Dr. Jart+ (Korean: 닥터자르트; read simply as Doctor Jart) is a South Korean skin care brand. It was founded in 2004 by Lee Jin-Wook, with consultation from dermatologist Jung Sung-jae.^[1]

In 2003, Lee Jin-Wook (Korean: 이진욱) began research on BB cream.^[2] To further develop his product, he reached out to Dr. Jung Sung-jae (Korean: 정성재), who was testing new treatments for patients with severe skin issues.^[3] Lee asked Jung to invest in his product to bring Jung's formulations to a wider audience.^[3] The name "Jart" was initially coined as a portmanteau of "Jung" and "art".^[2] Jung remains the brand's chief dermatologist.^[4]

Dr. Jart+ was in development for three years before being launched into dermatological clinics.^[1] It was officially launched for commercial use in December 2004.^[2] Dr. Jart+ was first sold through e-commerce sites.^[2] Its revenue in 2005 amounted to 500 million won (around $4.725million, in 2005). By 2008, sales had reached seven billion dollars.^[2]

In the early days of Dr. Jart+, Lee focused mostly on exporting Dr. Jart+ from Asia, theorizing that the brand's popularity in Asian territories would translate to success in other regions.^[5] The brand partnered with the Japanese department store Takashimaya in June 2009 to offer its products at the store's now-defunct Fifth Avenue location. This move made Dr. Jart+ the second Korean brand since Amorepacific to have a presence in New York.^[2] It entered the American market in early 2011 in partnership with cosmetics retailer Sephora, offering two BB creams at ten of its then-locations.^[5][6] The brand has since expanded to sell 50 products at Sephora outlets globally.^[5]

Dr. Jart+ is composed of nine lines, each focused on a specific ingredient or skin issue:

• Cicadae — utilizes tiger grass (centella asiatica) to "calm redness and soothe irritation"
• Ceramiden — 5-Cera Complex (ceramides) to "restore and repair the skin barrier"
• Water Fuse — Aqua Mineral Complex (minerals) to impart skin hydration
• BB Cream — "beauty balm"
• Dermaclear — Hydrogen Bio Water (micellar solution) to cleanse and exfoliate skin
• Water Drop — hyaluronic acid; features a "unique emulsion system" that "bursts into tiny water droplets"
• Peptide — 8-Peptide Complex (peptides)
• Focuspot — patches composed of "micro tips" to target specific conditions
• V7 — V7 Multi-Vitamin Complex (vitamin B3, C, F, K3, B5, E, and H)
• Cryon Rubber — with patented technology to moisturize and intensely soothe

Dr. Jart+ is considered to be one of the brands that led the Korean beauty wave.^[7] It avoids celebrity endorsements in favor of its own animations to communicate a sense of wittiness.^[5] In 2018, its branding and packaging was refreshed, starting with its newly created Ceramidin line.^[8][9][10]

According to Ju Rhyu, a business-to-business consultant, Dr. Jart+ already has a "very clear brand identity" and is therefore keen to downplay the K-beauty angle.^[11]