Korean wave: Latest K-beauty developments from Olive Young, LG H&H, Missha

Brands need to be more specific about skin barrier claims – expert​

A skin barrier expert has expressed concerns over the lack of clarification on barrier-enhancing claims in the cosmetic industry, emphasising the need for greater specificity on such a complex system.

In the last decade, beauty consumers have shrugged of their apprehension of acids and retinoids, using them to slough off surface skin to reveal smooth, glass-like complexions.

However, there are instances where we may stray into excessive use of these exfoliating actives and end up compromising our all-important skin barrier.

Missha’s potential in Europe driven by youthful consumer interest​​

Europe’s eager young consumer base and relatively low K-beauty penetration represents significant growth potential for Able C&C’s flagship beauty brand, Missha, says the firm.

The company announced that Missha’s sales in Europe during the third quarter of last year increased by 143% compared to the prior year.

It attributed its several factors to its success, including its strong distributor network as well as the rising interest from millennials and Generation Z, known as MZ generation.

Bespoke hair colours? Korean regulators mull over customised hair dye machines​

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is reviewing the use of a machine that customises hair dyes for individuals.

The MFDS said on December 15, 2023, that it had visited fast-moving consumer goods company LG Household and Health Care (LG H&H) to learn more about its automated hair dye customisation machine.

According to the MFDS, the visit was arranged to gather industry opinions on "Regulatory Innovation 2.0 Task 43: Customised Evaluation of Automatic Device Hair Dye Preparations for the Purchase of Various Products".​

CJ Olive Young establishes $74m fund to support K-beauty SMEs​

CJ Olive Young has collaborated with the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) to establish a KRW100bn (USD74.3m) fund to support the growth of small and medium-sized (SME) beauty companies.

The Olive Young Mutual Growth Fund would allow eligible companies to benefit from a reduced interest rate of 2.39%.

The beauty retailer said the aim was to help alleviate the financial burdens of its local SMEs by facilitating more flexible access to funds and giving them reduced interest rates.

Korean institute unearths cosmetic potential in 10,000-year-old marine mud​

The Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) has discovered a range of skin care benefits in marine mud gathered from the Hupo Basin in the East Sea.

The marine mud, believed to have formed over 10,000 years since the last ice age, is composed of uniformly small minerals and hosts various indigenous microorganisms.

The team successfully developed a refining process to extract this marine mud and refined it into a high-quality raw material for cosmetic use.