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Korean Beauty Trends & Industry News: 24-08-21


Warren Buffett's Investment in Ulta Beauty Boosts K-Beauty Stocks

    Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway recently made headlines by selling half of its Apple shares to invest heavily in Ulta Beauty, a leading U.S. beauty retail chain. Ulta Beauty, often compared to Korea's Olive Young, stocks a wide range of beauty products, including many from Korean brands.

Buffett's investment is seen as a move based on the belief that Ulta Beauty's value was undervalued. This news triggered a significant rise in the stock prices of several Korean beauty companies. For instance, shares of Korea's cosmetics manufacturer, Hankook Cosmetics Manufacturing, surged by nearly 30% during trading and closed up over 20%. Other brands like TonyMoly, Manyo Factory, and Cosmecca Korea also saw substantial gains.

The Korean beauty industry, which had been struggling with sluggish stock performance during the earnings season, has seen renewed investor interest thanks to Buffett's vote of confidence. The sustained popularity of K-Beauty in the U.S. market is further boosting the prospects of Korean beauty companies' global expansion.

Market analysts view Buffett's investment as a strong signal of robust demand in the beauty sector and predict that the global growth of K-Beauty will continue in the coming years.


K-Beauty Tops eBay's Cross-Border Sales in Q2

    In the second quarter of this year, eBay reported that "Beauty & Health" was the top-performing category for Korean sellers in international markets. This surge was driven by the global popularity of K-Beauty products, leading to a 220% increase in sales compared to the same period last year. This category also saw the highest sales among new sellers.

K-Beauty products have become so popular that they frequently appear in the "Most Popular Category" on eBay's global site, underscoring their widespread appeal. eBay is leveraging this trend by supporting new sellers who want to enter the K-Beauty market, offering educational resources and promotional campaigns to help them succeed.

Following "Beauty & Health," the "Toys" category, which includes popular brands like Lego and Bandai, saw a 132% increase in sales. The "Business & Industrial" sector also showed strong growth, coming in third with a 62% increase.

eBay's introduction of a daily payment system has also boosted seller satisfaction, ensuring quicker access to funds. The success of K-Beauty on eBay highlights the strong growth potential for Korean products in the global cross-border e-commerce market.


Korea's FDA Emphasizes Safety Precautions for Cosmetics Use

    Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) recently analyzed 1,759 cases of adverse reactions to cosmetics reported in 2023. The findings revealed that all cases were minor, such as itching and skin irritation, with no serious incidents reported. The majority of these cases were related to basic skincare products, likely due to their high usage rate.

Products for infants and toddlers accounted for many reports, primarily minor skin irritations, reflecting their more sensitive skin compared to adults. There were also a few cases where young children accidentally ingested cosmetics, prompting MFDS to urge that such products be kept out of children's reach.

Consumers are advised to stop using any cosmetic products if they experience skin irritation and consult a doctor if the symptoms persist. Additionally, MFDS stressed that cosmetics should not be used on wounds or for treating medical conditions, as they are not intended for medicinal purposes.

MFDS continues to monitor adverse reactions and encourages consumers to carefully read the ingredients and warnings on cosmetic products to ensure safe use. If consumers experience any harm from using cosmetics, they can seek compensation through the Korea Consumer Agency.
Location: 대한민국

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