Hapa Kristin Opens Their First U.S. Based Color Contacts Store in Los Angeles

It’s not news that K-pop stars often perform with colored contacts, and the ability to alter the natural color and shape of one’s eye has even become an integral part of styling a look or concept. Non-idols in Korea have easily followed this trend for years but now folks in LA can do the same.

Colored contacts can not only change your pupil eye color but can enhance the limbal ring, the outer edge of your eye, creating the illusion of a bigger eye shape. Different colors can also make the white of your eye look brighter and whiter, ultimately boosting the Korean beauty standard of having clear and large eyes.

While relatively easy to purchase in Korea, with brick-and-mortar shops in almost every major subway station and also on surface streets, that hasn’t been the case in the US. As long as you know your own prescription, buying colored contacts is as simple as picking up a snack from a convenience store in Seoul. On the other hand, purchasing contacts in the US can be a hassle, having to present official prescriptions from a licensed optometrist—both online and in-store. Picking up a big supply of colored contacts was a routine whenever I visited Korea for this reason. So I was excited to find out that my favorite color contacts brand, Happa Kristin, finally opened a physical store close to my home in Los Angeles.

Hapa Kristin has taken full advantage of the booming popularity of colored contacts since the COVID-19 pandemic, as the extended mask mandate in South Korea led more and more women to focus more on the makeup around their eyes. With relatively little effort, color contacts presented a new way to change up your style or look.

Hapa Kristin is particularly well-known because the face of the brand is Jang Won-Young, the youngest member of the K-Pop girl group IVE. With her staggering popularity and fan base worldwide, Won-Young has been influential in selling out new releases and driving the success of the brand.

Unlike most other contacts stores in the US, Hapa Kristin actually offers an in-store comprehensive eye exam so that you can purchase contacts without having to stop by another optometrist. If you already have a valid prescription, they also offer services to renew your prescription while you’re there for added convenience. The ability to renew your prescription online is also in the works, adding another option for consumers to purchase their contacts with ease.

Hapa Kristin is located at 8022 Melrose Ave, a famous shopping mecca, home to many global, trending brands. Featuring a large pink exterior, the store has become a popular photo destination reminiscent of the Paul Smith pink wall that attracted tourists years ago. Visiting the store grants you access to personal consulting on which colors suit you best, as well as a trendy photo booth that Won-young herself famously visited! The inside features almost all of the color contacts that you can find online, with physical samples that you can view for a better grasp of the color.

Hapa Kristin is hosting an opening discount with all of their prescription services for a limited time so make sure to catch them before the promotions go away!