As the cosmetics industry changes from cosmetics to beauty solutions, the importance of cosmetics raw materials is increasing. If natural and organic cosmetics certification systems are introduced from next year, bio-material-based cosmetics should be considered for sustainability from the manufacturing stage. Natural scope also includes organic concepts (Natural Origin), including Animal Testing, Green Chemistry, Fair-trade, Bio-Diversity, Carbon Footprint, and Water Risk Management. At the “Beautiful Empathy Networking” conference, Professor Park Joon-sung (Editor of The K Beauty Science) of Chungbuk National University said in a “Sustainable Cosmetics Material Development Plan” and stressed, “Natural resources are important, but new efficacy of existing materials should be discovered and processing methods should be developed. “Earlier, Professor Park developed △ functional raw materials in Korea (discovering new skin physiological activity functions from new materials, moisturizing, whitening, anti-aging, ultraviolet blocking, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, atopic, hair loss mitigation) △ Natural extracts and functional materials (well-being trend, no-chemists, natural cosmetics-based raw materials. In addition, MINTEL introduced △ Playing Mother Nature △ Campaign Capital △ My Rules △ Private Eye, which was cited as an overseas trend in 2018.

K-beauty emphasizes the functionality that focuses too much on the efficacy. At a time when online and home shopping are struggling to market ingredients and functions, Skin Watchers (CEO Jonghan Yoon), which is faithful to the basics, has exported its products to Europe and Japan. It is not just a sales marketing company, but it forms directly with manufacturing. It focuses on deposition, moisturization, and trouble of wealth, and the ingredients of important raw materials are much different from those of other manufacturers and brands. I wonder if the company’s operating margin is possible. However, rather than being true, CEO Yoon said that he takes operating margins because he does not directly market other parts such as distribution and containers. Usually, cosmetics set marketing costs from 3 to 10 times in manufacturing. And Skin Watchers is a strategic product that considers intermediate distribution margins, but only considers consumers’ positions.

▲ Skin Watchers Co., Ltd.

▲ CEO : Jonghan Yoon

▲ www.skinwatchers.co.kr

▲ skinwatchers@naver.com

▲ +82-2-1544-7027

Sam Kim

Asia Journal

GB Soft is one of the many companies that LA Times Asia Journal is currently incubating and they have been drawing a lot of attention since. GB Soft developed a solution that captures biometric information through cameras and sends them to an AI server where it can be analysed. This solution was able to gain recognition in Japan after the LA Times Asia Journal introduced GB Soft to Elematec, a specialized trading company of TOYOTA Group. From here, Elematec was able to link GB Soft to Data Scope, a Japanese facial recognition software development company. For reference, Data Scope established a factory in China called Shenzen Data Scope in collaboration with Foxconn in Taiwan. Here, Data Scope is planning to sell face recognition cameras and security cameras worldwide. GB Soft is set to sign an NDA for a joint development with Data Scope.

Furthermore, LA Times Asia Journal is incubating two other South Korean companies in the beauty industry; Emma Healthcare and Skin Watchers. These two companies have begun exporting their products to Japan. Clean First is a Japanese company that deals primarily with the solar power industry. While exploring the beauty industry, they were introduced to these two Korean companies.

Japan’s Clean First, as a domestic partner in Japan, plans to join hands with Toda Corp. to make themselves present in the beauty industry. For Emma Healthcare’s beauty device, a six-month contract for domestic sales rights in Japan was agreed upon.

In addition, Clean First and Toda Corporation are planning to enter Don Quijote, a Japanese general discount store. It plans to sell Emma Healthcare’s Beauty Device and Skin Watchers’ cosmetic products. Their initial plan isto sell their products in three of the following branches for the upcoming Christmas season: Ginza, Shibuya, and Harajuku. By the end of January 2022, their products will be available in 40-50 other locations.

Plalucy, Emma Healthcare’s Beauty Device, is a product that utilizes Plasma and Galvanic technology. It uses the principle that numerous Ions in Plasma penetrate the skin and promote skin regeneration. The radical in Plasma is the only natural substance on Earth that is completely harmless to the human body, with sterilization power equal to 2,000 times that of ozone and 180 times that of ultraviolet rays. If you apply cosmetic products after using the PlaLucy product, people with good skin definitely feel the improved absorption of cosmetics. There plasma’s Ion and radical can reliably and safely eliminate inflammation and bacteria in the skin as well.

Skin Watchers’ Cleansing Oil was selected by ELLE, a French fashion and lifestyle magazine, into the “Top 27 Cleansing Oil” by Beauty Editor and Consumer evaluation worldwide. It is a product that is on par with luxury goods such as Shu Uemura, Clinique, Origins, Shiseido, Clarins, Fresh, Biotherm, and Christian Dior. Skin Watchers prioritize the use of premium, lightweight-natural ingredients such as apricot seed oil, macadamia seed oil, and meadow foam seed oil, which are good for skin health. In addition, Skin Watchers’ unique technology completes the product with high cleaning power, which is well received.

Beyond GB Soft, Skin Watchers, and Emma Healthcare, we look forward to the day when more Korean SMEs incubated by the LA Times Asia Journal will be recognized by Japanese companies for their valuable assets.

Mike Choi

Asia Journal

EUNSUK CHOI, the CEO of Bucketgram

Korean beauty has its roots from Korea’s long history of healthcare. For centuries, Koreans have been mindful of the nutritional value of their food and how it affected their health and longevity. This has created the foundation for the values of K-Beauty; to maintain youth. Over the years, Koreans have nurtured a culture that values skin care to a great extent. The average skin care routine will involve multiple cosmetic products, a healthy diet, along with a healthy lifestyle.

Among the many local cosmetic brands of Korea, Bucketgram is one that stands out as they value what was mentioned above. Many of their products cater towards those who are mindful of their health. Their “On s’aime, on t’aime” line was created with the goal of supporting the metabolic process by properly supplying suitable nutrients to the body. Above that, they provide supplement products that are dedicated to specific parts of our body such as the liver, or the upper and lower intestines. Their awareness to these values is reflected by their success.

Recently in Korea, live commerce has been rapidly growing as the pandemic pushed the digital era. Bucketgram did not miss this opportunity. Bucketgram’s Grace Choi was featured on the popular live commerce show, “Flying Aesthetic.” Within an hour, Bucketgram was able to sell $250,000 (USD) worth of products. The producer of the show commented that prior to Bucketgram, the commerce show was unsuccessful 8 times. From this experience the producer discovered that the three success criterias for a live commerce broadcast are as follows: a well advertised platform, the use of a well known influencer, and a desirable/marketable product.

Live commerce. Because Bucketgram was able to meet all three criterias, they were able to find success with the live broadcast.

CORY YI

Asia Journal