Kolmar Korea, Goodai Global Partnership Sells 100 Million Suncare Units
The five-year collaboration between the Korean cosmetics manufacturer and beauty company reached this milestone in March, driven by global demand for lightweight, multi-benefit suncare products.
Suncare Partnership Reaches Major Sales Milestone
Korean cosmetics manufacturer Kolmar Korea and beauty company Goodai Global have collectively sold over 100 million units of suncare products through their five-year partnership. This significant sales volume was achieved in March, reflecting the increasing global appeal of Korean sunscreens.
The collaboration has focused on developing products that offer more than just ultraviolet (UV) protection, catering to a market that values lightweight textures, minimal white cast, and additional skincare benefits. This approach has helped transform sunscreen from a seasonal item into an everyday essential for consumers worldwide.
Popular Products Drive Global Demand
Several products developed under this partnership have gained considerable traction in international markets. Beauty of Joseon's Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics, formulated by Kolmar Korea for a Goodai Global-affiliated brand, was the top-selling sunscreen on Amazon US during Black Friday events from 2021 to 2023, according to the companies.
Another Kolmar-developed product, Round Lab's Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen, received recognition from NBC in 2025 as one of the best sunscreens available in the United States. These successes show the strong consumer preference for advanced Korean suncare formulations.
ODM Model Fuels Innovation
The success of Korean sunscreens is largely attributed to a specialized division of labor within the country's beauty industry. Brands like Goodai Global identify consumer trends and conceptualize new products, while original development manufacturers (ODMs) such as Kolmar Korea translate these ideas into commercially viable formulas for diverse markets.
Kolmar Korea has cultivated its manufacturing expertise over 36 years, working with approximately 4,800 clients and gathering extensive data on formulations and market trends. The company established one of Korea's first research centers dedicated to UV protection in 2022 and holds over 110 patents related to UV protection technology. Kolmar Korea estimates that its technology supports more than 70 percent of South Korea's suncare market.
Future Suncare Technology and Market Implications
Kolmar Korea is expanding its research beyond conventional UV-A and UV-B protection. Its researchers are developing formulations designed to shield against blue light, near-infrared radiation, and high-energy visible light.
The company is also exploring long-term innovations, including genome-based personalized sunscreens, self-healing protective films, microbiome-friendly formulations, and biodegradable vegan UV filters. This strategic focus on combining comprehensive protection with skincare benefits and comfortable daily wear shows a clear direction for the global suncare market.
For Asian beauty brands and manufacturers, this means continued investment in advanced R&D and ODM partnerships will be crucial to maintain competitiveness and capture further market share in the evolving global suncare landscape.
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