Korean skin care is rooted in traditional beauty rituals that promote healthy and radiant skin.

Korean skin care emphasizes hydration, exfoliation, and nutrition for healthy, happy skin.

Korean skin care products are known for their advanced techniques and natural ingredients.

The term "Korean glass skin" has seen 134 percent year-over-year growth on TikTok, with related product sales also rising.

Korean skin care brands use social media, like TikTok, to showcase products through influencers and celebrities.

Korean skin care brands emphasize unique ingredients and preventative skin care.

Korean skin care has boomed internationally due to its use of natural ingredients and gentle, advanced techniques.

Korean skin care uniquely utilizes ingredients, combining new methods with proven formulations.

Korean skin care emphasizes prevention and maintaining a healthy skin barrier to achieve a luminous complexion.

Korean skin care products are popular among those with sensitive skin due to their gentle ingredients.

Korean skin care products are often more affordable than Western brands.

Korean skin care philosophy combines natural ingredients, herbal medicine, and science to address skin needs.

Korean skin care's global boom is due to its effectiveness, affordability, and social media influence, driving double-digit sales growth for many brands.

TikTok has been particularly effective for Korean skin care brands, with #kbeauty garnering 9.5 billion views and driving viral sales.

Korean skin care remains popular due to its unique philosophy, effective products, and successful marketing strategies.

Korean skin care takes a holistic and preventative approach to promote long-term skin health, differing from Western skin care's harsh and corrective methods.

Korean skin care is rooted in traditional beauty rituals that promote healthy and radiant skin.

Title:

Content: Is Korean Skin Care Really Superior? An Investigation

Photographed by Hayleigh Longman
With its shelfie-worthy packaging and a focus on intriguing ingredients like snail mucin and fermented rice water, Korean skincare has been the subject of Western fascination for years. Brands like CosRx, Innisfree, and Laneige have assumed viral social-media status, while Glow Recipe and Dr. Jart+ are now practically household names, thanks to TikTok.
Besides whipping up curiosity, Korean skin care has established a name for itself as one of the most effective and trustworthy categories in beauty. And ahead of winter, it's seeing a serious revival. In the past few weeks, searches for 'Korean skin-care routine', '10-step Korean skin care', and 'best Korean skin-care products' have made up Google's skin-care trends. While on TikTok, the hashtag #koreanskincare has seen a handful of new videos, each raking in millions of views.
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In October, a tweet and TikTok video posted by skin-care blogger @Mul_OVO went viral for showcasing the benefits of switching to Korean skin care. But is Korean skin care really better? Or have we simply got caught up in the hype?
Cosmetic Chemist and Licensed Aesthetician Esther Olu believes our obsession with K-skincare started with 'glass skin' — skin so dewy, it's almost reflective. Olu says that glass skin was the ideal and promoted "healthy-looking" and "luminous" skin standards. "Everyone wanted to have healthy skin," says Olu, "and Korean [skin care] has played a critical role in this mindset."

The Korean approach to skin care is a lot gentler and there is a distinct difference in ingredients lists compared to Western products, which can be harsh.

You could argue that the main intent of skin care everywhere is to promote healthy, happy skin. But there are some key differences. Many Western skin-care trends (such as skin cycling, peels, and rediscovering skin toners) tend to home in on ingredients such as retinol and exfoliating acids, for example glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. These are great when used properly and sensibly under the guidance of an expert but they can be notoriously irritating when overdone, as many of us tend to do.
Ask any dermatologist to pinpoint common skin gripes they regularly spot in clinic and they'll almost always reel off perioral dermatitis (a red rash that circles your mouth), burns, irritation, dryness, and a compromised skin barrier (redness, tightness, breakouts, rashes) — all a result of overdoing it on harsh ingredients.
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Of course, Korean skin care does feature the aforementioned ingredients. They do work, after all. But the Korean approach seems to be a lot gentler and there is a distinct difference in ingredients lists, too, says Olu. PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) are a lot more popular in Korean skin care, for example. Take Dr. Jart+'s recently launched Pore Remedy range, in which PHAs are the star ingredient. Much like glycolic and salicylic acids, PHAs exfoliate the skin effectively, but what sets them apart from other exfoliators is their large molecule size. They exfoliate at surface level without going too deep and aggravating skin as other acids might. Glow Recipe and CosRx are just a few Korean brands championing them and subsequently promoting a kinder approach to the controversial exfoliation trend.
In fact, Korean skin care has been something of a savior for our irritated skin barriers of late. Much of Korean skin care shines a light on reducing inflammation rather than drying out skin. "Promoting hydration as well as soothing ingredients is a primary focus in Korean skin care," confirms Cosmetic Chemist Ramón Pagán. "This is a contrast to the products we tend to see in the west, which can be more astringent or irritating to the skin with higher percentages of active ingredients."
Pagán explains that thanks to skin-care marketing in the early '00s, the Western approach to skin care has been hooked on stripping skin: getting rid of the 'bad' stuff like excess oil and clogged pores. Conversely, Korean skin care is about nourishing the skin. Reddit's skin-care obsessives concur that Western skin care can be disagreeable, particularly for those with dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin.
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@hkjennylee #greenscreen and not to mention the dupe has bifida as the FIRST ingredient while the original has it as the SECOND… tea 🙈 #koreanskincare #kbeautyblogger #kbeauty #koreanskincareproducts #kbeautyskincare ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
Olu seconds this. "Western skin-care products tend to take a corrective approach," she tells R29. "Specifically, the formulas are dedicated to solving a skin-care concern, whether it is retinol, azelaic acid, or BHAs and AHAs," which are different kinds of exfoliating acids. "[Western skin care] is meant to help with anti-aging and things like redness," explains Olu, "while Korean skin care focuses more on maintenance and skin barrier health."
It's why you'll find excellent ingredients, like ceramides (very moisturizing and hold the skin barrier together), centella asiatica aka cica (a herb that decreases inflammation, redness, puffiness, and swelling) and niacinamide (vitamin B3, which keeps the skin barrier intact and reduces excess oil) in most Korean skin care. The color-correcting cream that recently went viral on TikTok? It includes cica — and of course it's Korean.

A reason why Korean skin care is so popular — and so good — is because the Korean government is said to have actively invested in its beauty brands to better develop cosmetics.

Redditors also point out that Korean skin care includes 'special ingredients' and technologies that Western products don't. Snail mucin (excreted from snails) is a popular moisturizing ingredient among Korean brands, with influencers and experts extolling the virtues of products like CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Gel. "This is a great barrier-protecting ingredient," Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa told R29 recently, "but it also gives your skin a great shine."
Then there's allantoin, popular in Korean skin care for locking moisture into the skin, as well as rice extract (said to increase hydration, making skin plump), and bee propolis, a natural substance produced by honey bees that has been proven to smooth skin and protect it from environmental factors, such as pollution.
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Beyond the more skin-friendly and interesting approach to ingredients, it has been reported that Korean beauty and skin care is one of the country's biggest businesses and exports. As the world's third largest cosmetics exporter, South Korea's cosmetics exports outperformed home appliances, pharmaceuticals, and smartphones in 2020. Data also suggests that South Korea's skin-care market will reach $11.4 billion in value by 2026. Interestingly, one of the reasons why Korean skin care is so popular — and so good — is because the Korean government is said to have actively invested in its beauty brands in order to better develop cosmetics.
"When K-beauty was introduced to the Western market through popular channels and social media, a phenomenon was awakened, creating demand and opportunity for business," says Nina Vargas, a global business strategist for beauty, fashion, and wellness brands. "This allowed Korean cosmetics companies to obtain help from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA)." KITA is a nonprofit organization that helps small and medium enterprises enter markets abroad.
What's more, Dr. Jenelle Kim, Founder and Formulator of JBK Wellness Labs, says that Korean skin care uses the latest science to understand exactly what our skin needs. "It utilizes ingredients in new ways, while remaining committed to formulating with centuries-proven ingredients and, for some brands [like Erborian, Sulwhasoo, and Beauty of Joseon], the powers of herbal medicine." Ginseng and green tea are super popular, for example.
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Dr. Kim adds that our skin's needs change with the climate or environmental factors, like air quality, makeup trends, and hormones. Korean skin care has consistently switched things up in an effort to help us stay in balance. Pagán agrees that heritage surrounds Korean skin care. "Lots of brands use 'hanbang' ingredients, which are based around traditional Korean medicine," he says. "These are often herbal and naturally derived." Post-pandemic, when we're more interested than ever in keeping healthy, highlighting medicinal skin care makes Korean products appear trustworthy and effective, elevating them above others.
In short, skin care is an inherent part of Korean culture. Head to TikTok and you'll see that Koreans view beauty not as a luxury but as a necessity. Countless videos suggest that from a young age, people are taught to take care of their skin and to look at skin care as a preventative measure. Year-round sun protection is also a big trend among Korean skin-care lovers, with a high factor, broad spectrum sunscreen said to be one of the most important products in a routine.
Another reason Korean skin care is regarded so highly is because the majority of it is affordable. Head to Reddit and you'll spot skin-care lovers swapping reviews of Innisfree, Tonymoly, and Etude House. The promise of soothed, hydrated skin is their main pull, but so are the relatively low prices, with most cleansers, serums, and creams coming in under $25.
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Amid a cost of living crisis, it makes sense that we want to spend as little as possible on beauty products. When it comes to Korean skin care, though, tightening your purse strings doesn't mean compromising on quality. All the proven skin-care ingredients are there, from retinol to acids, just in gentler concentrations and sophisticated formulas. Some TikTokers even point out that Korean skincare often dupes brands and products that charge hundreds for very similar ingredients and results. "It doesn't matter if you spend $1 or $100. If it's K-Beauty, chances are it's great," thinks Vargas.
Over time, the 10-product routine has given way to routines with fewer steps. Excessive layering doesn't work for everyone, particularly if you have a strict budget or your skin is sensitive, reactive, or acne-prone. But Korean skin care is ever evolving and always adapting to consumer needs. Because of this, three- or four-step routines are now trending among Korean influencers. TikTokers are sharing their easy skin-care rituals, which always start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser followed by a serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. This is a quick and effective routine that dermatologists and skin-care experts often recommend for skin types across the board.
Pagán believes that Korean skin care stays fun and inventive. "It's simple but impactful and you get luxury experiences at affordable prices. You don't see Western brands readily introducing staple Korean concepts, like fermented ingredients or snail secretion." Add to that the serious investment and spotlight on nourishing the skin (rather than getting rid of the 'nasty' stuff) and it's clear to see why Korean skin care is regarded so highly. But is it better? Essentially, the very best skin care is the skin care that works for you. If it happens to be Korean, that's great. But if it's something else entirely, why switch it up?
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This story was originally published on Refinery29UK.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Korean skin care emphasizes hydration, exfoliation, and nutrition for healthy, happy skin.

Title:

Content: Prestigious position for Korean skincare products in the UAE
Korean skincare products sweep the UAE market
Unique and effective ingredients in the product range drive demand in the UAE and around the world
Retailers in the UAE are seeing a dramatic increase in the sale of Korean beauty products recently.
Along with the wave of popularity of South Korean drama, movies and music, the country ’ s skincare products have also gained prominence.
Shiraz Khan, Chief Operating Officer of Aster GCC Retail, said: “We have observed a significant increase in demand for Korean beauty products, both globally and within the UAE.
At myAster, we saw significant growth of 60 per cent in the first quarter of the year, with skin care and sun protection products being the most sought after, contributing 61 per cent and 38 per cent respectively to our sales. ”
Other retailers have confirmed the growing demand for them.
Jonathan Watts, General Manager of AS Watson, said: “Korean skincare has become a treasure trove in the beauty industry globally and the Middle East is no exception. We have seen a significant rise in Watson this year, with sales doubling so far in 2024, compared to last year. ”
According to e-commerce company Noon, they have taken several steps to meet the growing demand.
Retika Jain, Head of Beauty at Noon, said: “Korean beauty products are seeing huge customer demand from Noon, especially in the skincare and makeup categories, and to meet this growing demand, Noon has partnered with local and Korean vendors to offer original Korean beauty products at very competitive prices, and deliver them quickly. ”
Reasons for fame
There are several reasons for the rise in popularity of Korean beauty products according to experts.
Jonathan Watts said: “Consumers highly value the focus on skin care within Korean cosmetics, as well as the unique and effective ingredients found in the product range.
Ingredients such as Hartlev leaves and snail extract, although unconventional, are effective and gentle on the skin. ”
He said there were other factors that made the skincare package so popular among the younger generation.
He added: “The majority of Korean beauty product brands are not harsh on the skin, and are in line with the growing consumer preference for ethically sourced products.
The influence of TikTok and the boom in Korean pop culture are also major contributors to the phenomenon we see with Korean beauty products. ”
Shiraz Khan
Shiraz said the unique preparation of the products also played an important role in increasing their popularity.
“Innovative formulas, high efficiency and a cultural wave driven by Korean beauty trends through social media and influencers are all factors that have helped their spread. Korean beauty products are known for their advanced skin care techniques and natural ingredients, which attract a wide population looking for effective and gentle skin care solutions, ” he said.
Glassy skin, dewy appearance
Jonathan said that “glass skin ” among Koreans is one of the most desirable things.
“This requires a careful skincare regimen that focuses on hydration, exfoliation and nutrition, areas where Korean beauty brands excel.
Products such as serums, masks, eye masks and extracts with moisturizing ingredients are essential for a vitreous skin appearance. ”
Regardless of the appearance of glassy skin, there are many other common Korean trends.
Retika Jane said: “In double cleansing, an oil cleanser is used, followed by a water cleanser to get clean skin. ”
“The trend of using makeup for both beauty and care has also increased.
Customers want to use clean, multi-purpose products that not only work as a lipstick or dye but also moisturize the skin, contain a sun protection factor (SPF) and provide comprehensive nutrition.
“The ‘ dew ’ look is one of the top trends this year, with a particular focus on glossy lips that look fuller. ”
Demand is expected to continue significantly in the near future.
Shiraz said: “We expect this trend to continue as consumers become increasingly aware of the benefits of Korean beauty products, their popularity is not just a fleeting fad but a testament to their quality and effectiveness in meeting different skin care needs. ”
Jonathan agreed: “Korean beauty is here to stay and is likely to become an integral part of everyone ’ s beauty routine in the future.
Watson currently owns more than 30 Korean beauty brands, and we are expected to launch 10 more this year. ”
Khaleej Times - Arabic Edition
www.khaleejtimes.com

Korean skin care products are known for their advanced techniques and natural ingredients.

The term "Korean glass skin" has seen 134 percent year-over-year growth on TikTok, with related product sales also rising.

Title:

Content: default-output-block.skip-main

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

How TikTok Brought Back K-Beauty

While the K-beauty craze of the 2010s has waned in recent years, brands and retailers are seeing renewed interest in the category thanks to TikTok.
BoF PROFESSIONAL

Key insights

  • After K-beauty’s international spike in popularity more than a decade ago, it entered a period of decline at the start of the 2020s.
  • TikTok is leading a K-beauty resurgence. Laneige, Innisfree, Beauty of Joseon and Cosrx are among brands going viral on the platform.
  • K-beauty-inspired trends are also taking off. “Korean glass skin” saw 134 percent year-over-year growth on TikTok over a six-month period ending April 30.

When Laneige launched at Sephora US in 2017, its K-beauty identity was front and centre.

The Amorepacific-owned brand was featured in the retailer’s K-beauty endcap, a K-beauty menu bar section and multiple K-beauty campaigns. But half a decade later, hype around the category had faded, according to Julien Bouzitat, US brand general manager for Laneige and sister brand Innisfree.

“The first time, it was very successful,” he said. “The second time, not as great … [Sephora’s] takeaway was that the first wave of K-beauty had gone away.”

The K-beauty craze emerged in the US around 2012 with the rise of BB cream, and spurred countless subsequent beauty trends such as sheet masks, 10-step skin care routines and blemish patches. In the mid- to late 2010s, K-beauty fervour was so high that imported labels like Laneige and Tony Moly quickly faced competition from major US brands launching copycat products as well as from new K-beauty-inspired startups like Glow Recipe, Then I Met You and Peach & Lily.

But as K-beauty went mainstream, brands’ use of the term as a selling point died down — until now. Korean brands have TikTok to thank. The hashtag #kbeauty has 9.5 billion views on TikTok. The term “Korean glass skin,” a K-beauty trend that was popular in 2017, saw 134 percent year-over-year growth on TikTok over a six-month period ending April 30, according to data science company Spate and market research firm Circana. Sales of products that help users achieve the Korean “glass skin” look have risen, too. The viral Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is now the number one best-selling beauty product on Amazon after taking off on TikTok. The brand said it has now sold 15 million bottles as of September.

While K-Beauty’s original heyday was driven in part by gimmick marketing and attention-grabbing packaging, its resurgence is due to a new “skintellectual” age group being drawn to product efficacy. Moreover, affordable price points are encouraging cost-conscious and dupe-obsessed shoppers to buy.

“There’s been a second generation which became more [focused on the] brand-building aspect of K-beauty and this Korean skincare expertise,” said Bouzitat.

The Wave Recedes

Since the 1990s, Hallyu — the “Korean wave” — has been growing outside South Korea’s borders, as the South Korean government encouraged international exports globally. The 2010s saw an influx of Korean culture and products, especially entertainment and beauty. US-based Sephora and Ulta Beauty stocked up on Korean beauty brands, while beauty conglomerates acquired them. In 2018, L’Oréal purchased K-beauty brand 3CE parent company Nanda, while the Estée Lauder Companies bought Dr. Jart+ in 2019.

“It took skin care to a whole other level. I don’t think it will ever be the same, thanks to the influence of K-beauty,” said Lindsay Ullman, co-founder of beauty consulting firm The View from 32 and a former merchandising executive at Sephora.

But its popularity kicked off an influx of K-beauty inspired brands stateside. Soko Glam and Peach & Lily both started as e-tailers selling imported K-beauty products before their founders, Charlotte Cho and Alicia Yoon, respectively, expanded with their own skin care brands. Quickly, legacy brands like Lancôme and Clinique began introducing their own versions of BB creams, sheet masks or cleansing oils.

Momentum slowed in the 2020s. Estée Lauder Companies reported in August that Dr. Jart+’s net sales declined during the 2023 fiscal year. In the US, Sephora stopped stocking at least 10 K-beauty brands that it sold in the late 2010s, including Too Cool for School, Neogen, Amorepacific and Son & Park, and no longer highlights its K-beauty section on its homepage. Amorepacific’s profits plunged by 28.5 percent in 2022. Even upstarts like Glow Recipe and Hero Cosmetics, that once traded on being K-beauty-inspired brands, stopped using the term in their marketing and communications.

An Influencer-Led Renaissance

It’s not the multi-step routine tutorials — which were the hallmark of 2010s K-beauty — driving the category’s comeback. Instead, it’s individual viral product crazes sparked by influencers and celebrities.

K-beauty sunscreens with formulas that don’t have a white cast, for example, have been a hit with influencers. Innisfree’s Daily UV Defense sunscreen, which went viral on TikTok, was explicitly cited as one of the top-selling products driving Amorepacific Group’s North America growth this year. Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun sunscreen has received 587 million views on TikTok, driven by influencers like Ava Lee, who is working on a collaboration with the brand planned for release in 2024. While the product is not yet approved by the FDA for sale in the US, customers have tried to find workarounds, ordering from cross-border websites or unverified Amazon sellers.

Meanwhile, Laneige is seeing double-digit sales growth in the US, said Bouzitat. The brand has been a hit on TikTok for the past two years thanks in part to its ASMR product videos and high-profile brand ambassador, “Euphoria” actress Sydney Sweeney. The efforts the brand has made on TikTok are part of a broader North America marketing push on the part of Amorepacific Group, which also launched a rebrand campaign for luxury brand Sulwhasoo this year. The company also returned to profitability in the second quarter of 2023, reporting that overseas revenue grew 27 percent, boosted by 105 percent growth in North America.

Unlike prestige predecessors, affordable K-beauty brands have become a draw for TikTok’s dupe-obsessed young shoppers. Beauty influencer Stephanie Valentine, known on TikTok as Glamzilla, prompted a sell out of Innisfree’s Dewy Glow Moisturizer when she offered it as a dupe for Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer. Within 48 hours, the item sold out at Sephora US and Canada as well as on the brand’s website.

“Innovation, no matter what category you’re talking about, clients are going to always be excited about that,” said Ullman. “Korean skin care is such an innovative player, so as long as they keep coming out with new formats, new textures, new ways to talk about skin care, there’s opportunity.”

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Korean skin care brands use social media, like TikTok, to showcase products through influencers and celebrities.

Korean skin care brands emphasize unique ingredients and preventative skin care.

Korean skin care has boomed internationally due to its use of natural ingredients and gentle, advanced techniques.

Korean skin care uniquely utilizes ingredients, combining new methods with proven formulations.

Korean skin care emphasizes prevention and maintaining a healthy skin barrier to achieve a luminous complexion.

Korean skin care products are popular among those with sensitive skin due to their gentle ingredients.

Korean skin care products are often more affordable than Western brands.

Korean skin care philosophy combines natural ingredients, herbal medicine, and science to address skin needs.

Title:

Content: What's Hot

The Best Korean Skin Care Product Brands For 2024

K-beauty products have slowly risen to trend, becoming bestsellers on almost all e-commerce platforms. So what is all the hype about? Let us break it down for you along with the best Korean skin care brands below.

Best Skin Care Product Brands Photo: Amazon

Korean people are renowned for their sought-after "glass skin" appearance. With a growing emphasis on skin health, many consumers are turning to the best Korean skincare products for its use of natural ingredients such as ginseng and rice water, along with reliable staples like retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. From cleansers and moisturisers to face masks and serums, Korean skincare brands provide options for every budget and skin type.

Be it if you have oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin, Korean brands offer a diverse range of products tailored to address specific issues like acne, aging, hyperpigmentation, and hydration. This versatility has made Korean skincare a favourite among beauty enthusiasts seeking effective solutions at various price points.

To simplify your search for the ideal skincare regimen, we've curated a list of some of the best Korean skincare products and brands below.

Whether you prioritise gentle formulations, anti-aging benefits, or hydration, these recommendations will help you discover a brand that aligns perfectly with your skincare needs and goals. Explore the world of Korean skincare and achieve radiant, healthy-looking skin with products trusted by millions worldwide.

How to choose the best Korean skincare products

  • Identify Your Skin Type: Determine whether your skin is oily, dry, combination, sensitive, or acne-prone. Korean skincare offers targeted products for each type.

  • Understand Your Skin Concerns: Whether it's acne, aging signs, hyperpigmentation, or dehydration, prioritise products designed to address your specific concerns.

  • Read Ingredient Lists: Look for key ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration, niacinamide for brightening, and tea tree oil for acne-prone skin. Avoid products with potentially irritating ingredients if you have sensitive skin.

  • Consider Product Texture: Choose textures that suit your preferences and needs—whether lightweight gels for oily skin or rich creams for dry skin.

  • Check for Certifications: Look for certifications like K-Beauty or EWG Verified, ensuring products meet certain safety and quality standards.

  • Trial Sizes and Patch Tests: Start with trial sizes or samples when possible to test compatibility with your skin. Conduct patch tests to avoid adverse reactions.

  • Create a Routine: Build a comprehensive skincare routine that includes cleansing, toning, treating (with serums or essences), moisturising, and sun protection, tailored to your skin's needs and concerns.

How we chose these brands for you

  • Effectiveness: Each brand was evaluated for the efficacy of its products in addressing various skin concerns such as acne, aging, hydration, and sensitivity.

  • Customer Reviews: Insights from real users helped gauge overall satisfaction, product performance, and consistency in delivering promised results.

  • Brand Reputation: We considered the reputation and trustworthiness of each brand within the skincare community, focusing on their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

  • Value for Money: We assessed the pricing relative to the quality and benefits offered by each brand, ensuring you get the best value for your investment.

  • Ethical Standards: Brands that uphold ethical standards in sourcing ingredients, manufacturing processes, and sustainability practices were given preference.

Below is a comprehensive list of best Korean skin care brands

  1. Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe Photo: Amazon

Glow Recipe is a beloved Korean skincare brand known for its innovative and fruit-forward products. If you're wondering whether it's a good fit for your skin type, you're in luck—Glow Recipe caters to a variety of skin types, from dry and sensitive to oily and combination.

Their product range is extensive, featuring everything from cleansers and toners to serums, moisturisers, and masks. Popular items include the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask and the Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream. These products are formulated with gentle yet effective ingredients like watermelon, avocado, and hyaluronic acid, which are designed to nourish and hydrate the skin without irritation.

This brand has carved out a strong position in the market, often praised for its fun, colourful packaging and effective formulations. The brand enjoys a solid reputation, frequently highlighted in beauty magazines and loved by influencers.

Products from Glow Recipe worth the hype

2, ILLIYOON

ILLIYOON Photo: Amazon

ILLIYOON is a rising star in the Korean skincare scene, known for its focus on gentle yet effective formulations suitable for sensitive skin types. Their product range spans from basic skincare essentials to targeted treatments, making it a go-to brand for those seeking simplicity and effectiveness.

The brand emphasises natural ingredients known for their soothing and moisturising properties, such as ceramides, panthenol (provitamin B5), and madecassoside (derived from centella asiatica). These ingredients help strengthen the skin barrier, hydrate deeply, and calm irritation—ideal for sensitive and dry skin types.

While perhaps not as widely recognized as some major Korean beauty brands, ILLIYOON is dermatologically tested, ensuring safety and efficacy for various skin types, reflecting its commitment to quality and skin-friendly formulations. Feedback from users often highlights the brand’s ability to soothe sensitive skin, reduce redness, and provide long-lasting hydration.

Some of the best products from ILLIYOON range

3. COSRX

COSRX Photo: Amazon

Established in 2014, COSRX has quickly gained a strong reputation among skincare enthusiasts and professionals alike. Their products are often clinically evaluated and tested, ensuring safety and efficacy. They're particularly beneficial for acne-prone, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types, thanks to their gentle yet effective formulations.

They prioritise using minimal ingredients and focus on scientifically-backed actives that deliver results without unnecessary additives.

Their range includes essentials like cleansers, toners, exfoliants (like the popular BHA Blackhead Power Liquid), serums (such as the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence), moisturisers, and acne treatments. COSRX products are formulated with key ingredients like snail mucin, Centella Asiatica, AHA/BHA acids, and propolis, targeting issues such as acne, aging, and uneven skin tone.

The brand's straightforward approach and affordable pricing make it a favourite among those looking for reliable skincare solutions backed by science.

Popular product from this fast forward rising brand

4. LANEIGE

LANEIGE Photo: Amazon

Users have continually praised LANEIGE for its ability to deliver noticeable improvements in skin hydration and texture. Since its inception it has built a solid reputation for combining scientific research with effective skincare solutions.

Their products feature ingredients like Water Science™ technology, which includes mineral water, hyaluronic acid, and proprietary blends like the Advanced Water Science™ technology found in their Water Bank line. Popular items include the Water Sleeping Mask, Lip Sleeping Mask, and the Cream Skin Refiner, all designed to provide intense hydration and nourishment.

Many appreciate the luxurious feel and effective results of their products, especially the overnight masks which leave skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

LANEIGE's commitment to hydration and skincare innovation continues to resonate with customers worldwide, making it a trusted name in the world of Korean beauty.

Their prominent product lineup include

5. belif

belif Photo: Amazon

Belif is a Korean skincare brand that’s revered for its effective solutions, especially for hydration and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. If you're dealing with dryness, dullness, or sensitivity, this brand offers promising remedies.

They cater  to a wide range of skin types, particularly benefiting those with dry, combination, and sensitive skin. Their formulations are free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, appealing to users seeking clean skincare options.

Their lineup includes moisturisers (like the True Cream Aqua Bomb and Moisturizing Bomb), cleansers, serums, masks, and toners. Key ingredients such as comfrey leaf, oats, and calendula help soothe and nourish the skin, while maintaining a gentle approach suitable for sensitive skin types.

The brand continues to be praised for its innovative approach to skincare, making it a favourite among skincare enthusiasts looking for gentle yet powerful solutions.

Standout products include that are under $40

6, innisfree

innisfree Photo: Amazon

Innisfree has cemented its place as a staple in many skincare routines, known for its extensive range of products and dedicated retail outlets worldwide. They offer a diverse array of skincare items including cleansers, toners, essences, serums (such as the Green Tea Seed Serum), moisturizers, masks, and sunscreens.

Their products are formulated with natural ingredients sourced from Korea's pristine Jeju Island, like green tea, volcanic clay, and orchid extracts, catering to a wide spectrum of skin types. The brand is particularly favoured for its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, earning a positive reputation among environmentally conscious consumers.

Founded in 2000, Innisfree has grown into a globally recognized name in skincare, praised for its effective formulations rooted in natural ingredients. Reviews highlight Innisfree's ability to deliver noticeable results, from improved skin texture to enhanced hydration and a healthy glow.

Some staples you should include in your skincare routine

7. AESTURA

AESTURA Photo: Amazon

AESTURA has made a name for itself by focusing on products designed for sensitive and compromised skin. Their offerings cater to individuals who need gentle, soothing care, often including those with conditions like eczema or rosacea. The brand boasts a comprehensive range of products, including cleansers, toners, moisturisers, and specialised treatments.

This brand's products are formulated with dermatologically tested ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and Centella Asiatica, which help to strengthen the skin barrier, provide deep hydration, and soothe irritation.

Their key products, like the Atobarrier 365 Cream and the Theracne 365 Clear Deep Cleansing Foam, are highly regarded for their effectiveness and gentleness.

Feedback highlights the noticeable improvement in skin hydration and overall health, with many appreciating the brand's commitment to gentle yet effective skincare. If you're seeking reliable, dermatologist-approved skincare, AESTURA is definitely worth considering.

Products that may help you achieve that glass skin

AESTURA A-CICA365 Soft Calming Mask Pad

AESTURA A-CICA 365 Calming Cream with Blemish Calming Serum

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes Korean skincare different from Western skincare?

  • Korean skincare emphasises prevention, hydration, and achieving a luminous complexion through consistent and gentle care. It often incorporates innovative ingredients and practices rooted in traditional Korean beauty rituals.

How should I incorporate Korean skincare products into my routine?

  • Start with a basic routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, then gradually introduce additional products like serums or masks based on your skin concerns. Consistency and patience are important as your skin adjusts to new products.

Are Korean skincare products suitable for men?

  • Yes, Korean skincare brands often offer gender-neutral or specifically formulated products for men. These products focus on hydration, anti-aging, and soothing properties, catering to the unique needs of male skin.

How long does it take to see results from Korean skincare products?

  • Results from Korean skincare products can vary depending on individual skin types and concerns. Generally, users may notice improvements in hydration and skin texture within a few weeks of consistent use.

What does one mean when they say Korean glass skin?

  • Korean glass skin refers to a skincare trend aimed at achieving a smooth, flawless complexion with a reflective, dewy finish. It involves meticulous hydration, exfoliation, and use of lightweight, hydrating products to enhance skin radiance.

Wrapping up

Korean skincare brands offer a pathway to discovering effective and innovative skincare solutions. With a focus on quality ingredients, gentle formulations, and a rich heritage of skincare wisdom, these brands cater to diverse skin types and concerns. By choosing from our carefully curated list of recommendations, you can tap into a world of skincare known for its commitment to hydration, radiance, and overall skin health. Whether you're seeking to address specific skincare issues or enhance your daily routine, Korean skincare offers a holistic approach that blends tradition with modern science, promising visible results and a renewed sense of confidence in your skin.

Disclaimer: The above content is non-editorial and produced by a third party partner. Outlook India does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of the content*.

*The product prices mentioned in the article are subject to change

Title:

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HomeAsian News by Media-OutreachA.S. Watson and Amorepacific Signed Agreement to Bring More K-Beauty to Customers in Asia

A.S. Watson and Amorepacific Signed Agreement to Bring More K-Beauty to Customers in Asia

SEOUL, KOREA & HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 June 2023 – Korean beauty, also known as K-Beauty, has left an indelible mark upon the world of beauty from introducing sheet masks, BB creams, and serums to people’s daily skincare routines. A.S. Watson Group, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, and South Korea’s biggest beauty company Amorepacific Group signed agreement in Seoul, Korea to further strengthen the collaboration between the two companies to entice customers around Asia with K-beauty.

Malina Ngai, CEO of A.S. Watson (Asia & Europe), is excited about the agreement, “Our strategic partnership with Amorepacific Group started in 2019 and we’re excited to take it to the next level. K-beauty products are globally lauded for their use of creative ingredients combined with science-backed formulas. We have observed that K-beauty is widely searched, and we continue to see steady increase in demand not only in Asia but also in Europe.”

“For the A.S. Watson Group, we recorded a strong double-digit sales growth for overall K-Beauty products in the 12 months. Leverage our extensive O+O (Offline plus Online) retail platforms across Asia and Europe, I am excited about this strategic partnership with Amorepacific Group to enable our customers to access and experience an even wider range of quality beauty products inspired by the beautiful Korean culture.”

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Sangmok Lee, President of Amorepacific Group, said, “Through strengthening our partnership with A.S. Watson Group, we are poised to forge advantageous synergies between two industry leaders to effectively respond to the increasing diverse needs of customers in beauty care.”

Ngai continued, “We are also aware of the evolving needs of eco-conscious customers hence we will work together with Amorepacific to introduce clean beauty products that minimise environmental damage.”

Double-Digit Growth Opportunity in K-Beauty

According to recent report[1] , global K-beauty products market generated USD8.3 billion in revenue in 2021 and it is projected to reach USD18.32 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2022 to 2030. This highlights the significant potential for the K-beauty market.

With over 16,100 stores under 12 retail brands in 28 markets, A.S. Watson Group offers the trendiest K- beauty products to our customers, making it the go-to destination for K-beauty enthusiasts. Its core customers are predominantly young females who are seeking the latest and trendiest beauty products.

Currently, Watsons is offering Amorepacific’s haircare brands RYO and Mise-En-Scene, as well as beauty brands ETUDE and Innisfree to customers in Asia. Mise-En-Scene has been particularly well-received by customers and has been experiencing a compound sales growth of almost 30% since 2019.

More Beauty Brands Inspired by Korean Culture

As part of the strengthened partnership, A.S. Watson Group and Amorepacific Group will collaborate to introduce more derma and premium skincare brands to A.S. Watson’s customers in Asia and Europe, such as illiyoon and Aestura. This partnership aims to expand the reach of these brands and provide customers with even more innovative and effective skincare options.

[1] Source: K-Beauty Products Market Report by Straits Research (https://straitsresearch.com/report/k-beauty-products-market)

Hashtag: #ASWatson #Amerepacific

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Korean skin care's global boom is due to its effectiveness, affordability, and social media influence, driving double-digit sales growth for many brands.

TikTok has been particularly effective for Korean skin care brands, with #kbeauty garnering 9.5 billion views and driving viral sales.

Korean skin care remains popular due to its unique philosophy, effective products, and successful marketing strategies.

Korean skin care takes a holistic and preventative approach to promote long-term skin health, differing from Western skin care's harsh and corrective methods.


The Elgin Marbles, a collection of ancient Greek sculptures removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, are at the center of a long-standing dispute between Greece and the UK over their return.

The Greek government has been seeking the return of the marbles, which they consider to be looted treasures that form the cornerstone of their national heritage.

The British Museum maintains that the marbles were legally acquired and belong in a universal museum alongside other artifacts.

However, the issue of the Parthenon Marbles has been on the agenda of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) for decades, with the committee ruling in favor of their return to Greece.

In recent years, there have been secret talks between the British Museum and the Greek government about the possibility of returning the marbles to Greece, with the British Museum's chairman, George Osborne, proposing a loan deal that would allow the sculptures to return to Athens in exchange for Greek treasures being displayed in London.

The proposed deal has been met with skepticism by some, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is concerned that the sculptures would never be returned if they were loaned to Greece.

Despite the challenges, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis remains committed to securing the return of the marbles, which he considers to be a matter of national importance.

The return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece would be a significant cultural and historical event, with many Greeks considering it a matter of national pride.

Actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry has weighed in on the debate, calling for the return of the marbles to Greece and suggesting that they could be replaced with a virtual experience in the British Museum.

The use of digital technologies, such as virtual exhibitions or 3D scanning, could play a significant role in facilitating the sharing and preservation of cultural artifacts like the Elgin Marbles.

The British Museum could potentially use similar technology to make the Elgin Marbles more accessible, which might be a step towards resolving the dispute over their return to Greece.

The repatriation of cultural artifacts is a complex issue that has been approached in various ways by different countries and institutions, with some making significant strides in returning looted items to their countries of origin.

The experience of other countries and institutions can inform the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, with a potential resolution being a cultural exchange between the British Museum and Greece.

Ultimately, the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles requires a willingness to come to terms with the past and work towards a solution that respects the cultural heritage of the countries of origin.

The international community has a role to play in supporting the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, with organizations such as UNESCO and the International Council of Museums providing guidance and expertise on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage.

By working together, the UK and Greek governments can find a solution that respects the cultural heritage of both countries and promotes cultural exchange and understanding.

The Elgin Marbles, a collection of ancient Greek sculptures removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, are at the center of a long-standing dispute between Greece and the UK over their return.

Title:

Content: Opinion

Bring them home

At the end of August, it was reported that around 2,000 artefacts, including gold jewellery and gems, had been stolen from the British Museum over a long period of time.

Chairman of the trustees, George Osborne acknowledged that the museum’s reputation has suffered as a result of its mishandling of the thefts, which sparked outrage after it was revealed that most of the stolen antiquities may never be recovered due to the museum’s poor record keeping, raising questions about security and leadership.

For decades, the British Museum has argued that the Parthenon Marbles should not be returned to Greece since the country lacks a suitable location for their display.

The Acropolis Museum, on the other hand, has solidified its place among the world’s top ten best museums and is the go-to museum in Athens where one can readily understand why Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization. So, why not return the Parthenon marbles to their rightful home, and how did they end up in the British Museum in the first place?

In the early 1800s, when British aristocrat Lord Elgin sailed home from Greece, he also shipped to England some of the greatest treasures of antiquity, which included a collection of Greek statues and carved frieze panels that once decorated the Parthenon in Athens.

The so-called Elgin Marbles were later sold to the British government with the approval of the Ottomans who ruled Greece at the time and became the most storied artefacts in the British Museum’s collection. They also became the subject of perhaps the world’s most notorious cultural dispute.

The British maintain that the marbles were legally acquired and they belong in a universal museum alongside other artefacts, excluding the 2,000 that were now reportedly stolen. The Greeks, on the other hand, view them as looted treasures that form the cornerstone of their national heritage.

For decades, the issue of the Parthenon Marbles has been on the agenda of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP). In fact, it was Melina Mercouri, the Greek Minister of Culture at the time, who raised the matter of their return during the 1982 Unesco World Conference.

Although the forum ruled in favour of the cause, stating that restitution of works illegally removed from their countries of origin is a fundamental principle of people-to-people cultural relations, Mercouri’s British counterpart responded that the UK Government “could not intervene in the affairs of a private establishment like the British Museum.”

While efforts are underway to retrieve the stolen antiquities, the British Museum’s collections may never be recovered because the museum’s records only identify the collection as a whole and fail to list the individual pieces.

This is not the first time the museum’s image as a safe keeper of global treasures has been called into doubt. The poor condition of the British Museum’s western block has been recorded numerous times. Images of water leaking into the Parthenon gallery were broadcast on Greek television in 2018, resulting from a cracked glass ceiling pane. Although the glass was replaced with new fixings and no sculptures were destroyed, a leaking roof in 2021 resulted in water seeping through, once again, delaying the reopening of the Greek galleries following the pandemic.

The British Museum claimed that none of the statues had been damaged and the issue was addressed. However, for Greece, these events demonstrate that the British Museum is failing to care for the Parthenon Marbles, reinforcing the country’s legitimate claim that the sculptures be permanently returned to Athens.

Earlier this year, the British Museum moved closer to a landmark agreement with Athens that could result in the return of the marbles. Although existing legislation makes it illegal to give away treasures, Osborne is reportedly seeking to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles as part of a cultural exchange that would see other Greek antiques displayed at the British Museum. Over half of the British people support their repatriation to Greece.

Hundreds of statues from the Archaic and Classical periods can be found at the ultramodern Acropolis Museum. The top level is the museum’s showcase, which provides a visual link to the Acropolis and allows visitors to view both the monument and its sculptures. The majority of the Parthenon Marbles will be displayed there upon their anticipated return.

The Parthenon Sculptures were made in Greece by Greeks to honour the glory of Greece. They represent millions of people’s cultural identities. Greece is their true home. It is where they belong.

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The Greek government has been seeking the return of the marbles, which they consider to be looted treasures that form the cornerstone of their national heritage.

The British Museum maintains that the marbles were legally acquired and belong in a universal museum alongside other artifacts.

However, the issue of the Parthenon Marbles has been on the agenda of the Unesco Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) for decades, with the committee ruling in favor of their return to Greece.

In recent years, there have been secret talks between the British Museum and the Greek government about the possibility of returning the marbles to Greece, with the British Museum's chairman, George Osborne, proposing a loan deal that would allow the sculptures to return to Athens in exchange for Greek treasures being displayed in London.

Title:

Content: LONDON (Reuters) - The historic Greek treasure of Elgin Marbles is nearing its return to its country of origin, 200 years after it was moved and ended up in the British Museum.
The Parthenon marble, seen as a symbol of freedom in Greece, was controversially moved out of the country by a British diplomat in a move that ignited a debate that lasted more than two centuries.
Greece has made repeated requests for the sculptures to be returned after they were controversially removed from one of the world ’ s most historic landmarks.
Prime Minister Rishi Sonak had been scheduled to meet his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday, but Downing Street canceled the arrangement and sent Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Duden instead.
The head of the British Museum, former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne, is pushing for a temporary loan to be returned to Greece, and is believed to have drawn up a deal.
But both Sonak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer say they will not support a change to the British Museum law that currently bars their return.
The museum said it was continuing "constructive discussions" about their possible return.
Gin Marble
The Algin marble is 17 sculptures that are 2,500 years old.
His pieces were part of a frieze that adorned the ancient Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
The marbles make up about half of the 160-meter-long frieze of the Parthenon Temple, which is considered one of the greatest cultural monuments in the world.
These sculptures are seen as symbols of freedom in Greece, where they are known as Parthenon marble.
British diplomat Lord Elgin removed the sculptures from the majestic Parthenon temple in the early 19th century.
At that time, he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Greece.
Beginning in 1801, Lord Elgin is said to have supervised the removal of the marble and shipped it to the UK in 170 boxes.
He is said to have claimed to have obtained permission from the Ottoman Empire to move the marble, but despite massive documentation from that period, nothing was found to support his actions.
In the United Kingdom, Lord Elgin received support and criticism, and sold it to the United Kingdom government in 1816 before the marble was transferred to the custody of the British Museum.
The beginning and evolution of the dispute
The controversy between Greece and Britain can be traced back to when the marble first arrived in Britain due to criticism of its removal.
In 1832, Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire before it began trying to recover sculptures and other works of art taken from the country.
In the early 1980s, the actress and then Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercury, reignited the campaign when she made it her mission to secure the return of marble sculptures.
In 1983, she met with the director of the British Museum, Dr. David Wilson, in London to demand the return of the sculptures.
She continued to press the museum and the British government until her death in 1994.
Despite other requests and high-level media coverage, no agreement was reached in the years that followed.
A new campaign
In 2009, Greece stepped up its marble recovery campaign after opening a new museum at the foot of the Acropolis Hill, hoping one day to house it.
In 2014, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney called on Britain to start talks with Greece over the return of the Elgin marble.
The lawyer, who is the wife of Hollywood star George Clooney, said: "This is an injustice that has been going on for a long time, in a world full of intractable conflicts."
In 2015, Greece ruled out any legal action against the UK over Elgin Marbles.
In May 2022, the so-called Fagan fragment — a piece showing the foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis seated — was permanently returned to Athens from a museum in Italy.
It was originally part of the eastern frieze of the temple dating back to the 5th century BC.
The British reaction
In 2022, there were calls to make it easier for UK museums to consider returning cultural objects, but the government rejected them.
Former Conservative culture minister Lord Vaizi also headed a new body aimed at returning Elgin marble to Greece.
The refusal came after then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Greek prime minister during talks at Downing Street in 2021 that the sculpture issue was "a matter for the curators of the British Museum".
Then, at the beginning of December, George Osborne, the head of the British Museum, reportedly held secret talks with the Greek prime minister about the possibility of returning the marble sculptures.
Negotiations between former Treasury Secretary Osborne and Kiriakos Mitsotakis have been taking place in London since November 2021, according to the Greek daily Ta Nea.
The Greek prime minister has on numerous occasions called for the relocation of the sculptures, and even offered to lend other treasures to the British Museum in return.
A spokesman for Project Parthenon, a campaign advocating the return of marble sculptures, hailed the talks as a “positive sign ” that a“ win-win solution ” to the centuries-old debate could be reached.
Possible deal?
In December last year, Downing Street said there were no plans to change the law that prohibits the museum from disposing of objects in its collection except in very limited circumstances.
A spokesman for the prime minister said: “The Parthenon sculptures are legally owned by trustees and are practically independent of the government. ”
Last month, the British Museum issued a statement saying it would not dismantle its collection “because it tells a unique story of our common humanity, ” but added that it wanted to forge a new“ Parthenon partnership ” with Greece.
The talks in Westminster were used by former culture minister Lord Vaizi to press again for the return of the sculptures.
He said that the frieze in Athens "resembles a film that was cut in half and half of it was moved against the will of its owners to another country."
After cancelling the bilateral meeting between Sonak and Mitsotakis on Tuesday, the Greek leader said he was "disappointed".
Mr Sonak said the UK “has no plans to change our approach ” but“ did not ask him [Mr Mitsotakis] what short-term or new ideas have been put forward ”.
Starmer and Mitsotakis Meet
Opposition Labour leader Sir Kiir Starmer met Mitsotakis on Monday.
A source close to Labour leader Sir Kiir Starmer told the Financial Times he was unlikely to change the law if he won the next election.
"We are committed to the current law, but if a mutually acceptable loan deal can be agreed between the British Museum and the Greek government, we will not stand in the way."
Is the agreement possible?
The head of the National Museum, George Osborne, is understood to have drawn up a deal with Athens, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Current legislation bars the museum from legally granting treasures, but Osborne is said to be seeking to repatriate the antiquities as part of a long-term "cultural exchange."
But this loan deal is not expected to permanently end the long-running dispute.
The article was prepared from the site of (Sky News) British channel:
https: / / news.sky.com / story / elgin-marbles-what-are-they-and-how-did-they-end-up-in-the-british-museum-12779617

Title:

Content: Greek premier to meet Starmer and Sunak in renewed push to return Elgin marbles

Kyriakos Mitsotakis due to meet Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer in London next week

Matt Mathers
Saturday 25 November 2023 23:43
Comments
Elgin Marbles: British Museum lends statue

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to raise the issue of the Parthenon sculptures with the UK next week.

He is reportedly due to hold talks with Labour leader Keir Starmer on Monday and prime minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday and will raise the subject with both.

The Financial Times reported that Mr Starmer was open to a potential loan deal that would see parts of the ancient sculptures returned. Labour declined to comment.

The 2,500-year-old sculptures, also known as the Eglin Marbles, were taken from Athens to Britain by agents of Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Eglin, in the early 19th century and never returned. Greece says they were stolen, sparking a bitter and long-running dispute with the UK.

Housed in their own dedicated room, the sculptures of Olympian gods and goddesses, centaurs and warriors are among the greatest at the British Museum.

A 1963 Act of Parliament stops the British Museum from permanently handing them back.

George Osborne, the museum’s chair and the former Conservative Party MP and chancellor, has backed a loan deal.

“I hope we’ll find a way to partner with Greece so that a portion of the Marbles spend part of their time in Athens . . . and we see more of their treasures in return,” he wrote in The Spectator last week. Mr Osborne conceded that “we may well not succeed” but that it was “surely worth the effort”.

The proposed deal, which Mr Osborne and Mr Mitsotakis have held secret talks over, would allow the sculptures to return to Athens in exchange for Greek treasures being displayed in London.

Many of the artworks in question are in storage in museum vaults and have never before been seen.

Mr Mitsotakis, who has said it is his “passion” to get the sculptures back, is scheduled to meet both party leaders next week. He intends to raise the issue in both meetings, a person close to him told the FT.

Mr Sunak is said to be not opposed to the idea of a loan deal but sceptical that the sculptures would ever be returned if they were loaned to Greece, according to the paper.

No 10 has been contacted for comment.

A UK government spokesperson told the FT: “The UK has cared for the Elgin Marbles for generations.

“Our galleries and museums are funded by taxpayers because they are a huge asset to this country. “

We share their treasures with the world, and the world comes to the UK to see them. The collection of the British Museum is protected by law, and we have no plans to change it.”

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The proposed deal has been met with skepticism by some, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is concerned that the sculptures would never be returned if they were loaned to Greece.

Despite the challenges, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis remains committed to securing the return of the marbles, which he considers to be a matter of national importance.

Title:

Content: International
International News
Chinese Premier Urges Return of Bart's Stone Sculpture
The British and Greek governments have been embroiled in a dispute over the marble sculpture of the Parthenon (also known as the Elgin Marbles).
British Prime Minister John Sinclair abruptly canceled a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Mitsotakis on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Sin explained yesterday that Mitsotakis had cancelled his meeting with the other side because he had failed to honour his promise to not publicly dispute the ownership of the stone carvings.
Mitsotakis, in an interview with the British media earlier, demanded that Britain return the famous stolen stone sculpture.
Prime Minister Xi: As Mona Lisa cut half
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is visiting Britain on Sunday, said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the same day that he will discuss the issue of "the return of the British Museum to the marble carvings of the Parthenon Temple in Greece" during his meeting with Mr Sim.
He pointed out that the British Museum should return the stone carvings to Greece, describing some of the artefacts in London and others in Athens as cutting the Mona Lisa in half.
He also criticized the slow progress of negotiations to return the sculpture.
Mitsotakis was scheduled to meet with Mr Sim for 45 minutes in London at noon on Tuesday, but was told the day before that the meeting had been cancelled.
He hinted to reporters on Monday night that Mr. Xin had no guts to discuss the heritage issue with him.
British Conservative Party sources quoted by the BBC said the meeting was unlikely to continue after Mitsotakis made remarks about the stone carvings.
The source said that the British side's position is clear that the stone sculptures will always be the British Museum's collection.
The Guardian reported that Mitsotakis met with the leader of the British opposition Labour Party, Shih Chi-hsien, on Monday, which is believed to be another reason for the failure of the meeting with Xin Wei-cheng.
In 1801, Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, a British diplomat, shipped the stone carvings from Greece to Britain.
British public opinion at the time disputed this.
After much debate, the British Parliament decided not to pursue the Earl of Elgin, who sold the stone sculpture to the British government in 1816 and eventually hid it in the British Museum.
(BBC / The Guardian)
Related Words: British Museum Battersea Temple Kyriakos Mitsotakis Rishi Sunak Anglo-Greek Relations Elgin Stone Sculpture
Previous / Next News

The return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece would be a significant cultural and historical event, with many Greeks considering it a matter of national pride.

Title:

Content: Stephen Fry calls returning Elgin Marbles to Greece 'A classy thing at last'

THE ELGIN Marbles' return to Greece would be "a classy act" by the UK, says Stephen Fry.

Link copied

UK has 'no obligation' to return Elgin Marbles says Widdecombe

Greece has called for the repatriation of the collection of Elgin Marbles for more than 200 years – ever since they were taken from the Parthenon in 1802 on the order of Lord Elgin, Britain's then-ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Mr Fry, who said he is "very keen" to see the sculptures be returned to Athens, has been the latest to join the debate over the home of the monumental artwork.

The actor and broadcaster suggested the marbles be replaced with a virtual experience.

He stressed that with modern technology the carvings can be replicated using lasers.

He said: "So the British Museum would have a Parthenon experience and you go in and see this fabulous technology using AR helmets or whatever you want to wear and you see how the originals were perfectly reproduced and out in place and you watch them being packed up and put on the train."

The sculptures, which sit at the London-based institution, have not been available to be publicly viewed for nearly a year due to ongoing maintenance work and the coronavirus pandemic.

The British Museum is to reopen its Greek galleries to the public on Monday, December 13.

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Critics argue the Elgin Marbles, which sit at the British Museum, should be repatriated to Greece (Image: Getty)

Mr Fry, 64, said: "I know a lot of people say 'we've looked after them' and it's certainly true we've looked after them, but it would be such a classy act.

"I promise you one million Athenians would come on to the street to welcome them.

"They mean so much to the Greeks, they are part of the nature of what Athens is."

The British Museum houses 15 metopes, 17 pedimental figures and 75 metres of the original frieze.

50 metres remain in Athens and other parts are in museums across Europe.

Comedian Stephen Fry called returning the artwork would be 'a classy act' from Britain's side (Image: Getty)

The sculptures have been a subject of debate ever since the were taken from Greece in 1802 (Image: Getty)

Mr Fry claimed a move such as returning the Elgin Marbles is what the country needs: "There would be a hand-shake ceremony and suddenly people would for once look at Britain and say that was a classy act.

"It would be a classy thing and Britain hasn't done a classy thing for some time."

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking to the FT ahead of a foreign policy trip to the UK last month, said: "If I were in the PM's shoes and I were thinking out of the box in terms of global Britannia, and the idea of Britain really playing a role in the post-Brexit world, [it] would be a fantastic coup for public diplomacy if they were to look at this from a different perspective."

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis advocates for 'reunification' of Elgin Marbles

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged Boris Johnson to return the marbles to Athens (Image: Getty)

Then, during his visit to London, he urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to return the priceless ancient sculptures to Greece, again presenting it as a chance for the UK to strengthen its Global Britain standing.

Mr Johnson has so far not shown signs he intends to return the Elgin Marbles.

Speaking to the Greek paper Ta Nea earlier this year, he claimed: "The UK government has a firm, longstanding position on the sculptures.

"They were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s trustees since their acquisition."

This aligns with the view outlined on the British Museum’s website, which backs Lord Elgin's efforts to bring the marbles to the UK in the early 19th century: "His actions were thoroughly investigated by a parliamentary select committee in 1816 and found to be entirely legal, prior to the sculptures entering the collection of the British Museum by act of parliament."

Actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry has weighed in on the debate, calling for the return of the marbles to Greece and suggesting that they could be replaced with a virtual experience in the British Museum.

The use of digital technologies, such as virtual exhibitions or 3D scanning, could play a significant role in facilitating the sharing and preservation of cultural artifacts like the Elgin Marbles.

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Content: News, Views and More

Could Snapchat have a solution to the Elgin Marbles dispute? | Science and technology news

The developers of the popular app that most people associate with wearing silly filters specialize in culture and art, offering museum visitors new ways to experience history in some of the world's most famous museums and galleries.

From Tom Acres, technology reporter

Saturday 2 December 2023, 2:50am, UK

Rishi Sunak is known for loving technology. So could it offer him a way out of his unpleasant diplomatic dispute with Greece over the Elgin Marbles?

Augmented Reality (AR) is exciting Snap think it could.

The developers of the app that most people associate with wearing silly filters specialize in culture and art, offering visitors new ways to experience history in some of the world's most famous museums and galleries.

Snaps AR has been used to reinvent exhibitions Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, Miami's trendy Art Basel fair, London's Design Museum and most recently the legendary Louvre in Paris.

The museum's Egyptian Antiquities Department now offers 3D reconstructions of long-lost works of art and other historical monuments, viewable via QR codes or the Snapchat camera on mobile phones.

If it's good enough for the Louvre, could it be good enough for the British Museum and enable the return of the Elgin Marbles? Greece?

Read more:
What are the Elgin Marbles and why are they in the British Museum?

What is the Elgin Marbles dispute about?

History in your hands

“We started conversations,” jokes Donatien Bozon, head of Snap’s AR studio in Paris.

Its 14-person team was founded last year with a mission to bring AR to arts, culture and education and prove that Snapchat's technology can go far beyond giving your friends virtual dog-ears.

Cultural institutions expressed interest in tapping into the app's 750 million user audience and offering new experiences to regular visitors – all without requiring additional physical space.

“We felt confident that we could leverage not just the front camera of the phone,” he says, pointing to Snapchat’s common use case as a selfie-driven messaging app, “but also the back camera.”

“You can expand the world,” he adds. “And it opens up so many possibilities.”

Also in the Louvre is a digital twin of the 222-ton granite Luxor Obelisks. Built during the reign of Ramses II for the Egyptian Luxor Temple, one was later moved to the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

However, a spot in the Louvre's courtyard was originally considered. And so, in its own attempt to rewrite history, the museum worked with Snap to “remove the constraints of physics” and have one installed virtually.

Point your phone's camera at the spot where it might have been standing and this is how it appears.

Picture:
A Luxor obelisk stands in the Louvre and uses augmented reality technology. Image: Snap

Where tradition meets technology

Not that AR could ever really replace the original.

“It’s in the name,” says Bozon. “It enhances the experience, not replaces it.”

Probably not a truly satisfactory solution to the Elgin-Marbles dispute.

But the British Museum has dabbled in AR. Aimed primarily at children, it allows guests using Samsung tablets to take AR-controlled tours of the Roman Empire and Parthenon.

The British Library has also used the technology for your own exhibitionsas some of the world's oldest institutions are proud of their traditions and try to keep up with the times.

Qi Pan, director of computer vision at Snap, says AR allows them to “do things that weren’t possible before.”

Its London team is responsible for how the company's technology actually works, both on phones and in a hypothetical future where millions of us walk around wearing futuristic glasses.

“Nowadays, a lot of AR happens on mobile devices, where we are limited by the view of a small rectangle,” he says.

“With AR glasses you can see it directly in the world around you.”

Unfortunately, as this is a limited version of the story, this content is not available.

Open the full version

Accessible artwork

Despite previous attempts with such lenses from people like Google And Snap yourself Pan is confident that AR is on the cusp of a “hardware paradigm shift” as it has failed to achieve mainstream breakthrough.

Apple's upcoming mixed reality headset might prove him right, although at a price of £2,800 probably not.

The appeal of AR artworks, for now, lies in their accessibility — not just to users who only need a phone to experience them, but also to the creators behind what they see.

By teaching himself how to create AR art at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, British artist Doddz managed to earn a six-figure salary after struggling at school.

Traditionalists may cry foul, but his success seems to be evidence of a new interpretation of artwork that people can view and take with them wherever they go.

Bozon says, “Ten years ago, you wouldn’t have bet that being a YouTuber was a real job.”

“In ten years, building in AR will be a real job for thousands of people.”

Let's hope the series of marbles is over by then.

The British Museum could potentially use similar technology to make the Elgin Marbles more accessible, which might be a step towards resolving the dispute over their return to Greece.

The repatriation of cultural artifacts is a complex issue that has been approached in various ways by different countries and institutions, with some making significant strides in returning looted items to their countries of origin.

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Content: Albuquerque Museum Returns Long-Forgotten Cache of Sculptures to Mexico

The objects, which date to between 300 and 600 B.C.E., sat in a storage box for 15 years

Around five months ago, a box containing a dozen small, centuries-old sculptures was rediscovered in the storage facilities of New Mexico’s Albuquerque Museum, where it had been sitting for 15 years. The box’s label designated the relics as “pre-Columbian”—also known as pre-Hispanic, the term refers to the period before Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in 1492.

“Immediately, alarm bells started going off in our heads,” Andrew Rodgers, president and CEO of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation, which raises funds for the museum, tells Terry Tang of the Associated Press (AP).

Subsequent investigations traced the murky acquisition of the objects, which experts believe were made in modern-day Mexico between 300 and 600 B.C.E. During a ceremony this week, the foundation returned the artifacts to the local consulate of Mexico; the sculptures will ultimately be placed in the care of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History.

Among the items in the box were bowls associated with tomb burials, Olmec greenstone sculptures and a figurine from Zacatecas, a city that sits near “extensive” pre-Hispanic ruins, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. After the items resurfaced at the Albuquerque Museum, officials began digging into their provenance, suspecting that they may have been sold under questionable circumstances.

Rodgers’ assistant found an appraisal form dating to the 2007 acquisition of the objects, which had been gifted to the museum by a donor. Then, Rodgers tracked down the dealer, an elderly woman living in New York. She still had notecards documenting the 1985 sale of the artifacts to the donor, telling the museum that the sculptures were either “purchased on a roadside in Mexico or from dealers in New England.”

“I don’t think anybody had malintent,” Rodgers tells the AP. “I just think there was not much clarity or much transparency in that sort of a practice 30, 40, 50 years ago.”

Once the relics were authenticated by experts at the University of New Mexico and Emory University in Atlanta, museum officials contacted the Mexican consulate to begin the process of repatriation.

“Heritage assets such as these belong in Mexico, where they can be properly preserved, studied and displayed,” says Rodgers in a statement quoted by Artnet’s Taylor Dafoe.

In recent years, the cultural sphere has witnessed a worldwide push to repatriate cultural heritage objects that were removed from their countries of origin under troubling circumstances. In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron sent a jolt through the museum world when he advocated for the return of artifacts taken from African countries “without consent” during the colonial era. France’s restitution plan has been bogged down by political wrangling, but other initiatives are underway.

The Smithsonian Board of Regents, for example, recently voted to voted to deaccession 29 Benin Bronzes housed at the National Museum of African Art. In Canada, Indigenous groups have called for the Vatican to return art and artifacts sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries.

Officials in Mexico have also been making concerted efforts to pursue the repatriation of heritage objects, reported ARTnews Shanti Escalante-De Mattei earlier this year. The social media movement #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende (#MyHeritageIsNotForSale), for instance, seeks to discourage the buying and selling of artifacts that are important to the country’s national identity. An official Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage was established to monitor the illegal market. Last year, during a ceremony that saw Italy return three archaeological artifacts to Mexico, officials stressed that recovering cultural relics is a top priority.

“Mexico’s heritage is not a luxury item for a collector,” Culture Secretary Alejandra Frausto Guerrero said at the time. “It is not something that should decorate a house. It is part of our roots. [These pieces] are witnesses to what we are as a country.”

Rodgers tells the AP that upon the discovery of the box of forgotten sculptures, “a couple people” suggested the foundation keep the relics because “they may not be worth a ton” and “‘Mexico doesn’t really care about this kind of stuff.” But this is simply not the case.

“We appreciate and recognize actions taken by the Albuquerque Museum Foundation to voluntarily return these archaeological pieces back to the Mexican nation,” says Norma Ang Sánchez, consul of México, in a statement. “They are important elements of memory and identity for our native communities, and we are pleased they will be recovered.”

The experience of other countries and institutions can inform the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, with a potential resolution being a cultural exchange between the British Museum and Greece.

Ultimately, the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles requires a willingness to come to terms with the past and work towards a solution that respects the cultural heritage of the countries of origin.

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Content: Why we need a G20 League of Looted Nations to take on the museums

As G20 has members from both sides — the looted and the looters — there is a wonderful opportunity to form an official consensus regarding fast repatriation of items of invaluable cultural significance. Pooling information and devising mechanisms that can cut red-tape would be a huge achievement

Reshmi Dasgupta May 18, 2023 21:27:30 IST

Replica of the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/ aiva

When it comes to looted antiquities, it is not often that the looters and the looted gather in the same forum. The G20 is one such, and serendipitously India — one of the most looted — is the chair this year. China, another nation whose treasures repose in museums around the world, is also a member. And despite the ongoing froideur over borders and other issues, looted antiquities is one point on which they cannot but agree. Is it not time, then, for a bold new initiative?

It could be called the League of Looted Nations. And given the widespread belief that the United Nations is now just a tax-free sinecure rather than a body that makes a real difference anymore, India’s move for a consensus on repatriation of important items of cultural heritage to the countries they belong to could be just what is needed. More so as repositories of these treasures — whether publicly or privately owned — have been able to fob off single-nation efforts.

On #InternationalMuseumDay, it is time to rethink the role of museums in this. Tourists marvel at displays in museums and galleries, sparing little thought as to how they got there. Museums and universities have recently been erasing the Sackler name from galleries, libraries and halls donated by the family as their fortune came from opioids. Benefits begotten from slavery are also being rejected. Why is there no similar protest against illegal antiquities in museums abroad?

Mainly because there has been no concerted effort by looted nations to publicise the stealing of their cultural heritage — and its ramifications. The issue has so far been conveniently regarded as the domain of individual nations not a common problem that unifies many. So each looted country takes its case to the offending nation, with limited success. The public of the nations where looted cultural heritage is displayed in museums remains largely unaware of the issues.

Take the long and so far futile battle of Greece to get back the so-called Elgin Marbles — segments of the Parthenon — from the British Museum. Such has been the difficulty to get the British to budge that a move by the current BM head George Osborne to “loan” the priceless friezes back to Greece is being seen as a victory. No one is calling out the brazenness of the British! How can something that belongs to Greece be “loaned” to it by those who carted it off?

India has also been fighting for the return for antiquities, although the Kohinoor gets most of the publicity on this count. The fact is that the diamond is just the most blingy of the treasures that the British got from India via questionable means during the Raj. There are many more Indian treasures in their clutches, including huge sections of the Amaravati Stupa, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s throne, the copper Sultanganj Buddha and Tipu Sultan’s sword, ring and wooden tiger.

The then British Prime Minister David Cameron wasn’t kidding when on a visit to India in 2010 he ruled out the return of the Kohinoor saying. “If you (Britain) say yes to one, you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty. I think, I am afraid to say… it is going to have to stay put.” Some Indian artefacts have indeed been returned by the UK since 2010, but notably, none of those mentioned above. Clearly wider and more sustained action is needed to get results.

That is why India’s emphasis on righting wrongs in the cultural space at G20 is timely. In the 21st century there is no basis for the old canard that museums and private collections (mostly in Western nations and former colonial powers) offer more secure spaces than the countries’ treasures had been “obtained” from. As these columns have always asserted, such institutions have been committing a crime against nations by continuing to keep their cultural heritage.

The West so far has done mostly lip service on the matter of protecting and returning looted cultural artefacts. And bureaucratic red-tape has ensured that the return of antiquities is delayed. Meanwhile, priceless “collections” in museums that clearly have no business to be there rather than in the places of worship or other monuments they were looted from, continue to be displayed and “studied” by scholars. Including those from the countries they were looted from!

The Paris Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property signed in 1970 under the aegis of UNESCO (and endorsed by 143 nations so far) laid down admirably specific conditions. But antiquities of many nations including India are still in museums and collections when they could not have been procured by means acceptable by today’s standards as looting no longer qualifies.

Article 2 of the convention says, “Parties to this Convention recognize that the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property is one of the main causes of the impoverishment of the cultural heritage of the countries of origin of such property and that international co-operation constitutes one of the most efficient means of protecting each country’s cultural property against all the dangers resulting there from.” What has this “recognition” achieved?

The document also virtuously states that “Parties undertake to oppose such practices with the means at their disposal, and particularly by removing their causes, putting a stop to current practices, and by helping to make the necessary reparations…The import, export or transfer of ownership of cultural property effected contrary to the provisions adopted under this Convention by the States Parties thereto, shall be illicit.” More sound and fury signifying nothing.

Obviously so, as the notorious Subhash Kapoor’s trade in illegal antiquities from India and elsewhere flourished abroad after 1970. He and many others cocked a snook at these toothless pronouncements, particularly Article 7 which said member states would take “necessary measures…to prevent museums and similar institutions… from acquiring cultural property originating in another State Party which has been illegally exported” after this convention “took effect”.

The convention also says that at the request of an aggrieved country (via diplomatic channels and with supporting documents), the nation to which cultural property had been illegally imported should “take appropriate steps to recover and return” those items but with a caveat that “the requesting State shall pay just compensation to an innocent purchaser or to a person who has valid title to that property”. How can any title be ‘valid’ if it belongs to another country?

By that logic, of course, Greece should simply pay Britain for the return of the Parthenon pieces carted off by Lord Elgin and India should do the same to get the Kohinoor back — after some solid haggling, presumably. Of course, given Britain’s dire economic situation at present, this may seem an attractive proposition—monetise the treasures Britons stole in centuries past, to tide over its crisis today. But there is little reason for looted nations to oblige.

As G20 has members from both sides — the looted and the looters — there is a wonderful opportunity to form an official consensus regarding fast repatriation of items of invaluable cultural significance. Pooling information and devising mechanisms that can cut red-tape would be a huge achievement. Of course then institutions like the British Museum will have to come to terms with their own past — and display non-looted alternatives in their emptied galleries.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed are personal.

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The international community has a role to play in supporting the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, with organizations such as UNESCO and the International Council of Museums providing guidance and expertise on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage.

By working together, the UK and Greek governments can find a solution that respects the cultural heritage of both countries and promotes cultural exchange and understanding.