On the label

Ingredients with a hometown.

Names you will meet on Korean boxes, and where they come from. An ingredient name describes the formula family; it is not a promise of a result.

녹차

Green tea

Tea grows on the terraced hills of Boseong and on Jeju. Green-tea ranges are one of the oldest Korean skincare stories.

쌀

Rice water and rice-bran extracts appear across cleansers, toners and sunscreens. On a label it is often “rice extract” or “Oryza sativa”.

인삼

Korea’s best-known root crop is a heritage ingredient for premium brands. On a label look for “Panax ginseng”.

쑥

Ssuk is a spring green in Korean cooking. In skincare it appears as “Artemisia” in toners, masks and creams.

병풀

Centella asiatica gives its nickname, cica, to whole product ranges. It is one of the most common names on Korean toner and cream labels.

어성초

Houttuynia cordata, or eoseongcho, became a bestseller name through toners and cleansing oils. On a label: “Houttuynia cordata extract”.