I did quite a bit of shopping when I was in Seoul especially in Myeongdong. My only regret was not bringing a larger suitcase. I think the next time I come up to Seoul I might consider bringing my carryon luggage. It will have plenty of space for the clothes I will bring with me and any shopping damage I might do. That being said, I was still able to pack all my new skincare products and clothing I brought in my duffle bag and backpack.

I mostly brought skincare products, but my biggest purchases was the iPhone XR. The battery of my old iPhone 6S was starting to die rather quickly and since it’s my main phone and camera, I needed either to replace the battery or update my phone. I choose to update my phone. I’m trying to talk more videos of my life and adventures, so updating the phone was a better choice. I love it! The phone is great. The only dislike I have for it it the regulation of the camera shutter noise being unable to turn off. All phones brought in Korea (and I think Japan also) will still have the camera shutter noise go off when taking a picture. There are ways to get around it. Mainly using a camera app that doesn’t make the noise. I found that the app B612 (awesome selfie app with tons of features for both pictures and short filming) doesn’t make that noise.

Now for my skincare haul. I brought quite a range of items but only things I really needed. I knew if I brought more, then it would be super heavy to lug around on my way home. One of the first beauty shops I entered was Nature Republic. It was funny, ’cause I was already planning on going into one (and there are several in Myeongdong), I was just looking for the big one with the cafe at the top. However, since I couldn’t find it (which turned out to be the wrong skincare company I was thinking about…), so I went to one where the lady pulled me in by offering me a free sheet mask. That where I brought the cream cleanser. It’s a great cleanser to use in the evening rather than the CosRX that I use in the morning.

Moving through my skincare routine, I brought the Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm. Currently it’s my favorite 1st step in removing makeup and grim from my face. The cleanser comes right after wards. I also got the Bird’s Nest Forever Young cream as part of sale set with the cleansing balm. Plus the two mini packs of the cleanser. It was a good deal at under 60 bucks for all of them. Next door was a small Etude House where I got the Red Energy eye cream.

Late that night, I brought the face wipes, mainly because I had completely forgotten to bring any cotton pads for my cleansing water. It was a quick run to the convenience store just down the street from my AirBNB. With the little shopping I did, I also received a couple of free things like the sheet masks from Nature Republic & Etude House and the primer and cream from Banila Co.

Oh, and I brought another eyebrow pencil from Etude House. I wanted to keep an extra one with me when I go out for touch ups, so I found this one is quite similar to the other one I brought closer to home.

I did buy some not beauty related products including some stationary items from ArtBox. I finally got me a cute pencil case and cord protector. I’ve been wanting one of those for quite a while. However I kind of wished that there was more at the ArtBox stores I visited. I think I will have to find the really big one in Seoul. Where it is, I’m not too sure.

My last two items were clothings. I brought a red Hogwarts sweatshirt with the words Wingardium Leviosa on it in SPAO. They had a promotion a while ago and this top along with a couple of others were the last of the promotion they had. The store was moving on to Sailor Moon promotion which is not my cup of tea. I also got a cream sweater from a street vendor in Hongdae. I wanted one that would keep me warm at night. It’s big and slightly fluffy, I love it!

So that’s my haul from Seoul. I’m pretty sure I’m going to spend a weekend again there in sometime later this month. But my next post will be about my rainy trip to Busan.

안녕 – jane