Suitcase Series: Lauren Lee, Founder of Jelly Ko

This week we caught up with Lauren Lee the woman behind the K-beauty brand Jelly Ko, to find out what she never travels without, her packing tips, and what her most memorable trip has been so far…

Corporate litigator turned entrepreneur; Lauren Lee traded her life as a lawyer in Brisbane to share Korea’s best skincare secrets with the world. After discovering K-Beauty products by chance on an exchange to Korea’s Yonsei University in 2011, Lauren started a side hustle selling K-Beauty brands in Australia.

Demand for these K-Beauty products boomed, and in 2014 Lauren started Style Story – Australia’s First e-commerce Korean Beauty platform. As STYLE STORY continued to flourish, Lauren packed up and moved to Seoul, devoting her time to bringing the best in K-Beauty to Australia. After a decade in the industry, Lauren began Jelly Ko, a fun, functional K-Beauty brand of her own. 

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In this week’s Suitcase Series, equipped with Subi Brightening Powder Cleanser ($52 AUD) we take a sneak peek into Lauren’s travel psyche…

What’s been your most memorable trip, and why?

My most memorable trip was to Singapore in 2008 as an exchange student at the National University of Singapore. It was my first time living on campus at uni and I had the time of my life eating, having fun and exploring southeast Asia with students from all over the world. 

What’s your favourite ever hotel?

The Ritz Carlton, Hong Kong. Everything from the service, the rooms, the Ozone bar (one of the highest in the world) and the views of the city are simply unparalleled. It’s a destination in and of itself. 

Where or what is your escape?

Living in a city like Seoul, when it comes time to escape I want to be as far away from people as possible. I like heading to the mountains. Gangwon Province in Korea is particularly beautiful and there’s something about being surrounded by trees and nature that really helps me to disconnect and feel at peace. 

If you could go anywhere tomorrow, it would be…

To Naples, Italy. I did a year of school there as a teenager and go back as often as I can to visit my host family. I’m always planning my next trip back because it feels like home to me. 

What’s your idea of a luxury wellness holiday?

A quick getaway to Thailand dedicated solely to good food, massages and day spas. Thai hospitality is perfect for a wellness retreat. 

My top bucket-list destination is…

Capri. There’s something about the mix of southern Italian food, the dramatic coastline, luxury hotels and shopping – all on one tiny island – that makes it the ultimate bucket list destination! 

If you could sit next to anyone – dead or alive – on a long-haul flight, who would it be?

Right now I would have to say my best friend. We’ve lived apart in different countries for the last 7 years and I’d love nothing better than to be stuck with her on a long-haul flight so we could catch up on everything uninterrupted. 

What is your jet-lag recovery tip?

The quickest way I’ve found to get over jet-lag is to avoid checking my phone when I wake up in the middle of the night. As long as I don’t know what time it is, I’m much better at getting back to sleep. Otherwise, I start stressing about the fact that it’s 2 AM and I’m still awake. I’ve shared that with a couple of friends who reckon it’s done the trick for them! 

Jelly Ko Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask

RRP:$64.00

What is your suitcase stalwart?

Soft luggage all the way; preferably something with an extra zip extension on it. I find it’s always handy to have a cheeky bit of space at the end of the trip, be it for an extra purchase or because I forgot to pack something that I discover on my way out the door. 

What is your number one packing tip?

Remove any “what-if” and “rainy day” things after your first pack. You never end up needing as much stuff as you think and it’s always the trips when you pack the most stuff that you inevitably end up needing to lug things up flights of stairs or miss a connecting flight.  

I never travel without…

My laptop for work and a good overnight sleeping mask. 

Jelly Ko Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask ($64.00) is an absolute lifesaver for faking a good night’s sleep when I haven’t had any. 

In my beauty/toiletry bag I always bring…

My usual skincare routine, but re-packed into mini jars and bottles. 

I have extremely sensitive skin so I can’t risk using new products that I haven’t thoroughly vetted while I’m away. Rather than packing the full-size bottles and jars though, I just decant what I need into mini tubes and containers. 

Jelly Ko Bubble Tea Steam Cream ($48.00) is my go-to moisturiser to use in-flight to combat dry cabin air and arrive at my destination with dewy skin. 

I always take a powder cleanser like Subi Brightening Powder Cleanser ($52.00) as my cleanser as well, to avoid spills and leaks in my travel bag. Plus, because it’s waterless I don’t need to worry about the in-cabin restrictions on liquids either. 

For more information visit https://jellyko.com.au