Dubai - The high quality and affordable prices are the main factors of the products' success in the region.
Published: Wed 18 May 2016, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Thu 19 May 2016, 9:06 AM
High demand for Korean beauty products has been witnessed over the past few years in the UAE, exhibitors at BeautyworldME said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the region's largest international beauty and wellness trade show, Korea-based exhibitors confirmed that there has been a notable number of requests for Korean beauty products.
"I can easily say there has been a 300 per cent increase in demand for Korean products over the past five years. The amount of importations, and even distribution, in the UAE and GCC from different Korean companies has been interesting," said Sky Mohammed, assistant manager at overseas business department at Mizon Creative Beauty Lab.
He added that the UAE's multicultural environment has played a big role in the high demand. "Around 15 to 20 years ago, there was a huge demand for Japanese beauty, but now the equation has reversed; Japanese companies are now coming to Korea to manufacture products," said Mohammed.
The high quality and affordable prices are the main factors of the products' success in the region. He added that Korea sells beauty products at 50 per cent less than other competitors from American and European brands since the manufacturing cost in Korea is low.
Chris Ryu, general-manager at Korean-based Doori Cosmetics, stated that the high quality of Korean products and good packaging designs make Korean products demanded among Middle East countries. Among the Korean products that are highly demanded in the region is mainly the traditional and natural cosmetics used in Korea such as snail cream, sea cucumber, essence of white and brown rice, sea weed and starfish.
Influence of K-pop Although K-pop has been highly popular among GCC youth, its role in the high demand of Korean beauty products has been overrated, noted Mohammed. He said the interest in Korean products goes back to the skincare that the Korean industry proved to be a pioneer at.
The change in concept of beauty is also driving people into realising the importance of skincare. Mohammed said. "Paradigm is changing and people are seeing that beauty is for who you are, not for how light or dark your skin is. So taking care of skin quality becomes more important than contouring."
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com
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