Korean cosmetics / K-Beauty / Korean cosmetics
K-beauty private label, made in Germany
Korean innovation. German precision.
K-beauty private label at L.A. Schmitt means this: we develop skincare in the Korean style and manufacture it under your brand at our own plant in Ludwigsstadt, Germany. We do not import products from Korea, we are not a wholesaler, and nothing is produced in Korea. You get K-beauty formulations with typical K-beauty actives, made in Germany and documented in line with the EU Cosmetics Regulation. If your company is based outside the EU, we can also act as your EU responsible person.
Korean cosmetics are a development approach in their own right. Textures, combinations of actives and multi-step routines differ noticeably from classic European formulations. That is what makes K-beauty attractive for brands, and what makes it demanding to produce. Our shareholders have decades of experience in the Korean cosmetics market, and that knowledge goes straight into our product development. We are not interested in copying trends. We develop formulations that follow K-beauty logic and can be sold in Europe.
What we handle for your K-beauty line
You bring the brand, the target group and the positioning. We can take care of the rest:
- developing a new K-beauty formulation, or adapting a ready-made formulation from our lab
- samples for approval, usually three rounds
- stability testing, testing in the final packaging and preservative efficacy testing (challenge test)
- Product Information File (PIF), safety assessment by an external safety assessor, CPNP notification, labelling and review of your product claims (legally binding only through a lawyer; we can put you in touch)
- acting as your EU responsible person if required, including for brands without a registered office in the EU
- manufacturing and filling in Ludwigsstadt
- packaging: from 10,000 units we source it ourselves; for smaller runs you supply the packaging and we advise you on the choice
Development of marketable K-Beauty formulations
K-Beauty products follow a different approach: they are lighter, more buildable and focus more on the overall condition of the skin than on individual problems.
- light, quickly absorbed textures (essences, gel formulations, emulsions)
- Focus on hydration, the skin barrier and long-term skin balance
- A combination of several active ingredients in moderate concentrations
- Application in a series of coordinated steps
K-beauty actives: the K-Power Serum
Here is what that looks like in practice: a fully developed private label formulation from our lab. It is built on four actives that cover topics Korean skincare is known for right now: CICA, exosomes, PDRN and NAD.
- Pantodium CICA: obtained from the green alga Codium tomentosum and activated by marine fermentation. Its manufacturer positions it as a natural alternative to D-panthenol.
- Phormiskin Bioprotech G: derived from the microalga Phormidium persicinum. Contains exosomes and the protective protein thioredoxin. Designed for serums and anti-ageing lines.
- Dermosculpt: a vegan alternative to PDRN, obtained from the microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Conventional PDRN is usually made from salmon DNA.
- RejuveNAD: an extract of organic sunflower sprouts that brings NAD, a topic from longevity research, into skincare.
The formulation is ready. You bring the brand, packaging, design and positioning. The same actives can be used for further products, for example a Cica Rescue Serum, a Barrier Repair Cream, an Exosome Shot Ampoule or a Vegan PDRN Power Essence. We review which claims are permissible as part of the documentation. A legally binding review is done by a lawyer, and we can put you in touch with one.
Bringing K-beauty to the EU market
K-Beauty cannot be replicated exactly. Raw materials, formulation approaches and regulatory requirements differ significantly.
- Not all ingredients used in Korea are permitted in the EU
- Textures must be adapted to European production conditions
- Stability and durability must be ensured under other conditions
- Packaging and usage must be suited to the target market
That is why every formulation is checked against the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 before it goes into production. We compile the Product Information File, have the safety assessment prepared by an external safety assessor and notify the product via the CPNP portal. Production follows Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP in accordance with ISO 22716). Any cosmetic product sold in the EU needs a responsible person established in the EU. If your brand is based in Korea, the US or anywhere else outside the EU, we can take on that role for you.
Korean roots. International standards.
L.A. Schmitt was founded in Leipzig in 1925 and has been manufacturing in Ludwigsstadt since 1953. Since October 2022, the company has been wholly owned by La Cultura Verde Ltd., whose CEO is investor Dong-Myung Kim. The link to Korea is therefore part of our ownership structure. Our shareholders bring decades of experience in the Korean cosmetics market, and we pass that knowledge on to our private label customers.
Since September 2025, we have also been producing in a new 500-square-metre production hall.
Investor Dong-Myung Kim (centre) with his family, along with Managing Director Ivo Petschke and staff
Process, minimum order and timeline
From your first enquiry to production in five steps:
- Enquiry: describe your project in our formulation briefing or via the contact form.
- Meeting and NDA: a non-disclosure agreement is the basis of every project we take on.
- Samples: we develop or adapt the formulation and send you samples. It usually takes three rounds with your feedback. For a new development, this phase typically takes around three months.
- Testing and documentation: for a new development, stability and preservative tests, Product Information File, safety assessment and CPNP notification take around three more months. With a ready-made formulation such as the K-Power Serum, the stability and preservative challenge tests are not needed.
- Production: manufacturing and filling in Ludwigsstadt.
Our minimum order quantity is 1,000 units per product, whether you use a ready-made formulation or have your own developed. We do not take on micro-batches. We work with brands that plan to grow.
Your contact
New K-beauty projects are handled by Ivo Petschke, Managing Director of L.A. Schmitt. He joined the company in 2013 and has led it since 2018. We work in English and German.
K-beauty private label: frequently asked questions
Do you manufacture in Korea or import Korean cosmetics?
No. Every product is made at our plant in Ludwigsstadt, Germany. We do not import products from Korea and we are not a wholesaler. What comes from Korea is our shareholders’ knowledge of formulations, actives and the market.
Can I sell K-beauty products under my own brand without developing a formulation?
Yes. The K-Power Serum is a fully developed formulation with four K-beauty actives: Pantodium CICA, Phormiskin Bioprotech G, Dermosculpt and RejuveNAD. You bring the brand, packaging and design. The minimum order quantity is 1,000 units per product.
Are Korean cosmetic ingredients allowed in the EU?
Not all of them. Some substances used in Korea are not permitted under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. We therefore formulate with raw materials that are approved in the EU, and every product is assessed by an external safety assessor before it goes on sale.
Can you act as EU responsible person for a brand based outside the EU?
Yes. Every cosmetic product sold in the EU needs a responsible person established in the EU. We take on this role for brands without a registered office in the EU as well, and we also handle the Product Information File, safety assessment, CPNP notification and labelling.
Whether it’s a new product launch or a portfolio expansion
Are you planning a skincare product with
K-beauty DNA?
Describe your project. You’ll receive an initial assessment of how it can be implemented and what the next steps are. If you already have a clear idea, you are welcome to use our formulation briefing.