Top 5 Korean Lipstick Manufacturer

July 10, 2025

I remember how excited I was preparing my first lipstick line.

I had the colors, the branding, even the shelf-ready packaging mockups but behind the scenes, I was lost.

How do I check if a Korean lipstick factory is reliable? Do they do private label? What’s a fair MOQ?

If you’re asking the same questions, I get it. I wish someone had handed me a clear, honest list.

This article is that list. I’ll walk you through 5 Korean lipstick manufacturers who can actually deliver on quality, price, timelines, and communication. By the end, you won’t just have names, you’ll have the confidence to move forward.

So, let’s start!

Quick Comparison

Let’s make this easier.

Here’s a simple, honest table that compares the key points from each lipstick manufacturer above. Use it as your starting point before we get into the stories, strengths, and surprises behind each name.

Manufacturer	Founded	Location	Specialties	MOQ Level
Kolmar Korea	1990	Sejong	Full-service OEM/ODM, Lipsticks, Skincare	Medium-High
Cosmax	1992	Seoul	Full-service OEM/ODM, Lipsticks, Skincare	High
KMW Cosmetics	2000	Gyeonggi-do	Lipsticks, Lip gloss, Custom shades	Low
Beauty in Seoul	2013	Seoul	Fast turnarounds, small-batch runs	Low
Crescent Seoul	2018	Seoul	Vegan lipsticks, ethical production	Low

Have someone in mind already? Let’s go deeper and see if they really meet your needs.

1. Kolmar Korea

When I first started searching for a lipstick manufacturer in Korea, Kolmar Korea kept showing up. And for good reason. They’ve been around for decades, and their name pops up often in industry conversations.

If you’re new to this space, here’s what you should know about them:

Founding Year: 1990
Location: Sejong City, South Korea
Team Size: About 2,000 employees
Leadership: CEO Hyun-Gyu Choi
Brand Reputation: They’re one of the top original design manufacturers (ODMs) in Korea, working with over 3,000 brands globally (source)

So what exactly do they offer?

Production Capabilities

Kolmar Korea makes a wide range of products. That includes skincare, hair care, and makeup items like lipsticks. They support both OEM (you give them your formula) and ODM (they create the formula for you) models.

If you’re launching a new line and need more guidance, their ODM service may be helpful.

Facilities & R&D Strength

Here’s where they stand out. Their factories are large and modern, but what really impressed me was their R&D center. It includes labs for skincare, health products, and even pharmaceuticals. This means they’re always working on new ideas—and you can benefit from that innovation.

Certifications

Kolmar holds several certifications that show they meet international production and safety standards:

CGMP
ISO 22716
ISO 9001
ISO 14001
ISO 45001

MOQ, Pricing & Lead Times

They offer flexible order sizes, which helped me when I was just starting out. Pricing is fair, and timelines depend on the complexity of your formula and order volume.

Key Clients & Market Presence

They’ve worked with many well-known brands in Asia and beyond. That global experience gave me peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

Are you looking for a lipstick partner that’s reliable and experienced? Kolmar Korea might be the one. Just be sure to ask the right questions early. That helped me avoid surprises—and get the product I actually wanted.

2. Cosmax

If you’ve done even a little research on Korean beauty manufacturing, you’ve probably heard of Cosmax. I saw their name on packaging for several big brands before I realized: this was one of the companies actually making the products.

Here’s a snapshot of who they are:

Founding Year: 1992
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Team Size: Over 5,000 employees globally
Leadership: CEO Lee Byung-man
Brand Reputation: Cosmax is a global ODM powerhouse and a key partner to names like L’Oréal and Amorepacific (source)

Now, let’s look at what they can do.

Production Capabilities

Cosmax handles everything from formulation to packaging. They produce lipsticks, lip tints, skincare, and hair care. Like Kolmar, they offer both OEM and ODM services. So whether you already have a formula or want help creating one, they can support you.

Their lipstick line includes cream lipsticks, matte formulas, liquid tints, and even multifunction balm sticks.

Facilities & R&D Strength

One of the things that stood out to me was how research-focused they are. They have multiple R&D centers in Korea, China, and the U.S. I was surprised to learn they file more than 100 patents a year.

They don’t just produce—they innovate. That matters when you want your brand to stand out.

Certifications

Cosmax holds many global certifications, including:

ISO 22716
CGMP
OHSAS 18001
ECOCERT (for some organic products)

These certifications show they meet quality and safety standards, not just locally but internationally too.

MOQ, Pricing & Lead Times

From my experience, Cosmax has a higher MOQ compared to smaller manufacturers. But if you’re planning a mid-size or large launch, they’re worth considering. Their pricing is competitive for the scale and support they offer.

Lead times can vary, so it’s best to confirm timelines early in the process.

Key Clients & Market Presence

They’ve worked with multinational corporations and K-beauty giants. That kind of track record gave me confidence in their systems and capacity.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to scale fast or launch a premium lipstick line, Cosmax might be the right fit. I’d suggest reaching out early and having your branding and formula ideas clear—that helped me speed things up with them.

3. KMW Cosmetics

When I first came across KMW Cosmetics, I almost skipped them. Their website looked simple. But then I started seeing more brands mentioning them in forums and supplier directories.

Here’s what I learned:

Founding Year: 2000
Location: Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Team Size: Around 150 employees
Leadership: CEO Seong Kwon
Brand Reputation: Known for working with boutique and mid-sized beauty brands across Asia and Europe

So what makes them different?

Production Capabilities

KMW specializes in color cosmetics, especially lip products. They offer OEM and ODM services with support for private label clients. Their production includes:

Lipsticks
Lip gloss
Liquid tints
Lip balm

They also offer makeup base products, eyeliners, and powders. What I liked most was how willing they were to guide me through their customization process. For someone building a brand, that kind of clarity is gold.

Facilities & R&D Strength

Their factory is compact but efficient. KMW has an in-house lab where they develop custom shades and textures. While not as big as Cosmax, their focus on lip products makes them a strong pick if that’s your core category.

Certifications

They follow Korean GMP standards and comply with export guidelines for major markets like the U.S., Japan, and the EU.

MOQ, Pricing & Lead Times

If you’re a startup or salon looking for smaller batch production, KMW could be a great match. They offer lower MOQs and more flexible pricing. For me, they responded quickly and walked me through timelines step by step.

Key Clients & Market Presence

KMW works with indie beauty brands, salon lines, and some overseas boutique retailers. You may not see their name on store shelves, but they’re working quietly behind the scenes.

Final Thoughts

Don’t judge a book by its cover or a manufacturer by its website. KMW surprised me. If you’re launching a focused line of lip products and want room to grow, they might be the partner you didn’t know you needed.

4. Beauty in Seoul

Beauty in Seoul isn’t as big as Cosmax or Kolmar, but that’s exactly why I reached out to them. I wanted to work with a team that wasn’t juggling hundreds of global accounts. I wanted focus.

Here’s what I found:

Founding Year: 2013
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Team Size: Around 50–70 staff
Leadership: Privately managed by a team with backgrounds in branding and R&D
Brand Reputation: They’ve made a name for themselves by helping niche brands launch fast, especially in color cosmetics

If you’re looking for a lipstick partner who actually has time for you, keep reading.

Production Capabilities

Their strength is speed. They offer small-batch OEM and ODM services, including:

Lipsticks
Lip tints
Lip oils
Lip balm pots

They also do custom shade development and limited-run seasonal releases. That was a big plus for me when I needed quick samples for a trade show.

Facilities & R&D Strength

Beauty in Seoul runs a compact but modern facility in Seoul. Their R&D lab shares space with their formulation and packaging teams, which helps speed up testing.

They also offer fragrance and texture customization, which is rare for a company of this size.

Certifications

They’re fully GMP compliant and registered with Korean and international authorities for export, including:

Korean GMP
CPNP (EU Cosmetic Product Notification Portal)
FDA Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program (VCRP)

MOQ, Pricing & Lead Times

One reason I stuck with them is their low MOQ. If you’re launching a small line, their terms are easy to work with. Pricing is fair, and lead times were quicker than I expected—especially compared to bigger firms.

Key Clients & Market Presence

They often work with influencer-led brands, boutique skincare labels, and K-beauty resellers. You may not see their name on packaging, but they’re behind many launches in Southeast Asia and the U.S.

Final Thoughts

This company felt like a partner from the start. If you want someone who listens, works fast, and knows how to support small-to-mid-size launches, Beauty in Seoul is worth reaching out to.

5. Crescent Seoul

When I first saw Crescent Seoul mentioned in a beauty trade forum, I was skeptical. They seemed too new. But after a few emails and one Zoom call, I changed my mind.

Sometimes, new just means hungry to help.

Here’s a quick intro:

Founding Year: 2018
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Team Size: Around 30 people
Leadership: Founded by two former product developers from a major K-beauty brand
Brand Reputation: New, but already building strong reviews among indie beauty founders

So what do they offer that sets them apart?

Production Capabilities

Crescent Seoul focuses on clean beauty formulations. Their lipstick range includes:

Vegan lipsticks
Natural oil-based lip tints
Semi-matte and glossy finishes
Balm-sticks with skincare ingredients

They offer ODM with full formula development and packaging coordination. For OEM, they’ll help fine-tune your existing formula or shade range.

Facilities & R&D Strength

Their lab is compact but tech-forward. They work out of a shared innovation space in Seoul, which gives them access to newer machinery and flexible staffing.

What I liked was their openness. They invited me to a virtual lab tour. That level of transparency helped me feel like I wasn’t just another client.

Certifications

Though newer, they’ve secured key documentation:

Vegan certification for select formulas
Korean GMP
CPNP registration support for EU exports
No animal testing policy

MOQ, Pricing & Lead Times

Their MOQs start lower than most. Great for small brands or test runs. Pricing is mid-range, and timelines are reasonable—around 6–8 weeks after formula approval.

Key Clients & Market Presence

They’ve worked with vegan and eco-focused brands in Australia, Japan, and Canada. If your audience cares about ingredients and ethics, this is a strong match.

Final Thoughts

Crescent Seoul may not be the oldest name on this list, but don’t overlook them. If you’re starting a clean, ethical lipstick line and need a flexible, modern partner—they get it. And they’ll meet you where you are.