Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General Off Topic Korean cosmetic?

  • Korean cosmetic?

    Posted by kot on September 3, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    Yes, Korean cosmetic, what is so special about it? Why people even ready to pay high postage fee to get it?
    What is it that koreans know and have, that we don’t?
    What do you all think?

    Pattsi replied 4 years, 2 months ago 5 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Graillotion

    Member
    September 3, 2020 at 9:24 pm

    I think it starts with their discipline….meaning…they will without fail…go through all the necessary steps (Korean beauty regiment)…, using quality products each day without fail!  And at some point…you have to look at genetics….if they minimize their sun (and they do at all costs)….they naturally look like they are 20 until age 50!  Everyone wants some of that! :) 
    As I grew up in Korea…., and married to one….I see it first hand every day.  It is far more their discipline and genetics, than anything else.  In general, they will buy the ‘hottest thing going’, or something that is more expensive than the item next to it.  Ingredient research, based on my experience, is not a top priority…. Just have a couple of the hottest claim items in your product….sharp looking packaging….and you got it!

    Note: Do not take my comments out of context…I have the utmost respect for their country and people!  These are just straightforward observations.

    Note: I do sell some product…in Korea.

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    September 3, 2020 at 10:11 pm

    Unfortunately for us mortals, people who look like 20 at their 50 do so due to good genes, not cosmetics. As a ex-consumer, I would say Korean (and japanese) cosmetics is special because of the texture. Asian moisturisers are lighter and more pleasant upon application. On the flip side they you need more products to layer to achieve the same result that one heavy ‘European’ moisturizer can give. So, marketing aside, it’s all about aesthetics in my opinion.

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    September 3, 2020 at 10:19 pm

    Also aging process is very complex. Many people think it’s all about wrinkles, which is far from true. Skincare can only have some effect on the surface of the skin. But aging is about redistribution of fat, sagging of muscle and changes in bone structure. One can have an absolutely perfect skin with no wrinkles or sunspots, or textural issues and still look older than their age.

  • jemolian

    Member
    September 4, 2020 at 12:20 am

    As someone who is Asian and also worked as digital marketing in a small Korean skincare distribution company & also answered customer questions on their routine, i’d just say it’s marketing and how they market it. 

    It depends on what perspective you are looking at, we Asian has been into Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean skin care for years, so the western side is slowly catching up, just not to the Taiwanese side, probably because their products are not distributed well enough. 

    Their style of formulation is slightly different from the western side of formulating as well. Though for the Korean and Japanese, there are more variety of products that can cover summer / winter needs. 

  • Pattsi

    Member
    September 9, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    It’s the magic of marketing.

    K-POP and entertainment industry was introduced to the westerns in recent past years. So Korean beauty standard like pop idol is the new goto but it is unrealistic if you see them in person you will see how pale they are like a paper sheet.

    90’s pop idols have a normal asian skin tone and in late 2000 girl group idols was gaining more popularity so it set the new standard now every boys and girls have to be super white.

    And there’s a chain of thought that says if you are pretty you will get a better job and better life. So their commitment to the crazy routine is a must do.

    As for skin aging i blamed it on genetics as i am asian in my 35 still no line of wrinkle while my western friends had in their 20.

    most Korean products are nothing special, if you take away the marketing and story line out, Sulwhasoo is just a high price moisturizer. but they have wide range of products from light to heavy you will likely to find one that you like.

    i personally like Japanese products more because they did some researches and papers on their ingredients more than just throwing some extract in. 

    Many Koreans use western products such as Estee, Lancome, La mer…as well 

    to this “What is it that koreans know and have, that we don’t?”question
    IMHO consumers are humans, human always want new things, even big companies still have to launch new series.

Log in to reply.

Chemists Corner