K-Beauty at the Musée Guimet: Korean rituals and cosmetics to discover in Paris this spring

A season in Paris puts Korean beauty in the spotlight. At the Musée Guimet, the K-Beauty exhibition questions rituals and images. Enter a sensitive tale of history, pop and skincare.

K-Beauty, a cross-section of Korean beauty

The tour brings together art, advertising and cosmetic practices. Each room links intimate uses with public spaces. The tone remains precise, without folklore or judgment.

We circulate among paintings, photographs and posters. Dresses and accessories also interact with skincare products. The Musée Guimet links these pieces to specific contexts.

Works, objects and images from everyday life

The subject is based on concrete, dated and situated objects. Advertisements and photo series tell the story of changing standards. Visitors compare yesterday’s gestures with 21st-century codes.
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Beauty tells the story of a society as much as it shapes it”

Dresses and beauty accessories sit alongside bottles and mirrors. However, the display avoids nostalgia and remains didactic. In this context, the Musée Guimet underlines the link between art and industry.

From past to present: practices, standards, influences

The story moves from historical periods to present-day K-pop. It shows how K-Beauty shapes tastes and routines. As a result, industry and media shed light on each other.

• Key points on care rituals.
• Evolution of standards between the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Advertising images and their implicit messages.
• K-pop ‘s role in distribution.
• A place for workshops and everyday objects.

Photographs also show technical and family gestures. The Guimet Museum tour places these gestures in their historical context. In this way, we understand the social roots of care.

Summary labels make it easy to read the works. Chronological markers clarify periods and influences. In short, visitors save time without losing nuance.

Tips for a trouble-free visit

Allow yourself a quiet moment to appreciate the details. That way, you’ll get the most out of the texts and materials. At the Musée Guimet, some rooms invite you to slow down.

Consider alternating immersive rooms with denser showcases. Also, take hydration breaks between two sections. Your attention stays sharp, and reading becomes clearer.

What’s important, beyond trends

Beauty acts as a social and political language, regardless of country or language. Objects thus reveal choices, norms and dreams. The Musée Guimet offers a framework for questioning these values.

The paintings add depth to the stories. And the cosmetics anchor the story in reality. This tension makes the visit lively and concrete.

On the other hand, fascination never replaces analysis. As a result, everyone comes away with useful reference points for everyday life. Thanks to this framework, the Musée Guimet links South Korean style, history and society.

A must-see for the whole family or with friends who are fans of Korea or K-Beauty. This exhibition is quite rare in France, so we recommend you go on a weekend or Wednesday at the quietest time of the day.

• Guimet museum