Experiencing Sulwhasoo’s holistic wellness programs
If you are a skincare enthusiast, there are a handful of must-see beauty shops to hit up when visiting Seoul. The Sulwhasoo Flagship Store is one you won’t want to miss. This high-end Korean skincare brand opened its luxurious flagship store three years ago for visitors to learn and experience Sulwhasoo’s brand philosophy. A great way to experience the Sulwhasoo brand is by signing up for their experiential activities! I signed up for their Holistic Tea Class where I learned all about the benefits of tea.
Sulwhasoo Holistic Tea Class
Many of Sulhwasoo’s experiential programs center around holistic health and wellness. I was easily able to make a reservation on Sulhwasoo’s English website for their Holistic Tea Class. Upon arrival, I was greeted by friendly English-speaking staff and led to a room prepared with various teas. The ambiance was very calming and fitting for a tea class.
A Sulwhasoo tea expert then explained how to properly brew tea as well as the health benefits of each tea. I was able to sample Sejak Green Tea, Samdayeon Jeju Tangerine Blended Tea, Red Ginseng Blended Tea, and Plum Blossom Herb Tea.
Some things I learned:
- It’s not good to brew green tea for too long as it will get too bitter
- Tea cup should be warmed up with hot water for optimal tea brewing temperature
- Ginseng tea is good for the immune system
- Tangerine tea is helpful to drink after eating a heavy or oily meal
At the end, I chose my favorite tea (Red Ginseng!) and they made a big to-go cup of it for us to drink while we browsed the Sulwhasoo shop on the lower floor.
Sulwhasoo Flagship Store
The second floor of the flagship store has all of Sulwhasoo products on display for visitors to test and buy. To see the beautiful interior alone is worth a visit! Sophisticated and luxurious are two words that come to mind with all the gold fixtures and marble display tables.
In another room, I checked out the small exhibition on the rich history of Sulwhasoo and how they developed their products using ginseng as early as the 1960s.
The Sulwhasoo Experience: Holistic Beauty
Sulwhasoo did a great job in designing their experiential programs to reflect the values of East Asian holistic beauty, wellness, and harmony. All five senses are engaged through programs such as Holistic Ginseng & Jade Touch, Golden Eye Touch, Scent Touch, and Tea Class.
Sulwhasoo’s portrayal of beauty as holistic — encompassing of all five senses, plus the mind — conceptualizes skincare more as a philosophy, rather than just a beauty routine or a trend. This is what made the visit worth it (aside from the free samples, free tea, and awe-inducing decor, of course)!
