Since 2016, BINU founders Nami and Katharina have had soaps made using the cold process in the manufactory of Nami’s parents in Korea. In addition to excellent quality and creating a product that pampers the skin, sustainability, good working conditions and environmental protection are just as important to the process. BINU facial soaps are suitable for almost all skin types – especially for those with skin issues like neurodermatitis or acne, as they contain no preservatives and are 100% natural.

Hi, we are BINU, Katharina and Nami. We have a small natural cosmetics company that produces hand-made facial soaps and more – coming soon 🙂

How did you come up with BINU back then – how did it all begin? And how did you come up with the name “BINU”?

Nami: It started when I brought the soap with me to Germany. I came up with it because I experienced bad skin for a short time. My mother, who makes soap herself, gave me a soap. Then my skin was suddenly better, and so I always brought the soap with me.

Katharina: And also gifted it to your friends! We have been friends for a very long time, since elementary school, and when Nami brought me the little “piece of gold”, I was absolutely thrilled because the soap lasts a long time, is very good for the skin and just works really well. There is no feeling of tension on the skin after washing, it is just a really great product.

Nami: Exactly, and since we needed a brand name and I wanted it to be something Korean, but also something that can be pronounced easily, we came up with “BINU” – BINU means “soap” in Korean. So very simple!

What was the hardest part when it came to making your ideas into reality?

Katharina: The most difficult thing was that you first had to teach or explain to people what soap can actually do for facial skin. For many, soap was something devilish – in Germany, it was said that industrially produced soaps are actually terrible for your facial skin. But the opposite is true: natural soaps made using this specific cold process can do a lot of good for the skin. They contain a lot of glycerin, which keeps the skin hydrated. Facial soaps also have a stimulating effect on the skin. The sebum glands are stimulated to become active themselves, or to bring the skin into its natural balance. This stimulates the skin’s own lipid replenishment and counteracts dehydration of the skin in a natural way.

When did you first get the feeling that the idea is now becoming a reality and that everything is falling into place?

Nami: The first order from a customer we didn’t know at all was very exciting. Up until that point, it was mainly friends and family who bought our products. When the first order came in from someone who was a “stranger” to us, but who thought our products were great, it gave us a real sense of achievement and we were incredibly grateful for it. After our first year on the market, we did a customer survey and the great feedback showed us that we were on the right track. The customers were really excited that our soaps actually helped with their skin problems. Something like that is always nice to hear, of course. Who would have thought that our existing customers were already looking forward to new products? That motivated us to keep going.

How does your day start off?

Katharina: The day begins with BINU and ends with BINU – in the form of a facial cleanse. It is very important to cleanse your skin in the evening because the skin is most active at night. So that dirt, excess sebum and everything that is left on the face from the day is washed off.

Nami: The body loses moisture while sleeping. The first thing I do is drink a glass of water – with a little salt, too. Since I have very dry skin, it is important for me to also supply the skin with water from the inside. The salt stimulates my circulation in the morning.

Which BINU product do you use all the time?

Katharina: At the moment, I’m using the Red Ginseng Facial Soap – our new soap with red ginseng, made with double concentration – every day, morning and evening, as well as our facial cleansing brush to massage the skin a little and remove the dead skin cells. What I also use once or twice a week is our Bamboo Charcoal Facial Soap, which helps to really cleanse the skin for once. It is actually suitable for oily, oily skin or acne, but also if you have combination skin or – which everyone actually has a little bit – an impure T-zone. That works very well for me!

Nami: Currently and also most often, I’m using the Calendula Facial Soap. It smells really great and is suitable for dry skin. I have very dry skin, especially now in winter with the dry indoor heating!

What are your goals for the near future?

Katharina: We want to get a lot more people excited about our brand and our products. What works best is recommendations and enthusiastic customers who are busy leaving reviews on our website (thank you very much for that!). We are proud that all our reviews are real, so please stop by and read them. And if you have any questions, we are always here for you 🙂

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