What Sunjin Beauty Science does

Sunjin Beauty Science is a South Korea-based specialty chemical manufacturer of cosmetic ingredients and a vertically integrated beauty care solutions provider, founded in 1978 and listed on KOSDAQ in January 2021. The company develops and manufactures high-precision cosmetic ingredients including inorganic UV filters (Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide), micro beads (silica, polymer), hectorite-based emulsifiers, bio-based ingredients, pigments, and surfactants, supplying global cosmetics manufacturers including L'Oréal (since 2003), Estée Lauder (since 2007), and Intercos through both direct sales and a global distributor network spanning 50+ countries.

The company's core technology portfolio is anchored by multiple Global First & Only innovations including rod-shaped zinc oxide (2019), proprietary UV filter encapsulation technology, ECODROPGEL silicone-free hectorite W/O emulsification, composite silica beads for microplastic replacement, and the TINA natural coating agent system, supported by registered patents across Korea, China, and the United States. Manufacturing is concentrated at the FDA-certified Janghang Smart Factory in Seocheon-gun, which became the first Korean cosmetic ingredient facility to earn a U.S. FDA No Action Indicated (NAI) rating in 2019 and passed a second consecutive FDA inspection in 2025.

Sunjin Beauty Science generates revenue through four streams: (1) B2B cosmetic ingredient sales (standalone KRW 48.7 billion in 2025) via direct sales and a network of distributors including IMCD, IMPAG, and Aston Chemicals; (2) ODM/OEM manufacturing through the new OTCM factory (completed July 2025, KRW 25.4 billion investment); (3) clinical testing services through SCRC launched in 2024; and (4) direct-to-consumer sales of its proprietary irecipe brand across 300+ Olive Young stores and platforms in Japan and China. Consolidated 2025 revenue reached KRW 80.8 billion (+1.7% YoY), the fifth consecutive year of record revenue, with the company targeting KRW 100 billion in 2026.

Name

Sunjin Beauty Science

Legal name

Sunjin Beauty Science Co., Ltd.

Website

https://sunjinbs.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sunjin Beauty Science is a South Korean specialty chemical manufacturer and vertically integrated beauty care platform, developing UV filters, micro beads, and proprietary encapsulation ingredients for global cosmetics brands (L'Oréal, Estée Lauder), with FDA-certified manufacturing, ODM capacity, and its own irecipe consumer brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetic Ingredients

NAICS

Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemical Sun Protection (CRABAHAD), Sun Protection for Sensitive/Medical Needs (Reef-Safe, Hypoallergenic, Post-Procedure) (CRABAHAN)

Keywords

• Cosmetic ingredients
• UV filters
• Micro beads
• ODM cosmetics
• Skincare formulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Ansan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cosmetic Ingredient Sales: Development and manufacturing of high-precision cosmetic ingredients including UV filters (Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide), micro beads, skincare ingredients, pigments, and surfactants. Sold to global cosmetics manufacturers through direct sales and distributor network. Revenue reached KRW 48.7 billion standalone in 2025.
2. ODM/OEM Manufacturing: Cosmetic finished product manufacturing through newly constructed OTCM factory (completed July 2025, total floor area 4,718㎡, investment KRW 25.4 billion). Specializes in OTC (Over-the-Counter) drug cosmetics including sunscreens, acne products, antiperspirants.
3. Proprietary Cosmetics Brand (irecipe): Direct-to-consumer brand sold through offline retail (300+ Olive Young stores), Kakao Gift, and international platforms (Japan Qoo10, China Douyin). Features exclusive model NMIXX Jiwoo.
4. Clinical Testing Services (SCRC): Skin clinical testing services launched June 2024 through SCRC (Skin Clinical Research Center). Provides in-vivo and in-vitro testing with industry third-largest UV testing equipment scale.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sunjin Beauty Science develops and manufactures high-precision cosmetic ingredients including UV filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), micro beads, hectorite-based skincare emulsifiers, bio-based ingredients, pigments, and surfactants. The company operates a vertically integrated platform encompassing ingredient manufacturing, skin clinical testing (SCRC), ODM/OEM cosmetics manufacturing (OTCM), and a proprietary consumer cosmetics brand (irecipe), serving global cosmetics manufacturers across more than 50 countries.

Product overview

Sunjin Beauty Science is a vertically integrated beauty care solutions provider encompassing cosmetic ingredient development and manufacturing, clinical testing, ODM/OEM production, and proprietary cosmetics brand (irecipe). The company's ingredient portfolio includes UV Filters (ZINA zinc oxide, Titanium Dioxide, UV Filter Capsules), Micro Beads (SUNSIL-OLEO silica beads, polymer beads), Skin Care Ingredients (Hectorite Technology, ECODROPGEL, MLB emulsifiers, Ceraplex Series, Aqua Series), BIO Ingredients (EZLIte enzyme-converted ingredients), Pigments & Pigment Dispersion (TINA coated pigments, talc alternatives), and Surfactants. The company operates manufacturing facilities under FDA inspection standards and provides formulation support through its Formula Book service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• irecipe (아이레시피): Sunjin Beauty Science's proprietary cosmetics brand launched in 2021, combining technology and sensibility; listed in 300 Olive Young offline stores; expanded to Kakao Gift, Japan's Qoo10, and China's Douyin
• OTCM
• SCRC

Products and services

• UV Filters

Quantifiable outcome

• Rod-shaped zinc oxide reduces whitening while enhancing UV protection performance compared to conventional spherical nano zinc oxide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• DSMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Strategic partnership with Switzerland-based DSM for cosmetic ingredients produced at the Janghang plant. Export agreement signed in 2019, leveraging DSM's global distribution network for international market expansion.
• BotanichemregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth African market partner and distributor. Botanichem serves as cosmetic ingredients supplier in South African market, partnering with companies like BASF Care Creations, Cobiosa, Zuplex, and Sunjin to provide diverse ingredients.
• IMCD (Japan, Australia, Philippines)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIMCD serves as distributor in Japan, Australia/New Zealand, and Philippines. IMCD Japan contact: Kubo Shunsaku, [email protected]
• IMPAG (France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIMPAG serves as European distributor in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Poland. IMPAG AG Switzerland: [email protected]
• Aston Chemicals (UK)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor for Sunjin cosmetic ingredients. Contact: Dani Loughran, [email protected]

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DSM-Firmenich: Dutch-Swiss specialty ingredients major with personal care, UV filters, vitamins, and aroma ingredients; signed a strategic export partnership with Sunjin in 2019, making it both a partner and the most direct competitive benchmark in UV protection and cosmetic actives.
• Intercos: Italy-based global cosmetics ODM/contract manufacturer that is both a disclosed Sunjin customer (since 2004) and a peer in finished-product manufacturing serving the same prestige brand customer base.
• Ashland: US-listed specialty ingredients company focused on personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets with overlapping portfolios in film-formers, conditioning agents, and UV-protection-adjacent chemistries.
• Croda International: UK-listed global specialty ingredients company with a substantial Personal Care division spanning UV filters, surfactants, actives, and conditioning agents. Direct competitor to Sunjin in cosmetic ingredient categories sold to the same global beauty brands.
• COSMAX: Korea-based global cosmetics ODM leader (KOSDAQ-listed) and direct competitor to Sunjin's OTCM division; shares major global brand customers and similar Korean beauty-tech DNA.

Broad incumbents

• Symrise: German specialty chemicals company with a major cosmetic ingredients and fragrance portfolio, including UV filters, actives, and microbead alternatives sold to the same global beauty manufacturers.
• Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals company with a personal care and cosmetics ingredients portfolio including silica-based ingredients, emulsifiers, and actives that overlap with Sunjin's bead, hectorite, and surfactant offerings.
• Givaudan: Swiss global leader in fragrances and beauty ingredients with active cosmetic and natural ingredient offerings. Adjacent competitor in the formulation-support ecosystem serving global cosmetics brands.
• BASF (Care Creations): World's largest chemical company; its Care Creations division supplies UV filters, pigments, surfactants, and actives to the same global cosmetics customers that Sunjin serves. Already co-distributed with Sunjin via Botanichem in South Africa.

Others

• IMCD: Dutch-listed specialty chemicals distributor serving as Sunjin's distribution partner in Japan, Australia/NZ, and the Philippines; also distributes competing ingredient suppliers' portfolios, making it both partner and channel competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiGWe2bTOOj38yxQPtphlNw
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunjinbeautyscience
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunjin_beauty_science
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunjin-beauty

Compliance22 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sunjin Beauty Science