Korean Beauty Secret: Jimjilbang

posted in Skin & Body Tips on 3/2/2016

On a trip to Korea last summer, my friend introduced me to a place that ruined my standard for relaxation forever.

Imagine a multi-story building entirely dedicated to beauty and skincare, with levels of nothing but food, hot whirlpools, wet and dry saunas, resting rooms, massages, and scrubs.

That layer cake of decadence is the jimjilbang, a combo bathhouse/hotel/restaurant/heaven.

You shower first, and then alternate between hot and cold pools to regulate heart rate and detox skin.

You can also hop into both dry and steam saunas, further driving toxins out of your body and relaxing tired muscles.

You can (and should) get a scrub after soaking. While a full-body scrub may sound relaxing, the experience is more... invigorating. The ladies who work there don't pull any punches, and do a thorough, borderline painful scrub. However, it gives you the softest skin you've had since you were a baby.

The best/grossest part of the scrub is seeing the gray worms of dead skin that come off during the scrub. While you might not be able to hop on the next plane and fly to a jimjilbang, a whole bevy of skincare products can imitate the dead skin rolling away: Cure gel, Amore Pacific enzyme peel, etc... but my favorite are the Aqua Reveal series - they are gentle even on irritated skin, and still give you the amazing smoothness of a scrub.

Products In This Tip

Satin Bright Soft Water Peel for Face

This amazing lightweight water-based gel utilizes SMART EXFOLIATION™ technology to provide adjustable exfoliation from light to deep while not drying out skin. Specially formulated with Hyaluronic Acid and nourishing botanicals to maintain skin's natural moisture levels while effectively and visibly sweeping away dead skin cells.

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Smooth Talker Water Peel for Lips

Smooth Talker™ Water Peel for Lips is the first lip exfoliator with NO harsh scrub particles, acids, or enzymes. It gently but effectively smooths rough and flaky skin to reveal incredibly soft and silky lips.

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Gentle Action Water Peel for Body

Regular exfoliation is vital to maintaining healthy, clear, and youthful looking skin, not only for the face but for the body too! This water-based gel contains no acids, scrubs or enzymes, and gently removes dead skin from body areas that require extra exfoliation. Utilizing SMART EXFOLIATION™ technology, you can adjust the level of exfoliation you need, from light to deep.

Learn More