Amore – San Diego

Lemme preface this review by telling you what kinda person I am. I use Cetaphil that I buy in bulk at Costco. I use Oil of Olay lotion day and night. I love me some Sephora, but rely heavily on friends to tell me what brands are the good ones. I’m a little clueless about the daunting world of Korean skincare. Although I’m Korean myself, I defer to ‘best of’ Buzzfeed posts to school me on Korean makeup and skincare to buy (much to my own mother’s horror and shame). So, when I stopped by Amore, I needed a guide. Someone to show me the way. To keeping my skin looking youthful (until I’m about 80, when every Asian inevitably begins to look 100).
Enter Peggy into my life (insert heavenly spotlight). I was lost. But now, she found me… a better way to care for my skin!
I basically verbal diarreah’d on her, after entering her shop. I told her what I hated (BB cream), and told her my skin type (normal to oily). I told her my current skincare routine, what I was hoping to achieve, and that I needed her help. She listened intently, then educated me on the various types of creams and lotions. Unlike other Korean makeup folks, she was never pushy. She never asked me if I was married. Or my blood type. Or judged me for being lazy with my skin. And yes, that has happened to me at other stores. True story, bro.
I ultimately landed on an anti-​aging set of lotions, which she said should last approximately 4 to 6 months. I aint gonna lie — it’s a little pricey, but your face is your money shot and I’m a firm believer in investing in your skin. As long as you understand what you’re investing in.
So, if you’re like me and need someone to help you navigate through the world of Korean eternal youth, go see Peggy! I will be back in about 4 months to seek her help.

Peggy is so nice and attentive, she doesn’t pressure you like a lot of other Korean cosmetic stores do and the facemasks I bought from her are very reasonably priced. I would recommend this store to a friend.

Korean beauty treatments have had so much positive response… but they are so hard to find! I was super excited to see Amore carried a number of the products I have been dying to try. I stocked up on a variety of masks (ranging $ 1.50 — $ 5.00, such a deal!) and was hoping to buy some hydrating spray (unfortunately they were out of stock). Additionally, the woman working there was super helpful in providing information on how the masks worked and what other beauty treatments I may want to try. She even gave me some samples to test out over a couple of weeks. I recently started my new regimen (a couple of masks a week and serum/​moisturizer each night). Today someone told me I look like I am GLOWING! YAY! This new Mom is thrilled! I’ll definitely be going back to Amore and although it is pricey for some of the products they offer… I’d say they are totally worth it!

The lady who worked there was very cheerful and helpful. She had a good attitude and provided so many free samples :)

I was pretty happy to find out that there was an Amore in San Diego! Amore holds brands such as Laneige, Ariatum, and IOPE.
I had called ahead of time to see if they had a specific product in stock. The employee that answered was so incredibly nice! She let me know the product I was looking for was in stock. When I went to the store, the woman who answered the phone was there and was very helpful.
The store itself is pretty small. In terms of what they have in stock, it’s limited (minus Laneige, they had so many products!). The line of the product I was looking for has 15 colors. However this store only had 3 available. I’m assuming all the others were sold out. If you’re looking for something specific I’d definitely call beforehand!
There are some cosmetic stores where the employees watch over you like a hawk which doesn’t allow you to shop comfortably. Thankfully I did not feel that here. She let us comfortably look around and ask questions. She suggested some lip products but never pressured me to buy them.
After purchasing the items I needed, I was asked (as well as my friend who purchased items) if we checked in on Unilocal so we could get a free trial kit. I was thankful that she let us know because it slipped our minds! She also askes if we wanted samples. Of course we said yes! Korean cosmetic samples are the best. What we were given were not samples, they were more like travel size products! She then explained to us what they were and what they would do for our skin.
I was very pleased with my experience today and will definitely be back! (But I do hope they get more Aritaum lip products in stock)

I was my first time into the shop and Nguyen Le was the best! She helped me out with the products and give me such great tips and information on the products. I had an amazing experience today while shopping.

I’ve been planning to visit this place for the longest time and finally stopped by. Emily was helping me and she is just so friendly and never pushed any products on me. I like that she listened to what I was looking for and did a few demos. She took her time and made a connection. She showed me quite a bit of products and gave me samples with my purchase. I think I’ll be back sooner than expected to pick up a few more products. It’s the service that won me over. Price wise… I mean it’s quality Korean products so of course you’re getting what you pay for. Also the place is neat and clean!

I used to use American skin care products, but for a change I decided to use Asian skin products, and i need to say this place is just fantastic! The moment i walked into this (well organized and clean) cosmetic store, the owner Peggy Yi was already ready to greet me. Peggy then introduced me to a brand called Laneige which is for a more younger age group and may i say i love the water bank essence, lotion, moisturizer, and eye cream! Amore has skin care products for all age groups though, the three main ones are Laneige, Iope, and Sulhwasoo. Although i only use Laneige im sure the other two are great for older age groups. Amore’s face packs are also amazing, my favorites are the honey pack, water sleeping pack, and the berry pack from Laneige. These massage packs have really helped my skin recover after long hot days out in the sun, and they also help moisturize my skin during the night. Amore’s makeup is AMAZING as well, I love their eye makeup remover, lip glosses, and air cushion sunblock, that has a slight tint of color. Aside from the products, Peggy is just so friendly! She never pressures me to buy anything but instead gives me advice on what is necessary, and uncessary for my skin. The store is also VERY clean compared to other makeup stores, looks very professional! I have finally found the cosmetic store in San Diego that has everything for me, and I WILL be coming back!(:

Love, love, love, love, love this store! Great selection of Korean skincare products and a decent amount of cosmetics as well. They are adding products from two more companies soon, according to the sales representative working today. The sales representative was super helpful, extremely friendly and a joy to chat with. I know that one of the companies that they plan on carrying products from is Aritaum and I can’t wait to see what the second is. I am extremely happy with my purchase, service and prices are definitely not bad for the quality of product offered. I will be heading back to Amore San Diego soon!

Hands down the best reasonably affordable Korean facial care in San Diego. Also has THE BEST AND FRIENDLIEST customer service so if you ever needed help picking out products they will take the time to help you. I was searching for an essence and a daily moisturizer at a good price range and Emily (the worker) picked one out one for me that functions both as an essence and a daily moisturizer. She is awesome!!! She made my first visit there a great experience. Definitely will recommend her to all my friends.

I was never one who really cared about skincare. I didn’t even have a proper régime. Recently, I’ve been getting into Korean skincare, and I’ve heard great things about Laneige. I found out about Amore through Unilocal and I was satisfied to know that they carry Laneige products! I was in the area, so I decided to visit Amore after reading all the good reviews. I was NOT disappointed! I was immediately approached and greeted by Emily, who was very friendly and knew the products that were fit for my skin! She also looked looked for products that were specifically targeted towards my age group, being that I’m a teenager. She was honest as well and I didn’t feel pressured into buying anything. She also explained what each product’s purpose was very thoroughly. I spent a lot less than I thought I would too, everything was surprisingly very affordable. You should definitely check Amore out, it’s worth a visit. I guarantee that you won’t walk out empty handed.

Asian skincare is something that has recently captured my attention. Came here because it was reviewed highly, I just wish it carried a larger variety of products, which is why I gave a 4-​star rating instead of 5-​star rating. Peggy is INCREDIBLY sweet and she knew a lot about all the products. I went in with my boyfriend and wanted him to get products for his own skincare routine. Never too early to start preventing those wrinkles! Super good prices. We bought the new Laneige’s Water Sleeping Pack EX for $ 23. A great price considering it’s at least $ 23 plus shipping online. We also bought 19 masks. For the Water Sleeping Pack EX and the 19 masks, we walked out the door at $ 54. Can’t complain! I checked some of the reviews and saw that everyone received tons of samples, so I was sad when we didn’t receive any. Should I have signed up for their rewards program? Next time! I’ll definitely be back.

Peggy was so accommodating! Products are amazing — they have Laneige and the prices are the exact if not cheaper compared to Asia! I thought it would be so much more expensive because the need to import it here but so not the case.

I’m not big on beauty or cosmetic products, but I care about skin health.
My favorites are Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Repair cream and Laneige Multi Cleanser.
Whenever I stop using the creams, my face gets blotchy or breaks out. I can count on these creams to repair my skin. In about a week, I see a noticeable difference.
Like other Unilocalers mentioned, I love how the associates here don’t pressure you to buy anything, and they give you a variety of samples to try. Thanks to Peggy and her team!

Visited here for the first time today. Emily was very friendly, greeting me on my arrival, and she did a good job of keeping me engaged while helping a previous customer. She helped me find a bb cream and matched my color and loaded me up with a bunch of samples. I’m looking forward to going back and getting more products.

I tend to feel uncomfortable when I browse Korean skincare stores, because more often than not, they’re manned by eagle-​eyed older ladies that watch as you uncomfortably browse their wares. Not so with this store. I’ve been here twice now, and both experiences have been nothing short of awesome. The ladies here are knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to give you your space when browsing. But when you do need help, they’re on top of it, answering questions and giving you free rein of their assortment of products.
Concerned about costs? The prices here are on par with anything you’ll see online (often times, even cheaper), and any difference in costs is offset by the bounty of samples they provide along with your purchase. One of the biggest perks of Korean skincare stores is the samples, and this place definitely delivers.
In short, if you’re looking for any skincare in the Amore brand (ex. Laniege, IOPE, Sulhwasoo), this is the place to go.

EDIT: Be very careful there are no returns/​exchanges once you open a product. I had a terrible reaction to a product I bought here, but I pretty much am screwed and stuck with it… so think twice and make sure you know what you’re buying
Earlier this year I began becoming obsessed with the amazing formulas so many asian skincare brands develop. However, waiting for shipping from Korea is ridiculous so i looked through Unilocal and lo and behold a goldmine was awaiting me in clairemont!
The shop is very well kept and organized, selection is not super immense but it carries some of the main lines/​products that Amore is best known for. The pricing ranges from decent (20 $ish dollars) to ridonculously expensive (200 $ for a sulwhasoo serum).
That being said, the associate here is so nice and very knowledgeable! Her english is perfect so no worries about not getting great explanations. Also I love the reward system here if you sign up for it (it’s a free program btw!) And finally, the AMOUNT of samples you get oh mah lorddddd.
Will definitely continue coming here :)

I’d like to say Korean cosmetics have helped improve my complexion, even though I still break out like a teenager due to staying up late, junk food and hormones. I feel like each Korean bb cream I’ve tried has told me, «Help me help you,» but I’ve always been such a stubborn kid.
I’m almost in my mid-​thirties and those lines on my face are getting more and more visible with each passing day. Again I run to what I know would work best, and in the process come across an age-​appropriate line called Laneige, one of the most popular brands in Korea. They have this allegedly groundbreaking product called «Water Sleeping Pack EX» which is supposed to do wonders for your skin, and after having used it three times already, I can vouch for its efficacy.
This is where Amore comes in. It’s nice that they have a store here in San Diego with the most knowledgeable person-​in-​charge, Peggy. They carry a bunch of Laneige stuff, as well as other AmorePacific products from Korea. Their prices are reasonable and my sleeping pack cream ended up being less expensive than online. Peggy also gave me a couple of other product samples to try out, which is nice.
Coming by this store was a lovely introduction to the brand, and it helps that staff is knowledgeable, personable and a joy to talk to.

I wasn’t even aware that San Diego had an Amore shop until last holiday and as soon as I found out, I went into the shop and purchased a bunch of amazing goodies. The store associate, Peggy, is extremely sweet and informative. She won’t pressure you into purchasing items and will go great lengths to help you understand the product and how to use it properly. If you are new to «Asian skincare» you will definitely learn a bunch from Peggy! She will steer you in the right direction of which products to use, depending on your skincare type and what benefits you are seeking from the product use.
Around the holidays are when the wonderful skincare sets come out. You will also get really great deals of additional goodies you’ll receive when you meet the minimum purchase levels. I purchased the beloved duo pack of the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack that came deluxe sized products from Laneige and products from their whole skincare line.
Other brands available at Amore include Laneige, Iope, Sulwhasoo, Mamonde, Bio Essence, etc. You’ll receive a great amount of samples too!

Like the other reviewers, I used to have to drive up to my LA stomping grounds to find a decent selection of korean facial products. I’ve been meaning to stop by this establishment and finally had a chance to meet Ms. Peggy Yi ahjuhmah.
My Korean is horrible but thank goodness Peggy speaks perfect English. She was EXTREMELY helpful to identify what would be a good product for my skin. She explained the diference between several lines. Purchased a gift set and some BB cream (american BB cream = thumbs down; gotta go with the real deal Korean stuff!). She loaded me up with samples and I actually really like the SulWahSoo line of products despite folks mentioning it has a very. earthy smell. I am in love with the little lipgloss sample set I received.
Service was impeccable. Peggy ahjuhma knew exactly what I needed and was just so kind and welcoming. I felt like i was talking to my auntie about what makeup and cleaners I should use.
Prices were fair and a good bargain for what you are purchasing.
Location is friendly. especially if you consdier that I had to keep driving up to LA for my fill of Korean products.
And the store is just so cute and clean. I absolutely adore Peggy ahjumah.
Definitely recommended and will absolutely return!
5 stars!
(translation: ahjuhmah is a term for «Miss»)