Formulating Korean Skincare

Korean skincare, often known as K-beauty, is more than a passing trend – it is a holistic beauty philosophy rooted in tradition, prevention and long-term skin health. In this advanced class, you’ll explore the principles behind Korean skincare and learn how to formulate elegant, skin-supportive products inspired by this globally admired approach.

Created for experienced formulators, this class focuses on working with innovative ingredients and developing sophisticated, Korean-inspired skincare products.

MODULE 1: KOREAN SKINCARE PRODUCTS

We begin by exploring what Korean skincare really is, including its roots in Hanbang (traditional Korean herbal medicine) and how these ideas influence modern K-beauty. You’ll discover what makes a Korean skincare regimen unique, from the famous multi-step routine and double cleansing method to the strong emphasis on hydration, barrier repair and gentle, skin-respecting ingredients. We’ll also explore the concept of “glass skin” and why consistency and prevention are central to Korean skincare philosophy.

MODULE 2: KOREAN SKINCARE INGREDIENTS

You’ll then dive into the most iconic Korean skincare ingredients, learning why they are so widely used and how they work together to calm, hydrate, strengthen and brighten the skin while supporting long-term barrier health.

Key ingredients covered in this class include:

• Snail mucin
• Centella asiatica (cica)
• Niacinamide
• Hyaluronic acid
• Propolis
• Ginseng
• Green tea
• Lactobacillus / Galactomyces ferment filtrate
• Rice extract and rice water
• Mugwort
• Ceramides

For each ingredient, you’ll receive a detailed guide including its composition, its key skincare benefits, usage guidelines (applications, solubility, pH, usage rates) and supplier recommendations.

MODULE 3: KOREAN-INSPIRED SKINCARE PRODUCT FORMULAS

To bring everything together, you’ll receive seven Korean-inspired skincare formulations, created by our cosmetic scientists and designed to fit seamlessly into a multi-step K-beauty routine:

• Ginseng Cleansing Oil – a nourishing first cleanse to dissolve makeup, sunscreen and excess sebum.
• Mugwort and Ginseng Cleansing Gel – a gentle second cleanse that leaves skin clean and comfortable.
• AHA Exfoliating Mask – a mild exfoliating treatment to smooth and refine skin texture.
• Cica, Green Tea and Propolis Soothing Toner – a calming, hydrating toner to replenish and soothe.
• Rice, Ginseng and Niacinamide Hydrating Essence – a lightweight essence to deeply hydrate and boost radiance.
• Brightening Propolis Ampoule with Niacinamide – a concentrated treatment to support glow and even skin tone.
• Jelly Moisturizer with Ceramides, Rice and Cica – a bouncy, gel-textured moisturizer to strengthen the skin barrier and lock in hydration.

These formulations are inspired by the sophisticated, ingredient-focused nature of Korean skincare. With each formulation, we share the product development questions, formula, instructions and product specifications. While they use a range of specialized ingredients, we provide suggestions for substitutions and simplifications where possible to help you tailor the formulations to your lab and experience.

This class includes a beautiful textbook to download and a demonstration video showing our cosmetic scientist making the Jelly Moisturizer, which you can follow along with step by step.

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Formulating Korean Skincare is a 100-credit class. Your membership includes 50 credits each month, giving you the choice to top up 50 credits ($57) for immediate access, or simply wait until next month and unlock it then.