The innovator of coffee-based skincare products, BEIGIC’s founder Kate Namgung shares her holy grail products, how to achieve a sustainable skincare routine and what’s next for the Korean cosmetic line.
10 May, 2021
Minimalism needn't only apply to your interiors. Since its inception in 2018, BEIGIC founder Kate Namgung has been championing a striped-back approach to skincare. Instead of filling our bathroom shelves with an apothecary of products, the beauty guru carefully curated an intimate line of products to encourage skincare fanatics to shop more thoughtfully.
The concept is simple. Each vegan-approved product - you'll find the cult BEIGIC face oil stashed in our Carry On K-Beauty Kit - has been designed with core concerns in mind. Wipe away misconceptions of 18-step routines, BEIGIC's three-step solution ensures skin is kept cleansed, hydrated, and radiant.
BEIGIC's hero ingredient? Green coffee beans. Much like your obligatory morning cup of joe, each skincare-saving product is packed with rich, active ingredients that helps skin to feel awake and revived. Essential amino acids smooths fine lines, while the natural caffeine helps skin achieve that enviable, dewy glow.
Here, founder Kate Namgung share's her go-to travel products, revolutionary skincare tips and why our skin deserves a caffeine fix.
BEIGIC strives to widen the scope of vegan beauty and introduce an authentic way of consuming beauty to a wider spectrum of beauty lovers. The vegan genre is relatively new, so the majority of potential customers we caught up with had doubts if vegan beauty products could replace their regular routine. This was not only in terms of efficacy but also sensorial experience and aesthetic, we strive to be the solution with no compromise.
Coffee, vegan and minimalist.
There's three things. Firstly, our identity and mood. When we first launched in Korea, many people assumed we were from a Nordic country because of our calm and soothing designs. Second, is our hero ingredient. Coffee is not a common ingredient in Korea, we're the first selfcare brand who built its universe around coffee-culture. Last but not least is our range. Simplicity is our key, whilst many other K-beauty brands tend to boast a complex routine with an overwhelming product line-up - we champion a smaller range.
Regenerating oil! This oil sparked immediate attention from experts around the globe and received a plethora of cosmetic awards. It took us over two years to finalize the formula, we hoped to develop a face oil that was light-weight, fast absorbing and a comfortable summer product. Today, we're proud to say it turned out just as we had envisioned and is loved for its detail's we worked so hard to perfect.
When it comes to environmental impact, there's no better consumption than no consumption. It's important to only buy what's essential and necessary, always be responsible for your purchases.
Like everyone else, my day is packed with meetings, emails and business trips. So to empty my brain, I give myself time to completely disconnect before going to bed. That time is my self-care. Giving my undivided attention to each product, I gently apply to my skin and savour the feeling. I religiously end this ritual with an extra-large mug of hot herbal tea.
Facial exfoliator. Often when the skin's charged with negatives and the pores are blocked, the most powerful and potent ingredients cannot penetrate deeply enough to make an impact on the skin. Regular exfoliation has been the key to my routine for a long time, I love how it immediately smooths and refines my skin. For a long time I found them leaving my skin rather dry. With our correcting exfoliator, we focused on improving the skin's texture but also its hydration to deliver a finish of dewy and beautiful skin. Try it not just for the above, but for its heavenly coffee scent.
If your skin feels dull or dry and you're in desperate need of a quick fix, merge your facial oil and facial cream together - this saves the stress of adding a new production to your routine. Combine a good amount of hydration cream and an oil, mix it in your hands and use it as a mask. Be sure to massage it into the skin for five minutes, the morning after you'll hardly recognise the feel and look of your skin!
Trying new products is part of the job. So my bathroom shelf never stays the same. But there's one product that I always stock up, our volumizing shampooing scrub. With its minty and sea salt scent, it gives an invigorating and refreshing feeling. It effectively removes impurities and gives a natural volume to your hair - it's a game changer.
The smaller size of the regenerating oil is the perfect size to carry around. You'll find it in my in-cabin pouch at any time of year, I apply it to my face and lips whenever I feel my skin needs moisture. Top tip: for a dewy make-up look, add a few drops to your BB cream.
We have so many exciting and inspiring ideas that are currently being thrown into the mix. One of our latest projects is opening a BEIGIC Café in some of the world's most famous cities (Seoul, Tokyo and Paris), picture a place to try products whilst relaxing with a caffeine refuel.
