Visitors to Missha’s newly-opened shop in Barcelona, Spain, last October look around and to try the cosmetics on offer there. Reflecting the strong interest in Korean cosmetics that exists among Spanish consumers, the shop is crowded with shoppers.
Korean skincare products and cosmetics are winning popularity around the world. The key to their success lies in their high-quality natural ingredients that effectively improve the skin without using any harmful components that can cause adverse side effects. Their affordable price is another secret as they’re inexpensive despite their high quality and natural ingredients. Many of these brands are priced lower than KRW 10,000, while some of them — the most expensive ones — cost between KRW 50,000 and KRW 60,000. Comparing them with other luxury brands, Korean skincare products and cosmetics maintain an affordable price range, which boost consumers’ satisfaction.
One such example is a gel eyeliner from Tony Moly. This product is designed to draw an eye-line by using a gel-type ink with a brush. It’s water proof and stays on for a long time, even if the user sweats or cries. It is priced under KRW 10,000 and is convenient to use, as the brush is fitted inside the lid. It helps makeup beginners draw their eye-line easily and softly, without any creases. Users can choose from a total of seven colors, ranging from black, brown and khaki black to pearl black. This product has been winning a lot of popularity from both inside and outside Korea.
A gel eyeliner from Tony Moly lasts for a long time and has good color. It has been winning favorable responses from both Korean and overseas shoppers.
Tony Moly is also known for its unique packaging designs. These include red lip-shaped lip balms, peach or fruit-shaped hand creams and perfume bars shaped like small rabbits. Such products are priced under KRW 10,000 and are easy to carry, as they are small and have cute designs that attract wanted attention. Thanks to their popularity, Tony Moly recorded sales worth some KRW 330 billion in 2014. Its products are on the shelves at Sephora, a global chain of cosmetic stores, in Europe, a first for a Korean cosmetic brand.
Tony Moly is known for its cute packaging, such as red lip-shaped lip balm packages, fruit-shaped hand creams, rabbit-shaped perfume bars and mushroom-shaped facial scrubs and masks.
Missha’s BB creams are also very popular overseas. On Nov. 11, 2014, a consumer holiday known as Singles’ Day, Missha sold a total of 56,123 packs of BB cream in China. Unlike regular BB creams, which are oily and have too much of a grey undertone, Missha’s BB creams are white. They aren’t greasy and they brighten the skin.
Missha has received recognition for its anti-aging products, too, in consumer surveys. In a quality test conducted by Consumers Korea, Missha’s Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream was ranked second in a test of anti-wrinkle and whitening creams, among the 12 anti-wrinkle creams, including some imported and luxury brands. This product became is now one of top sellers among anti-aging skincare products.
Missha’s BB creams (top) and anti-wrinkle creams are some of the best-selling items in its range.
Snail creams and snail mask packs from It’s Skin are also must-buy items for Asian consumers these days, especially Chinese and Japanese shoppers. These products contain mucin, a thick and slippery extract from snails, which moisturizes and helps to regenerate the skin. Once applied, it’s absorbed lightly and smoothly by the skin. These products also contain arbutin and adenosine, which reduce wrinkles and help the skin whiten.
Another hit item from It’s Skin is its Power 10 Formula. This is a highly enriched essence that can help improve as many as 13 kinds of skin problems. This product is particularly popular among consumers from the U.S., Europe and Russia. Each of the 13 products contains healthy ingredients for the skin, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, yeast extract, collagen and coenzyme Q10, all in one ampoule so that users can select from 13 varieties personalized for their individual skin.
International consumers have shown high interest in snail creams, snail mask packs and highly enriched ampoules that are customized to one’s individual skin problems.
Skincare products made from gold and other luxury ingredients are also popular. Nature Republic received a lot of attention for its facial cream made from 99 percent pure gold, royal jellies and gold silkworms. This product is a gel-type cream with gold glitters. It moisturizes, nourishes the skin and makes the skin smoother and firmer.
Aloe soothing gel is also a big hit from Nature Republic. This product is made from 92 percent natural aloe and contains vitamin C. When it’s absorbed, it moisturizes the skin and calms any skin troubles.
International users express favorable responses to facial creams made from luxury natural ingredients and aloe soothing gels from Nature Republic.
International media outlets have eyed the rising popularity of Korean skincare products and cosmetics. The U.S. broadcaster NBC focused on Korean cosmetics in its story “Korean Beauty Products, Once Niche, Are Entering the U.S. Mainstream” published on Jan. 6.
In the story, NBC said, “Over the past year, Korean beauty products — from toners to sheet masks — have grown in prominence at U.S. stores.”
Mentioning the popularity of Korean BB creams and sheet mask packs, it added, “While beauty bloggers have raved about the skin care options from Korea for some time, more mainstream companies like Sephora and L’Oreal have now taken notice.”
NBC reported on the high popularity of Korean skincare products and cosmetics, which mainstream U.S. cosmetic companies have now noticed. The above is a captured image from the NBC homepage.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr
