Olive Young and similar stores are on almost every corner in Seoul, and they are one of the few shopping situations where staff will approach you and ask questions.
The vocabulary is mostly borrowed from English, which helps — until you hit the words that changed meaning on the way in.
Getting left alone
Staff greet you and often follow up with 뭐 찾으세요? — What are you looking for?
- 구경할게요. — I'm just looking.
- 그냥 볼게요. — I'll just look.
They will leave you alone immediately. This is not considered rude.
Describing your skin
This is the useful part, and it unlocks real recommendations.
| Korean | Skin type |
|---|---|
| 건성 | dry |
| 지성 | oily |
| 복합성 | combination |
| 민감성 | sensitive |
| 여드름 피부 | acne-prone |
- 저는 건성이에요. — I have dry skin.
- 민감성 피부예요. — I have sensitive skin.
- 여드름이 잘 나요. — I break out easily.
Say one of these and staff will point you at three products within seconds.
Asking about products
- 이거 효과 있어요? — Does this work?
- 후기 좋아요? — Are the reviews good?
- 이거 뭐에 좋아요? — What is this good for?
- 좀 더 저렴한 거 있어요? — Do you have something cheaper?
- 샘플 있어요? — Do you have samples?
샘플 있어요? is worth asking every time. Korean beauty stores hand out samples generously, often several with any purchase.
The Konglish trap
Several product names are English words that mean something else here.
스킨 is not a moisturizer and not skin. It is toner — the watery step right after cleansing. Confusingly, 토너 also exists and means roughly the same thing.
로션 is a light moisturizer, thinner than what English speakers usually mean by lotion.
에센스 and 세럼 are both concentrated treatment steps. The distinction is marketing more than chemistry.
쿠션 is a compact foundation in a sponge — a Korean invention that has since spread worldwide.
미스트 is a spray you use over makeup during the day.
Product words
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 클렌징 폼 | cleansing foam |
| 스킨 / 토너 | toner |
| 에센스 | essence |
| 세럼 | serum |
| 크림 | cream |
| 마스크팩 | sheet mask |
| 선크림 | sunscreen |
| 립밤 | lip balm |
| 쿠션 | cushion foundation |
선크림 is worth prioritising. Korean sunscreens are widely considered better than Western ones and cost a fraction of the price.
Deals
1+1 and 2+1 are everywhere in these stores, and they apply per product line rather than per item, so the second item is often a different variant of the same product.
- 이거 원 플러스 원이에요? — Is this 1+1?
- 세일 언제까지예요? — How long is the sale on?
Paying
- 이걸로 할게요. — I'll take this one.
- 카드로 할게요. — By card.
- 봉투 주세요. — A bag, please.
- 멤버십 없어요. — I don't have a membership.
A full visit
Staff: 뭐 찾으세요? You: 선크림 찾고 있어요. 저는 민감성 피부예요. Staff: 이거 어떠세요? 후기 진짜 좋아요. You: 샘플 있어요? Staff: 네, 드릴게요. You: 그럼 이걸로 할게요.
See it happen
Episode 8 of K-PATTO is set in a beauty store, where Emma tries to explain what she wants and discovers that knowing the English word is not always enough. Every line has audio.
The first ten episodes are free at K-PATTO.