The Korean Beauty Show Podcast

Fenty, Glow Recipe, Wonder Bath & Huda Beauty: Behind the Eye Patch Packaging Drama

Fenty Skin, Glow Recipe and Huda Beauty previewed eye patches in remarkably similar slicing dispensers within days of each other. But how did several major beauty brands end up using the same packaging and does a freshly sliced patch actually work better?

Host Lauren Lee explores the Korean packaging industry behind the viral launches, how suppliers develop innovations that multiple brands can use, and why Korean brand Wonder Bath was already selling its version before the international teasers appeared.

She also examines the conflicting public accounts about packaging exclusivity, explains the difference between a packaging manufacturer and a formulation lab, and considers what the packaging does (and doesn’t!) tell us about the products inside.

Plus, she investigates whether so-called "freshly sliced" patches outperform traditional hydrogel patches, what the “hot pour” process could mean for ingredient stability, and why freshly cut doesn’t mean freshly formulated.

Finally, Lauren revisits her concerns about grinding-style beauty packaging, weighs manufacturing waste against the packaging consumers discard, and explains what founders should consider before committing to a distinctive dispenser.

For full show notes and resources, visit:

https://stylestory.com.au/blogs/style-story/the-eye-patch-packaging-drama-what-actually-happened

For more episodes visit:

stylestory.com.au/blogs/podcast

Developing a Beauty Product in Korea?

Explore STYLE STORY’s packaging and manufacturing consultancy:
stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy

Brands Mentioned in This Episode

• Fenty Skin
• Glow Recipe
• Huda Beauty
• Vitamasques
• Wonder Bath

Connect with Lauren

Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy

Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty

TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty

Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty

YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast

Take a Korean style skin analysis: jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis

Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com

Shop Jelly Ko on YesStyle: yesstyle.com/en/jelly-ko/list.html/bpt.299_bid.331833

Affiliate Disclaimer:

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.

A Small Request

If you use insights, data or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into producing these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olive Young is more than Korea’s biggest beauty retailer. It is also a trend forecaster, data company, omnichannel platform and incubator for emerging K-Beauty brands.

In Part 2 of this special, Host Lauren Lee explores how Olive Young connects its physical stores, online platform, rapid delivery and live commerce to create a seamless discovery-led shopping experience. She also examines how its loyalty programme, consumer data and merchandising capabilities help the company identify trends and scale Korean beauty brands.

Plus, she looks at the more complicated side of Olive Young’s rise, including regulatory scrutiny over its supplier practices and the lawsuit involving a lifting mask sold under one of its in-house brands.

Finally, she breaks down Olive Young’s international expansion strategy, what went wrong with the launch of its dedicated US platform, the competition it faces from Amazon, Sephora and Ulta, and whether its platform model could support a successful return to China.

For full show notes and resources, visit:
Show Notes

Catch up on Part 1:
Part 1

Brands and Retailers Mentioned in This Episode

• Olive Young
• Amazon
• Sephora
• Ulta Beauty
• YesStyle
• Jelly Ko
• Etude House 
• Flower Knows

CONNECT WITH LAUREN: 

• Book a Consultation
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Threads
• YouTube
• Take a FREE Korean style skin analysis
• Shop Jelly Ko
• Shop Jelly Ko on YesStyle

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.

A Small Request

If you use insights, data or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into producing these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olive Young is now Korea’s biggest beauty retailer, but it wasn't always that way. In this episode, Lauren dives into the business story behind Olive Young's rise to dominance and explains why its success goes far beyond selling Korean skincare.

Learn how the company built an ecosystem that helped shape the modern K-Beauty industry, why Harvard Business School chose Olive Young as the subject of a case study, and what global retailers can learn from its approach to merchandising, supplier relationships and brand building.

Plus, Lauren explores why Olive Young's "beauty playground" concept resonated so strongly with Korean consumers, the role of Korea's OEM/ODM ecosystem in its success, and why supporting emerging brands has been central to the company's growth.

For full show notes and resources, visit:

stylestory.com.au/blogs/podcast

Brands Mentioned in This Episode

• Olive Young
• Missha
• Etude House
• Innisfree
• Nature Republic
• The Face Shop
• Skin Food
• TonyMoly
• Rom&nd
• Torriden

Connect with Lauren

Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy

Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty

TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty

Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty

YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast

Take a Korean style skin analysis: https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis

Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.

A Small Request

If you use insights, data or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into producing these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren shares the latest K-Beauty industry news, including Olive Young’s much-anticipated US launch, why fans are frustrated with the brand and product lineup, Kendall Jenner becoming the face of Anua, and Korea’s regulators cracking down on Dr.G and Medicube’s advertising claims.Plus, Lauren shares her thoughts from the APAC Beauty Trends Report, what she’s been working on lately, and some of her favourite K-Beauty finds for June 2026. 

For full show notes and resources, visit: https://stylestory.com.au/blogs/style-story/olive-young-launched-in-the-us-and-people-are-p-ssed

For more podcast episodes: stylestory.com.au/blogs/podcast

K-Beauty News of the Month:

• Olive Young USA Has Arrived. So Why Is Everyone Angry?
• Kendall Jenner, Anua and the Celebrity Question in Korean Beauty 
• Dr.G and Medicube Ordered to Suspend Advertising in Korea
• APAC Beauty Is Moving Beyond Trends

What I've Been Up To lately 

Question of the Month: Do you recommend overnight sheet masks?

K-Beauty Product Recommendations of the Week

• Hera Dual Volume & Serum Mascara
• Aestura Atobarrier 365 Body Lotion
• Espoir Strobing Highlighter

Connect with Lauren

• Take a Korean style skin analysis:https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis
• Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy
• Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
• Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
• YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast
• Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com and https://www.yesstyle.com/en/jelly-ko/list.html/bpt.299_bid.331833

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.

A Small Request

If you use insights, data or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into creating these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren shares a global K-Beauty industry roundup spanning Australia, China, Germany, the U.S. and Canada, breaking down why 2026 marks a maturity shift for the category. This episode explores the major partnership signalling K-Beauty’s next phase, what happens when hype and expectations aren’t managed properly, and why trust is becoming the real currency of global growth.

For full show notes and resources, visit STYLE STORY 

Question of the Month

A listener asks: How strict are skincare expiration dates? Is two years past expiry too long? Why do products often last far beyond the printed date?

Products Mentioned in This Episode

• SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Wrinkle Eye Cream
• Aestura Retinoid Eye Serum
• COSRX AHA BHA Vitamin C Booster Serum

Connect with Lauren

Take a Korean style skin analysis:
https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis

Book a Consultation:
stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy 

Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast 

Work with STYLE STORY:
stylestory.com.au/pages/contact-us 

Shop Jelly Ko:
jellyko.com 

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.

A Small Request

If you use insights, data or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into creating these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren shares the worst K-Beauty products and formats she personally tried in 2025 and explains why they failed in real-world use. This episode is a follow-through from the previous discussion on K-Beauty marketing trends that need to die in 2026, focusing on how hype, sensation and viral appeal often break down when products meet real skin.

For full show notes and resources, visit STYLE STORY 

This episode covers:

• The positioning of grinding cleansing balms on social media versus actual use 
• Cheilitis (inflammation of the lips) being linked to one of Korea (and Lauren’s) most beloved lip tints
• Why “mineral” sunscreen marketing can be misleading and why it matters for those with sensitive skin and conditions like rosacea 
• How K-Beauty marketing increasingly rewards spectacle and sensation over routine-friendly design

Lauren also explains why these experiences are not isolated product failures, but oftentimes symptoms of a broader K-Beauty marketing problem. In the last few years a lot of products have been optimised for novelty, texture shots and performance on short form social media rather than optimised for daily use.

This episode is not about shaming brands or people who might love the products but about understanding how skincare claims, formats and ingredient choices interact with real skin biology.

Products Mentioned in this Episode

Dr. Melaxin Eyephalt Cream

Grinding cleansing balms

Rom&nd lip tints

Some By Mi mineral sunscreen

Connect with Lauren

Take a Korean style skin analysis: https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis 

Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy

Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty

TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty

Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty

YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast

Work with STYLE STORY: stylestory.com.au/pages/contact-us

Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show. 

A Small Request If you use insights, details or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into creating these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

K-Beauty marketing reached a breaking point in 2025. Scientific language became performance, clinical procedures were mimicked with cosmetics and skincare education was replaced by spectacle. In Episode 275 of The Korean Beauty Show podcast, K-Beauty expert and industry consultant Lauren Lee examines the K-Beauty marketing trends that need to die in 2026 and why they matter for consumer trust, regulation and skin health.

This episode covers:

• How exosome skincare lost its scientific meaning and why Korean regulators intervened
• Why topical PDRN marketing blurred the line between cosmetics and injectable treatments
• The ongoing misuse of spicules marketed as “microneedling in a bottle”
• How oversized skincare PR stunts promote overconsumption and environmental waste
• Why skincare theatre and viral gimmicks undermine skincare education and credibility

Lauren also explains how misleading skincare marketing creates regulatory risk, confuses consumers and has the potential to damage long-term trust in the Korean beauty industry.

For full show notes and resources, visit: stylestory.com.au/blogs/podcast

Connect with Lauren

• Book a Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy
• Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
• Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
• YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast
• Work with STYLE STORY: stylestory.com.au/pages/contact-us
• Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com
• Take a Korean style skin analysis: https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis 

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show. 

A Small Request If you use insights, frameworks or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into creating these episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exosomes are the hottest topic in K-Beauty right now and one of the most misunderstood. In this deep-dive episode, host Lauren Lee breaks down what exosomes actually are, how brands are using the term, what the regulations says, and why Korea’s MFDS has officially banned “exosome” claims in cosmetic ads from 2025.

Lauren also explains how this trend spread through clinics and TikTok, the difference between human-derived and plant or milk vesicles, and what regulators across the US, EU/UK, Australia and Korea are doing about it. Learn how to spot red-flag claims and separate hype from evidence in the next wave of regenerative skincare.

Access Full Show Notes: https://stylestory.com.au/blogs/podcast/why-korea-banned-exosome-skincare-ads-and-what-it-means-for-the-industry

CONNECT WITH US

• Book a K-Beauty Consultation for Your Business: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy
• Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
• Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
• Watch the Show on YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast
• Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com.au
• K-Beauty Newsletter: stylestory.com.au/pages/free-gift-signup
• Product Finder Quiz: stylestory.com.au/tools/perfect-product-finder/find-your-perfect-k-beauty-product#/

BRIEF SUMMARY

• What exosomes are vs how beauty marketing uses the term
• Why exosomes are trending
• Evidence so far and the limitations 
• Human-derived vs plant / milk / synthetic vesicles
• Regulation round-up
• Takeaway: real science meets marketing hype

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did one of Korea’s most-loved lip tints secretly torch thousands of customer's lips? In this week’s K-Beauty News Update, host Lauren Lee breaks down the Rom&nd Juicy Lip Tint scandal and what the brand is doing to manage it. 

Plus, we’re exploring how refill packs are changing the way we travel with skincare and the new stat proving Australia’s K-Beauty obsession and what it means for global trends. A listener wants tips for dry hands, fading stretch marks and affordable hair care that actually works.

Lauren also gives her honest reviews of the best Korean makeup fixers and how to find the perfect skin clinic if you're heading to Korea for treatments. 

Access Full Show Notes for this Episode: https://stylestory.com.au/blogs/podcast/from-viral-to-vulnerable-the-rom-nd-lip-tint-controversy-explained

CONNECT WITH US
Book a K-Beauty Consultation for Your Business: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy
Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
Watch the Show on YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast
Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com.au
K-Beauty Newsletter: stylestory.com.au/pages/free-gift-signup
Product Finder Quiz: Find your perfect K-Beauty product

Products Mentioned in this Episode:

• So Natural All Day Tight Make Up Setting Fixer General Mist Mini
• Jung Saem Mool Essential Mool Micro Fitting Mist
• Tsubaki Fino Hair Mask 
• Fino Hair Oil 
• Dr Jart Ceramidin Hand Cream 
• Atopalm Stretch Mark Cream 
• Jelly Ko Bubble Tea Steam Cream Refill 
• Jelly Ko Dewy Glaze Toner Refill 
• Romand Juicy Lasting Tint 
• Jelly Ko Bubble Tea Steam Cream 
• Jelly Ko White Truffle SOUFFLÉ Serum Refill 

Recommendation of the Week:

• Find the Right Korean Skin Clinic Consultation 

All products recommended on the Korean Beauty Show podcast are selected by us. Some of our Show Notes may include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. These links helps us to offset the costs associated with producing, editing and distributing the podcast. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

K-Beauty is no longer niche; in fact, it’s becoming a must-have toolkit for beauty industry professionals, from aesthetic doctors to dermal therapists. In episode 272 of the Korean Beauty Show podcast, Lauren Lee shares key insights from Australia’s biggest professional beauty expo, including:

• Why exosomes are everywhere (and what you really need to know)
• How professionals are adopting K-Beauty systems, not just products
• The rise of scalp care and the “skinification” of hair
• The Korean Lash Lift and what sets it apart

For full show notes and resources, visit STYLE STORY. 

Products Mentioned in this Episode:

• Cherry Blossom Sleeping Mask, which sold out on Day 1.
• Gelato Glaze Lip Mask, which sold out on Day 2.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN 

Book a K-Beauty Consultation: stylestory.com.au/pages/k-beauty-consultancy
Instagram: instagram.com/lauren.kbeauty
TikTok: tiktok.com/@stylestory_kbeauty
Threads: threads.net/@lauren.kbeauty
YouTube: youtube.com/@thekoreanbeautyshowpodcast
Shop Jelly Ko: jellyko.com.au
Take Our Skin Quiz: https://jellyko.com/tools/perfect-product-finder/which-jelly-ko-product-is-perfect-for-me#/

Get a Free Skin Analysis: https://jellyko.com/pages/ai-skin-analysis

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.