u/Jazzlike-Border2815

I went through a whole phase of not knowing what toner to use — everyone kept recommending something different and it got overwhelming. But this one kept coming up over and over, so I finally caved and tried it, and yeah, it's actually good.

Texture: Fully water-based — genuinely watery, almost like mineral water. Not viscous at all. I use it with a cotton pad rather than patting it in with hands — soak the pad generously and sweep it over your face, feels like it picks up leftover residue/dead skin along with delivering the product.

What it's actually doing: It's marketed as a gentle exfoliating toner, but don't expect an acid-toner tingle or visible peeling — it's way more subtle than that. From what I can tell it's more about clearing away dead skin cells and excess oil in a gentle way, plus hydrating (they push the whole "deep sea water" angle pretty hard on the packaging). So think "gentle daily resurfacing + hydration" rather than an actual chemical exfoliant.

How it feels on skin: Absorbs almost instantly, zero stickiness, no fragrance to speak of. On my combination/occasionally sensitive skin it hasn't caused any redness or breakouts, and it helps prep skin so the next steps (serum, moisturizer) sink in better. I've also used it as a soaking pad/mask on dry patches for 5-10 min and it does calm things down.

Downsides: Because it's so watery, you'll go through it fast with a cotton pad — worth getting the bigger size if that's your method. Also, it's a fan favorite for sensitive/acne-prone skin, but a handful of people do report irritation, so patch test if you're very reactive.

Verdict: Understand the hype now — solid, low-frills hydrating toner that doubles as a gentle resurfacer without being an actual acid exfoliant. Won't replace your BHA if you need real exfoliation, but great as a daily comfort step.

Anyone else here using this one? Or if you've got a toner you like even better, drop a rec — always open to trying something new.

I did not receive any discount/incentive for this review.

Hey guys, just wanted to drop a quick review of Aya Seoul since I got both my brows and lips done there recently. I spent literal weeks searching on Google trying to find a good spot because I was absolutely terrified of ending up with those blocky angry bird brows or looking like a clown. I eventually stumbled onto Aya Seoul on Google Maps and saw a ton of really detailed reviews from other foreigners and expats who went there. Seeing so many people in the same boat as me loving their results was what finally made me decide to just go for it and book.

Booking was super easy through Instagram DM. They speak basic English which was totally fine for the most part, and for the more complicated details or technical stuff, they just used a translator app to explain everything perfectly. Honestly, it was a huge relief since my Korean is pretty much non-existent and they were so patient with it. The studio is located in Gangnam and it's just a short walk from the subway station. It’s super clean and aesthetic, and the vibe immediately put me at ease. Also, I know some places in Gangnam can be kinda sketchy and try to overcharge or rip off tourists, but there was absolutely none of that "foreigner tax" nonsense here. The pricing was completely transparent and fair which I really appreciated.

Before starting any of the actual procedures, they sat down with me to ask exactly what kind of style I was going for and meticulously double-checked every single detail to make sure we were on the same page. For the microblading, I wanted something super natural just to fill in my sparse areas rather than a heavy makeup look. The artist spent a solid 20 to 30 minutes just mapping out my brows and checking the symmetry with my bone structure. She didn't rush at all and kept asking for my feedback until it was perfect. Pain-wise, it was honestly a 2/10. Whatever numbing cream they use is magic, I mostly just felt a light scratching sensation and honestly almost fell asleep at one point. She did a mix of hair strokes and light shading, and they turned out so realistic. My friends couldn't even tell it was a tattoo, they just thought I grew better brows overnight.

I was way more nervous about the lip blushing because I’ve heard lip tattoos can hurt like crazy. I brought in a photo of my favorite everyday lip tint for color reference, which is just a soft "my lips but better" rosy pink. It definitely stung a bit more than the brows, especially around the cupid's bow, so maybe a 4/10? But they reapply numbing gel throughout the process so it’s totally bearable. Right after, my lips looked like I got a fresh plump filler and the color was super bright, but they warn you about this so I didn't panic.

They gave me a little aftercare kit with ointment and clear instructions. My brows flaked a tiny bit around day 4 to 6 but didn't get crazy itchy. The lips peeled like crazy around day 3 (literally looked like I was shedding skin lol), but by day 5 the peeling stopped and revealed the prettiest, most natural flush of color.

It’s been about a month now and I am completely obsessed. My morning routine is literally just sunscreen and clear lip balm now. If you're traveling to Seoul or living here and want to get your brows or lips done, I highly recommend them. All those good Google reviews were definitely right. They actually customize the shape to your face instead of giving everyone the exact same copy-paste look. Let me know if you guys have any questions about the healing or the process!

I did NOT receive any discount/incentive for this review.

ok so normally i only ever get my skin stuff done in seoul, gangnam mostly, never really thought about doing it anywhere else. but i was in busan for a few days last month and my face was looking kinda tired/saggy in pics and i got into one of those moods where you just want to fix it lol. ended up googling derms around seomyeon and Celita kept popping up with okay reviews so i booked a consult not really expecting anything.

the place is actually really pretty inside? i kinda expected the usual factory setup where they just cycle you through but it wasn't like that, felt calm and private and i wasn't sitting in a waiting room with 15 other people.

the doctor speaks english which was the main thing for me bc my korean is nowhere near good enough to follow anything medical. he's also good looking which is not relevant but i'm just saying. anyway the consult didn't feel rushed at all, he actually looked at my skin and was realistic about what ulthera would and wouldn't do for me, and didn't try to upsell me into a hundred other things which i half expected going in. zero pressure, just told me what he'd recommend and let me decide.

got it done on my lower face/jaw which is what i usually do. hurt about the same as it always does (if you've done ulthera you know), nothing they didn't warn me about beforehand. the aftercare honestly stood out the most, they walked me through what to expect over the next few weeks and actually checked in after, which doesn't always happen at the places i've been to in seoul.

and the price, even with my discount factored out it felt cheaper than what i normally pay in gangnam for what seemed like the same machine and the same amount of lines. idk if that's just a busan thing or this clinic specifically but i wasn't complaining.

anyway would i go back, yeah 100% if i'm in busan again. can answer stuff if anyone's thinking about going outside seoul for treatments.