K-Beauty's $435 Million Deal: What It Means for the Industry!

💬 CONNECT WITH LAUREN

In Episode 268 of The Korean Beauty Show, host Lauren Lee dives into the latest updates from the K-beauty world. This episode covers the shifting retail trends in Korea, the rise of convenience stores as beauty destinations and the $435 million acquisition of Round Lab by Goodai Global. Plus, we explore the growing trend of dermacosmetics and the exciting news of Jelly Ko’s official launch in the UAE. Tune in to hear about these key developments shaping the future of K-beauty!

K-Beauty Retail: Convenience Stores as Beauty Hotspots

Korean convenience stores like GS25 and Daiso are stepping up as beauty destinations. With locations all over Korea, they’re providing easy access to beauty products, giving consumers the chance to shop on the go. This shift from mono-brand stores to multi-brand beauty hubs is changing the way we shop for beauty. Convenience is becoming the top priority, and we can expect to see this trend grow globally.

Source: MBN News 

Big M&A News in K-Beauty

Goodai Global, the parent company behind popular K-beauty brands such as Beauty of Joseon and iUNIK, has acquired Round Lab for ₩600 billion (approximately $435 million USD).

This acquisition signals a growing investment in indie beauty brands and highlights the continued demand for ingredient-driven, high-efficacy products in the K-beauty space.

Source: Hangyung 

Dermacosmetics: The Next Big Trend

Dermacosmetics, which merges dermatology and cosmetics, is making waves in the K-beauty industry with a rapidly growing market set to hit $75.5 billion globally in 2030. 

The trend is characterised by science-backed skincare products that focus on improving skin health while delivering visible results. It's one of the top trends to watch in the next 5 years.

Source: Dailian 

Jelly Ko’s UAE Launch

Exciting news from my brand, Jelly Ko, which has officially launched in the UAE! We’re thrilled to now offer our products in the UAE and GCC region direct from our Jelly Ko website with free shipping available for UAE orders over 100 AED. 

This expansion is a significant milestone for us, and we’ve got new retail partnerships on the way that we are hoping to announce soon.

Our popular products, 2024's Best of Beauty-award winning Lip Glaze, Gelato Glaze Lip Mask and 2023's Prevention Magazine Best of Beauty-award winning Sleep Mask,  Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask, are now available for customers in the region, and we’re so excited to introduce Jelly Ko to a new audience.

Question of the Week: Seoul Beauty Tour 

One of our listeners reached out a few months ago to ask:

"Good Morning Lauren! I recently found your podcast and love listening to it! I am attending Cosmobeauty expo in Seoul later this month, and wondered if you had any recommendations of K-beauty related things to do while we are there. We are thinking of visiting Ocean Clinic in Gangnam for treatments, and of course Olive Young! Do you have any other must-do’s? Thank you so much in advance!"

Here’s what I suggest:

• Explore Myeong-Dong for a beauty shopping spree; 
• Visit Seongsu-dong for trendy pop-ups and flagship stores; 
• Hongdae is a great student area, with options for all budgets and plenty of big offline beauty stores, including Chicor and Olive Young; 
• Don’t miss a traditional jjimjilbang (Korean sauna), but be prepared for the full experience!
• If you're looking for something more unique, try a personalized K-beauty makeover in Cheongdamdong or visit Amore Pacific’s HQ in Yongsan.

Recommendation of the Month – Our Mid-Year Sale

Until 30 June, we’re currently offering 25% off all products with the code EOFYS. It’s the perfect time to stock up on your K-beauty favorites or try something new.

Our hero product, Bubble Tea Steam Cream continues to get rave reviews for calming sensitive skin. And now, it comes in a Refill version so you'll save even more when stocking up on your favourite moisturiser. 

Customer Reviews

 Don’t miss out on this sale!

Getting in Touch

We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have a question for the podcast, want to share your own K-beauty experience, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out. You can contact us via email or DM on Instagram.

Thanks for listening, and stay tuned for more updates from The Korean Beauty Show!

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