Dermocosmetic Products Lead Growth
Dermocosmetic products are fueling the growth of Dongkook Pharmaceutical.
Sales of Centellian 24, the company's dermocosmetic brand, nearly doubled from 53.4 billion won in 2018 to 105.4 billion won in 2020. Considering that the company's total sales swelled from 400.8 billion won to 559.1 billion won during the same period, dermocosmetics led the company's overall growth.
Dermocosmetics is a combination of dermatology and cosmetics and means dermatological cosmetics. Dermocosmetic products’ effects are mainly whitening, wrinkle improvement, and UV protection, so they are called functional cosmetics as well.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical's Dermocosmetic products are positioned on the border of drugs and cosmetics. The drugmaker uses titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA), the main ingredient of wound treatment drug Madecassol, in producing dermocosmetic products. For this reason, "Madeca" is put in front of most dermocosmetic products such as creams, serums, ampoules, and masks. In addition, the long-established image of Madecassol skin regeneration leads to the cosmetics and creates synergy effects. TECA is known to help soothe, moisturize skin, remove keratin and wrinkles and synthesize collagen among others.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical is increasing its dermocosmetic product line-up riding on the growth of dermocosmetic products. Since 2020, it has diversified its products into those for freckles, blemishes, wrinkle improvement, anti-aging and whitening and shampoos and body washes.
Dongkook Pharmaceutical is planning to expand its cosmetics business and start exporting Madeca Cream to China and the United States this year. Its Centellian 24 has been selling in China since the second half of 2020. The brand already entered about 200 major online shopping malls including T-Mall and Jingdong and offline stores in China.