Korea has become the global destination for skincare tourism and it's for good reason. Treatments here are fast, effective, affordable, and performed with some of the most advanced tech in the world. Whether you want clearer skin, a brighter complexion, or anti-aging results, Korea has a treatment for every skin goal and budget.
If you're traveling to Seoul and wondering which services are worth your time (and money), here are the top 10 most-booked skincare treatments by foreigners and what each treatment targets.
Want a quick rundown on what you need to know about skincare clinics in general? 👇
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1. Aqua Peel (Hydra Facial)
Best for: blackheads, congestion, instant glow
Downtime: none
Pain level: little to none
Aqua peel is like a Korean deep-clean for your skin involving suction, exfoliation, and hydration all in one. It's the perfect start-of-trip treatment and ideal before any makeup-heavy travel days or photoshoots. Tourists love it because results are instant.
2. LDM Water Drop Lifting
Best for: inflammation, acne-prone skin, hydration
Downtime: none
Pain level: none
LDM uses high-frequency ultrasound to soothe irritation, calm breakouts, and boost moisture. It's extremely popular among people with sensitive skin or those who want glow without heat-based lasers. Often times, this treatment is added afterwards a more intense procedure.
3. MTS / Micro-Needling with Ampoule (Potenza etc.)
Best for: glow, fine lines, skin regeneration
Downtime: redness for 24 hours
Pain level: medium to high, topical anesthetic cream involved
Microneedling remains an international favorite because Korea pairs it with high-quality ampoules: PDRN, exosomes, glutathione, peptides, etc. It's a quick way to boost radiance and improve absorption.
affordable skincare clinic options that gets the basics right 👇
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4. Botox (Baby Botox, Skin Botox etc.)
Best for: refining jawline, smoothing texture, softening wrinkles
Downtime: minimal
Pain level: little to none, numbing involved
Korea offers some of the most natural-looking injectable techniques (and competitive pricing) and often use botox to balance facial asymmetry. Popular options include:
- 11 lines botox
- Masseter slimming
- Skin botox (Shine Musk) for glass-skin texture
All are subtle, quick, and tourist-friendly.
5. Filler (Lips, Cheeks, Jawline, Chin etc.)
Best for: adding volume, contouring, defining facial features
Downtime: minimal
Pain level: little to medium, topical anesthetic cream involved
Dermal fillers are injectable treatments that instantly enhance and reshape the face. Popular among foreign visitors in Korea, fillers can plump lips, sculpt cheekbones, soften the jawline, or refine the chin — all with natural-looking results and little to no recovery time. Not to mention, the price is much more affordable compared to US prices.
6. Skin Booster Injections (Rejuran, Vitamin C etc.)
Best for: hydration, skin regeneration, glow
Downtime: 2-7 days,
Pain level: medium to high, topical anesthetic cream involved
Skin boosters use hydrating or regenerative substances injected into the skin for deeper moisture, improved texture, and a “glass skin” effect. The infamous Rejuran injections would be under this category that many tourists visited during their visit to Korea.
7. Onda Lifting
Best for: sagging jawline, double chin, body contouring
Downtime: none
Pain level: little to none
ONDA Lifting uses microwave energy (Coolwaves™) to tighten skin and reduce localized fat. It's popular among foreign visitors for lifting and contouring the face and body without surgery, giving noticeable results in a single session AND it's one of the painless lifting treatments.
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8. Laser Toning (Pico, Genesis, Fraxel etc.)
Best for: dull skin, uneven tone, pigmentation, pore reduction
Downtime: none
Pain level: little to medium, topical anesthetic cream involved
These procedures use gentle repetitive laser pulses to break down pigmentation, brighten the complexion, and refine pores. It's fast and safe for all skin types, making it a reliable “first Korea treatment.” However, for some lasers such as Pico Toning, you need multiple sessions to see results.
9. Mole Removals
Best for: getting rid of moles in various parts of your body
Downtime: none
Pain level: little to none, numbing involved
This is one of the most affordable cosmetic procedures in Korea that's often packaged with discounts for multiple mole removals. The procedure is quick with various removal techniques available for varying moles.
10. Ultherapy (Ulthera)
Best for: facial lifting, fine lines, skin tightening
Downtime: none
Pain level: medium to high, topical anesthetic cream involved
Many lifting treatments require multiple sessions to truly see results but with Ultherapy, majority of patients achieve their desired results after a single session. This non-invasive procedure uses focused ultrasound to stimulate collagen deep within the skin and results show and improve over a few months. This treatment receives mixed responses on the pain level.
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How to Choose the Right Treatment for Your Trip
Here's a simple breakdown of one common procedure:
| Skin Concern | Best Treatments |
|---|---|
| Brightening | Laser toning, IPL, MTS |
| Lifting | Xerf, Shurink, Titanium, Ultherapy, Thermage |
| Acne-prone | LDM, calming facial, aqua peel |
| Texture/Pores | Fractional laser, MTS, chemical peels, Potenza |
| Sensitivity | LED therapy, LDM |
We do advise on doing your general research and asking about those treatments at your consultation session.
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Can Foreigners Book These Easily? Recommended Clinics
Yes — but keep in mind:
- Depending on the type of clinic, some appointments need to be scheduled weeks in advance.
- Factory-clinics will most likely have some waiting time at the actual appointment.
- Some clinics don't offer English support.
- Depending on where you book your appointments, you might miss out on discounted deals or exclusive packages.
Whether you want fast, affordable treatments or luxury, doctor-led care, you can book all three clinic types — factory, mid-tier, and private directly through our platform.
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Book all things trending in Korea on Creatrip! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com ! You can follow us on Instagram , TikTok , Threads , and Youtube to stay updated on all things Korea!
