A Tradition Evolves
Korean beauty is steeped in ritual—practices that have been passed from one generation to the next, rooted in the healing power of nature. Balance, care and prevention are all principles of this ancient way of caring for oneself and others. South Korean beauty and wellness luminary RIMAN has grounded its product collection in these long-preserved traditions, leveraging the power of Centella asiatica, otherwise known as cica, tiger grass or by its Korean name, “byoungpool,” to nourish the skin.
However, the company went beyond simply spotlighting an ingredient, instead adopting it as holistically fundamental transformational in its personal care potential. RIMAN developed a proprietary variety of Centella asiatica, building not only a full value chain control system around it, but an ecological home for its dependable growth. RIMAN chose Jeju Island, a UNESCO Heritage Site and South Korea’s largest island, as the home for its Smart Farm, ASK Laboratory Research hub and ASK Base manufacturing facility, giving the company “seed-to-skin” control of its ingredients.
RIMAN’s innovations set its work apart, making it a standout selection for our Bravo Innovator Award.
Guided by Responsibility
While innovation is at the center of RIMAN’s pursuit of transformational beauty and wellness, responsible stewardship of the earth and its resources are the company’s North Star. RIMAN’s proprietary cultivar of Centella asiatica, known as Giant BYoungPool
, was granted a 20-year plant patent by the Korea Forest Service and later received Plant Variety Protection (PVP) by the United States Department of Agriculture. This modern act of preservation ties RIMAN’s present to the centuries-old relationship between Korean skincare and the natural world.
“In the operation of our Smart Farm, carefully cultivating our patented Giant BYoungPool, to the processing of these leaves at our ASK Base manufacturing facility on Jeju Island, we are able to practice and respect a sincere responsibility to produce efficacious and safe beauty products,” shared RIMAN Founder and Chairman Joonghyun Ahn. “The guiding philosophy of RIMAN’s products is harnessing rich Korean tradition with novel innovation, and this vertical integration in our exclusive plant proves a quintessential opportunity to embrace this philosophy.”
Committed to Excellence
RIMAN’s Smart Farm on Jeju Island is the result of rigorous trial and error, partnership with experts in smart farming technology and precision testing of every variable and extraction method. Unlike conventional Centella asiatica, Giant BYoungPool features significantly larger leaves and a richer concentration of phytonutrients, which makes it particularly valuable as a cosmetic raw material. Recognizing this potential, RIMAN has focused on cultivating and studying this unique strain under carefully controlled conditions.
“We used science at every level, practicing our responsibility as the patent holder of Giant BYoungPool to offer its greatest form to our consumers as a raw material in formulation,” shared Ahn. “RIMAN’s formulations do not simply contain Centella asiatica—they contain science in a tangible format, promising a potent opportunity for transformation in personal care.”
RIMAN owns and operates two main hubs for research and innovation, ASK Labs and ASK Base. At ASK Labs, the company collaborates frequently with the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) to explore ingredient sourcing and formula application, innovating at the raw material level. ASK Base is the company’s premier ingredient manufacturing and processing facility, where RIMAN scientists are producing their own raw materials for formulation, such as camellia seed oil, camellia petals, nettle, mugwort and—of course—Giant BYoungPool.
“Innovation, for us, begins at the ingredient level,” added Ahn. “We prioritize exclusivity wherever possible to create products that stand out from the rest. As of today, we currently utilize 20 patented ingredients across our product offerings.”
Inspired by Hypothesis
Korean beauty has endured through both tradition and evolution. Its ingredient-focused rituals have remained, but its methods have changed over time, as skincare pioneers have asked questions and improved formulations.
“The guiding principle behind the establishment of our scientific hubs is that ‘the ASK will find the answer,’” said Ahn. “In this, we recognize the beauty in hypothesis creation and how important it is to ask questions; discover answers to those questions; and start the whole process anew. For RIMAN, innovations will always be on the horizon, and we are committed to continuing to transform scientific discoveries into products that deliver meaningful benefits in personal care and wellness.”
RIMAN has demonstrated deep care for the earth and its powerful ingredients, as well as a steadfast pursuit of innovation and technology that aligns with its commitment to sustainability. We celebrate with Ahn and the entire RIMAN team as they accept this well-deserved award!
From the May/June 2026 issue of Direct Selling News magazine.
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