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Skin, K-beauty, Korea trips and the beauty industry — ask and share
Amazon Prime Day: Medicube out-searched the iPad, K-beauty sets records
At Amazon Prime Day (June 23–26), K-beauty set new records again. Highlights APR's Medicube was No. 1 in overall Amazon US search terms, ahead of iPad, Lego and AirPods. Its Zero Pore Pad topped beauty for a second strai
0 0More breakouts since you started a pore primer: is the primer really to blame?
Silicone pore primers that blur texture are a makeup staple for many people. At the same time, "I started a primer and got more tiny bumps" is a common post. Points people often raise Many argue the issue is less the sil
0 0Koreans’ Evening Skincare Routine: From Makeup Remover to Face Cream
Basic principle: from lightweight to heavy—use watery products first and creams last.
0 1Things to Prepare Before Your First Cosmetics Brand OEM/ODM Meeting
When you’re preparing to launch your first brand, the most daunting question is, “What should I bring to the manufacturer?” To keep the meeting moving quickly, it’s better to come prepared with numbers rather than concep
0 3First Trip to Korea: What Should I Keep in Mind When Buying Cosmetics?
I often hear people say, “It’s my first time in Korea, and I don’t know what to buy.” Feel free to ask questions in the comments. You’ll get a quick answer.
0 3First eye cream in your 30s—do you really need a separate one?
The skin around the eyes is thin and dries out easily, so many people take extra care of it. However, many also feel that you don’t necessarily need to buy a separate one if your face cream works for the eye area without
0 3Olive Young Awards 2025: the makeup winners in one list
Olive Young's year-end awards are one of the most watched "what is Korea actually buying" signals. A recap of the 2025 edition lists winners across skincare, makeup and a few extra sections. On the makeup side, the recap
0 0Starting a beauty brand abroad with a Korean manufacturer: private label vs custom formula
Many founders outside Korea work with Korean ODMs. The first decision is how custom you go.
0 1What Should Your First SKU Be? Categories New Brands Often Choose
Your first product becomes the face of your brand. Here are popular categories and their pros and cons.
0 1How many rounds of formula sample revisions are realistic?
It’s rare to approve a formula right after the first sample, and when revisions drag on, both the timeline and costs grow. I imagine each team has different standards, so I’d like to hear what others think.
0 1What app do you tell foreign friends to download first?
When a friend visiting Korea for the first time asks what apps they should download, what do you all say? Maps, taxis, translation, payments… Recommendations vary from person to person, so I’d like to put them together a
Poll
The app you tell them to download first
Pick one to see the results
0 2Getting Started with Anti-Aging: What Should You Start With? A Priority Guide
There are lots of anti-aging products, but starting in order of strongest evidence is a way to save both money and your skin.
0 1Lines around the block for a men's beauty popup: the numbers behind it
When CJ Olive Young opened its first Men's Beauty popup in Seoul, the turnout surprised a lot of people. The Korea Times put numbers on it. From the report: Over 12,000 visitors in 10 days (Aug. 30 to Sept. 8, 2024), wit
0 0Dry Skin in Winter: The Korean Layering Trick
In Korea, instead of a very heavy cream, many people prefer several thin layers: hydrating toner, serum, and cream. The idea is to hydrate first and seal it in afterward.
0 1Personal colour analysis in Seoul: is it worth a slot in your itinerary?
Personal colour (퍼스널 컬러) studios drape fabric swatches under controlled light to find which tones make your face look brighter. It is part fashion advice, part fun experience — and a very Korean one. What a session usual
0 3How big is Qoo10's Mega Wari? Reading the first published numbers
For K-beauty fans in Japan, Qoo10's "Mega Wari" sale feels like a festival that comes four times a year. In March 2025, operator eBay Japan published results for the first time (reported by Nihon Net Keizai Shimbun). Fig
0 0Why Korean Sunscreens Are Less Likely to Leave a White Cast
Korean sunscreens are often made with the expectation that they’ll be “used every day as a makeup primer,” so formulas that are less likely to leave a white cast are prioritized. There are many types of UV filters availa
0 1Detailed product page flow, common features of pages that are selling well these days
People often say that pages with the key information visible on the first screen on mobile convert better than long, elaborate product pages.
0 1Myeongdong beauty guide: how to shop it without getting overwhelmed
Myeongdong is the classic first stop: dozens of cosmetics stores within a few blocks, street food in the evening, and staff who speak several languages.
0 1Times Square
Times Square is a new urban entertainment and cultural complex where commerce, business, culture, and leisure come together, with tenants such as Marriott Hotel, Shinsegae Department Store, CGV, E-Mart, Kyobo Book Centre
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