An Interview With VENN Skincare Founder, Brian Oh
Introducing our September Brand of the Month:Â VENN Skincare. if you've never heard of this Korean beauty brand before, then today, you're in for a treat as we're joined by co-founder, Brian Oh. Learn all about VENN's incredibly advanced technologies and powerful ingredients that will transform your skincare and bodycare routine.Â
Bringing you all the benefits of a comprehensive Korean skincare routine across a collection of condensed yet incredibly potent products, this is high-performance skincare the VENN way.Â
Can you tell us about your journey into the skincare industry and how you came to co-found VENN?
"I started my career as a bank finance lawyer in New York City, and then moved to Silicon Valley to work with startup companies and venture capitals." Brian says. "In Silicon Valley, I got to work with many companies in the life sciences industry that led me to meet my co-founder, a nuclear physicist and one of the foremost chemists in the skincare industry in South Korea. His research focusing on the âengineâ of skincare formulationsâtechnologies to optimise and more effectively deliver key ingredients to the skinâinspired me enough to quit my legal career and start VENN. Our core science is inspired by my co-founderâs decades of ground-breaking research."
What is the number one thing that our customers should know about VENN?
As Brian explains, VENN isnât just another brand that talks only about ingredients. What makes VENN and their science unique is their focus on the âengineâ of skincare formulations â specifically, technologies to optimise natural actives and effectively deliver them to your skin. "Even if you have two formulations using the same ingredients, if one formulation is able to better optimise the ingredients and more effectively deliver them to the skin, that formulation will be able to deliver stronger performance." Brian says. "This year, for example, we are partnering with a nuclear medicine lab at Seoul National University College of Medicine, to apply their nuclear medicine delivery technology to skincare formulations."
What does âcleanâ ingredients mean to VENN?
"We use clean, clinically proven actives in supercharged concentrations, as guided by research studies, in-vitro and in-vivo clinical tests and technical data, and our internal research and analyses." Brian explains, "We do not use synthetic fragrance, parabens, silicones, phthalates, mineral oil, colorants, sulfates (SLS/SLES), PEG compounds, phenoxyethanol, coal tar, and other controversial ingredients that we believe can be toxic and unsafe for skin."
Could you tell us all about VENNâs proprietary Concentric Technology⢠and what this means?
Brian explains that VENN's Concentric Technology⢠is the supercharged engine that powers the brand's All-In-One Concentrates and their Body Cream (which is well loved by our content team!). It is comprised of our proprietary Solubilization Technology (KR Patent 10-2055210 and US Patent 10,881,127B1), Delivery Technology (KR Patent 10-2133629), and Hydration Technology (KR Patent 10-2140863) that work in synergy to optimise and effectively deliver key actives to the skin to deeply hydrate and visibly target multiple skin concerns." Brian says.Â
"Using our Solubilization Technology, we aim to optimise natural actives with low solubility and permeability, so that they can be used in potent concentrations within a formulation and effectively deliver their respective skin benefits. Ginsenoside Compound K and Mastic Gum are powerful antioxidants and proven actives with very low water-solubility and permeability. With our Solubilization Technology, we are able to water-dissolve and use them in powerful concentrations in our formulations." Brian continues.Â
By using their Delivery Technology, VENN aim to deliver to the skin the key nutrients and actives more effectively deliver to the skin the key nutrients and actives in supercharged concentrations for immediate and long-lasting, visible results. Brian says, "At VENN, we are constantly researching and innovating powerful delivery systems to optimise the use, delivery, and performance of active ingredients to create formulations that are truly groundbreaking and category-defining in their performance."
The Multi-Layer Vehicle Delivery Technology (KR Patent 10-2133629) is the brand's most advanced delivery system that powers the All-In-One Concentrates. With this advanced technology, delivery vehicles with multiple, alternating layers of hydrophilic and hydrophobic actives are created. These delivery vehicles, with their multi-layer structure can effectively carry multiple actives to the skin, while ensuring that the actives do not compromise or block the penetration of each other - giving your skin the very best results.Â
"Our Hydration Technology (KR Patent 10-2140863) powers the All-In-One Concentrates and the Body Cream to deeply hydrate the skin by delivering natural moisturising factors, including sh-Polypeptide-64, in supercharged concentrations." Brian explains. "The moisture barrier is also strengthened, reducing trans epidermal water loss and keeping the skin hydrated throughout the day."
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Why are prebiotics and probiotics so important in skincare?
"Our skin is an individually unique, intricate home to a community of trillions of microbes, bacteria or skin flora that creates an eco-system to work in harmony to keep the balance of health on the skin surface." Brian says. "The microbiome helps to manage pH, support barrier function, aid hydration and protect from bad bacteria. As with so many elements of managing healthy skin, environmental factors such as UV exposure, age and lifestyle antagonists play a significant part in whether the microbiome remains balanced."
Brian explains that if this imbalance occurs, the result for your skin can be dehydration, sensitivity, inflammation, and dermatological reactivity, such as eczema and psoriasis flare-ups. All these skin stresses can lead to the signs of damage and ageing such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity and contour within the skin structure.
The relationship between pro- and prebiotics is fundamental to the stabilisation of your microbiome. Prebiotics help feed and proliferate the probiotics, enabling them to function optimally to support the skin microbiome while inhibiting harmful bacteria.
Brian says: "At VENN, we have created a proprietary combination of Prebiotics, Probiotic Ferments, and Postbiotics, including Bacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Levan and Beta-Glucan to work in synergy to help support the skinâs moisture barrier and help balance the skin for youthful and healthier-looking complexion."
If weâre looking to streamline our skincare routine, what are the key products we should be including to achieve and maintain healthy skin?
"The main advantage of streamlining and using fewer products is that youâre more aware of the combination of active ingredients used." Brian says. "When youâre applying various products onto your skin, itâs rare that youâre aware of all the ingredients present and whether they work well with each other. For all you know, the ingredients may be blocking the penetration of each other or may become inactive. By choosing a few multitasking products, you can feel rest assured that each product will have the opportunity to work its magic at its best. The products that I would recommend are Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate and Vitamin B Activated All-In-One Concentrate. They are both multi-correctional creams that, in terms of efficacy, can replace your multiple serums and moisturisers."
What are your top three VENN product recommendations that our customers should try, and what makes them such must-haves?
"My top three VENN product recommendations are Age-Reversing All-One-Concentrate, Age-Response Compound K Hyaluronic Booster, and Probiotics Cica Complex Biome Booster." Brian says.Â
Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate is VENNâs very first product, and it embodies all VENNâs core technologies, including VENNâs Concentric TechnologyTM and water-solubilized Ginsenoside Compound K. It is a very powerful anti-aging cream that is clinically proven to hydrate skin for 24 hours, improve skin's moisture barrier, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, reduce the appearance of neck wrinkles, improve skin's elasticity and firmness, brighten skin's appearance, reduce discoloration, and visibly smooth, soften, and even skin texture. It is also globally VENN's bestselling product.
Age-Response Compound K Hyaluronic Booster is a great alternative to a vitamin C serum without all of the negatives associated with vitamin C. It is a powerful brightening, anti-ageing serum, using VENNâs water-solubilised Ginsenoside Compound K as the key active agreement. When researching next-generation antioxidants, we discovered Ginsenoside Compound K, an active metabolite, and a key bioactive component of Panax ginseng. Studies have shown that it helps promote collagen synthesis and fights comprehensive signs of aging, including dryness, hyperpigmentation, UV-induced skin damage, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity and firmness. But due to its extremely low solubility in water, Ginsenoside Compound K has been prevented from being effectively used in skincare formulations â until now. The Booster is clinically proven to reduce trans-epidermal water loss, brighten skinâs appearance, improve skin elasticity, improve skin firmness, visibly reduce wrinkles, and visibly minimise pores.
Probiotics Cica Complex Biome Booster is a soothing and lifting serum. VENN recently learned that it won the Best of the Best Beauty Awards 2023 in Harperâs Bazaar UK as the best probiotic treatment. The formulation uses VENN's proprietary combination of Prebiotics, Probiotic Ferments, and Postbiotics, including Bacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment, and Beta-Glucan. The Booster is clinically proven to visibly calm skin after physical, chemical, and UV-induced stress, visibly lift skin (eye, mouth and cheek areas), improve skinâs elasticity, strengthen skinâs moisture barrier, and deeply hydrate the skin.
Can you tell us something about VENN that we wonât have heard about before?
Brian explains: "Our name âVENNâ comes from âVenn diagramâ from geometry. It represents our brand DNA, which is the intersection among life, science, and nature."
Can you give us a sneak preview of whatâs coming next for VENN?
"We are introducing an eye cream that uses our core solubilisation and delivery technologies and Ginsenoside Compound K and Koreaâs most innovative form of liposome-stabilized retinal as key active ingredients. We are also introducing body oil and body scrub that use the fermentation technology used in our Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum, and a hair conditioner that focuses on both intensive hair and scalp treatments."
Thank you to Brian for chatting with us today and giving us such an amazing insight to the incredible technology behind VENN's collection.Â
Ready to try VENN Skincare for yourself? The Discovery Set is a great way to experience and explore VENN through the brand's bestselling, key formulations.
Shop VENN Skincare
Powered by VENNâs proprietary blend of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, VENN Probiotic-Tensive Hydro Firming Body Cream is an intensely hydrating and firming body cream that strengthens the skin barrier, prevents water loss, and restores compromised...
VENN Skincare Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate is a multi-correctional cream, formulated with VENNâs patented Hydration, Delivery and Solubilization Technologies. The key ingredients include potent concentrations of antioxidants and peptides, including VENNâs patented form of Ginsenoside Compound...
This multi-correctional cream is formulated with VENNâs patented Hydration, Delivery and Solubilization Technologies. VENN Skincare Vitamin B Activated All-In-One Concentrate contains 6 types of B Vitamins, including Niacinamide, 11 Amino Acids and VENNâs patented form...
This anti-ageing and brightening serum is supercharged with VENNâs patented form of Ginsenoside Compound K from Panax ginseng. VENN Skincare Age-Response Compound K Hyaluronic Booster also contains 5 different types of medium and high-weight hyaluronic...
The innovative Probiotic Cica Complex Biome Booster uses VENNâs proprietary combination of probiotics and prebiotics to help balance your skinâs micro biome.
Supercharged with low-molecular-weight Hydrolyzed Collagen and 0.5% Bakuchiol (a plant-derived alternative to Retinol), VENN Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Renewal Mask reinvigorates the complexion for firmer, lifted, and brighter skin that looks and feels more youthful.
Enhance skinâs radiance and improve its overall appearance with VENN Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Resurfacing Mask. Created with an innovative blend of Fruit Enzymes and Amino Acids, these ingredients work in synergy to gently exfoliate and...
Inspired by Koreaâs traditional herbal ointment, VENN Skincare Advanced Multi-Perfecting Red Oil Serum is a multi-correctional oil serum with fermented key ingredients that work to hydrate skin for 24 hours, instantly increase skinâs radiance and...
This leave-on cream with a rich and thick texture is supercharged with a concentrated series of free-radical fighting antioxidants and peptides. VENN Skincare Concentrated Revitalizing Lifting Mask visibly lifts, hydrates and boosts radiance in an...
This multi-tasking, low-pH and non-foaming cleanser is clinically tested to deeply cleanse the skin, remove makeup and any buildup and gently exfoliate the skin, while keeping the skin soft and hydrated. VENN Skincare Moisture-Balance All-In-One...
Clinically tested to keep skin hydrated for 24 hours, VENN Synbiotic Defense Mist is a refreshing, microbiome-friendly treatment essence formulated with VENNâs proprietary combination of probiotics and prebiotics.
