Everyone Is Obsessed With K-Beauty, but I’m Obsessed With K-Wellness—Korean Wellness Trend and Products 2026

3 min read

As a beauty editor, there’s no topic I get asked about more than K-Beauty. Not only do I have two trips to Seoul under my belt over the last two years, but as I’ve also tested just about every K-Beauty product you can get Stateside (and even those you can’t, courtesy of some hefty Seoul shopping hauls).

On my recent trip to Seoul in January, I went into Olive Young (say it out loud: “all live young”), one of the biggest beauty retailers in Korea, with a plan to go straight to the sheet mask wall and sunscreen section. (These are my two favorite product categories to pick up abroad, since they often differ most from American versions.) But I wound up walking out of the store having spent $400 on a haul that was more wellness products than skincare.

I’m fascinated by the wellness boom in America, but I had no idea that that Korea had a wellness scene to rival it. In fact, the brand has plans to open a dedicated wellness store in Korea, called Olive Wellness, meaning, you guessed it, “all live wellness.” Luckily, you don’t need to buy a plane ticket to Seoul to see the K-wellness offerings for yourself: Olive Young just opened its first two U.S. stores in Los Angeles.

Photo courtesy of Katie Intner

Photo courtesy of Katie Intner

Imagine if your local GNC wellness store got a chic, aesthetic upgrade—that’s the wellness section of Olive Young. The walls are broken down into sections and ingredient stories such as vegetable supplements, ingredients like milk thistle and green tea, and even after-meal aids like teas and jelly sticks that help aid digestion.

There’s also a whole food and beverage section, and I am here to report that the protein craze is just as prevalent in Korea. I picked up a bevy of protein chips and candy-style protein bars that are not only high in protein but also low in sugar, with clean, non-filler ingredients. One of the standout items from my haul was a shake packet that turns into a protein drink when mixed with water and come in delicious flavors like cookies and cream, pistachio, and chocolate hazelnut. And the selection of nostalgic snacks at Olive Young is endless—from garlic butter bagel chips to croissant-flavored chips.

There’s no shortage of fancy beverages, from matcha to kombucha to apple cider vinegar shots and vitamin elixirs—both in liquid and powdered forms. As an avid tea drinker, I was in heaven once I discovered the options for steeping. I picked up unique teas like pumpkin, designed to help with bloating, and red bean, which also helps with water retention and digestion.

While supplements in America can be confusing, the supplement aisle at Olive Young was intuitive and took a user-friendly approach to wellness and beauty. Olive oil shots have been popularized as of late for a number of health benefits, but aren’t exactly easy to travel with. Olive Young has olive oil capsules that are perfect for life on the go. The same goes for collagen, which comes in capsules, individual powder sachets, and mini shots.

Unlike your standard American grocery or supplement store, the entire Olive Young store has the feel of a fun, bright (yet super luxe) candy store, but with all the health benefits and zero sugar crash or confusion. I’ve run through most of my haul, so next time I’m in L.A., I will be stopping at one of the locations stores to restock. Between Olive Young and Erewhon, L.A. may just be my new wellness heaven.

My Wellness Shopping Haul from Olive YoungSleeping Bottle [Sleeplus×Kakao Friends] Sleeping BottleCredit: us.oliveyoung.comOLLOCDAM Olive3 Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil CapsulesNOTHING BETTER Luv Tea Pumpkin TeaCredit: us.oliveyoung.comOsulloc Volcanic Isle Matcha (ceremonial)

Now 30% Off

Credit: us.oliveyoung.comTEA;treat Lightwell Prebiotic Stick PowderCredit: us.oliveyoung.comDELIGHT PROJECT Black Sesame Seed & Injeolmi Protein Shake

Now 10% Off

Credit: us.oliveyoung.comDELIGHT PROJECT Soybean Mayo Crispy Lotus Root Chip

Now 17% Off

Credit: us.oliveyoung.comfromeat Protein Chips Consomme Flavor

Now 50% Off

VITALBEAUTIE Super RetinolCredit: us.oliveyoung.comLIVELING Apple Cider Vinegar Cleanses Lemon FlavorNongshim Ppang Bujang Chocolate Roll SnackCredit: us.oliveyoung.comSohwi Sohwi Steady Booster Apple Cider Prune GummiesCredit: us.oliveyoung.com