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If you’ve been thinking about traveling to Korea, chances are you’ve heard plenty about Olive Young.
For all the girlies thinking about Asian makeup or Korean skincare, Olive Young it was an absolute heaven to be in my couple days spent in Korea. I’ve spent more than $300 on different skincare, new makeup palette, eyeliner, sunscreen restock, and even a new hair wand curler.
Depending on which Olive Young you visit, you might find yourself in a massive multi-story beauty wonderland or a more modest-sized shop. But regardless of the size, one thing remains constant: it’s incredibly easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options.
Olive Young doesn’t just have makeup—they stock an extensive range of skincare, haircare, body care, supplements, and more. With thousands of products from both Korean and international brands lining the shelves, having a game plan before you walk through those doors can save you from buyer’s remorse and an overweight suitcase.
1. Know What You Actually Need Before You Go
When I first got into the Olive Young store for the first time in Korea, I ended up walking out with nothing.
Because I was simply too overwhelmed by the amount of options and the amount of people storming around the Olive Young store.
It’s so easy to overbuy at Olive Young and end up with products you don’t actually need. The excitement of being surrounded by Korean beauty products can make you lose sight of what you came for in the first place.
Do you want lip tints? Are you specifically looking for skincare or haircare? Getting clear on your shopping goals before you enter the store will help you stay focused. I ended up revisiting the Olive Young after a meal and went in with the specific mindset to come out with hydrating skin care items that I wanted.
Start by thinking about what you really need. I personally regret buying as much makeup as I did during my Korea trip. Honestly, I didn’t need the makeup I purchased—I already had enough at home.
But being in Olive Young, surrounded by all those beautiful products and attractive displays, I found myself buying things just because I could. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Make a list of your must-haves and stick to it as much as possible.
2. Stock Up on Sunscreen—Especially Roundlab
If there’s one product category you should splurge on at Olive Young, it’s sunscreen.
At a lot of the Olive Young stores that I went to in different locations, they would have tall green buckets of round lab sunscreen at their front door near the windows. And you would see that they have some sort of sign that says it’s their number one sunscreen or number one seller.
Trust the rankings because that’s when you know that’s what the Koreans are actually buying and not what everyone on TikTok is telling you to buy.
Korean sunscreens are legendary for their lightweight textures, high protection, and cosmetic elegance. Roundlab is currently the most popular sunscreen brand, and for good reason—their formulas are comfortable to wear and highly effective.
I should have bought more sunscreen than I did because you use it up pretty fast, especially if you’re applying the recommended amount daily. The good news is that Olive Young often has combo deals on sunscreen, so you can stock up for less. Trust me, your future self will thank you when you’re not paying premium prices for Korean sunscreen in your home country.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Attendees for Help
I was originally kind of uncertain about where to find things or what to buy, and I’m so glad I got over my hesitation to ask for help. The Olive Young staff members are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, and they’re used to assisting both locals and tourists.
For example, I was buying a gift for my friend who wanted skincare for acne specifically, and I didn’t have any prior knowledge or research because I currently don’t have acne. The products aren’t organized by skin concern—instead, they’re arranged by brand, with different brands of skincare on different shelves. So I simply asked the attendees for recommendations, and they immediately told me what the three most popular acne skincare products were.
Their insights were so valuable because they know what people are actually buying and what’s working for customers. Sometimes you can’t always trust what you see on the internet—trends and sponsored content can be misleading. The staff see real shopping patterns and hear genuine feedback, making their recommendations incredibly reliable.
A lot of the times where I would see certain items not be available in stock for the color that I want, for example, for a lip tint, I would ask the attendees if they could check the shelves or the back for the color that I want. Half the time it’s just not in place on the shelves and they actually still have stock. So you really just have to ask. Most of the times the attendees speak English but if not they whip out their phone for Google Translate immediately.
4. Bring your passport and Check the Tax Refund Threshold + Combine Purchases
If you’re a tourist in Korea, you can get a tax refund on your purchases, but there’s usually a minimum spending threshold (typically around 30,000 won per store). I forgot to bring my passport for the first day of Olive Young and I regretted so bad for forgetting my passport.
To maximize your tax refund, try to consolidate your purchases into one or two shopping trips rather than making multiple small purchases throughout your trip. If you’re going with a friend, it also helps to purchase some together. A tip is to have one friend goes first for all their purchases and then the other. So the receipt you can pretty easily just divide it in half and pay each other back that way.
When you reach the threshold, make sure to ask for a tax refund receipt and bring your passport. You’ll claim your refund at the airport before you leave Korea. This can save you a significant amount, especially if you’re doing serious beauty shopping. Every bit helps when you’re buying multiple products!
5. Visit During Sales Events and Use the Olive Young App
Olive Young regularly has sales events, with some of the biggest happening during Korean holidays and seasonal changes. If you can time your visit with these sales periods, you’ll find incredible deals—sometimes up to 50% off popular products. This is only something that I heard about after getting to Olive Young, so I had immediately downloaded the Olive Young app after leaving Korea.
Additionally, download the Olive Young app before your trip. Even if you can’t read Korean, you can use translation features to browse current promotions and digital coupons. The app often has exclusive deals that aren’t available in-store, and you can show the coupons at checkout for additional discounts. Some locations even have app-only specials or point systems for rewards. While navigating the app might take a little patience if you don’t speak Korean, the savings are worth the effort.
Conclusion
Shopping at Olive Young is one of the highlights of any trip to Korea for beauty enthusiasts, but going in prepared will help you make smarter purchases and avoid the overwhelming feeling that comes with too many choices. Remember: know what you need, stock up on the essentials (especially sunscreen!), don’t hesitate to ask for help, maximize your tax refund, and take advantage of sales and app deals. Happy shopping!
