Founded by suicide-attempt survivor Reshona, Novara develops Korean-made skincare centered on its proprietary AquaFlux™ Complex, which combines multiple hyaluronic acids, peptides and botanicals for hydration-focused formulas. The New York-based brand pairs Korean beauty expertise with clean, cruelty-free formulations and directs 20% of net proceeds to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Sabbatical BeautyBorn from founder Adeline Koh’s 2015 kitchen experiments during an academic sabbatical, Sabbatical Beauty makes small-batch, high-concentration skincare in Philadelphia. Its Korean-inspired formulas center on meaningful levels of botanicals, layered hydration, and skin-barrier repair rather than token “active” ingredients. The company also matches donations to its Pay It Forward Fund dollar for dollar, extending its skincare community to people facing financial insecurity.PHILADELPHIA, PA
Savor BeautyFounded by former concert pianist Angela Jia Kim, Savor Beauty grew from Korean skincare traditions and homemade Manhattan formulations into a New York beauty company with a flagship spa that opened in 2017. Its small-batch skincare translates those rituals into a simpler five-step routine for people seeking clean, gentle care, including those with sensitive skin.NEW YORK, NY
anokha®Founded in 2008 by board-certified plastic surgeon Nina S. Naidu, anokha® makes clinical skincare that pairs botanical actives with medical expertise. Based in New York, the company develops its own formulas and produces them by hand in small batches, with products clinically and allergy tested for gentle use. Anokha is also certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny, and donates 5% of each sale to a humanitarian charity.NEW YORK, NY
Aruen USBorn from founder Young Lee’s Korean family wisdom—and a grandmother’s daily advice to eat tofu—Aruen US creates Korean skincare formulas centered on its TofuCollagen™ approach. Its current signature product is a stretchy, jelly-textured firming cream made in South Korea, combining fermented soymilk with collagen and other skin-supporting ingredients. Aruen says its products are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated to Clean at Sephora standards for sensitive and stressed skin.