If you want a crystal ball into next year’s popular American beauty trends, look to the South Korean beauty industry. To find out what to expect next in Korean beauty (and, several years later, American beauty), the Cut talked to Alicia Yoon, CEO and co-founder of Korean beauty site Peach and Lily and a licensed aesthetician in Korea and the United States. Read more at The Cut.
Read MoreK-beauty enthusiasts were shocked last week when a woman posted some information on the Asian Beauty Reddit about sheet masks being folded illegally in workers’ homes in South Korea. Further investigation by Racked revealed that not only was this unsanitary practice documented multiple times, it also paid dismally low wages. Read more at Racked.
Read MoreRacked found in a review of Korean press and social media coverage that several brands have been identified as using at-home labor for folding and stuffing sheet masks into their envelopes. Making cosmetics in a private home without a manufacturing license is illegal in Korea, but because there are so many small cosmetic brands it is fairly common. Read more at Racked.
Read More“Much of Memebox’s confidence comes from its approach to choosing and developing products to sell. ‘We have tens of millions of data points about what customers want,’ Memebox USA president Arnold Hur tells Fortune. Using data it collects from customer sales and feedback, Memebox says it can keep its finger on the pulse of customers and keep its catalog filled with the latest trends.” Read more at Fortune.
Read More“LVMH has bought a minority stake in Clio Cosmetics for $50 million, in a deal valuing the Korean company at $700 million, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal late last week. The deal is the second major investment in South Korea’s booming beauty industry last week, highlighting growing interest among Western companies.” Read more at Business of Fashion.
Read More“Where once, western brands led the way, now the axis of influence has shifted and due to a combination of factors South Korea has become the global leader in beauty innovation in a relatively short period of time. The country’s strengths in digital technology plus significant government investment in R&D has led to a growing number of manufacturers (Samsung and LG have beauty divisions) highly responsive to trends and constantly creating globally influential products.” Read more at Marie Claire.
Read More“A chain called Aritaum is opening 70 stores throughout the US and Canada. Aritaum is owned by Amore Pacific, which is basically the Esteé Lauder of Korea. Aritaum chains are ubiquitous in South Korea and there are currently now 14 of them in North America, with about 70 anticipated by the time the project is complete in a few years.” Read more at Racked.
Read More“Even more hyped than the products themselves, however, is the ultra-elaborate K-Beauty skin-care regimen espoused by popular websites like Soko Glam and Peach & Lily, both of which are run by Korean Americans. Incorporating up to 10 (and sometimes more) steps, the typical regimen kicks off with a “dual cleansing” ritual (via oil- and water-based products), winds its way through a series of sheet masks, essences, serums and rich moisturizers, and wraps up with SPF 35 sunscreen.” Read more at The Wall Street Journal.
Read More“As you may know, the ‘essence’ skincare category was created in Korea and basically consists of ultra-concentrated liquids or lotions packed with active ingredients that improve the overall appearance and health of skin. The hair equivalents function in much the same fashion, coating the hair with nutrition while moisturizing to prevent dryness.” Read more at Marie Claire.
Read More“Trust me when I say that Americans have only begun to experience all that the South Korean beauty market has to offer, as we have hit just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many gems in skin care, which have been slowly making their way Stateside via beauty destinations such as the international beauty mecca Sephora and TonyMoly, a new chain of beauty boutiques that have popped up in numerous cities.” Read more at Vanity Fair.
Read More“The founders of our two favourite Korean beauty stores give us the inside scoop on what the hot, new ingredients are, the brands on the verge of cult status and the makeup trends to know for 2016. Among other things, ombré lips and hair shading, both ways to fake fullness, are huge in Korea right now.” Read more at Harper’s Bazaar.
“The recent Canada-Korea free trade agreement (CKFTA) has seen imports of Korean beauty brands soar in the North American country, according to a new report. Since the agreement’s introduction last year, South Korean cosmetics worth $20.2m have been exported to Canada. The recent figures confirm that trade between the two countries is booming thanks to the agreement, with beauty at the forefront of this growth.” Read more at Cosmetics Design.
Read More“We’ve talked a little about the Korean beauty craze, and why it’s been such a game-changer in the skin care department. (A quick refresher: We have the Asian beauty market to thank for novel products such as sheet masks and essences.) Now let’s chat about the latest ingredient billed to be the next big thing you’ll want in your regimen: tree sap.” Read more at Glamour.
Read More“Too Cool for School’s offerings are made all the more distinctive by its packaging. The brand has made it a point to commission different artists to design each of its ranges. It’s signature 'Dinoplatz' range features illustrations by the painter/architect Hatori Sando, who has been a recurring collaborator.” Read more at Wallpaper.
Read More“Face masks have become a staple in our skincare regimens and Instagram feeds thanks to a slew of Korean imports—and North American brands who’ve adopted similar products—that have changed our routines and skin for the better. The latest craze to hit our shores is the splash mask, which, if we’re being really technical, isn’t exactly an actual mask.” Read more at InStyle.
Read More“Korean beauty is a bona fide phenomenon in the United States, and Charlotte Cho can take a good chunk of the credit for that. Early on, she talked to media outlets about the infamous Korean 10-step skin care regimen, it resonated with readers, and voilà — a viral beauty phenomenon was born.” Read more at Fashionista.
Read More“Remember how we all felt about the French pharmacies a decade ago? And American drugstores before that? Well, now South Korea - or ‘So-Ko’ - is where beauty is at. Here's what you probably already knew: that the average Korean woman's skincare regime contains 12 steps and can take up to 40 minutes. That South Korean women are beauty obsessed (a brief look at some of the online make-up tutorials will tell you that). And, finally, that ‘wacky’ - in ingredients, textures or packaging - is no barrier to trial.” Read more at British Vogue.
Read More“TonyMoly, a Korean cosmetics company, said Monday that it has appointed ex-AmorePacific exec as its CEO. Yang Chang-soo, 51, will lead the mid-sized cosmetics firm, which went public in July and is fast expanding its global presence. Yang studied agricultural economics at Korea University before joining AmorePacific, the nation's largest cosmetics brand.” Read more at The Korea Times.
Read More“South Korea has very few natural resources. The country isn’t stocked with oil, much natural gas, or even many minerals. What it does have is a shitload of sheet masks, BB creams, essences, and face masks packaged to look like tomatoes. These beauty products are on the verge of becoming — in addition to electronics and cars — one of Korea’s biggest exports. And they’re getting there with help from an entity you might not think would trouble itself with banana-shaped lip glosses or lace sheet masks: the Korean government.” Read more at NYMag.com.
Read More“As South Korea suffers from a prolonged drop in exports, one industry is posting double-digit growth in shipments and grabbing the attention of policy makers searching for a new growth engine—cosmetics. Overseas sales for the cosmetics industry rose 73 percent this year through July, compared with a 4.9 percent decline for all industries. Beauty products outperformed Korea’s so-called 13 flagship items like cars, chemicals and steel, most of which have seen their sales drop.” Read more at Bloomberg.
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