SKIN1004 is a Korean skincare brand that prides itself on a long journey of looking for quality, raw ingredients from untouched nature. They went far to the untouched nature in Madagascar and found the bread and butter of the K-beauty label — centella asiatica. Known as the leaf of life, this hallmark ingredient for SKIN1004 is celebrated for its healing and protective properties, especially for acne-prone skin and sensitive skin. If you’re currently on the lookout for a buzz-worthy brand to switch up your routine, let SKIN1004 take you on your first step and get to know its amazing beauty philosophy with Mr. Inseung Kwak, the CIO of SKIN1004. Scroll down for an insider look at the skincare brand's growing empire!

Guest of the Day

Mr. Inseung Kwak, CIO of SKIN1004

The Story of SKIN1004

Jobie: Hi Mr. Kwak, thanks for taking the time to join our VANA Chatroom. Could you tell us the beauty philosophy behind SKIN1004? Any brand motto?

Mr. Kwak: SKIN1004's beauty philosophy is 'delivering you the untouched nature.' We firmly believe that good ingredients come from quality raw ingredients and nature, and this is how our brand products have been born. Our brand centers around Centella Asiatica from Madagascar, the world's oldest island, that has not been damaged with much human footprints. With this raw ingredient, we've created 4 different lines to feature different skin concerns, such as calming, moisturizing, brightening, and pore care.

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Kwak: Our team works the brand under this one philosophy, and work together to carry out a series of brand operations to maximize the customer's experience. These brand operations include steps like product planning and production, design, content planning and production, brand communication, and much more.

Awarded at the First Brand Awards 2022 in Korea

Jobie: What is the first thing you want your customers to think of when they see SKIN1004?

Kwak: A brand that can be trusted and sought for for a long time, that creates high quality products with high quality raw ingredients that you can seek at a reasonable price.

The Products of SKIN1004

Jobie: Why is Madagascar's Centella Asiatica the star ingredient for SKIN1004 products? What is the process of discovering it?

Kwak: Most people think their skin is sensitive and easily irritable, we believe that most people are concerned about skin calming and reducing irritations. With this in regard, we wondered which ingredient would be the most ideal to soothe our customer's skin concerns, and which ingredient is best fit for SKIN1004's identity.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Ampoule

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Kwak: Believing that good raw materials are within clean, uncontaminated nature, we found Madagascar, where the purity of the beginning of nature was preserved. There, the Centella Asiatica we found was more beneficial and well preserved than others, and so we used it in all of SKIN1004 products.

Jobie: Apart from calming and soothing, how do SKIN1004 products help solve different skin concerns?

Kwak: The Centella line is the main line for skin soothing and sedation, but all other lines are designed for each skin concern.

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Kwak: The Hyalu-Cica line is a line that combines hyaluronic acid and SKIN1004's Centella Asiatica extract to focus on delivering hydration.

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Kwak: The Tone Brightening Line contains various brightening ingredients, including brightening patented ingredients based on madecassoside.

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Kwak: In the case of the Poremizing Line, the Himalayan pink salt and Centella Asiatica extract, which are rich in minerals and specialized in removing skin waste, are properly mixed to manage pore concerns such as number of visible pores, pore size, and or depth.

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Jobie: How did the idea of combining Centella Asiatica with Hyaluronic Acid come about to launch the Hyalu-Cica line? What is the primary skin concern this line is designed for?

Kwak: Recently, due to the universal time that we're in, there's a higher need for calming skin irritation and dryness. This is why we decided to launch the Hyalu-Cica line. The Hyalu-Cica line can take care of dryness and sensitivity at the same time by combining hyaluronic acid with the Madagascar Centella asiatica ingredient. The Hyalu-Cica line consists of a family of products that take care of skin sensitivity, dead skin cells, and aging, which all start with the common issue of dry skin.

SKIN1004 - Hyalu-Cica Line

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Jobie: With customers’ best interest in mind, were there any thoughtful considerations that went into the making of these two different daily cleansers, i.e. the Madagascar Centella Ampoule Remover and the Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil?

Kwak: Most cleansing products can irritate the skin by foaming bubbles on the face or by wiping away waste on the surface of your skin. Taking this into account when planning the Madagascar Centella Ampoule Remover, an ampoule layer was added to the remover to relieve sensitive areas around the eyes and mouth to minimize irritation.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Ampoule Remover

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Kwak: On the other hand, in the case of the Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil, the somewhat unpleasant sticky oil texture, often found within cleansing oils, is minimized and the product is focused on having a light texture. This is so that it doesn't have to be wiped multiple times. The key point was on helping our customers maintain their skin health by adding the appropriate amount of Madagascar Centella to cleansing products so that even cleansing products can be the least irritating as possible.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

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Jobie: Does SKIN1004 update their formula of the same product from time to time to keep up with customers’ need / feedback?

Kwak: Customer needs and feedback are accumulated through regular collection and documentation, and they are being reviewed internally. To continuously satisfy the customers who are currently using the brand with satisfaction, the internal review and product update processes take some time before implemented. However, when an urgent improvement is needed, our team reviews the issue internally and addresses it until we see fit.

The Future for SKIN1004

Jobie: Should we expect any new products from SKIN1004 any time soon?

Kwak: Yes, we are currently planning new lines for each season according to skin concerns, and recently, the Poremizing line has been released to help resolve pore concerns. We are also preparing brand new lines for acne skin types and a product line for customers with extremely dry skin concerns.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Poremizing Fresh Ampoule

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Jobie: Any short-term or long-term goals for SKIN1004?

Kwak: As I've mentioned earlier, our main goal is to become a brand that you can trust and use for the long run. We want to build a relationship with our customers so that they can trust the products and trust the brand, and hopefully our brand becomes one of your must-haves within your skincare routine.

The Loyal Fans Want to Know...

Q: How high is the amount of peppermint extract in the Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream? Will it trigger irritation?

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream

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Kwak: The Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream contains a very small amount of peppermint extract, about 0.1% to be exact. So, the ingredients themselves are unlikely to cause trouble. However, if you have a particularly severe allergic reaction to peppermint, it is recommended to use it after a patch test on the skin before using the product to the full extent.

Q: Which SKIN1004 products do you recommend for someone with dry skin and redness on the cheeks (or rosacea skin in general)?

Kwak: We recommend using the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner and Madagascar Centella Ampoule together. It effectively hydrates the skin and effectively calms down red or flushed cheeks with the soothing effects of the Centella Asiatica extract from Madagascar, while also helping to improve dryness and flushing when used continuously.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Toning Toner & Ampoule

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Q: Is the Hyalu-Cica Line good for oily/combination skin?

Kwak: Excessive sebum secretion, a major problem with oily/combination skin, is often caused by dry skin. Our skin secretes a large amount of sebum when we feel dry, so we need to maintain the basic moisture balance of the skin to solve excessive sebum secretion. The Hyalu-Cica Line is refreshing overall but has excellent moisturizing effects, so it can improve the skin by balancing the oil and moisture balance of the skin with regular use.

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Blue Serum

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Q: What skin types is the ZOMBIE BEAUTY Bloody Peel suitable for? Is it safe for teenagers with acne prone skin?

Kwak: The Zombie Beauty Bloody Peel contains a high concentration of AHA (17%), which may cause some irritation when used. Usually, it is recommended to use it on skin with excessive dead skin cells and excessive sebum secretion, and although those with acne skin types can use the product. If you've used AHA products before, you'll know how tolerant your skin is, but if you are new to trying AHA products, make sure you do a patch test before. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to allergic reactions, we also recommend to check your skin's reaction through a small patch test. Even if you've tried AHA products before, because of the high concentration, make sure to use with caution and moisturize afterwards to keep your skin protected and hydrated.

Jobie: Thank you for your time, Mr. Kwak! We look forward to more new and exciting skincare moments with SKIN1004 and wish you all the success!

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