Lauren Ing didn’t attend Columbia University with the intent of becoming a beauty entrepreneur. After earning two master’ s degrees in psychology and organizational leadership, she used her expertise to become a psychotherapist. But when she began to question her own self-esteem issues, which were related to her then acne-prone skin, Ing transitioned into a new role – a “skin therapist.” The founder and president of SMD Cosmetics Intl., Ing said the early days were challenging. Two decades ago, Korean beauty care wasn’t all the rage like it is today, and some department stores didn’t see the value in stocking high-end natural Korean skincare. Things have changed considerably since then, with stores like Macy’s offering SMD products. “Traveling is so essential when you have a skincare company,” Ing said from her Northern California home. “While our manufacturing and research facility is in South Korea, our customers are worldwide. Traveling helps you to appreciate the varying needs experienced by all of your customers in different regions of the world.” For more information on Ing, check out her website (https://smdcosmetics.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/smdcosmetics/).
Q: Is there a philosophy for skincare for South Koreans that is different for those of us in the United States?
A: South Koreans are very serious about their skincare. Many liken it to exercise and eating healthy. It is seen more like a lifestyle with long-term results from a lifetime of dedication versus a quick fix. I feel like many women in the U.S. want skincare to be quick results from a single use. The approach is more like a fast-food approach.
Q: Where have you visited for work that you went back to later for a vacation?
A: I have to go back to Korea regularly for work because my team is there and so are our manufacturing facilities. We only produce our patented formulations in our factory that is dedicated to only producing our products. We recently went back to Korea as a family and our children just loved every minute of it. This was surprising to me since I didn’t expect them to love it so much. My presumption was that they would enjoy our tropical vacations the best, but they loved delicious food and enjoyed all of the unique shopping and one-of-a-kind experiences. The history of Korea juxtaposed to the modern amenities of Seoul is what they liked the best. The exciting energy of Seoul made the trip memorable for them and I enjoyed seeing how much they loved the experience.
Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?
A: I prefer a hole-in-the-wall place. In Korea, they are known as matjibs – which translate s to tasty house. I truly enjoy going to a place that does that one thing the best, like the best pizza or the best Philly cheesesteaks. The idea is that they have perfected doing one or two dishes so well that there is no comparison when it comes to being the best there is of that particular dish.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: Paris, Seoul, New York, Los Angeles and Rome.
Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A: I recently went to Portugal and it felt like I was in California in so many ways. I don’t mean Lisbon or areas with a lot of historical old buildings or towns, but rather the undeveloped areas. The outskirts felt so familiar – the weather, landscape, ocean and skyline of the countryside. I didn’t expect to see such an old, historical area of the world to remind me of Orange County of all places.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: I think you already know the answer will have to include my skincare, but I truly can not travel without my makeup bag, my SMD Cosmetics’ Cleansing Oil and Saromae Snail Serum. If I only had these items, then I can make do. The Saromae Snail Serum is an all-in-one item that serves so many functions that I could just use it to moisturize and hydrate my skin, even if I didn’t necessarily have my entire regimen, I know that my skin will feel hydrated and pampered. I also use it on any cuts or irritations and it helps my skin heal faster and feel nourished.
Q: What is your best vacation memory?
A: A trip to Rome, Italy, with my husband [when he was my fiance many, many years ago]. I wanted to re-enact all of the things that Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn’s characters did in the movie, “Roman Holiday.” It was always one of my favorite movies. We did all of the things from the movie, including visiting the Fountain of Trevi and eating gelato. The highlight of the activities that were on my to-do list was to ride around the city on Vespa scooters. The traffic was incredibly hectic to navigate and we got lost several times and also had a very minor collision with a wall that was much closer than we anticipated, but all in all we had a wonderful time. It was truly a magical day with the sun shining and warm wind blowing in our hair. I felt like a princess for a day. I will always look back on that day as one of my favorite memories.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A: When I am on the road, it is impossible for me to have all of the healthy foods that I normally have access to at home but I will eat the best cuisine that the area has to offer. I will indulge in cheese, croissants and fresh baked breads when I am in Paris and eat bagels and pizza when I am in New York. Although these items are available locally, they never come close to tasting like what they do in these other places.
(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow “Go Away With…” on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)
©2023 Jae-Ha Kim. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.