Seoul Winter Skin: Hand Cream and Lip Balm by Day, Sheet Mask and Body Lotion at Night
Cold outside, heated inside, a mask on your face. What to carry by day and what to use back at your lodging for dry winter skin in Seoul.
Partly personally verified — Daniel checked some of these in person
How we verify →·Last verified ·3 min read
Don't build a winter skincare routine for a five-day trip. Split it in two: a hand cream and a lip balm in your pocket by day, and a sheet mask and body lotion back at your lodging.
- By day, outdoors: carry a hand cream and a lip balm, and reapply often. Seoul in January averages about −2°C.
- At night, at your lodging: finish the day with a sheet mask and body lotion.
- Cold outside, heated inside: subway cars run at 18–21°C, so your skin makes that swing several times a day.
- Buy them at Olive Young or Daiso. Nothing at Daiso costs more than ₩5,000.
- The Olive Young Sale usually runs in the first week of December; check the app for this year's dates. Tax refunds start at ₩15,000 in one purchase.
Why does skin dry out so fast in a Seoul winter?
January in Seoul averages about −2°C, a dry, hard cold (see Seoul in winter). Subway cars, meanwhile, are heated to 18–21°C under an environment ministry notice (see what to wear in November and December). You swing between cold air and heated rooms several times a day. That is reason enough for dry skin.
What do you carry by day, and what do you use at night?
Two small kits, one for each half of the day. Everything else is optional on a short trip.
| Item | When | Why | Buy it at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand cream (small tube) | By day, outdoors | Hands stay out in the cold all day | Olive Young; the Daiso beauty aisle |
| Lip balm | By day, outdoors | Lips chap fast in dry cold | Olive Young; the Daiso beauty aisle |
| Sheet mask (by the box) | At night, at your lodging | Moisture after a day outside | Olive Young |
| Body lotion | At night, at your lodging | One pass over your whole body after a shower | Olive Young |
Prices vary by store, so there are no numbers here. For sheet masks by the box, see skincare worth the suitcase. For Olive Young against a department store beauty hall, see Olive Young vs a department store; for Daiso, see what to buy at Daiso.
When is the cheapest time to buy?
The Olive Young Sale runs four times a year, usually in the first week of December among them. We couldn't confirm this year's December dates from an official announcement, so check the Olive Young app. A single purchase of ₩15,000 or more also qualifies for a tax refund.
A Note From Daniel — our real human editorKorean winters are cold and dry. Putting on hand cream often is a must. I put on lip balm often too. Wearing a mask gives you some moisture, but if you stop paying attention for a bit, your skin dries out quickly. When you wrap up the day at your lodging, take care of moisture with a sheet mask and body lotion.
Mina's TipKeep the lip balm in a coat pocket and the hand cream in the bag you open most. The mask and lotion can stay at the room.
By day, outdoors: a hand cream and a lip balm, reapplied often. At night, at your lodging: a sheet mask and body lotion. Seoul in January averages about −2°C; subway cars are heated to 18–21°C. Buy them at Olive Young or Daiso (nothing at Daiso over ₩5,000). The Olive Young Sale usually runs in the first week of December; check the app for this year's dates. Tax refunds start at ₩15,000 in one purchase.
