Until a few years ago, if you were planning K-beauty shopping in Korea, Olive Young was probably the first place that came to mind. Lately, that’s shifted.
With more international visitors coming to Korea, Daiso has become a new beauty shopping destination, and large dedicated beauty sections have opened up in Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu, and even a new flagship store on Gangnam’s Garosu-gil.
The reason is simple: you can get brand-collaboration products for under ₩5,000 — a price point that feels almost unbelievable. This post rounds up 8 of the most popular Daiso beauty items tourists are actually buying, along with the brand story behind each one.
1. Dinto Nostalgia Eye Palette — A Literary, Vegan-Friendly Palette
This is the flagship product from Dinto, a vegan beauty brand that created this line exclusively for Daiso. Soft mattes, subtle matte pearls, and vibrant glitter shadows all come together in one palette, and each shade is named after a novelist, giving the whole thing a literary, layered mood.
The shadows build up like a watercolor wash, so the palette can double as blush and eyeliner shading, not just eyeshadow. It’s popular even among more experienced makeup users who enjoy mixing and layering different shades.
2. thebom Skinny Brow Pencil — Foolproof Brows for Beginners
This brow pencil comes from thebom, one of Daiso’s go-to budget-friendly makeup lines. The tip is thin and precise, which lets even complete beginners draw brows one hair at a time for a natural look.
It holds up well throughout the day and doesn’t smudge easily, making it a favorite for everyday brow routines. For travelers trying to pack light, this is also a great pick — small, low-risk, and hard to mess up.
3. Play 101 Coloring Gloss — Etude’s Heritage Line, Reborn at Daiso
This lip gloss is a Daiso version of “Play 101,” one of Etude’s most iconic heritage lines. It’s not sticky at all, delivering a clear, glossy finish that sits smoothly on the lips while adding a fresh, natural pop of color.
The result is a lip look that’s both moisturizing and subtly voluminous — a good fit for travelers who want a hint of color rather than a bold statement lip. Since it comes in multiple shades, grabbing a few to rotate through your trip is a nice option too.
4. TAG Multi Contour Stick — Natural Definition From Too Cool For School
This contour stick comes from TAG, a brand born from a collaboration between Daiso and the well-known color cosmetics brand Too Cool For School. It’s a stick-format product that’s easy to swipe on and blend with your fingers or a puff, even if you’ve never tried contouring before.
The shading color is carefully toned down to avoid any reddish undertone, giving your nose bridge and jawline defined but natural-looking dimension. It’s a great option for travelers who want more shape to their face without going for a heavy, full-glam look.
5. TAG Cushion Foundation — The Budget Cushion That Sold Out Everywhere
Also from the TAG line, backed by Too Cool For School’s formulation expertise, this cushion foundation is Daiso’s most famous sell-out sensation in the beauty section. It applies thin and light while still covering imperfections naturally, leaving skin looking clean and shine-free.
It comes in both a velvet (matte) finish and a glow finish, so you can choose based on your skin type or the finish you prefer. Because it’s this popular, it’s often out of stock — restocks tend to happen in the morning, so if you’re determined to get one, an early visit is your best bet.
3 More Popular Daiso Beauty Items
Beyond the five above, a few other items keep coming up repeatedly among international visitors — proof that Daiso’s beauty appeal isn’t limited to makeup. Skincare has become a real strength too.
VT PDRN Reedle Shot — Daiso’s Hardest-to-Find Ampoule
VT Cosmetics’ microneedle-style ampoule, the “Reedle Shot,” is currently considered the single hardest skincare item to find on Daiso shelves. It absorbs quickly while delivering both firmness and glow, and it sells out so consistently that the general advice is simple: if you see it, buy it on the spot.
Madeca Medi Patch — A Spot Patch for Blemish Care
This spot patch, formulated with centella asiatica (madecassoside), is designed to be applied directly over a blemish to block outside irritation and support skin recovery. It’s small and affordable enough to keep as a little travel-size skincare emergency kit, useful if a breakout shows up mid-trip.
Capsule Pack (Skin Pack) — A Post-Cleansing Habit That’s New to Many Visitors
Using a “skin pack” right after cleansing is a familiar step in Korean skincare, but it’s still a fairly unfamiliar concept for many visitors from abroad. These come individually packaged for single use, which makes them hygienic and easy to pack — a good, low-commitment way to try a Korean skincare habit for the first time.
Tips for an Easier Daiso Beauty Shopping Trip
- Head for the large flagship stores: Locations like Myeongdong Station, Hongdae, Seongsu, and the new flagship on Gangnam’s Garosu-gil have bigger beauty sections with far more variety.
- Self-checkout supports English: Most stores use self-checkout kiosks, and you can switch the screen language to English without any trouble.
- Foreign cards and cash both work: International credit cards are generally accepted without issue, and staff are happy to help if you’re paying in cash.
- Purchases over ₩15,000 qualify for a tax refund: This applies at Daiso too — if your total on one receipt crosses ₩15,000, it’s worth checking. (Not sure how much you’d get back? Check our Tax Refund Calculator for an instant estimate.)
- Morning visits improve your odds on popular items: For anything that sells out quickly, an early-morning trip lines up better with restock timing.
Checklist: Before Your Daiso Beauty Shopping Trip
- Look up large flagship store locations in Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu, and Garosu-gil ahead of time
- Remember self-checkout kiosks support English
- Save receipts over ₩15,000 for a tax refund
- Consider a morning visit for hard-to-find items like the TAG Cushion or VT Reedle Shot
- For makeup, check Dinto, thebom, Play 101, and TAG; for skincare, check the Reedle Shot, Madeca patch, and capsule pack
- For gifts, also consider hand cream or sheet masks — items less dependent on skin type than color cosmetics
– Daiso Myeongdong Station Branch: 134-1 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
– Daiso Sinsa Garosu-gil Branch: 25 Garosu-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
– Daiso Hongik Univ. Station Branch: 25 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
– Daiso Seongsu 2-ga Branch: 106 Seongdeokjeong-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
