Dr. Jart+
Dr. Jart+ (Hangul: 닥터자르트; read simply as Doctor Jart) is a South Korean skin care brand. It was created in 2004 by entrepreneur Lee Jin-wook, with consultation from dermatologist Dr. Jung Sung-jae.[1] Their name is an abbreviation of "Doctor Joins Art."
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Founded | 2004 |
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Founder | Lee Jin-wook |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | Skin care |
Revenue |
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Parent | Have & Be Estée Lauder Companies |
Website | drjart |
History
In 2003, entrepreneur Lee Jin-wook (Korean: 이진욱) began to research a product called BB cream.[2] Dr. Jung Sung-jae (Korean: 정성재) had been working out of his own Seoul practice since 2001, where he was testing new treatments for patients with severe skin issues.[3] Lee approached Jung to invest and consult with Dr. Jart+, with the intent to bring Jung's formulations to a wider audience.[3] The name "Jart" was initially coined as a portmanteau of "Jung" and "art".[2] Jung remains as the brand's chief dermatologist.[4]

Dr. Jart+ was in development for three years before being exclusively introduced to dermatological clinics.[1] It was officially launched in December 2004.[2] Dr. Jart+ was first sold through e-commerce.[2] Its revenue in 2005 amounted to 500 million won, but began to increase through word-of-mouth on online retailer SkinRx Lab. By 2008, sales amounted to seven billion dollars.[2]
In its early days, Lee focused mostly on exporting Dr. Jart+ outside of Asia, strategizing that the brand's popularity in Asian territories would follow after pioneering more "difficult" markets first.[5] The brand partnered with Japanese department store Takashimaya in June 2009 to offer its products at its now-defunct Fifth Avenue location, which effectively made Dr. Jart+ the first Korean brand since Amorepacific to have a presence in New York.[2] It entered the American market in early 2011 with cosmetics retailer Sephora, offering two BB creams at ten of its locations at the time.[5][6] The New York Times credited this launch as "[paving] the way for a Korean beauty invasion of the United States."[6] The brand has since expanded to selling 50 products at all Sephora outlets.[5]
Products

Dr. Jart+ is composed of nine lines, each focused on a specific ingredient or skin issue:
- Cicapair — utilizes tiger grass (centella asiatica) to "[calm] redness and [soothe] irritation"
- Ceramidin — 5-Cera Complex (ceramides) to "restore and repair the skin barrier"
- Water Fuse — Aqua Mineral Complex (minerals) to impart skin hydration
- BB Cream — “beauty balm”
- Dermaclear — Hydrogen Bio Water (micellar solution) to cleanse, exfoliate skin
- Water Drop — hyaluronic acid; features a "unique emulsion system" that "bursts into tiny water droplets."
- Peptidin — 8-Peptide Complex (peptides)
- Focuspot — patches composed of "micro tips" to target specific conditions
- V7 — V7 Multi-Vitamin Complex (vitamin B3, C, F, K3, B5, E, and H)
- Cryo Rubber — with patented technology to moisturize and intensely soothe
Corporate affairs
Identity
Dr. Jart+ eschews celebrity endorsements in favor of animation to communicate their brand.[5] Dr. Jart+ 's branding and packaging was refreshed by design firm Pentagram in 2018, starting with the international roll out of their newly created Ceramidin line.[7][8][9]
Dr. Jart+ is considered to be among the forefront of brands leading the Korean beauty wave.[10] In an article for Racked, Ju Rhyu, a business-to-business consultant, believes that Dr. Jart+ is keen to "downplay" this angle, like competitors Amorepacific and Belif. These companies communicate a "very clear brand identity and the K-beauty message is more secondary," in an effort to secure brand loyalty and longevity. In an email by Dr. Jart+ 's vice president of marketing, Susan Tsui, they state that the brand is "proud of its Korean roots", yet "Dr. Jart+ is fueled by our commitment to adhere to what we were founded on, art and skincare."[11]
Advertising
Dr. Jart+ has been the exclusive skin care sponsor of designer brand Opening Ceremony at New York Fashion Week since 2015.[12][13] The brand has stocked their products in their retail stores since 2011.[12]
References
- Austin, Clare (February 27, 2017). "Just what the doctor ordered: the philosophy of Dr.Jart+". The Moodie Davitt Report. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Nam, Seung-ryul (June 19, 2009). "[창업열전] 기능성 화장품 '해브앤비' 이진욱 대표, 온라인서 출발···백화점 입성". The Korea Daily. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- "Shop Dr. Jart+". Birchbox. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- "Is it Worth Wearing A Facemask Overnight?". Yahoo Beauty. October 2, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Collins, Allison (May 29, 2018). "Dr. Jart Founder Talks BB Cream and 'Crazy' Meetings". WWD. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Meltzer, Marisa (October 29, 2014). "South Korea Exports Its Glow". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Baird, Richard (January 15, 2018). "New Package Design for Dr Jart+ by Pentagram". BP&O. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- "Dr. Jart+ — Story". Pentagram. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- "TECSOLA Skincare". Tuesday, March 24, 2020
- Auto, Hermes (2019-12-12). "Korean cosmetics wave turns architecture major into billionaire | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
- Wischhover, Cheryl (August 3, 2017). "Why No One Single Brand Is Winning K-Beauty". Racked. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- "KOREA Magazine July 2015". Korea Magazine. Docuhut. July 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Opening Ceremony x Dr.Jart NYFW18, retrieved December 5, 2019