The day after Christmas, my mom and I set out for a memorable day in Seongsu (The “Brooklyn” of Seoul), a trendy neighborhood in Seoul known for its unique cafes, indie stores, and beauty shops. After a light breakfast, we hopped on the train and made our way across town with a full day planned.
TirTir Store Visit – The Viral Cushion Match!
Our first stop was the standalone TirTir store and cafe in Seongsu. There’s also a TirTir location in Hongdae, but we chose Seongsu since my mom prefers quieter spots and we hadn’t made a reservation for the TirTir pop-up at the time.
- Seongsu [Naver Map] Location: TirTir Seongsu
- Hongdae [Naver Map] Location: TirTir Hongdae
- Website: TirTir Official Website
I wanted my mom to experience the viral TirTir cushion foundation that’s been making waves on social media. Since she has a slightly deeper complexion than typical Korean makeup shades, I was determined to find her the perfect match—and we did! The cushion left her looking radiant and flawless.
Brunch at Maple Top Cafe
Next, we walked to Maple Top for a proper brunch. My mom ordered the chicken sandwich, while I went for their chicken and waffles. While the food was good, it wasn’t quite our favorite. Honestly, I prefer The Original Pancake House in Seoul for a classic brunch.
- Maple Top [Naver Map] Seongsu: Maple Top
- The Original [Naver Map] Pancake House: The Original Pancake House
Olive Young – A Skincare Lover’s Dream
After brunch, we made our way to Olive Young, Korea’s ultimate beauty and skincare destination. My mom wanted to refresh her entire skincare routine, and we definitely did some damage to our wallets here! I helped her pick out a full skincare regimen, while I grabbed a few personal favorites for myself.
- Olive Young Seongsu: Olive Young Store Locator
FWEE Store – The Cutest Viral K-Beauty Brand
We couldn’t miss visiting the FWEE Store, famous for its adorable packaging and trending K-Beauty products. My mom even grabbed one of their cute keychains with a perfect shade for her. I had no idea she enjoyed fun beauty finds as much as I did—it was such a sweet discovery!
- FWEE Store Seongsu: FWEE Official Website
Grandpa Factory Cafe – Art, Coffee & Tire Sculptures
We wrapped up our day at the Grandpa Factory Cafe, a popular spot in Seongsu with a stunning industrial vibe and delicious coffee. My mom especially loved the cozy atmosphere and the warthog (that’s what it looks like to me but it might be a “mutant”) tire sculpture made by renowned Korean artist Ji Yong Ho.
- Grandpa Factory Cafe: Grandpa Factory Cafe
- Ji Yong Ho’s Art: Ji Yong Ho Art Profile
Heading Home – An Unexpected Detour
After our cozy cafe experience, we began heading home. However, my mom asked me to help set something up on her phone, and I got so distracted that we missed our stop! We ended up halfway across town on the south side of the river before I realized it. Since it was rush hour, taking a taxi wasn’t ideal, so we hopped back on the train, laughing at our little adventure.
Cozy Dinner at Home – Ramen & KFC
Once home, we made a cozy dinner featuring Samyang’s Mashitneun Ramyeon (Vegetasty in the States). We customized it with bok choy, eggs, and green onions for extra comfort. To balance it out, we enjoyed a fresh salad and some leftover KFC from the night before.
Organizing Mom’s New Skincare
Before bed, I helped my mom organize all her new skincare products from Olive Young. I even labeled them with instructions and numbers so she could easily follow her routine when she returned home. I also gifted her a few full-sized products from my own collection that I knew I wouldn’t get around to using. Leave a comment if you want to know what we bought!
Final Thoughts
Day 4 was filled with beauty, art, and lots of laughter—even with our little train detour! Stay tuned for Day 5, where we explore even more of Seoul together. If you’re curious about the TirTir cushion, FWEE products, or Ji Yong Ho’s art, drop a comment below!
Seongsu cafes | Grandpa Factory Cafe | Ji Yong Ho art | K-Beauty shopping Seoul | Olive Young skincare haul | TirTir cushion review | FWEE beauty store | Korean brunch spots | Best shopping in Seoul | Visiting Seongsu | Christmas in Korea | Korean art | Sustainable art sculptures | Seoul travel tips | South Korea travel blog
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Melody of Her Seoul 