From Seoul to Manila: Bringing Korea’s Best-Kept Beauty Secrets to the Philippines
When traditional Korean ingredients are paired with modern science your skin care allows you to return to the best version of you.
In South Korea, you will find the persimmon tree, its juicy fruits spreading a wash of cheerful orange across its branches. And in the gaps of the striking color spread, you’ll also find dabs of green—the persimmon leaf peeking out from between branch and bounty.
Persimmon leaf has traditionally been consumed as a cooling tea in Korea. Its leaves are rich in tannins, a compound found to have antioxidant properties. And in K-beauty, persimmon leaves are used to smoothen skin and refine pores for that enviable glass texture. K-beauty, now massively popular all over the world, comes with a rich and storied history. It has resonated globally with its philosophy of being skin-first, as opposed to makeup-first. Skin care, for Koreans, is deeply holistic. It’s about prevention, nourishment, and long-term health. And at the heart of Korean skin care are the natural ingredients that have been used for generations, such as persimmon leaf.
When Korea’s rich tradition of beauty meets modern science
In 2022, a skin-care brand was born in South Korea out of a desire to bridge the gap between deep-rooted Korean skin care practices and the evolving needs of today’sconsumers. K-beauty was booming, but there were too many overwhelming routines,too many unclear ingredients, and too many promises that fell flat.
Enter Returnu, with a mission to “return to you,” to your most radiant, balanced, and authentic skin state. In the over-saturated world of buzzy K-beauty brands, Returnu is about simplifying skin care with effective, transparent formulations grounded in both nature and science.
Persimmon leaf
Returnu Pore Shooter Gommage Cleansing Balm. Courtesy of Returnu
Persimmon leaf, long used in Korean rituals, is an ingredient championed, and patented, by Returnu. It’s found in their Pore Shooter line, made for those with enlarged pores and dealing with excess oil, since the tannins in persimmon leaf tighten the appearance of pores and get rid of oil. The Pore Shooter Gommage Cleansing Balm transforms from a balm to an oil, to a paste or gommage, and is the first cleansing balm in the world that does this to remove makeup and exfoliate at the same time.
Birch tree
Returnu Deep Comfort Ampoule Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++. Courtesy of Returnu
Birch tree, with its bark long used in traditional remedies, produces sap prized for its soothing, anti-inflammatory benefits. In Returnu’s Deep Comfort products, it delivers deep hydration while calming sensitive skin and repairing the skin barrier. The Deep Comfort Ampoule Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ combines hydration with UV protection in a light, water-type formula that doesn’t leave a white cast—perfect for those who want all those skin benefits combined in one product.
Jeju green tangerine
Returnu Vitatone Foam Cleanser. Courtesy of Returnu
From the lush landscape of Jeju island come their green tangerines, traditionally used in teas, vinegars, and food, and prized for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and brightening properties. The Vitatone line combines Jeju green tangerine with niacinamide, to even out skin tone and reduce dark spots. Whichever product in the line you choose—whether it’s the Vitatone Foam Cleanser that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, the Vitatone Essence that targets those dark spots, or the Vitatone Cream that locks in moisture while evening out skin tone and brightening skin—it mixes a time-honored natural Korean remedy with one of the buzziest skin care ingredients today.
A return to the best version of you
What sets Returnu apart from other Korean skin care brands is its goal to combine these traditional Korean skin care rituals and ingredients with science, and its commitment to transparency about the entire process. Every ingredient is disclosed—no jargon and no misleading labels. Every product is mindfully curated, with a purpose in mind. Formulations are cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and have undergone rigorous clinical testing in Korea.
And informing and educating the customer about ingredients and skin care is top of mind. At its core, Returnu is about authenticity, results, and simplicity—values that even beauty enthusiasts in the Philippines find affinity with. Filipinos love beauty and self-care, and Returnu’s products are made with lightweight, breathable formulas and vegan ingredients perfect for the tropical Philippine climate.
With Returnu, your skin-care routine becomes more than just skin care. It becomes about bridging the past and the future to care for your skin. It becomes less about trends, and more about skin care that makes sense, feels good, and works. It’s about returning to yourself, and your skin’s natural glow.
