Celebrity Travel: Go away with Lauren Ing
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?
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