London’s Best Kept Beauty Secret: Korean Facials
Let’s face it, we all want better skin. Some days, we’re its biggest fan; our products sink in beautifully, make up glides on flawlessly, & we even (for a split second) consider leaving our favourite setting powder at home. Others, well, life catches up with us. For me, it’s always Thursday’s – my weekend glow has well & truly worn off and I’m usually behind on sleep. Recently, I’ve been looking for ways to give a bit (read: alot) more life back into my skin to keep me glowing all week long. Largely due to TikTok and the überpopular #GlassSkin trend, Korean Facials caught my eye. Renowned for their unique fusion of ancient wisdom and modern science, they’re designed to provide a plethora of benefits for your complexion. Naturally, I ran to google to book one, but I was surprised to find there aren’t many on offer in London, despite their rising popularity online. So today I’m sharing with you everything I’ve learned, from where to get the best Korean facial to the cult-favourite products to use at home to keep your skin looking clear, dewy & glowing.
What is a Korean Facial?
Although it varies depending on your areas of concern & focus, typically Korean facials will have anything from 6-12 different steps. You read that right. We’re talking the whole works – cleansing, exfoliating, steam, extraction, masks, massage, drainage, LED & more. I was surprised (and somewhat jealous) to learn that women in South Korea typically opt for a facial once a week as part of their routine to keep their skin looking peachy. Since South Korea is well-known as the mecca of great skin, it’s no surprise then that there’s a skin clinic or spa on every corner, so a post-work impromptu facial is always on the cards.
But Are They Really Any Different To A Typical Facial?
Aside from the extra steps, differences can vary from Esthetician to Esthetician and their own ‘signature’ methods. Typically, Korean facials usually opt for a gentler chemical exfoliation over a physical one (which is always something my acne-prone & sensitive skin seems to enjoy). Where I find they set themselves apart is with their massaging techniques. Not only are they noticeably deeper & firmer to help stimulate circulation, they typically take their facial massage down to the decolletage & chest, which usually gets much less love in a “normal facial”. From past experience, I’ve always noticed an immediate glow to my skin, visibly tighter pores & a more overall sculpted look thanks to the extra massaging.
The Best Korean Facial’s in London
Dr David Jack Korean Glass Skin Facial
After the success of his Harley St flagship clinic, Dr David Jack opened his second in Belgravia earlier this year. With a decor fit for an exclusive members club, the new clinic differentiates itself from the flagship by offering innovative medical grade treatments but with a more clearly korean-inspired twist. New additions at Belgravia include the SkinTech Studio, an express facial bar that makes for a dreamy lunch time 30 minute pamper. It’s also home to Dr Jack’s cult favourite Korean Glass Skin Facial that promises to deliver an instant glow & leave you looking hydrated & sculpted (yes please). The treatment starts with an ultra-deep cleanse & is followed by a ten-step regimen that includes everything from an ionised Oxygen bubble mask to a Golki Sculpt Massage with Lymphatic Drainage (& finished with an SPF, of course). Heavenly.
£195 | 60 minutes | Belgravia, London
Minalee Bespoke Healing 90 Facial
When it comes to luxury aesthetic treatments in London, Minalee is a celebrity favourite. Based in Chelsea, with nearly two decades of experience, each session with Minalee is bespoke (hence the name) as she tailors each session to your exact needs to guarantee you leave with the best results. What we love most about Minalee is that she combines her Korean heritage with advanced skin tech like mesotherapy & LED. She even rounds off the session with more holistic therapies like reiki and acupuncture. I’m not surprised that so many rave about Minalee’s magic, with one reviewer confessing that a session with her is “more like therapy than a facial” & you literally “float out” afterwards. Consider me sold.
Price on request | 90 minutes | Chelsea, London
Chanel Facial at the Aestha Clinic
Often called “Korean’s secret to porcelain skin”, the Chanel Facial or ‘chanel injections’ at Aestha Clinic is the most intensive Korean facial I found available in London. What sets it apart from the rest is the use of MTC (micro-needling skin therapy, or Dermapen) with Filorga 135HA. Much like how we workout in the gym to break down muscle to & build new muscle, MTC follows a similar process. By using a micro-needle to inject a cocktail of goodness into the skin, it causes small punctures which in turn stimulate healing & rejuvenation. The result? New collagen & elastin fibres are generated to reveal firmer, more radiant skin. It gives some serious results, but unlike the other facials, it does require some downtime of 1-2 days for skin redness to settle. If MTC alone isn’t enough to give your skin a boost, you can even opt to add on HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) for a botox-like effect, although it’s worth noting that an hour of laser at Aestha is around £750, so I recommend checking with your Esthetician how much they recommend adding on & how much it will cost on top. Unlike the other facials, you’re unlikely to likely to leave feeling ultra-relaxed & floaty as MTC isn’t the most comfortable of facials, but your skin will thank you for it, trust me.
£260 | 60 minutes | Marylebone, London
Keeping The Glow: The Best Korean Skincare products to Use at Home Post Facial
A couple of years ago, getting the cult Korean products at home was near impossible. More recently, various Korean skin care marketplaces have launched in the UK so that we can get all our favourites from the salon at home. Most popular K-beauty products are those that include the infamous snail mucin (like the bestselling CosRx Advanced Snail96 Mucin Firming Essence) and those that have a healthy amount of Centella, like Purito’s Green Level Calming Toner. When it comes to targeted at-home sheet masks, especially for wrinkles and pigmentation, my favourites include the Retinol Intense Reactivating Mask from Some by Mi and the ComfortMe Brightening Hole Mask by MAKE P:REM. When my skin is freaking out, or if my barrier needs some extra hydration, I always opt for the INSTREE Mugwort Calming Gauze Mask to calm everything down.
The DR Verdict
Girl math would tell us that investing in your skin upfront will save you thousands in the long run, and I tend to agree. Having great skin is always going to be on trend, whatever name it gets called next. So, I recommend finding yourself a go-to facialist thats skilled in Korean facial techniques for best results. If you don’t have someone that fits the bill local to you, check to see that they’re incorporating all some or most of the steps outlined in a typical Korean facial, but make sure you’re not paying more for less!
PS. All of the linked products are independently selected and curated by the lovely Daily Rituals team. If you love and buy something we link to, we may earn commission.
