Korean Beauty Trends & Industry News: 25-02-21

LG Household & Health Care Develops AI-Based High-Performance Cosmetic Ingredients… To Be Applied to ‘The Whoo’ Next Year

    LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) has successfully developed cosmetic efficacy ingredients using AI (Artificial Intelligence) models. Based on this research achievement, AI-based high-performance ingredients are expected to be introduced in cosmetics as early as next year. LG H&H and the LG AI Research Institute jointly developed cosmetic efficacy ingredients that improve solubility and safety through AI models. Many cosmetic raw materials have excellent efficacy but low solubility, making them difficult to formulate into products. However, this research has significantly increased the possibility of developing optimal efficacy ingredients.

This study is significant in that AI directly designed the entire research process from the molecular stage. The cosmetics industry has so far focused on using AI models to analyze raw materials. In contrast, this research has innovatively shortened the process of discovering candidate substances by utilizing LG AI Research Institute’s AI model specialized in new material discovery, ‘Exaone Discovery’.

Previously, research had to rely on scientists’ experience and academic papers, meaning that selecting candidate substances alone took an average of 1 year and 10 months, with additional costs required for purchasing various experimental materials. In contrast, this study used Exaone Discovery to identify candidate substances in just one day. Furthermore, AI simulations eliminated the possibility of harmful substances emerging in advance, ensuring only safe materials were selected from the beginning. This significantly reduced research costs while maximizing efficiency.

LG H&H plans to further enhance these ingredients through additional research and apply them first to the luxury Korean skincare brand ‘The Whoo’ as early as next year. A company representative stated, "Through collaboration with AI, we will introduce innovative products that further enhance skin improvement. Moving forward, we will actively adopt AI technology to strengthen our competitiveness and technological expertise in the global market."

GS25 Launches Affordable, Travel-Sized Cosmetics… Expanding Its Presence in the Beauty Market

    GS25 has announced that it will enter the beauty market by introducing small-sized, high-quality, budget-friendly cosmetics.

GS25, operated by GS Retail, has newly launched three types of skincare and body care products: Derma:B Moisture Body Wash (30ML), Derma:B Moisture Body Lotion (30ML), and Real Barrier Cream Light (10ML), all priced at around 3,000 KRW.

As inflation continues to rise, the trend of value-for-money consumption is spreading in the beauty industry. Small-sized, budget-friendly cosmetics are gaining attention, and in January 2025, GS25’s cosmetics category sales increased by 29.2% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, sales of six value-for-money cosmetics over the past week have increased by 35.4% compared to the previous month, demonstrating strong consumer interest.

The newly launched products emphasize portability and practicality.

Derma:B Moisture Body Wash (30ML) features a mild acidic, low-irritation formula, making it safe for the whole family to use. It provides a refreshing peach scent and long-lasting hydration after cleansing.

Derma:B Moisture Body Lotion (30ML) is one of Derma:B’s best-selling products, offering 100 hours of continuous moisture with a fast-absorbing, non-sticky formula. It is gentle and suitable for all skin types.

Real Barrier Cream Light (10ML) is a travel-size version of the popular Real Barrier Extreme Cream Light. Its pouch format makes it easy to carry for up to a week’s use. It helps replenish skin’s moisture barrier and has been dermatologically tested for acne-prone skin, making it suitable even for sensitive skin.

GS25 is paying close attention to the rising popularity of budget-friendly cosmetics and plans to continue expanding its product lineup by collaborating with various beauty brands. It is working with skincare brands such as Acnes, Dewytree, and Mediheal to ensure that it provides products that excel in both affordability and quality.

Ryu Joo-hee, MD of GS Retail’s Life & Living Team, stated, "We planned these products to attract new customers and boost sales, considering the growing popularity of basic skincare and the decreasing age of beauty product consumers." She added, "Since the MZ generation is increasingly aware of the importance of skin immunity, we will continue to develop products targeting their skincare needs."

Macaron Expands K-Beauty E-Commerce to the Middle East, Entering Six Countries

    Macaron, a global K-beauty e-commerce platform, announced on the 19th that it will officially launch its services in six Middle Eastern countries next month, accelerating its expansion into global markets.

Having entered the Indian market in 2019, Macaron introduced over 380 brands and 18,000 products, including COSRX and Beauty of Joseon, to the local market. As of February, Macaron has 1.16 million registered users and 1.2 million monthly active users (MAU), solidifying its position as the largest K-beauty platform in India.

Recently, demand for K-beauty products has been growing rapidly in the Middle Eastern market. In response, Macaron will expand its services to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

The company explains that India and the Middle East share similar regulatory requirements for cosmetics imports, meaning that existing brands and products already available on Macaron can swiftly enter the Middle Eastern market. Macaron has developed an AI-driven hygiene certification system that automates document review and error detection, allowing K-beauty brands to enter new markets more quickly and efficiently.

Macaron plans to introduce over 2,000 beauty products across multiple categories, including skincare, sun care, makeup, and hair care, tailored to Middle Eastern consumers' skin types and beauty preferences.

Additionally, to optimize the shopping experience, Macaron will enhance user experience (UX/UI), provide personalized product recommendations, support local currency and USD transactions, and establish a logistics and delivery network across the region.

Yoo Seung-wan, CEO of VL Monkeyz, which operates Macaron, stated, "We will leverage the operational expertise and data accumulated over the past six years in the Indian market to target Middle Eastern consumers." He added, "We will not only provide a carefully curated selection of products tailored to local preferences but also ensure that new and seasonal products are quickly introduced, aiming to become the world's No.1 K-beauty platform."

Meanwhile, Macaron is also set to expand its offline presence in India, with plans to open its first flagship store in Gurgaon in the first half of this year, followed by at least 10 additional stores by the end of the year.