For Korean beauty brands planning to enter or expand in the U.S. market, sunscreen deserves particular regulatory attention. In September 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final administrative order amending OTC Monograph M020 for sunscreen drug products. The order removes PABA (aminobenzoic acid) and trolamine salicylate as permitted sunscreen active ingredients because FDA determined that the ingredients are not generally recognized as safe and effe

When brands think about cosmetic compliance in the U.S., they usually think about the obvious things first. The product label.The ingredient list.The claims on the product page.The packaging. But there is another area that can be surprisingly easy to overlook: The content you link to. Imagine a brand selling an arnica balm. The brand itself never says that the product “heals bruises” or “relieves muscle pain.” Instead, its website includes a simple message: “Want to learn mor

K-Beauty has changed. A few years ago, the conversation was largely about whether Korean beauty products could become popular among American consumers. Today, that question has largely been answered. K-Beauty is already a major part of the U.S. beauty conversation. The next question is different: Can Korean beauty brands build the infrastructure needed to grow sustainably in the United States? That is why Torriden’s recent decision to onboard Provision Consulting Group for U.

For years, sunscreen conversations have largely focused on one question: How high is the SPF? SPF 30? SPF 50? SPF 100? But as the beauty industry becomes more focused on personalization and inclusivity, another question deserves more attention: Does your sunscreen actually work for every skin tone — not just in terms of sun protection, but also in terms of how people experience the product on their skin? Yes, darker skin tones need sunscreen One of the most persistent misconc

K-Beauty has become one of the most dynamic categories in the U.S. beauty market. For American brands looking to enter the category, international trade shows such as Cosmoprof, along with government-supported trade initiatives, can provide valuable opportunities to meet Korean manufacturers, formulators, and industry professionals. And often, the first impression is excellent. The manufacturer may have an established reputation.The facility may be well known.The company may

For years, the retail industry was told that the future was digital. Consumers were moving online. E-commerce was growing rapidly. Social commerce was changing product discovery. Direct-to-consumer brands were challenging traditional retail. So, was physical retail becoming irrelevant? Not exactly. What is changing is not whether consumers shop in stores. It is why they go to stores—and what they expect from them. For beauty brands in particular, physical retail is taking on

Why Haircare Has Always Been More Than Just Beauty in Korea When we talk about K-Beauty, skincare usually comes to mind first. But there is another category deeply rooted in Korean beauty culture that deserves more attention: haircare. From traditional herbal ingredients to modern scalp-care formulations, Korean haircare reflects something much deeper than a current beauty trend. It is the continuation of a long-standing relationship between hair, appearance, self-care, and c

What ACI Revealed About the Next Chapter of K-Beauty in the U.S. K-Beauty has moved well beyond being a niche trend in the U.S. market. Korean skincare, cosmetics, and beauty brands are now competing for attention alongside established global brands. But as K-Beauty becomes more mainstream, the requirements for entering and growing in the U.S. market are becoming more complex. This was one of the key themes highlighted when Sung Kwon, Co-CEO of Provision Consulting Group, par

The first U.S. edition of OLIVE YOUNG FESTA arrives in Los Angeles with 55 Korean beauty and lifestyle brands. But the significance goes far beyond a three-day beauty festival. From August 14–16, 2026, OLIVE YOUNG will bring its signature K-Beauty festival to the United States for the first time. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center as part of KCON LA 2026, OLIVE YOUNG FESTA LA 2026 will transform approximately 50,000 square feet into an immersive K-Beauty experience fea

Two K-Beauty brands are entering the U.S. market. Both have a great formula.Both use a popular Korean ingredient.Both work with experienced Korean OEM/ODM manufacturers.And both have beautiful packaging. From a customer’s perspective, they look almost identical. But behind the scenes, these two brands made very different decisions. And those decisions may determine which brand simply launches—and which one actually lasts. Meet Brand A: Built for Speed Brand A has a product th

For many people in the U.S., Korean Skincare feels like a recent discovery — something that showed up alongside K-pop, K-dramas, and a wave of viral TikTok routines. But in Korea, skincare has been part of daily life for well over a thousand years. Long before "glass skin" became a global buzzword, healthy skin wasn't just about looking good — it was tied to wellness, cleanliness, and self-respect. Understanding that history is exactly what makes Korean Skincare so different

Influencer Marketing Is Evolving Influencer marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways for beauty brands to connect with consumers. However, the strategies that worked just a few years ago are no longer enough. Today's consumers are more informed, more selective, and more skeptical of traditional advertising. Instead of simply following creators with millions of followers, they are looking for authentic voices, educational content, and genuine product experience

More Than a Manufacturing Decision The global popularity of K-Beauty has transformed South Korea into one of the world's leading beauty manufacturing hubs. While consumers often recognize Korean skincare for its innovation and effectiveness, many successful beauty brands recognize another important advantage: the strength of Korea's OEM and ODM manufacturing ecosystem. Today, an increasing number of U.S. beauty brands are partnering with Korean OEM manufacturers—not simply to

K-Beauty has already transformed the global beauty industry. Korean brands introduced international consumers to concepts such as multi-step skincare, lightweight sun protection, skin barrier care, innovative delivery systems, and the now widely recognized “glass skin” aesthetic. Their success was not driven by Korean origin alone. It came from a combination of rapid innovation, consumer-focused design, effective formulations, strong value, and the ability to turn emerging tr

Why the Next Challenge Isn't Demand—It's Execution For years, K-Beauty was often described as an "emerging trend" in the United States. Today, that description no longer reflects reality. A recent CNBC report highlighted what many beauty professionals have already noticed: Korean beauty products have moved beyond niche audiences and are becoming part of the mainstream U.S. beauty market. From major retailers to social commerce platforms, consumers now actively seek Korean ski

Entering the U.S. beauty market offers tremendous opportunities for global cosmetic brands, especially with the continued growth of K-Beauty. However, launching a cosmetic product in the United States requires more than creating an innovative formula or attractive packaging. Many brands face regulatory challenges because they underestimate the importance of FDA compliance requirements.FDA Warning Letters provide valuable insight into the types of compliance issues that can pu

Looking to Source Korean Beauty Products or Launch Your Own Brand? Let's Connect. From July 13–15, 2026, GlowBridge will be attending Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas, one of the beauty industry's largest B2B trade shows in North America. Every year, Cosmoprof brings together beauty brands, retailers, distributors, importers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs looking for the next innovation in skincare, cosmetics, haircare, wellness, and personal care. For businesses interest

Haircare innovation is shifting from everyday products to science-backed solutions, creating new opportunities for brands entering the U.S. market. For years, skincare has dominated conversations around beauty innovation. From peptides to exosomes and microbiome research, skincare has been the category attracting both consumers and investors. Today, however, another category is rapidly gaining momentum: haircare. This isn't simply because consumers are buying more shampoo or

The First New FDA Sunscreen Ingredient Addition in More Than 20 Years The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added bemotrizinol to the list of permitted sunscreen active ingredients, marking the first new FDA sunscreen ingredient addition to the OTC sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s. The decision represents an important regulatory milestone for the U.S. sunscreen industry and may create new opportunities for product innovation in the years ahead. What Is Bemot

The BIO International Convention, taking place in San Diego from June 22–25, is one of the world's leading events for the biotechnology and life sciences industry. Every year, the convention brings together biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical developers, investors, research institutions, manufacturers, and regulatory experts from around the globe to explore partnerships, investment opportunities, and commercialization strategies. For companies developing innovative health