Mark & Teams: a cutting-edge Korean formulator

Among the new products launched in 2025 by Korean company Mark & Teams, the most memorable is a serum containing 20% pure vitamin C, which has successfully passed stability and vitaminization capacity tests. It took five years to develop this product, which has a guaranteed shelf life of 30 months. In 2026, the firm announced the launch of hybrid products combining skincare and makeup, including a hydrogel spray mist and a foundation. All these products are being developed in close collaboration with American and European companies.

“With 20 years of experience in the cosmetics OEM and ODM sector,” explains Sang-Hyun (Mark) Cho, CEO and founder, "and although we do not have our own manufacturing facilities, thanks to a solid strategic partnership with more than 40 major cosmetics manufacturers in Korea and packaging companies, as well as research institutes, we now offer a full range of services related to Korean cosmetics, not only as consultants but also by collaborating on the release of innovative products based on the latest market trends. Our mission is to help our international clients, whether American, European, Asian, or others, to successfully develop their products in Korea, while playing a central role in the growth of K-beauty”.

The growing company currently employs nine people and will generate approximately $5 million in revenue this year. It exports to some 20 countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It designs, manufactures, and supplies a full range of cosmetic products, including skincare, makeup, and personal hygiene products. Recently, it has even supplied hydrocolloid acne patches and UV protection patches. “With the interest in K-Beauty,” says Mark Cho, “we are constantly introducing and supplying products that are currently trendy or are expected to become trendy in the Korean beauty market.”

A serum containing 20% pure vitamin C!

Due to the need to manage a large volume of data and customer accounts, the firm has invested in improving its internal processes, notably with the implementation of an ERP system. In addition, in order to improve its responsiveness on a global scale, it has decided to allocate resources to obtaining ISO certifications. In 2026, it announced that it would strengthen its internal research capabilities by expanding its R&D team and creating its own laboratory. Among the new products launched in 2025, one of note is a serum containing 20% pure vitamin C, which has successfully passed testing. “It took about five years to develop this product,” explains Mark Cho, “which has a guaranteed shelf life of 30 months. In 2026, we will launch hybrid products combining skincare and makeup, including a hydrogel spray mist and a foundation.”

Regarding customs tariffs, “this inevitably has an impact on the unit prices of the products we manufacture,” Mark Cho points out. "In addition, the increase in customs duties increases import costs for our customers, which is naturally a source of concern for many of them. However, in the case of the United States, since all exporting countries are subject to the same tariff increases, we believe that the burden will ultimately be borne by end consumers as a whole." As for restrictive measures on packaging, particularly plastic, “with the variety of cosmetic packaging options having decreased compared to the past,” Mark Cho points out, "the design possibilities for the products we develop and supply have also become more limited. The range of packaging choices available is inevitably shrinking. However, we recognize that environmental responsibility is of the utmost importance. That is why we are actively exploring various solutions, such as sourcing packaging that minimizes the use of plastic, using PCR materials, and developing formulations that are compatible with paper sachets or tube-type containers."