The CHOMI Journal

Stories of Korean beauty

Routines, ingredients and Korean culture, written for you, from Seoul to Riyadh.

Featured storyKorean culture

初美, "the beginning of beauty": the story of the name CHOMI

Our name is two syllables with Korean roots: 初 (cho), the beginning, and 美 (mi), beauty. Here's what each one means, where you'll meet them in Korean, and what the name stands for.

22 October 20265 min read

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Routines6 min read

Glass skin: what it really is, and how to get closer to it

The famous Korean glow isn't a filter or a single product. It's hydration in thin layers, a calm barrier and daily sunscreen. Here's the method, step by step.

Korean culture7 min read

Jjimjilbang: inside the Korean bathhouse, and a gentle body ritual for home

Heated rooms, matching outfits, sweet rice drinks and a famously thorough scrub. Here's how the Korean bathhouse works, and how to bring its body-care ritual home, gently.

Guides6 min read

Korean sunscreen in the Saudi sun: how to choose it, and how to wear it

SPF, PA++++, two fingers, every two hours: what sunscreen labels really mean, how much to apply, and how to stay protected under a sun as strong as ours.

Korean culture6 min read

The Korean art of gifting: how to choose a K-beauty gift for the women you love

In Korea, a gift is chosen with care, wrapped beautifully and handed over with both hands. Here's what that tradition can teach us, plus a simple guide to K-beauty gifts for Eid, birthdays and every happy occasion in between.

Routines7 min read

The famous 10-step Korean routine: do you actually need all 10?

Ten steps sounds like a lot, and it is. Here's what each one does, the logic behind the order, and how to build a routine that fits your skin and your mornings.

Korean culture7 min read

Effortless on purpose: the Korean makeup look, and how to make it last in Saudi heat

Soft brows, a skin-like base, a flush of blush and a blurred lip: Korean makeup looks effortless, but there's a method to it. Here it is, adapted for our heat.

Ingredients7 min read

Hanbang: the traditional Korean ingredients in your modern routine

Ginseng, rice, green tea, mugwort, centella, honey and propolis: what Korean tradition valued them for, what they do in skincare today, and how to choose the right one for your skin.

Routines6 min read

Skin through the seasons: the Korean way, adapted for the Saudi year

In Korea, skincare changes with the seasons, from dust-day double cleansing to richer winter creams. Here's how it works, and a simple swap list for the Saudi year.

Korean culture7 min read

A K-beauty dictionary: 12 Korean words every skincare lover should know

The Korean words for skin say a lot about how Koreans care for it: gently, every day, with healthy bare skin as the goal. Here are twelve worth learning.

Routines6 min read

The five-minute Korean routine: for busy mornings and tired nights

Between work, studies and children, who has time for ten steps? Korean skincare has a fast lane too: three steps in the morning, three at night and one small weekly ritual.

Guides7 min read

How to read a Korean skincare label

The ingredient list, the dates, the little open-jar symbol and the functional cosmetics mark: a handful of Korean words that tell you what's inside, how long it lasts and what to check before you open it.

Travel6 min read

Seoul for beauty lovers: where to start

A first beauty trip to Seoul can feel overwhelming. Start with a few well-known neighborhoods, one big beauty chain and some simple shopping habits, and leave room to wander.