Our mission here at SKINDAYS is simple—to make shopping for skincare uniquely personal and a genuine joy. And to make that possible, we work with the best brands in the industry to offer a curated edit of products. Whether it’s vegan cleansing balms, science-led serums or trending tools, we only stock skincare from brands we believe offer thoughtful solutions for your unique skincare journey. But what about the people behind the brands? Introducing Stripped Back: A new series that aims to share the story behind the brands that you love and a chance to hear directly from the founders themselves. So sit back, relax, and let us introduce you to our brands…
Skindays: You didn’t start out in the skincare field; how did you get your start and what drove you to launch Venn?
Brian Oh: I was a corporate lawyer in NYC and Silicon Valley before starting VENN. I’ve always invested in skincare products with serious science and technology. But the issue for me was, given my long and hectic working hours, I never actually had the time to use multiple products, let alone even understand each product and figure out which routines and products to apply. Often, even applying 2 or 3 different products was overwhelming so I’d just end of using a moisturiser. What I needed was a skincare routine that was not only very effective, but also very simple, convenient and streamlined. I couldn’t find a single brand that focused on doing just that – offering a streamlined skincare solution that didn’t involve compromising on the efficacy.
Then I met my co-founder, a nuclear physicist who became a skincare chemist and has been researching and developing skincare ingredients, formulations and technologies for over 25 years. We talked about his research on Compound K and solubilization and delivery technologies.
SD: What does the name stand for?
BO: The brand name, VENN, comes from Venn diagram in geometry—the overlapping concentration of different elements. It reflects the brand’s intersection of science, nature and lifestyle, which are the three key pillars that form the brand’s DNA. So, consistent with our brand name, the logo for VENN layers the “V” and the “N,” forming a Venn diagram that visually echoes the name and coveys the integrative qualities of the brand.
SD: Most K-Beauty brands advocate for a 10 or even 12-step routine, what inspired you to opt for a streamlined skincare routine and champion the ALL-IN-ONE concept?
BO: Although South Korea is at the forefront of skincare technology and innovation, K Beauty in the western countries has been misunderstood and defined largely by facial sheet masks and fun, trendy products that propelled the global K Beauty phenomenon. But just like electronics, cosmetics in Korea has experienced rapid advancements in technology and innovation with global competitiveness, with cosmetics now being Korea’s key industry along with electronics and the market size being 8th largest in the world. So, I wanted to create a brand that shows the world the ‘other side’ of K Beauty—the serious skincare technology and innovations in South Korea.
SD: What makes Venn products and formulations so unique?
BO: Our patented technologies, including Concentric Technology, which is comprised of our Solubilization Technology, Delivery Technology and Hydration Technology, work together to deliver key actives to the skin to help hydrate and visibly target multiple skin concerns.
For example, our Solubilization Technology ™ takes actives with very low water-solubility, e.g. Ginsenoside Compound K derived from Panax Ginseng and Mastic Gum, and makes it possible to dissolve them in water and use them in higher concentrations in our formulations such as our All-In-One Concentrates.
Microbiome Balance System: our latest research has focused on the skin microbiome – specifically, probiotics and prebiotics that, when applied topically, are designed to support the skin microbiome for healthier-looking, more resilient skin. Many of our products have been awarded microbiome-friendly certification by MyMicrobiome AG.
Our formulations use actives at concentrations guided by research studies, in-vitro and in-vivo tests and technical data, and our internal research and analyses (brand-reported). All our formulations and proprietary ingredients are developed at our own R&D centre.
SD: Why did you decide to work with chemists in South Korea rather than chemists from New York, the city where you live in?
BO: South Korea is at the forefront of skincare technology and innovation, which also has driven the global K-Beauty phenomenon. So, given my Korean cultural background, if I created a skincare brand, I wanted it to be based on and driven by the skincare technology and innovation from South Korea. Also, despite the long history of skincare advancements in South Korea, it seemed that outside Korea, and especially in the U.S I wanted to introduce the “other side” of K-Beauty, by creating a brand backed by science and technology in South Korea, that would compete with other global brands in the premium, luxury space.
In Silicon Valley, through my work with life science start-ups, I was introduced to my co-founder, who is one of the leading skincare chemists in South Korea and now VENN’s Chief Scientific Officer. He’s been researching and developing skincare technology, ingredients and formulations for over 20 years. He shared the same vision of creating a brand that focused on offering non-compromise, streamlined skincare solutions. So, we each left what we were doing and co-founded this brand.
SD: What have you learned about K-Beauty that you didn’t know before?
BO: I think K-Beauty has been largely defined and recognized outside South Korea by facial sheet masks and more affordable, trending products, which actually form only a subset category of skincare in South Korea. K-Beauty is also at the forefront of skincare science, innovation and technology, and VENN is a good example of this.
I think one lesson that American beauty brands could take from K-Beauty brands is the constant strive by K-Beauty brands to explore the unknown and sometimes even take risks to introduce something new and never seen in the market. Of course, all of this is backed by, and made possible, by the long history of skincare science and innovation in South Korea.
SD: Can you tell us a bit more about the core ingredients you work with?
BO: Panax ginseng has been used in traditional Eastern medicine for over 2,000 years. It is also called “green gold” or “the king of the herbs” because it is only found naturally in a few places in the world (including Korea). In skincare, this herbal root is used to help support the skin’s moisture balance and to help skin look more youthful and more even in tone.
VENN takes the use of Panax ginseng in skincare a step further by solubilizing Compound K, a key bioactive component of Panax ginseng, used in the formulations of Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate, Compound K Hyaluronic Booster and Concentrated Revitalizing Lifting Mask. Gromwell and Korean Angelica Root extracts are key oil extracts inspired by Jaungo, a 400-year-old traditional Korean remedy. They are fermented for 150 hours at a low temperature to create our cult product Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum. According to the brand, this fermentation breaks down the particle size of the oil extracts so the formulation can be more easily absorbed by the skin.
Mastic Gum (Pistacia lentiscus) is a plant resin obtained from mastic trees that only grow on the Greek island of Chios. The resin is rich in antioxidants and is used in skincare to help skin look clearer and more radiant and to help refine the appearance of pores.
Composed of high molecular weight organic compounds and with less than 0.01% solubility in water, mastic gum has until now been insoluble in water. By applying VENN’s patented solubilization technology, mastic gum is one of the key active ingredients in VENN’s hero product, Vitamin B Activated All-In-One Concentrate.
Other key and signature ingredients in VENN’s range:
Probiotics and Prebiotics – (Bacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment and Beta-Glucan) are used to support the skin microbiome.
Centella Asiatica (Cica) – six different Centella Asiatica actives (Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract and Centella Asiatica Extract) used to help soothe the look of irritated skin.
Niacinamide – used to help skin look brighter and more even, help support the skin barrier and refine the look of pores.
Acmella Oleracea Extract – a botanical extract used to help soften the look of lines and wrinkles.
Polyamine – a naturally occurring compound used to help skin look firmer and smoother and to support skin’s moisture.
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) – used to help skin look balanced, soothed and brighter.
SD: What do you think is the future of skincare?
BO: When observing outside skincare, most technological innovations and advancements have been focused on make lives more convenient, efficient and simplified. Smartphones and Uber are very good examples of this desire for convenient and efficient lifestyle. I think skincare is no different, as long as brands are able to offer streamlined and simplified skincare solutions that don’t require compromising on the quality and benefits.
I think VENN is leading the future by combining science with technology and natural pure ingredients to create efficient, results-driven skincare formulations.
SD: Best skincare advice you have ever received?
BO: I think to make sure that all the good ingredients you apply to your skin will actually be absorbed and deliver benefits – this inspired me to find a way to create an effective delivery system. Also, not to use too many ingredients, as they may increase the risk of different actives clashing with each other and blocking the penetration of each other or cancelling out the benefits.
SD: What are you currently working on?
BO: We have a new Body Cream launching in June – Probiotic-Tensive Hydro Firming Body Cream, formulated to hydrate and help skin look firmer, smoother and softer. It uses our Microbiome Balance System™, a proprietary combination of probiotics and prebiotics designed to nourish the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Following that, we have a collagen exfoliating mask that will be incorporated into our facial protocol.
Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Resurfacing Mask is designed to help skin look more radiant by removing dead, dull surface cells.
SD: Best kept skincare secret?
BO: I think our Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum. It’s a multi-correctional face oil inspired by Korea’s traditional first aid herbal ointment, “Jaungo”, a 400-year-old traditional remedy. The key ingredients are fermented for 150 hours at a low temperature and make up the ‘engine’ of the Red Oil Serum. The brand reports improvements in the look of skin’s elasticity and firmness in its own testing (individual results vary). It’s not a typical face oil: the brand says it suits every skin type, even blemished or oily, and customers tell us they swear by it to keep skin looking radiant.
VENN Skincare FAQs
Who founded VENN skincare?
VENN was co-founded by Brian Oh, a former corporate lawyer, and a Korean skincare chemist and nuclear physicist who is the brand's Chief Scientific Officer.
What does the name VENN mean?
It comes from the Venn diagram, reflecting the overlap of science, nature and lifestyle that the brand says are its three pillars.
What is VENN's All-In-One concept?
Instead of a 10 or 12-step routine, VENN offers streamlined products such as its All-In-One Concentrates, which combine several actives in one step.
What is Compound K in skincare?
Ginsenoside Compound K is a bioactive component of Panax ginseng. VENN uses its Solubilization Technology to dissolve it in water so it can be used in higher concentrations, for example in its Compound K Hyaluronic Booster.
What is VENN's Red Oil Serum?
Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum is a face oil inspired by the traditional Korean remedy Jaungo. The brand says it suits all skin types; patch test first.