International Women's Day 2024: Charlotte Cho, founder of Soko Glam and award-winning skincare line
Read on to discover how to have Korea's famous glass skin and the art of building deep and meaningful connections.
This year’s International Women’s Day 2024 theme is ‘Inspiring Inclusion.’ Yahoo Life Singapore speaks to inspiring women of today who are making a difference and forging a better world. Today, we speak with Soko Glam co-founder, Charlotte Cho, who also created the award-winning skincare line Then I Met You, on top of being an author of The Little Book of Skincare and The Little Book of Jeong.
Touted as the Queen of K-beauty, Charlotte Cho, is an aesthetician and founder of the #1 Korean beauty retailer, Soko Glam; the skincare resource content site, The Klog; as well as the award-winning skincare line, Then I Met You. One of her most vital role is bringing K-Beauty to the U.S. market in 2012 and of course pioneering the famous 10-Step Korean skincare routine.
In 2017, Charlotte was named one of WWD's 40 Under 40, and in 2019, she was named Adweek's Trailblazer of the Year and one of Bustle’s 2019 Rule Breakers. She has been featured in media outlets such as Entrepreneur, The New York Times, Allure, CNN, Forbes, and Fast Company. Cho is also the author of "The Little Book of Skincare" and "The Little Book of Jeong," which explores the Korean concept of "jeong" serving as an inspiration for Then I Met You and emphasising the need for deeper connections in today's fast-paced world.
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Yahoo Life Singapore: What is it like to be a woman today?
Charlotte Cho: A woman today has the pressure to do it all. I see many of my female friends wear many hats: the breadwinner, the comforting mother, the family photographer, the scheduler etcetera – while trying to be social, looking and feeling their best. It’s not easy to juggle it all, and I hope that all women out there can give themselves the grace that no one is perfectly accomplishing it all.
It’s not easy to juggle it all, and I hope that all women out there can give themselves the grace that no one is perfectly accomplishing it all.Charlotte Cho on the pressures of women today
Name a female personality who inspires you and why.
Michelle Obama, because she raised two strong and intelligent daughters while being subject to extreme media and public scrutiny. When she became the first lady of the United States, she made a positive impact on the country, putting programmes in place to promote healthy eating.
Share with us your proudest achievement to date.
Self-publishing The Little Book of Jeong. It’s part memoir and part self-help book, that I hope it impacts every reader to build a little jeong (deep and emotional connections) in their life.
What are some of the challenges you have faced/are facing at this point in your life, be it personal or in your career?
Transitioning into the role of a mother for the first time. I felt that I lost a lot of my independence and identity when I had my first daughter. It took me a few years, but I have a much better balance and perspective at the moment.
What kind of improvements do you wish to see/have seen in your industry that will help women?
I have seen a surge in groups supporting women of colour trying to break into the beauty space, whether it is through Sephora’s Accelerate program, Ulta’s Sparked program, or CEOs like Nancy Twine creating funds or grants for women in the CPG industry.
What products/services from your company would you personally recommend to Yahoo readers?
The Living Cleansing Balm is a 14-time award-winning balm, perfect for the humid weather in Singapore. But fans of Then I Met You are equally excited about The Giving Essence, a Korean fermented essence with 5% niacinamide, which is a fusion between an essence and a serum.
Some days you’ll feel at your best at work, but maybe not as present at home (and vice versa). It’s more important than ever to have a supportive group... and to give yourself grace in knowing that despite all your efforts, not everything will be perfect.Charlotte Cho on accepting imperfection
What is your self-care routine like?
As a mom, I value my alone time more than ever. After the kids go to bed, I like to listen to my favourite podcast, while doing my multi-step skincare routine. Starting with the Living Cleansing Balm, I love how it transforms into a luxurious oil featuring seaberries. I use this as a moment to massage my face with either my hands or a gua sha, letting my skin mingle with the powerful antioxidants before washing it off.
What is one advice or quote that inspires you?
The quote that resonates most with me as an entrepreneur: "It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela
What advice would you give to fellow women juggling different hats?
As a mom of two and an entrepreneur for the past 11 years, I personally believe it is impossible to, “have it all.” Some days you’ll feel at your best at work, but maybe not as present at home (and vice versa). It’s more important than ever to have a supportive group around you in order to help achieve your goals and to give yourself grace in knowing that despite all your efforts, not everything will be perfect.
'It always seems impossible until it's done.'Charlotte Cho's favourite quote is one by the inspiring Nelson Mandela.
The Little Book of Skincare: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin
As the founder of Soko Glam, a leading Korean beauty and lifestyle website, who better to guide you through the secrets behind the world's most beautiful skin than esthetician and beauty expert Charlotte Cho. From the one who coined the world-renowned Korean ten-step skin-care routine no less!
With Charlotte's step-by-step tutorials, skin-care tips, and advice on what to look for in products at all price levels, you'll learn valuable tips on pampering and caring for your skin at home with Korean-approved techniques. At the same time, you learn how to pull off the "no makeup" makeup look you've seen and admired on women in the streets of Seoul. That's not all, get access to beauty secrets from Charlotte's favourite beauty gurus from around the world, including supermodels, YouTube sensations, top makeup artists, magazine editors, actresses, and leading Korean skincare researchers. Get it today!
The Little Book of Skincare: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin. PHOTO: Amazon
The Little Book of Jeong
It's all about the connection. Charlotte Cho not only introduces us to what makes Korean culture tick, but also tiny steps we can take in our own lives to work towards the Korean concept of jeong – that deep and meaningful connection felt between people, places, and things. It goes deeper than love and friendship, and grows stronger with time. In South Korea, jeong encourages generosity, empathy and the cultivation of lasting bonds. In The Little Book of Jeong, Charlotte shares how jeong changed her own trajectory in life, landing her a job opportunity in Seoul and giving her the fuel she and her husband, Dave, needed to launch a ground-breaking digital skincare platform Soko Glam and skincare line Then I Met You. At the end of the day, this is a personal story that centres around the deep bond she built with Korea, Charlotte reveals how practicing Simple Acts of Jeong can radically change our relationships, and challenges us to cultivate jeong in our own lives. Read it now and deepen your relationship with those who matter.
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