Korean cosmetics brand Dr.Jart+ speeds up expansion

By

Sarah Ahssen

Published
Nov 17, 2017

A contraction of the words "doctor" and "art", the South Korean cosmetics brand Dr.Jart+ offers targeted skincare products presented in packaging featuring avant-garde design. This unique positioning is due to the different backgrounds of its founders: former architect Leeo Lee and dermatologist SungJae Jung. 

Available in China and the United States, the brand, which was founded in 2005, has accelerated its distribution in Europe, and its products can now be found in the aisles of Sephora stores in France and another fifteen or so countries in the region. Although the products in the Dr.Jart+ range number almost 300, only around 30 are currently available on the French market, such as the Rubber Mask (10.90 euros), a single-use mask to be used in conjunction with a serum. 

"France is an iconic market, but it's also a very difficult one", stated the brand's president Leeo Lee. During a visit to Paris, he explained that on the domestic South Korean market, Dr.Jart+ is available through 1,000 points of sale and boasts a Seoul flagship. Dubbed the Filter Space, this three-storey building, which opened last year, offers a unique experience to its customers, who are plunged into the futuristic design universe of the brand. In order to pursue its international development, the brand has plans to open a flagship in Shanghai, China, before the end of the year, and another in 2019 in the US, where it has seen strong growth. 

The brand's potential has not escaped the notice of the American group Estée Lauder, which became a minority shareholder of Leeo Lee's company, Have&Be, owner of Dr.Jart+ and Do The Right Thing, a brand which focuses on men's skincare. The group currently has a turnover of 300 million euros.