# Brief History of IMINE
IMINE (이미인, website link) is a sheet mask focused skin care manufacturer established in 2006.The founding members consisted of researchers and engineers who used to work at Amorepacific and the largest shareholder Kim Joo-Won has been the president and CEO of IMINE since its beginning.
IMINE quickly became famous for its high quality manufacturing abilities as the founding members were already professionals in the beauty industry.
IMINE especially focused on developing the stability of mask sheet for calming skin as it would be attached onto human's skin directly.
"Mostly people think that cotton material is a good material for mask sheets. However it is not firmly attached onto skin. On the other hand, Cellulose has its unique cushiony texture which can fit tightly onto skin.
IMINE has been working on materials like Cellulose and we are still working on better solution for calming skin. (Kim Joo-Won, Interview with Cosmetics Industry Newspaper in 2012)"
As Kim Joo-Won said, 2 years after they founded the company in 2008, IMINE registered a patent for 3-layer natural cellulose sheet in collaboration with Amorepacific.
Since IMINE had dedicated to developing sheet masks, IMINE now has become a representative sheet mask manufacturer in Korea.
# Expanding Clients & Brand Business
IMINE expanded its clients through various brand companies such as Amorepacific Pharmaceuticals (Currently AESTURA), Amorepacific, The Face Shop, Coreana, Nature Republic, Skin Food, etc.
With this clients expansion, IMINE's revenue was about US$ 30 million in 2012 and it rose to US$ 74 million in 2014.Also IMINE acquired the CGMP certificate in 2012 and it was the first time for sheet mask manufacturers to achieve it.
As K-beauty became a world trend in 2010's, those brands that IMINE worked with were also expanding their business to overseas such as China, Hong Kong, and many countries in South East Asia.
With their success, IMINE's name had been known in the beauty industry in the globe and it started becoming a global sheet mask manufacturer.IMINE also started launching their own brands and the most well known brand is "Ultru : I'm Sorry For My Skin".
As a highly experienced Sheet Mask manufacturer, they launched many different types of masks: Daily sheet masks, mud masks, and even anti-pollution masks as well and many of those products have been loved by customers not only in Korea but in other countries.
Other than Ultru, IMINE has launched other brands like Manefit and Sally's Box to provide various sheet mask and patch products.
# Products Manufactured by IMINE
1. Innisfree - My real Squeeze Mask
One of Innisfree's most popular products My Real Squeeze Mask sheets are manufactured by IMINE.
It is made of fresh nature-derived ingredients and various options are available designed for various skin concerns.
Innisfree's another super popular mask sheet line "Skin Clinic Mask" is manufactured by IMINE as well.
2. Nature Republic - Real Nature Mask Sheet
Nature Republic's daily mask sheet Real Nature Mask Sheet is also produced by IMINE.
As they have been working together since The Face Shop, Nature Republic continuously produces products through IMINE for over 10 years.
3. It's Skin - Power 10 Formula Mask Sheet
It's Skin's most popular line Power 10's sheet mask is produced by IMINE.
Super thin sheet contains the high enriched Power 10 Formula Effector for better application and quality.
Its minimal design also helps it become a best seller too :)
4. Wonder Bath - Salon De Tte
Very first generation of Korean makeup artist Cho Sung-Ah's lifestyle brand Wonder Bath (WB) also works with IMINE.
IMINE produces WB's the best seller Salon De Tte that helps cleanse debris on (even deep in) the skin clearly like a soft peeling pad.
5. Leegeehaam - Life Tea Tree Soothing Mask
This Leegeehaam's calming, pore-caring, and sebum-controlling mask sheet is produced by IMINE.
It is made of cellulose sheet (called PT Cell sheet) from bamboo which is very soft.
It fits onto skin very tightly so that it can care skin evenly and make skin absorb the enriched essence fully.
6. ETUDE HOUSE - Bubble Pore Cleansing Patch
This ETUDE HOUSE's fun yet innovative pore care patch (to absorb sebum on nose-cheek area called "Butterfly Zone") is manufactured by IMINE.
It helps cleanse debris and dead skin cell on the zone and minimize pores temporarily with very fun application, just like classic ETUDE HOUSE.
#Becoming Global Mask Sheet Manufacturer
IMINE has been selected as the best partner of AMOREPACIFIC since 2010 and has proved its high quality products and manufacturing ability.Recently they produce for brands in North America, Europe, India, etc. and stress that they will become a global leading mask sheet manufacturer.
"Still skin care is relatively smaller than makeup and hair care categories even in many other countries and this could be a great opportunity for skin care manufacturers in Korea. IMINE will be in the K-beauty Trend and become a leading manufacturer for the mask sheet category."
Although there have been other rising yet big mask sheet manufacturers like CNF and Ancors, IMINE can show its ability as they have been running their own brands and this can help them understand those brand clients a lot better.