Latest news with #BoosterPro
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan Markle's 'incredible' £26 skin-glowing collagen cream is on sale for £17
Meghan Markle shared a 'handpicked curated collection' of beauty buys on her Instagram and Medicube's Collagen Jelly Cream made an appearance Skincare fanatics are racing to Amazon in order to snap up a Meghan Markle-approved anti-ageing product at a discounted price. Praised for 'working like magic' to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, the Medicube Collagen Jelly would typically retail for £26, however, an Amazon deal brings it down to £17.47, beating the price of Boots and LookFantastic. The Korean beauty buy first landed on consumer's radars after Meghan Markle included it in her 'handpicked curated collection' of beauty buys on Instagram. The brand also boasts celebrity fans such as Kylie Jenner, as reported by Hello. Formulated to give skin a 'glass-like glow' with an anti-wrinkle effect, key ingredients are hydrolysed collagen to improve skin firmness and provide elasticity, niacinamide and vitamin B3 to strengthen the skin's barrier and plant-derived squalane to help prevent moisture loss and give suppleness to skin. Woman loses 20lbs in eight weeks without setting foot in the gym Boots No7 set worth £104 hailed 'brilliant box of goodies' slashed to £30 Other Korean beauty buy that's are causing a stir are COSRX, best known for the Advanced Snail Mucin Essence, come highly rated by shoppers. Superdrug are currently running a buy one get second half price on select COSRX including the essence, toner and SPF50. Laniege is another Korean beauty favourite and the brand have recently launched a Bouncy & Firm Serum, available at Space NK for £39. Reviews are glowing, with users saying it is 'really hydrating' and 'sinks into skin effortlessly'. Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream £26 £17.49 Amazon Shop Deal Product Description Meghan Markle isn't the only person that's a fan of the Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream. Designed to be used as the last step in a skincare routine, more than 5,000 consumers have rated it on Amazon, giving it an overall score of 4.3 out of five. Some people use it in union with the Medicube Booster Pro, currently 30% off at Amazon for £17.150, down from £265.22. The LED Therapy Device 'reduced wrinkles immediately' according to one shopper. While another said: "I have been using for one week so far and have seen great results. This is an expensive product but if you invest in your skin care you will see results." A shopper that uses the Medicube Collagen Jelly and the Booster Pro together, wrote: "Just received today and used it tonight with my Booster Pro. The result is beyond incredible and amazing! The amount of hydration! It's just like the collagen mask (also by the same brand), very effective! Best that money can buy, I am so in love! Excited to see the results over time. This just simply can't be beat, I've never in my life experienced anything so hydrating." A second person said: "Using it together with my Medicube age-r booster pro and it gives amazing effect - smooths, removed lines (specially around my eyes) and give more plump and radiant skin effect. Ordered one more bottle." And a third shared: "My skin looks more radiant, even-toned, and refreshed. I love how it enhances my natural glow without harsh ingredients. If you're looking for something to boost your skin's health and glowy skin then this is absolutely worth trying!" Another shopper compared it to Clinique's £57 alternative, writing: "The way the cream dries is that of Clinique's 100hr moisturizer, clean and smooth. I notice it evens out my skin which can sometimes be red/blushed in the cheeks as I am pretty fair skinned. I also keep the jar in the refrigerator and the coldness of the jelly is super refreshing. 5 stars because this is a great cream and shows skin improvement." But, the texture of Medicube's Collagen Jelly Cream proved jarring for some users. One person felt the texture was worth it for the end results, saying 'this jelly feels really weird when you put it on your face, but honestly, my skin has never looked and felt better!' However, someone else was disappointed, commenting: "I want to love this product. I am a Medicube fan, however, this product doesn't get absorbed into the skin and sits on top. It makes the face excessively shiny and sticky. My hair always gets stuck to my face after using it." Singing Medicube's praises, a happy customer highlighted: "Absolutely delighted with my recent acquisition of Medicube! The jelly cream with niacinamide and hydrolysed and freeze-dried collagen has exceeded my expectations. The texture is light and absorbs quickly, leaving the skin hydrated and soft instantly. Since I used it, I have noticed a marked improvement in the luminosity and firmness of my face. "In addition, niacinamide has helped minimise the appearance of pores and unify skin tone. Collagen, meanwhile, provides a filler effect that decreases fine lines. I recommend this product to anyone looking for effective hydration and more radiant skin. It is an excellent investment for daily skincare."
The Age
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Kylie Jenner helped this gadget go viral. Now the firm's founder is a billionaire
In a 15-second TikTok clip that has racked up millions of views, Kylie Jenner glides a sleek device across her face, swearing by its ability to help skin absorb serums more effectively. Dubbed the Booster Pro, the gadget's video has gone viral – and with it, the fortunes of its maker, APR Corp, a once-obscure Seoul-based start-up now at the centre of the K-beauty boom. Behind the firm is 36-year-old Kim Byung Hoon, a tech entrepreneur-turned-beauty mogul whose company has made him South Korea's newest billionaire. His 31 per cent stake in APR is now worth about $US1.3 billion ($2 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, after the firm's shares soared 200 per cent this year. Kim started out dabbling in mobile apps – including a dating app – after studying in California as an exchange student more than a decade ago. It was there that he first witnessed the smartphone revolution and got hooked on entrepreneurship. His pivot to skincare came in 2014 when he launched APR, initially focused on cosmetics. In 2021, the business expanded into producing high-tech facial devices that promise spa-like treatments at home. It's a product line that Kim personally espouses – he uses APR's facial gadget for 30 minutes every day, APR's chief financial officer, Shin Jae Ha, told Bloomberg News. After going public last year, APR is now the second-largest publicly traded beauty firm in South Korea, with a market capitalisation of more than $US4 billion. Endorsements from top-tier influencers reflect the growing mainstream appeal of K-beauty, the umbrella term for South Korea's booming beauty exports. Once the domain of Gen Z or Asian-American influencers, they have gone mainstream in the United States, where sales of Korean beauty products jumped 56 per cent to $US1.9 billion last year. With global interest rising alongside K-pop music and Korean dramas, celebrities began spotlighting products from APR's flagship brand, Medicube, in their routines. Hailey Bieber first posted about its gel mask in late 2023, unprompted, the company said. That organic buzz paved the way for APR's global campaigns in 2024 featuring Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian. 'Now it feels that K-beauty has reached the stage where it's spreading from early adopters to mass-market consumers,' said APR's CFO Shin, a former M&A banker at HSBC Holdings, who joined Kim in 2016 after being drawn to his vision.
Sydney Morning Herald
12-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kylie Jenner helped this gadget go viral. Now the firm's founder is a billionaire
In a 15-second TikTok clip that has racked up millions of views, Kylie Jenner glides a sleek device across her face, swearing by its ability to help skin absorb serums more effectively. Dubbed the Booster Pro, the gadget's video has gone viral – and with it, the fortunes of its maker, APR Corp, a once-obscure Seoul-based start-up now at the centre of the K-beauty boom. Behind the firm is 36-year-old Kim Byung Hoon, a tech entrepreneur-turned-beauty mogul whose company has made him South Korea's newest billionaire. His 31 per cent stake in APR is now worth about $US1.3 billion ($2 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, after the firm's shares soared 200 per cent this year. Kim started out dabbling in mobile apps – including a dating app – after studying in California as an exchange student more than a decade ago. It was there that he first witnessed the smartphone revolution and got hooked on entrepreneurship. His pivot to skincare came in 2014 when he launched APR, initially focused on cosmetics. In 2021, the business expanded into producing high-tech facial devices that promise spa-like treatments at home. It's a product line that Kim personally espouses – he uses APR's facial gadget for 30 minutes every day, APR's chief financial officer, Shin Jae Ha, told Bloomberg News. After going public last year, APR is now the second-largest publicly traded beauty firm in South Korea, with a market capitalisation of more than $US4 billion. Endorsements from top-tier influencers reflect the growing mainstream appeal of K-beauty, the umbrella term for South Korea's booming beauty exports. Once the domain of Gen Z or Asian-American influencers, they have gone mainstream in the United States, where sales of Korean beauty products jumped 56 per cent to $US1.9 billion last year. With global interest rising alongside K-pop music and Korean dramas, celebrities began spotlighting products from APR's flagship brand, Medicube, in their routines. Hailey Bieber first posted about its gel mask in late 2023, unprompted, the company said. That organic buzz paved the way for APR's global campaigns in 2024 featuring Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian. 'Now it feels that K-beauty has reached the stage where it's spreading from early adopters to mass-market consumers,' said APR's CFO Shin, a former M&A banker at HSBC Holdings, who joined Kim in 2016 after being drawn to his vision.
Business Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
A 36-year-old beauty mogul is South Korea's newest billionaire
[SEOUL] In a 15-second TikTok clip that has racked up millions of views, Kylie Jenner glides a sleek silver device across her face, swearing by its ability to help skin absorb serums more effectively. Dubbed the Booster Pro, the gadget's video has gone viral – and with it, the fortunes of its maker APR, a once-obscure Seoul-based startup now at the centre of the K-beauty boom. Behind the firm is 36-year-old Kim Byung Hoon, a tech entrepreneur-turned-beauty mogul whose company has made him South Korea's newest billionaire. His 31 per cent stake in APR is now worth about US$1.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg billionaires Index, after the firm's shares soared 200 per cent this year. Kim started out dabbling in mobile apps – including a dating app – after studying in California as an exchange student over a decade ago. It was there that he first witnessed the smartphone revolution and got hooked on entrepreneurship. His pivot to skincare came in 2014 when he launched APR, initially focused on cosmetics. In 2021, the business expanded into producing high-tech facial devices that promise spa-like treatments at home. It's a product line that Kim personally evangelises – he uses APR's facial gadget for 30 minutes every day – APR's chief financial officer Shin Jae Ha told Bloomberg News in an interview. After going public last year, APR is now the second-largest publicly traded beauty firm in South Korea with a market capitalisation of more than US$4 billion. Endorsements from top-tier influencers reflect the growing mainstream appeal of K-beauty, the umbrella term for South Korea's booming beauty exports. Once the domain of Gen Z or Asian American influencers, they have gone mainstream in the US, where sales of Korean beauty products jumped 56 per cent to US$1.9 billion last year. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up With global interest rising alongside K-pop music and Korean dramas, celebrities began spotlighting products from APR's flagship brand Medicube in their routines. Hailey Bieber first posted about its gel mask in late 2023, unprompted, the company said. That organic buzz paved the way for APR's global campaigns in 2024 featuring Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian. 'Now it feels that K-beauty has reached the stage where it's spreading from early adopters to mass-market consumers,' said APR's CFO Shin, a former M&A banker at HSBC Holdings, who joined Kim in 2016 after being drawn to his vision. While the rise of K-beauty has mirrored the global surge of South Korean culture, APR is part of a new wave of cosmetic exports. Unlike legacy brands that relied heavily on duty-free shops or China-focused lines, APR found its niche in TikTok-powered skincare campaigns and sleek devices that serve up beauty tech. 'K-beauty companies that are good at marketing on digital platforms tend to show faster growth in e-commerce,' said Eun-Jung Park, an analyst with Hana Securities in Seoul. China remains South Korea's largest beauty export market – but just barely. While Chinese imports are slowing, the US is now growing faster and offers higher margins, thanks to its premium retail landscape. More than 70 per cent of APR's revenue now comes from overseas markets – and the US is its biggest driver of growth outside South Korea. The company is now preparing for its biggest retail push yet: in August, Medicube will be sold at cosmetics retailer chain Ulta Beauty stores across the US, expanding its presence beyond online platforms like and its own e-commerce channels. 'APR is one of the strongest marketing players among K-beauty brands,' said Park. 'Its Medicube is No 1 in sales [in the US] for a single K-beauty brand.' APR's current lines of skincare and devices focus on anti-ageing, moisturising and brightening, with a possibility of expanding into healthcare, the company said in an email. But it is not immune to global trade pressures. For now, APR pays a 10 per cent tariff on beauty goods imported to the US, which Shin calls 'manageable.' But potential escalation in trade tensions, or US clampdowns on Asian imports, could disrupt its rapid growth. On Monday in the US, President Donald Trump unveiled a tariff of 25 per cent on goods from South Korea beginning Aug 1. That effectively buys South Korea – and other affected nations – an extra three weeks to cut a deal with the White House. Meanwhile, Shin expects the company's sales to hit 1 trillion won (S$933 million) in annual revenue this year, a metric in which it is currently lagging its peers. As the business grows, founder-turned-billionaire Kim's personal moves are making local headlines. He recently purchased a penthouse in Seoul's upscale Seongsu-dong neighbourhood for 29 billion won, the company confirmed, setting a new national record for the highest price per square metre. The luxury residence is also home to well-known movie stars and sports figures, signalling his arrival as one of the country's most visible new billionaires. Despite his new wealth, Kim, who serves as the company's chief executive officer, remains intensely hands-on – coming into the office daily, closely tracking consumer trends and market reactions, and holding strategy meetings with top management even on weekends, Shin said. A few years ago, Kim shared a before-and-after video on social media showcasing the effects of APR's facial gadget on his own skin. But in recent years, he's largely stepped back online, keeping a lower profile as the company's visibility has soared. He declined Bloomberg News requests for an interview, but has in the past spoken about being influenced by the business models of Apple and Tesla 'If someone asks me what my career goal is, I'd say now I want to make a big company everyone knows,' Kim told local media around the time of his last Instagram post. 'Like Apple, we want to introduce products that would make us the most innovative company in the beauty industry.' BLOOMBERG
Business Insider
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Meet South Korea's new millennial beauty billionaire, who counts Kylie Jenner as a fan of his skincare gadgets
South Korea's beauty industry has minted a new billionaire. APR Corp.'s Kim Byung-Hoon, 36, profited from the rising popularity of his Medicube brand. The beauty tech brand has been touted by celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber. South Korean beauty is having its moment, and one millennial is raking in big bucks from it. Kim Byung-Hoon, the 36-year-old chief executive of Seoul-based cosmetics company APR Corp., became the country's newest billionaire. With a 31% stake in the company, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index on Monday listed Kim's net worth as $1.3 billion. APR Corp. has numerous South Korean brands under its umbrella, including beauty brands Aprilskin and Forment, and supplements brand Glam.D Bio. Kim is a young leader with a strong social media presence. The CEO has more than 24,000 followers on Instagram, where he posts content regularly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CEO of APR CORP. 김병훈 (@byunghoon_victor_kim) The star of APR Corp.'s brand portfolio is Medicube, a beauty tech company whose skincare devices have been touted by celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber. In an April TikTok video, Jenner said she stopped by Medicube's pop-up in Los Angeles and picked up the brand's Booster Pro. Medicube's website says the Booster Pro, a slender $240 cylindrical device, enhances "absorption, radiance, elasticity," helps with pores, and gives skin the "glass glow" that Korean beauty is synonymous with. Jenner was seen using it in her skincare routine. According to its website, APR Corp, then Aprilskin Corporation, was founded in 2014. It launched Medicube in 2016, which expanded globally in the following years. Medicube launched the Booster Pro in October 2023. Kim's company went public in February 2024 and now has a market capitalization of about $4.2 billion. Its stock was trading at 158,300 Korean won on Tuesday, or about $116, up more than 75% since its IPO. Kim's entry into the billionaires club comes as Korean beauty is gaining popularity, with brands like Beauty of Joseon, Laneige, and Dr. Jart+ going viral on TikTok. K Beauty's promise of delivering glass skin goes hand in hand with the "glazed skin" trend that Hailey Bieber, founder of skincare brand Rhode, coined. Bieber, too, made a video in July 2023 using Medicube's Booster-H, an older version of the Booster Pro.
