Good skin has long been seen as a marker of health in Korean society. Even during the ancient Three Kingdoms Era, which began in 57 BCE, people used rice water to soften their skin and camellia oil to hydrate. Centuries later, during the Joseon Dynasty of the 14th century, mung beans were used for exfoliation, while apricot seed oil helped add moisture.
Given these deep roots, it’s no surprise that Korean skin care is now revered around the world. The global Korean beauty market is on track to exceed a value of $252.4 billion by 2033. One brand riding the K-beauty boom in the US is OliviaUmma, a vegan skin care company with the tagline “born in Korea, raised in Miami.”
OliviaUmma
Founder Hye Young Kim, who, as the slogan suggests, was born in Korea but now lives in Miami, created the brand as a tribute to her relationship with her daughter. In Korean, OliviaUmma literally translates to “Olivia’s mom.”
But Kim also wanted to develop products that reflect Korea’s deep respect for skin care, combining highly efficient formulas with the emotional experience of using them. The founder knows that the way a product looks and feels can be just as important as the ingredients themselves.
“I didn’t want just another skin care brand,” she told Ipsy. “I wanted one that consistently delivered both results and joy.”
All of that dedication has paid off: OliviaUmma has launched its vegan products in Sephora, including two items exclusive to the beauty retailer.
OliviaUmma
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From Sephora Accelerate to the shelves
The move is a natural next step for Kim, who took part in the Sephora Accelerate 2025 program. The initiative mentored Kim alongside seven other BIPOC founders, including Aziza El Wanni of vegan haircare brand The Potion Studio and Christal Alert of cruelty-free, sun-safe cosmetics brand Tonal Cosmetics.
OliviaUmma has several best-selling products, including serums and cleansers in its Glass Skin Tanghulu range. These were among the first products developed by the brand, inspired by tanghulu, a shiny, sugar-coated fruit snack popular across Asia.
OliviaUmma
A Sephora exclusive, OliviaUmma’s Milky Resurfacing Brightening Toner Pads are now available online and in store at nearly 270 locations nationwide. The brand’s Cloud Foam Hydrating Cleanser—another Sephora exclusive—will be available online alongside seven other products from the brand.
“We’re so excited to debut OliviaUmma at Sephora,” Kim said in a statement. “[We’re] introducing our powerful K-beauty skin care and positive energy to a whole new audience.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
