The axis of influence has changed in the beauty world, and South Korea is
becoming increasingly relevant. Following the BB cream phenomenon—
which spurred a whole category of alphabetical additions: CC, DD and the
rest—the global appetite for South Korean beauty is rising. According to
Statistics Korea, the country’s beauty exports hit a record $1.04 billion in
2013, and the Seoul International Cosmetics & Beauty Expo cited an annual
growth rate of 26%.