of shops in this area! About 600 to be exact :D You could walk around for days and see something different I feel like. Here, you can find everything from household goods to shoes to bedding to beauty items! Yes, even beauty! This is a pretty good one-stop-shop kind of area if you only have a limited amount of time in Korea. However, be warned... underground shopping gets crowded! 

Look how far back it goes! And this is in practically all directions!

Directions

Let's get some of the basic information out of the way. The address to the Express Bus Terminal for   Undergound Shopping in Seoul is:

162 Banpo 4(sa)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 To get there by the Subway: Line 3, 7, 9 at Express Bus Terminal, exit 8.

Excuse my crazy face! I put this screenshot in here because you can see the subway sign in the background. That way, you can see exactly where I came in from in the video!

Shopping Tips

Look how cheap you can find clothing for here!

I ended up buying this shirt for about $5!

• Always bring cash! Most vendors in Underground shopping areas don't take card. Actually, a lot of "mom and pop" type of shops take cash only.
• You don't necessarily need to know Korean in this area. You just have to walk up, take a look, and if you find something, give them however much it's marked! Simple as that. This is because most racks are marked so you don't have to ask how much things cost :) 
• I don't haggle in this area. This is because the items are already cheap enough! I honestly wouldn't even try. You might end up offending the shop keepers because the items are already a good deal!
• Wear comfortable shoes! This particular underground shopping area is connected to Shinsegae, Megabox Movie Theater, and a couple other attractions! So there's lots to do and look at and you don't want to be bogged down by uncomfortable footwear. 
• There are some food court areas down there, but bring a snack! They are spaced out and sometimes a little bit of a walk to get to. Nothing is worse than being super hungry and not being able to find somewhere to eat.
• If you're really looking for a good deal, you can always shop around. You'll actually notice a lot of shops carry some of the same items or items that look very similar so try to find the one the has the best deal!

You can find all kinds of stuff! Even items for the home :)

There you go! There's some basic information about shopping and navigating the Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping in Seoul, Korea! I just uploaded a video where I take you around with me while I'm shopping there, so be sure to check that out above as well as subscribe to The Beauty Breakdown!

xoxo, 

Morgan 

Korean Beauty Haul from Peach and Lily! Cremorlab, Mizon, and Aromatica

Hi there :) SO as a beauty blogger, I get sent products to try and was excited when Peach and Lily reached out to me and asked if I'd like to try some of products from their website! Of course, I was like YES. It's a win-win because not only do I get more products to review and show you guys, but I also get to interact with the people at the website, which helps me get a feel for whether I'd recommend their website to you guys!

Anyways...

Let's get to the breakdown...

Peach and Lily 

Peach and Lily is actually a really interesting website. As I scrolled through the pages, I noticed that most, if not all, of their products are from high-quality brands that prioritize natural and effective ingredients. They also have a page on their website that describes the process of selecting products for their shop... which shows how much effort, detail, and consideration goes into the products. You should definitely check the page out for yourself! I'd also like to mention how easy their site is to navigate and their shipping was extremely fast!

Cremorlab Refreshing Cleansing Gel Oil

I've been wanting to try out a bunch of different oil/balm cleansers because I wanted to do a comparison video for you guys. I've heard of this brand before, but haven't gotten the opportunity to try anything from them until now! But how beautiful is this bottle? It looks so glamorous!!

Cremorlab Herb Tea Blemish Minus Calming Mask

Ah! I don't even want to open it! It looks so nice :) Excited to try some nicer sheets masks. I use sheets masks 2-3 times a week so I'm always open to try some more! Plus, this one looks fancccyyy!

 Mizon Special Care Apple Smoothie Peeling Gel

I wanted to do the same thing I'm planning with the cleansing oils/balms, so I've been gathering some peeling gels to do a comparison review for you guys! They're really fun to use and I love Mizon products, so this should be interesting!

Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum

I'm starting to really like rose products.. the smell is just so refreshing! This product seemed really unique to me, and I can't wait to see if this works well. It's designed for dry and aging skin, so my skin will probably love it since it's SO dry!

Hope you enjoyed my Korean Beauty Haul from Peach and Lily :) I can't wait to put these items to the test!

xoxo,
Morgan

Shopping in Seoul, Korea: A Guide to Shopping in Myeongdong

This is a fun installment to my website that I thought would be helpful for those of you visiting Korea! When I was initially planning my trip, the thing I was really excited for was the SHOPPING. Seoul, Korea is the shopping mecca and of course, there are different areas that sell different things and have different vibes. Because of this, I wanted to create shopping guides for the different shopping districts! Today's post is going to be on the most notorious place; Myeongdong!

Myeongdong (명동) is the number one shopping district in Seoul. It attracts people from all over the world because it's the one-stop shop for essentially everything. All the streets are lined with delicious places to eat, beauty stores, and international clothing stores and designers.

So let's get to the breakdown of shopping in Myeongdong...

Beauty Shops

If you're looking for one place to buy all your Korean makeup and skincare needs, you should definitely go to Myeongdong. Myeongdong has every Korean beauty brand you could think of and most likely, a couple of the same kind. For example, you can walk down one street in Myeongdong and see at Etude House. Take a stroll a little further, you'll probably find another...and another...and another! This is especially convenient for those of you who like to find the best deals! You can shop around and find the best prices because yes, some of the stores will offer different deals. For example, you could go to one Etude House and find buy one, get one face mask and then go to another Etude House and find buy 10, get 10 face masks. 

Also, you'll notice that since they're are so many beauty shops, there will be sales people standing outside of the stores offering you free samples to come in and look. You do have to enter the store if you want the sample (usually it's a small box of cotton pads or a sheet mask), and look around. You actually don't have to buy anything to look, but I usually don't enter a store unless I'm interested in buying something. This is only because in Korea, the sales associates in the stores are very attentive, especially in the beauty shops. They'll actually follow you around so you can ask questions and they'll usually try to have you try some of their products.

Heads up though if you don't speak Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. If you speak one of these languages, there is almost always someone who can help you. English speakers are a little harder to find and you will rarely find someone to help you if you speak any other language. That's not to say you can't enjoy shopping here! Just be prepared to be a little on your own if you don't speak these languages. But hey, maybe you like shopping that way! 

Restaurants/Street Food

If you're hungry, you can definitely find all kinds of food at Myeongdong. Whether you're in the mood for sitting down somewhere nice for something to eat or just picking something up from a food cart to snack on as you walk around, you'll find it here! 

Don't forget to look up! Usually more places to eat :) 

In this area, you can find all kinds of foods, including international foods and fast food. The prices, even at restaurants, are fairly reasonable. If you're looking for something really cheap, check out the food carts that are usually lined along the streets! For about $1-3 USD, you can buy tteokboki, chicken skewers, spiral potatoes on a stick, and many other choices! And of course, they're delicious. You can always find something to your liking to eat :)   

Clothing Stores

Myeongdong is where you can find a mix of international and Korean clothing stores. The prices here for clothing are mid-range. They're not super cheap but you can clothing for reasonable prices. There are stores like H&M and Forever 21 and also stores like SPAO and UNIQLO. Typically, international brands like Levi's or Converse are more expensive since they're imported. If you're looking for super cheap clothing, check out the carts that come out later in the day or at night or go to another shopping district like Dongdaemun or by EWHA University which I will feature in later posts.   

Hope this was a helpful guide to shopping in Myeongdong! More guides like this to come so let me know if it's helpful or if you have more questions!

xoxo, 

Morgan 

Shopping in Seoul: A Guide for Shopping for Prescription Eye Glasses

When I found out that you could buy super cheap prescription glasses in Seoul, I was like “YES!”. If you’re not aware of it already, I have terrible eyesight. Like, really bad eyesight. I’m practically blind. So I rely heavily on my contacts and glasses. The idea that I could broaden my eye glass collection for cheap was so exciting!

The table I picked my glasses from! 

It might seem a little overwhelming at first when you’re looking to buy prescription glasses. Most places have a florescent eyeglass sign above the door. The trick is to find the stores that offer cheap prices because there are stores that sell high-end, expensive glasses. And buy expensive, I mean a couple hundred bucks for the frames alone! In order to find the right store, feel free to walk in, browse and ask how much frames are to get an idea of their prices. Some cheaper glasses stores are more obvious that they have cheap glass (some have a table full of glasses with a sign that says 20,000 won, 30,000 won, etc)

This is the store where I bought mine! 

The store I bought my prescription glasses at was in Nongdaemun market. Don’t ask me where because I can’t remember where it was, I just know I got them in this area. I paid 65,000 won for two pairs of prescription glasses. That’s about $65! Talk about insane right?! In the United States, I’ve paid anywhere from $250 to $450 for glasses.

The cat-shaped glasses I bought! 

It’s really best if you have your prescription on you, so you can make sure you’re getting the right lenses. I remembered what mine is, so I was able to make sure I was getting the right prescription. Fear not though, they usually all have a free check-up to see what your prescription is. I just figure it’s better to know before you go to be certain.

The large framed glasses I bought 

I chose the frames I liked and my mom and I left for about an hour and walked around the market. Some nicer places serve you free coffee and tea while you wait too! When we came back, the guy working there had my two pairs of glasses ready! They came with a case and a little cloth to clean the lenses with.

There are glasses everywhere

Overall, don’t be intimidated to shop around! There are TONS of eyeglass shops around Seoul, and it’s almost the thrill of the search to try to find the best deals and cutest frames. Plus, they’re used to people popping in, asking the price, and shopping around more. Let me know in the comments below if you have a specific store that you love to go to in Seoul. I’m sure other readers would like to know! Happy shopping and travels!!

Xoxo, Morgan