As someone who started traveling to Seoul to buy Korean skincare and beauty products (to sell online), trying different facials and beauty treatments each time I'm in South Korea is a tradition for me. Some have been awful (Shangpree!), whilst others have been pretty good. Scroll down for my detailed Sulwhasoo Facial Review in Seoul!
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In this review of the Sulwhasoo Seoul facial, you're getting not just the opinion of 1 person, but 4 of us (myself + 3 senior citizens) as I booked facials at Sulwhasoo(and haircuts at Juno Salon) for my Aunts and Mother too, most recently during my trip last year.
Our skin types include:
- sensitive, combination/ oily skin
- dry skin
We all LOVED our facial here but scroll down for more details. (I also include what we thought could be improved.)
Note: We're such beauty-holics, I actually tried 7 facials in my last visit alone! (For reviews of Seoul hair salons, click here.)
Location
There are 2 main places to get a Sulwhasoo facial in Seoul:
- Gangnam
- Sulwhasoo SPA Flagship Store
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Closed every first Monday of the month, New Year’s Day, and during Seollal and Chuseok.
- TEL : 02-541-9272(Sulwhasoo SPA) / 02-541-9273(Balance SPA)
- Address : Sulwhasoo Flagship Store 18, Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Lotte Hotel Seoul (near Myeong Dong)
- Address : 7F. Lotte Hotel Seoul, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 8.or 9 PM
- Closes at 8pm according to Sulwhasoo website and 9 pm according to the Lotte website
- Closed every first Monday of the month, during Seollal and Chuseok
- TEL : 02-318-6121
Gangnam vs Myeong Dong: which outlet is better?
Which spa you choose would depend on where you're staying (as traveling between the 2 places can take up to an hour.)
However, I find the Gangnam Sulwhasoo Spa better in general because:
- As the Sulwhasoo Gangnam outlet gets more foreign tourists, you're more likely to get a therapist who can speak at least a little English (but there's no guarantee.)
- If you want to buy skincare or makeup products after your treatment, you can only do so at Gangnam (and not Lotte)
- As the Lotte Hotel spa is very small, it can be hard to get a booking- I am sometimes unable to get a space even booking a month ahead during the off-peak season! (Koreans are more than willing to spend on beauty care!)
- In addition, Lotte Sulwhasoo can't do treatments for more than 2 people at a time (or at least they couldn't when I last visited.)
This review is for the Seoul spa but if you'd like one for the Gangnam outlet next time, let me know in the comments!
Note: you can also get Sulwhasoo treatments outside of Korea, in Singapore and Hong Kong (for example), but they don't feel as luxurious.
Spa Ambience
When you enter, you see a piece of art by the master craftsman who created 10-Panel Palace Plum Flower Embroidery in the early 20th century. It incorporates the special techniques of the traditional Korean embroidery.
We were greeted with a welcome tea and some light snacks, some with ginseng flavors, which helped to perk us up after our long flight.
The Spa was very peaceful which helped relax us. (We didn't see any other customers, despite spending several hours in the spa. Moreover, the spa is lovely and large. The facilities are definitely the most tranquil out of all the places we've had facials at in Seoul. (Click through for my review of the other places I've tried.)
Even if you visit when another customer is in the spa, it would not feel crowded, as the spa is HUGE. (Just look at the size of the bathroom below!) It's big enough that you may never see the other customer actually.
I like Sulwhasoo face products. (Do note they smell of ginseng, so you need to be OK with that!)
However, we can't deny that the efficacy of treatments may vary from person to person (based on the skin types), so what works for my skin type may not work for yours.
Nonetheless, if I was to recommend a body or face treatment to relax and enjoy oneself, Sulwhasoo would definitely be my top choice in Seoul.
Services
Sulwhasoo offers facial, body as well as body + face treatments (i.e. 2 types in 1 session.)
We Tried The Heritage Ginseng Journey Treatment
We chose the Heritage Ginseng Journey, a Body and Face treatment that lasted 130 minutes for 500,000 Korean Won (per person) as we arrived at 6 am and weren't allowed into our room (at Lotte Executive Tower) till the afternoon.)
This is how it's described in the brochure:
Heritage Ginseng Journey is a facial and full-body treatment to experience the essence of ginseng science. This journey repairs damaged skin, provides firming effect, and achieves optimal body balance to rejuvenate skin and body.
https://www.lottehotel.com/content/dam/lotte-hotel/lotte/seoul/facilities/fitness-spa/sulhwasu-spa/240130_Sulhwasoo_info_en.pdf
Red Ginseng Foot spa
After we'd had our cup of ginseng tea, the first step of the treatment was a foot scub. (We were in separate rooms, but there is a couple room if you want to do your treatment together!)
Our legs and feet were rubbed and scrubbed with warm water and a red ginseng scrub. They were then wiped dry with a cloth, using the “Sulwhajung” method, where the fragrance of Korean flowers, leaves, and trees on a dry cloth is used to boost the effect of the beauty treatment and awaken our 5 senses.
The dry cloth rub is a fragrance treatment that was supposedly used by the Royal family of the Joseon Dynasty to calm the mind. (I don't know if it really works, but we certainly felt soothed and our legs felt lighter!)
Facial
Obviously, all the face products used during the treatment are from Sulwhasoo!
The facial is actually a good way to try the brand if you've never used it before. You get to try the eye cream. sulwhasoo first care activating serum. lip balm etc during the facial- cheaper than buying a whole set of skincare and tossing it!
To increase absorption by the skin, an amber, white porcelain massager and jade ring applicator tool is used for facial massage, to purify the skin and boost circulation. (You'll be shown the tools before the treatment. There is also a display cabinet of the different products in the private waiting room.)
Even when a mask was applied to the face, our shoulders and hands were constantly massaged. (i.e. the therapist did not just slather on the product and leave- my pet peeve! If I was just going to apply a mask on my face and lie around, I can do it at home and save money!)
My facial muscles felt more relaxed and my face was glowing after the treatment (probably thanks to the better blood circulation from the massage!)
At the end of their treatment, tea made of mountain dates and Pungi ginseng was served with Korean snacks. We definitely felt rejuvenated but, to be honest, it'd be hard not to be rejuvenated after a 130-minute Korean beauty treatment, when one has just disembarked after a long plane ride!
In summary, we all loved our treatment and thought it was the most relaxing facial we had in all of Korea. (Click through if you want to book- if you make a booking, I get a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks in advance! 🙂 There's just something about the decor of the spa that makes you feel like you have all the time in the world, so you don't have to rush, get dressed, and leave so that the next customer can come in.
We tried facials at other 5-star hotels in Korea, such as at Hyatt Rosebay etc, which were also good, but which didn't make us feel as welcome to dither around after. (I don't know about you, but I'm always conscious of the fact that the spa may need the room back soon, so I get dressed at the speed of light and leave, but there was no such pressure at Sulwhasoo.)
Who This is NOT for
- Unfortunately, the therapist/ masseuse I got at Sulwhasoo Lotte cannot speak English well. (This is the case in many beauty treatment centres in Korea, unless you go to ones that are very popular with tourists.) This isn't a turn-off for me but it does make communication a bit more difficult.
- You could try to request an English-speaking therapist but I'm not sure how much luck you will have. Generally this works better at Sulwhasoo Gangnam. (If you're not familiar with this Korean brand, don't expect the therapist at Lotte to be able to explain the ingredients list etc to you.)
Tip: download Papago translation app and these other free apps to make your trip to Seoul smoother!
- In addition, there is no safe (with key) in the treatment room to lock up your valuables so if you have super expensive jewelry and watches, you may feel uncomfortable. (However, Korea is super safe!)
- If you want INSTANT results, this is not the place for you. (It's a facial not an aestheti treatment/ plastic surgery!)
Last but not least, if you're in Korea for a cheap beauty treatment, Sulwhasoo is not the place for you! It's pricey but worth it in my opinion. I have sensitive skin and this facial doesn't break me out, unlike the one I did at Shangpree and at Lotte Busan (to be fair, they only gave me one zit (each) but still...)
Things to Note
- It's recommended that you arrive 15 minutes before your treatment time.
The treatment room in the Gangnam Sulwhasoo is at the bottom floor (down the staircase) whilst in Lotte, it's on the 7th floor (you can take the lit up.)
Frequently Asked Questions
So far, none of us have been given samples after treatments. (The more expensive the skincare brand, the stingier they are with samples usually (in Korea.))
Would I Recommend?
Undoubtedly, yes!
As I mentioned in the introduction of this Sulwhasoo review, the Sulwhasoo Seoul spa has the best ambience out of all the spas I've tried in Seoul for pampering yourself. (Chantecaille in Signiel Busan comes a close second but that's a few hours away by high-speed rail!)
The treatment itself was very enjoyable: The staff members were very professional and paid great detail to every aspect of the treatment. There was not a moment when my mother and aunties were left alone during our treatment; they were continuously massaging our hands and shoulders.
Moreover, not only are the staff members at Sulwhasoo professional, unlike at other beauty salons in Seoul, such as Shangpree, they did not hard sell and push us to buy Sulwhasoo products, so you don't leave feeling stressed!
Any questions about our facial in Korea? Let me know in the comments!
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