By 
Although K-Beauty has set the internet ablaze in the last few years, Korean skincare has been around for a long time. After using expensive Western skincare products for many years, I fell down the Korean skincare rabbit hole thanks to Reddit.
I had previously dipped my toes in Korean skincare with the viral Snail Mucin Power Essence from COSRX, but ever since I made the switch to K-Beauty, my skin has glowed like never before. I keep getting compliments left and right from people wanting to know my skincare routine to the tee. In the last few months, my skin has been looking so good without makeup that I’ve barely reached for my foundation!
Whenever I go to Joshua Tree, I usually stay with the same host. I went in August, just a few weeks before I fully transitioned to my current K-Beauty routine. When I came back to her place in January, she said: “Oh My God, what foundation are you using? Your skin looks amazing.” When I told her that I wasn’t wearing any makeup, she dropped her jaw to the floor and proceeded to go on an Amazon K-Beauty shopping spree.
I’m currently writing an article about the miraculous powers of Korean skincare: cheap and incredibly effective. However, not every product works on my hyper sensitive skin. That’s why it’s so important to try one skincare product at a time! I also don’t overwhelm my skin by using 10 products every day. You only need a cleanser (including an oil cleanser), a toner, a serum (I have a few that I keep on rotation) and a good moisturizer.
Photo by the NYTimes. Article coming soon!
If you live in LA, you know how lucky we are to have Koreatown: churches, Korean barbecue restaurants, grocery stores and spas. So, how did I find Hanok K-Beauty? Funnily enough, I found it in Joshua Tree out of all the places! I went to a bar and a guy sat next to me. We started chatting and talking about LA. He recently moved from NY to Silver Lake and loved the neighborhood. It was his first time in Joshua Tree. While we were sharing our favorite places in LA, he told me about a Korean place that did the best facials.
“They can even add salmon sperm!!” After he told me the whopping price of almost $500, he also added that the facial included a lymphatic massage and a foot soak.
Many years ago, I had a facial through Groupon at a beauty clinic in Koreatown. It was a no-frills facial targeted to acne. Although I enjoyed my facial, it was very inconsequential because I didn’t have the thirst for knowledge I have now for skincare.
Curious to know more about Hanok K-Beauty, I emailed them to no avail. However, from a cursory glance on their Instagram, I gleaned that the spa has been heavily promoted by influencers and minor celebrities since it opened in early 2024. I made my appointment at the beginning of March for the Glass Skin Facial.
Most Korean beauty clinics are located in Koreatown, which is one of the most dense neighborhoods in LA, and it’s also one of the few places in LA with a lively nightlife. Parking is a nightmare and it seems to be the only place in LA that never sleeps. But I digress…
Hanok K-Beauty stands out from the crowd by its prime location, adjacent to the Beverly Hills city limit. Their website states: “Hanok, a step above”.
Not only does Hanok K-Beauty hone in on the luxurious experience, but they also tout themselves as a place where you can experience Korean culture through their patio, modeled after a Hanok, as well as their teas from Jeju Island and Korean traditional clothing.
Coincidentally, I drive by Hanok K-Beauty every day on my way back from work! Despite the noticeable upper baby pink facade, the spa sits inconspicuously in one of the busiest intersections in Central LA.
The lobby, with bright overhead lighting and glossy flooring tiles reminded me of my laser hair removal clinic. Once I sat down I was able to take a better look of the space. It was tastefully decorated with plants and Hanok-inspired details as a reminder that you’re about to enter a world of relaxation.
Skin Analysis
Make sure you arrive extra early to your appointment or you might miss this step.
Once you check in, you will be directed to the consultation room, where you’ll find a skin analyzer machine imported from South Korea, able to pinpoint the areas of your face that need the most intensive care.
You’ll be instructed to place your face inside the machine and close your eyes due to the flashing light. After we finished, the computer screen showed a 3D scan of my face.
I thoroughly enjoy trying out new Korean skincare products, but I also have extremely sensitive skin. When a product doesn’t work on me, I either get random whiteheads or comedones on my chin and forehead – these are the two areas where I get the most oily.
When I went to Hanok K-Beauty, I had a minor flare-up. The culprit? The Mary & May Blackberry Complex Serum. I learned that serums that are very rich do more harm than good on my skin.
The front-desk associate pointed to the chin and forehead with the cursor. She said: “The oil number in these areas is concerningly high, so I suggest adding the $45 aqua peel. Since it may take several weeks for them to go away, the Aqua Peel machine will suck them up and get rid of them right away.”
I was already going to pay $350, so I hesitated. She said that it was ok, but she brought to my awareness that the results may not be up to par. “Will it get rid of the texture in these areas?” I asked. “Yes,” she said.
So, I bit the bullet and added it.
I gave her a rundown of the products I used. Although my routine was very thorough, she warned me that I was using deeply moisturizing products, so she recommended buying the innisfree Volcanic Foam cleanser. When I told her that I double cleansed my face every day, she suggested to only use the oil cleanser when I’m wearing my tinted SPF or makeup because adding more oil to your skin can exacerbate the oily areas. I’ve never fully agreed with this myth. If you use the right oils, your skin can immensely benefit from them. Some of the products I’ve used in the past that have yielded great results are the Blue Lapis Oil by Herbivore and the Marula oil by Drunk Elephant.
After the analysis, they’ll send you a copy to your email address and usher you back to the lobby. Here’s some information about my skin!
Facial
Here’s what the Glass Skin Facial entails without any add-ons.
X After you change into the wrap, you will be asked to place your feet in a wooden bucket for a few minutes. The warm water is infused with a blend of essential oils and Epsom salt. It’s the perfect way to kick off your 90-minute pampering experience.
X A gentle cleanser, followed by an Enzyme Pure Powder or PHA SoftPeel – depending on your skin type.
X A customized mask or gel mask (depending on your skin’s needs)
X A lovely lymphatic massage on your decolletage, face, scalp and upper back. This was my favorite part!
X Dual Frequency LDM, a cutting-edge machine that uses ultrasound waves to stimulate collagen production, improve the skin’s elasticity, and add more hydration.
X A thick face mask focused on hydration and glow.
X Red Light / NIR + (Near Infrared Therapy), a light that heals and improves the skin’s appearance and elasticity.
X To seal the 10-step skincare routine, the esthetician will apply a lightweight serum.
X Add-on: By using a handheld device, the Aqua Peel softly exfoliates the skin while releasing hyaluronic acid and other particles that stimulate collagen production. The result? Incredibly plump skin with a radiant glow. The Aqua Peel is a non-invasive treatment and is more gentle than microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. I’m partial to microdermabrasion as it penetrates deeper into the epidermis. I had it last year and my skin glowed for almost a week.
If you’re well-versed in Korean skincare, you’ll know that Koreans typically stay away from abrasive exfoliation methods. The Aqua Peel was painless and so relaxing I almost fell asleep.
Throughout the facial, I felt a variety of tools caressing my face at different temperatures. Except for my nostrils, sometimes a thick face mask covered my entire face. It felt slightly claustrophobic, so I made sure to deeply relax into my body by doing breathing exercises.
The background music consisted of mainstream pop songs played on an acoustic instrument. It was so relaxing!
This was the longest facial I’ve had to date, so towards the end, I got slightly fidgety under the sheet, which started to feel a little too warm.
One of the best parts about Hanok K-Beauty was the thorough lymphatic massage on my face, upper chest and biceps. It was so relaxing and my face looked slightly more sculpted afterward. Lymphatic massages are so important to release water retention! Sometimes I do them at home.
After
My skin felt very smooth and hydrated. It shone as bright as a Disco Ball! The Aqua Peel helped smooth the comedones, but it didn’t get rid of them in one fell swoop. You can’t fully appreciate them in the picture.
A week later, I went to my dermatologist and showed her a picture before I went to Hanok Beauty: “Yes, I see pretty much what I see now”. 🙃🙃 She also said that she thought my skin was more on the drier side. It’s important to know that your skin (at least mine) fluctuates constantly depending on temperature and hormones.
Indeed, it took a few weeks for the comedones to completely dissolve. In hindsight, I would have omitted the Aquapeel add-on since I was already going to get a soft exfoliation with the enzyme cleanser in the beginning.
Customer service
If you’re not good at following instructions, brace yourself. When you check in, the front desk associate will give you a rundown of the application. After filling out the plus 10 pages on the tiny iPad, you had to press something for the handwriting pen to show up and sign, which I forgot.
“Yes, you have to switch the keyboard, remember?” said the front-desk associate. Even if she wasn’t being condescending, I’d never address someone that way – and I’ve had plenty of customer service jobs.
Before the skin analysis, you will be asked to remove any makeup or sunscreen. The associate ushered me to the restroom to clean my face and proceeded to point to the cleanser and a basket to dispose of the used towel.
When I had my first Korean facial at the beauty clinic in Koreatown years ago, one of the things that stood out to me was how accommodating and nice they were.
The overall vibe at Hanok K-Beauty was very serious and robotic. I didn’t feel my most comfortable, but rather, I felt like I was in school.
When we did the skin analysis, she recommended the volcanic innisfree Pore Clearing Facial Foam, which was suited for oily skin. Per her recommendation, I bought it the next day at Sephora — but it broke me out. The sensitivity of my skin is no joke! When I returned it, the Sephora salesperson said that I wasn’t supposed to use this cleanser every day because of the active ingredients but according to the associate, this was supposed to be a “gentle” cleanser, safe for everyday use.
Although the estheticians are licensed, Hanok K-Beauty is not a medical spa, so take what the front-desk associate tells you with a grain of salt and do your research.
When I went to the consultation room, I wasn’t offered to leave my stuff at the locker. I had to ask for it. Also when I left, there was no mention of the products that were used throughout my facial, which they had on display behind the front-desk.
On the website, it states that after your facial the experience continues on their Hanok-style patio upon request. Maybe I’m being too nitpicky, but for being such a high-end spa, shouldn’t it be offered afterward? On Yelp, some people have shared their disappointment of not being offered to go into the patio, so they just left after paying.
Overall, don’t expect the customer service to be above and beyond. For the price and prime location, I was expecting the service to be more proactive and not leave it up to the customer to request things.
As far as my esthetician goes, she couldn’t have been any nicer. Her name was Ms. Jungeun. We didn’t talk much but she made me feel very comfortable.
Patio
Do not leave without at least seeing it! After I paid, the front-desk associate gave me the rundown of all the loose-leaf teas. If you want to deepen your Korean experience, traditional gowns are also available to try them on (upon request).
The outdoor patio is an homage to the business name. Hanok are traditional Korean houses, known for their distinct wooden architecture. They did a commendable job translating the essence of these Korean-style houses in the heart of Los Angeles.
It was almost 6pm, so I opted for a decaffeinated option. Once they bring you the tea, you will be instructed to place the leaf-shaped strainer on top of the tiny cup before taking a sip. I loved enjoying my cup of tea while taking in my surroundings. I was very relaxed and drowsy, so instead of going straight to my car, ending this 2-hour experience on the patio was the cherry on top.
Overall thoughts
I loved the facial and sitting on the patio, but the person you’ll be interacting with the most is the front-desk associate, who plays a vital role in the overall experience. I had been looking forward to going to Hanok K-Beauty for a month, but the lack of customer service skills and the hefty price tag didn’t match my expectations.
It’s been almost a month since I had the facial, and the comedones on my chin and forehead areas have successfully dissipated, but I’ve also stopped using the serum that caused me this flare-up. Something that I noticed is that the texture of my skin is a lot softer, almost like a baby’s. That’s the Glass Skin Facial doing its wonders!
When I saw that the Glass Skin Facial was focused on brightening and hydration, I immediately thought “Oh, I can do this at home”. I diligently take care of my skin by cleansing, exfoliating every other day and using my holy-grail moisturizer from Beauty of Joseon. That should do the trick in achieving Glass Skin, right? Yes and no.
There were many tools that were used on this facial that can’t be achieved by using skincare products. Whenever you see a picture of a Korean celebrity, it’s crucial to know that getting a facial treatment in South Korea is like going to the grocery store. Imagine getting a facial once a week! The skincare products are just a drop in the bucket.
Someone on Reddit said: “They get weekly treatments such as laser from their dermatologist on a weekly basis. My friend who is not a celebrity or rich gets this done weekly and she said it is very common in Korea. That is why they have so many beauty clinics.”
As someone who is knee-deep in the K-Beauty rabbit hole, would I recommend getting a Korean Glass facial at Hanok K-Beauty? If you want to experience a facial with luxurious amenities (such as the skin analyzer) and other fancy add-ons to enhance your relaxing experience, then yes! If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a bang for your buck, there are plenty of Korean spas in LA where you can get a Glass Facial starting at $100, and even $50 with Groupon.
If I ever go back to Hanok K-Beauty, it would be for a cutting-edge facial treatment, like the Salmon DNA Facial. Although Korean beauty centers abound in Los Angeles, this specific facial is only offered by a few spas!
Stay tuned for my article, where I’ll take a deep dive into my K-Beauty routine! 🙂
Hanok Beauty: Website and Instagram
Address: 520 S San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
What do you think?