What sets the retailer apart from its competitors is that it carries a lot of medium-sized domestic brands that offer high-quality products at affordable prices.
These brands do not have their own bricks-and-mortar stores, nor are they sold in bigger department stores and, since most do not have huge marketing budgets, they compete with one another through the quality of their products.
So what kind of products are these women buying?
We provide insight into some of the most popular products sold at Olive Young, based on the Olive Young Awards 2023 list that the drugstore chain released at the end of the year. The results were determined after analysing the data from 150 million sales.
1. Toner
Round Lab’s 1025 Dokdo Toner
This was ranked as the No 1 toner in 2020, 2021 and 2023. User reviews say this toner is hypoallergenic and perfect for daily use. It is especially effective in removing dead skin cells and keeps your skin soft and smooth.
Anua’s Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
Bringgreen’s Tea Tree Cica Soothing Toner
This cooling toner is said to lower your skin temperature and is effective in removing your blackheads and whiteheads, while also improving your sebum secretion.
Torriden’s Dive-In Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Toner
2. Essences/serums
ISOI’s Blemish Care Serum
When it comes to serums, ISOI’s is the single most-sold item in the past 11 years in Olive Young. The no-fuss name says it all – it will take care of your blemishes. The secret? Arbutin, a pigmentation-reducing compound that is one of its main ingredients.
Goodal’s Green Tangerine Vita-C Dark Spot Care
Around 7.1 million bottles of this serum have been sold in six years. Users rate it highly for its absorptivity and brightening and moisturising properties. The serum is made from green tangerines – which can only be harvested during a four-week window each year – from Jeju Island, South Korea’s largest island.
3. Sheet masks
Mediheal’s Tea Tree Essential Mask
Torriden’s Torriden Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Mask
Just like the brand’s toner mentioned above, Torriden’s sheet masks also contain hyaluronic acid with five different molecular sizes and are deeply moisturising.
Ilso’s Natural Mild Clear Nose Pack
This nose mask promises to gently remove all unwanted blackheads and whiteheads. There are two masks. The first will soften your whiteheads. Remove them using cotton buds, and finish off by using the second mask that will close up the pores.
Olive Young sale periods
The prices of these items are already quite affordable. But who can say no to a good bargain? Olive Young’s biggest sales take place four times a year, in early March, June, September and December, and they last for a week each time. Discounts of up to 70 per cent can be had.
Olive Young online
Olive Young products can be bought online, with free shipping to places such as Hong Kong and Singapore for customers who spend above a certain amount. Drugstore chain Mannings also sells some Olive Young products online.