The Beauty Treatments Kim Kardashian Got on Her Korean Trip

Kim Kardashian’s life is anything but private. Between school drop-offs, birthdays and family vacations, life in the Kardashian sphere is a constant flicker of flashbulbs and iPhone cameras. But her recent girls’ trip to South Korea was more discreet. Aside from a micro-campaign starring the entrepreneur’s close girlfriends and the new Skim’s Face Wrap, the nature of the trip was unknown at first. Fans didn’t have to wait too long to find out, though. True to Kim, the details were revealed in a follow-up photo dump showing a carousel of beauty treatments, bites and moments shared on her private jet. The caption was a simple hashtag that read “things we do” paired with the South Korean flag emoji. However, the emptiness underneath the 18-slide post has generated more than a little buzz in the beauty community.

South Korea is a known leader in global skin-care trends. Viral serums, unique skin-care routines and a variety of face masks have made K-beauty a mainstream commodity. But while most of us are discovering the benefits of these products, influencers and celebrities like Kim Kardashian are making it a point to experience the intriguing and innovative cosmetic treatments found only in the country’s clinics and spas. Kim’s journey for youthful skin is no secret. It’s clear from one of the photos that Kim’s spa day took place at the Hoan Clinic in Seoul. While she’s remained tight-lipped about the treatments and/or procedures she had on her trip, the internet is swirling with speculation. Ahead, we tapped two dermatologists to weigh in on what they think Kim tried.

Featured experts

• Jennifer Segal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Houston, Texas
• Richard Bottiglione, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Phoenix, Arizona

Clay Facial

Kim’s photos leave a lot to the imagination. However, according to Phoenix, Arizona dermatologist Richard Bottiglione, MD, it appears that she is receiving a series of facial treatments using a foam cleanser and a clay-based mask. Hoan is a clinic known for its private atmosphere and strong focus on slow-aging and non-invasive treatments. Kim’s photos of her face with puffs of foam scattered across it and a clay mask being slathered on seem to be some of those slow-aging treatments. As Dr. Bottiglione mentions, these treatments likely offer a slight improvement in the appearance of the skin but very little long-term results.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment

“While the facial treatments have some ambiguity to them, the photo showing a syringe in Kim’s arm is a clear depiction of a platelet treatment. The last photo in the carousel shows swelling and some pinpoint bleeding suggests a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) microneedling treatment,” says Houston, Texas dermatologist Jennifer Segal, MD. PRP treatments use a patient’s own platelets to promote skin rejuvenation and hair growth. For the treatment, a small portion of blood is drawn and spun down to concentrate the platelets before being injected into the desired areas of the skin. PRF is a treatment that uses a similar method but contains high concentrations of white blood cells, fibrin and a small amount of stem cells.

Given that Kim is in Korea, it’s a good guess that she may have been partaking in a PRF treatment, since stem cell treatments are more common in the Southeast Asian country. Both treatments are popular for boosting the physical appearance of the skin and have several internal benefits. With the post-procedure edema, which, Dr. Segal notes, can give the skin a visible glow “There is some stimulation of collagen and elastin with the trauma of the microneedling,” she says. But there is downtime to consider. “PRP/PRF microneedling is considered to be invasive due to the fluid exchange and risk of blood-borne pathogens,” notes Dr. Segal.

Internet Controversy

Per usual, Kim’s girls’ trip has stirred up some controversy. But the treatments, though intriguing, aren’t at the center. Instead, the conversation has turned back to Skims’ Face Wrap, a sleek version of problematic jaw and chin straps that took over TikTok. The Skims version was launched one month ago, with claims to offer jaw support when worn daily or while you sleep, thanks to a sculpting fabric infused with collagen yarns. The product has sparked a sphere of controversy on its own, but Kim’s trip has added fuel to the flames. The big question: If Skims Face Wrap is supposed to be the “must-have addition to your nightly routine” for skin tightening and jaw shaping, why go to Seoul for treatments? While we can’t dive into Kim’s mind to find out, the internet will continue to speculate.