So you've got a brilliant vision for a skincare brand – innovative products that address real skin concerns and leave customers glowing their brightest glow. But with countless ingredients on the market, selecting the right ones to feature in your skincare brand can feel overwhelming. Fear not, aspiring beauty entrepreneurs! We're here to help you to navigate the exciting world of skincare ingredients and so that you can make informed decisions and choose the perfect ones for your beauty brand.

Why manufacture skincare in South Korea?

If you’re a beauty brand looking to create high-performance skincare products, manufacturing in South Korea could be the smartest move you make. K-beauty is no longer just a trend — it’s a proven skincare ecosystem rooted in innovation, quality, and global appeal.

From cutting-edge formulations to rigorous safety standards, South Korea offers a unique combination of advantages that make it one of the most attractive skincare manufacturing hubs in the world.

Here’s why brands of all sizes — from indie startups to multinational names — are choosing to manufacture skincare in Korea:

1. Unmatched R&D capabilities
   Korea is globally recognized for its advanced research and development in skincare. Korean manufacturers collaborate with top dermatologists, chemists, and academic institutions to develop products that blend traditional herbal knowledge with modern science. This R&D strength allows brands to access innovative ingredients like fermented extracts, snail mucin, PDRN (salmon DNA), and microencapsulated actives — often before they appear in Western markets. Looking for product innovation that sets you apart? Korea’s R&D ecosystem offers an endless pipeline of fresh ideas, textures, and technologies ready to be customized for your brand.

2. Cutting-edge ingredients and formulations
   From high-efficacy serums and gel-type ampoules to multi-use balm sticks and microneedling-inspired textures, Korean cosmetic manufacturers lead the charge when it comes to product innovation. The ingredient landscape is vast and dynamic — think ginseng, mugwort, rice extract, heartleaf, and advanced actives like exosomes and peptides. For global brands, this means access to truly unique, function-first skincare products that stand out in a saturated market.

3. High-quality production standards
   South Korean skincare manufacturers adhere to strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and are well-versed in meeting international cosmetic compliance — including U.S. FDA, EU, and Middle Eastern market requirements. For brands, this means lower risk, greater consistency, and consumer trust that comes with the "Made in Korea" label.

4. Trendsetting influence
   K-beauty doesn’t just follow trends — it creates them. Korean skincare brands are often first to market with product innovations that later go global, such as the 10-step skincare routine, serum sticks and hybrid products.

5. Sustainability and ethical practices
   Korean manufacturers are increasingly adopting eco-friendly and cruelty-free practices — from sourcing sustainable ingredients like Jeju-grown botanicals, to offering vegan formulations and recyclable packaging options. For global brands looking to align with conscious consumer values, Korea offers reliable, ethical partners to help you build a sustainable skincare line.

6. Competitive costs driven by specialized manufacturing
   Unlike many generalist manufacturers in the West, Korean skincare manufacturers are highly specialized, often focusing on specific product categories like serums, ampoules, sheet masks, or SPF. This specialization allows for efficient, high-volume production that reduces the cost per unit.While Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) per SKU may be higher (typically starting at 1,000 units for OEM), the lower unit costs and higher quality make Korean manufacturing especially appealing for brands looking to scale smartly.

Read more about Why Global Brands Choose Korean Manufacturers.

Understanding the Difference: ODM vs OEM in Skincare Manufacturing

Before diving into manufacturing, you'll need to choose between two manufacturing paths:

• Original design manufacturing (ODM) a.k.a Retail-ready Formulations or white label or private label

• Original equipment manufacturing (OEM) a.k.a Custom Formulations

Each path has its own advantages depending on your goals, timeline, and budget — and understanding the difference between the two is essential for building your skincare line strategically.

A. ODM / Retail-ready Formulations / White Label / Private Label

ODM, also known as private label skincare or white label skincare, refers to pre-formulated, ready-made skincare products that are developed by a manufacturer and offered to brands who want to rebrand and sell them under their own name.

At MAYK, our Retail-ready Formulations allow you to select from a catalog of high-quality, Korean-made skincare products that have been market-tested and are proven to deliver results. With MAYK's retail-ready formulations, such as toners, serums, moisturizers, cleansers, etc., you can customize the labels to reflect your brand identity.

Key benefits:

• Lower MOQs: Great for small businesses or first-time brand owners who are looking to test the market with small MOQs

• Faster production timeline: Since the formulas are already developed and stability-tested, production can begin quickly

• Cost-effective: Great for businesses with limited budget

• No R&D required: You can skip the formulation process and go straight to branding and labeling

Ideal for:

Startups, low-budget beauty brands, and entrepreneurs who want to launch fast without investing in full custom formulation.

Learn more: Browse MAYK's catalog of retail-ready formulations here.

B. OEM / Custom Formulations

OEM, also known as custom formulation, is for brand owners who want to create their products from the ground up based on their unique concepts, ingredients, texture preferences and skincare goals. This approach offers complete flexibility and exclusivity as you'll be developing a product that is 100% unique to your brand.

At MAYK, our custom formulation service supports everything from ingredient selection, sample development to clinical testing and scaling production.

Key benefits:

• Full customization: Control over every element including ingredients, texture, scent, claims

• Brand exclusivity: Your formula is created just for you and is not shared with any other brand

• Scalability: Ideal for long-term growth, multi-product lines and brand differentiation

Ideal for:

Established brands, niche beauty concepts, and founders who want to create a completely original skincare line that stands out in a competitive market. Also for those who want to manufacture in Korea but could not find their ideal product from MAYK's retail-ready formulations catalog.

Read more on the 5 Things to Know Before Manufacturing Cosmetics and Understand the Differences Between OEM vs. ODM. 

What are the skincare manufacturing MOQs in Korea?

​In the Korean skincare manufacturing industry, Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) can vary significantly based on the product type, manufacturer capabilities, and customization requirements. Generally, larger manufacturers set higher MOQs due to their production capacities and the economies of scale they operate under.

Standard MOQs in Korean Skincare Manufacturing:

• Toners, serums and creams: Typically, MOQs start at around 5,000 units per SKU.​

• Cleansers: Due to production processes, MOQs can start from 10,000 units per SKU.​

• Sheet Masks: Given their disposable nature and packaging requirements, MOQs are usually higher, often starting at 50,000 pieces per SKU.​

These quantities are influenced by factors such as the complexity of the formulation, packaging specifications, and the manufacturer's production line efficiency. For instance, manufacturers specializing in large-scale production may require higher MOQs to maintain cost-effectiveness.

Lower MOQs with MAYK: Flexible Options for Indie Brands

At MAYK, we’ve partnered with small-batch-friendly manufacturers in Korea to make professional skincare manufacturing more accessible — without sacrificing quality.

Our MOQ structure is designed to support indie beauty founders, estheticians, and startup brands who want to create their own line without needing to commit to massive volumes upfront. When you start a custom formulation project with MAYK, here are the typical MOQs:

• Toners, serums, creams: 1,000 units per SKU.​

• Cleansers: 5,000 units per SKU.​

• Sheet Masks: 20,000 pieces per SKU.

Whether you’re launching a single hero product or a full skincare line, MAYK’s low MOQs allow you to enter the market strategically, test demand, and scale confidently — all while working with vetted, GMP-certified Korean manufacturers.

Before You Start: How to Find Your Niche and Plan Your Skincare Product Strategically

Step 1. Finding your niche

The foundation of your featured ingredient lies in understanding your target audience and the specific skincare needs that you'll be addressing. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself when it comes to choosing key ingredients to feature for your product marketing: 

• Who are you targeting? What skin concerns do they have? Where do they live? 

• Are you targeting people who are seeking anti-aging solutions? 

• Are you targeting those that have sensitive skin and acne concerns?

• Are you targeting younger users that have oily or acne-prone skin? 

• Are you targeting people who live in drier climates? 

If you're targeting the older generations with mature skin, you may want to feature more moisturizing, and anti-aging ingredients in your products. Likewise, if you're targeting the younger generations with oily or acne-prone skin, you may want to feature more sebum-controlling, acne-fighting ingredients in your products. Choose the ingredients that are known to solve a skin problem that is commonly experienced by your target audience. 

Just as the saying goes, there is not one solution that fits everyone's skin. Sure, there are multi-purpose powerhouse ingredients such as niacinamide and retinol that targets a wide range of problems such as hyperpigmentations, acne scars, wrinkles and fine lines, dryness and lack of elasticity, etc. But there are also a group of people who are allergic or hypersensitive to these ingredients, and they may be looking for other options. If you're looking to solve this niche, you may want to incorporate several gentle ingredients that could work synergistically to solve these problems. 

Read more about How to Find Your Niche in the Beauty Industry. 

Step 2. Getting to know cosmetic ingredients

Once you're clear on your niche and the skin concern that you want to solve, now it's time to look into the trends of the cosmetic ingredients that are known to solve this problem. 

Let's take this for an example: you're targeting Gen Zs with sensitive skin and acne concerns, and you've found that centella asiatica is one of the most effective ingredient that calms sensitive skin and inflammations. Next, you could take a look into the most popular products that feature this ingredient, and see what other features they have that might have contributed to their success. Below is an example that we presented during one of our past online webinars on cosmetic ingredient trends. The centella asiatica trend started in Korea since 2015, with Dr. Jart's Cicapair rising to global popularity in 2016. Subsequent launches such as IOPE's Derma Repair Cica Line further developed their centella asiatica formulas to include Hinoki Cypress Extract and Panthenol, to target enhance the product's anti-inflammation and hydration functions. Other brands like Dr.G, Bioheal and Innisfree also proceeded to develop their centella asiatica formulas with additional ingredients such as TECA (titrated extract of centella asiatica), Centella Biome, retinol and ceramide. 

For more information about some of the ingredients we covered, read them here: snail mucin, niacinamide, adenosine, vitamin C, exosomes

As you can see, the VT Reedleshot 700 that has gone viral in early 2024, is not the first of its kind in the market. In 2021, Centellian24 (developed by Dongkook Pharmaceutical) released the first ampoule featuring spicules coated with TECA (titrated extract of centella asiatica) instead of centella asiatica extract, unlike the VT Reedleshot 700. A little bit more search into the differences between TECA and centella asiatica extract (aka cica) shows that centella asiatica extract exists as a general extract from the plant, which contains a variety of other beneficial compounds. This results in a possibly variable potency as the concentration of the active ingredient can vary depending on the extract process and source of the harvest. On the other hand, TECA is standardized extract focused on specific active ingredients like asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiatic acid (all of which are extract compounds from centella asiatica extract). This standardization results in a more uniform composition of the active ingredients across different batches, ensuring consistent results. 

Read more on the Top 5 Ingredients for Brighter and Glowing Skin.

Step 3: Understanding ingredient concentrations and formulation strategy

Now, this step is optional. But if you have a specific marketing point that you want to use, for example, you want to claim something like the "highest concentration in the market", or even if it's not the highest, you want to demonstrate that your product has enough potency to deliver the results to your customers, then you may want to take this into consideration when formulating your next skincare product. 

Additionally, it's important to consider this aspect from the start before you dive into the world of manufacturing, because it takes time to create a formulation sample. To save everyone's time, it's best to mention upfront during the initial consultation so that we can prepare your sample starting from your specified request. 

Do take into account that some ingredients have an established range due to safety and stability reasons, so if you're not experienced in this area, it may be wise to leave it to the experts. 

Read more on the Ingredient Concentrations in Skincare Formulation.

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