ma:nyo

ma:nyo is a South Korean skincare brand founded in 2012 in Seoul as Manyo Factory by Kim Hyun Soo and Hwang Kwan Ik [6]. Its name comes from the Korean word for "witch" or "sorceress," a reference the company carries through to its self-description as a maker of plant-based "potions" for the skin. Built around fermentation and botanical ingredients, the brand began as a domestic Korean line before expanding across Asia and into European markets during the 2010s K-beauty wave.

Since late 2018 ma:nyo has been a subsidiary of L&P Cosmetics, the company behind the Mediheal sheet-mask brand, which took a controlling stake and oversaw the rename from Manyo Factory to its current form [6]. The brand remains active, with localized sites in English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese, ongoing campaigns.

ma:nyo was established in 2012 by Kim Hyun Soo and Hwang Kwan Ik and was originally designed for domestic Korean sales before expanding internationally [6]. The name "Manyo" (마녀) means "witch" or "sorceress" in Korean, a play that the company has kept central to its identity: it casts its formulators as "skin wizards" who brew tailored "recipes" for different skin types and seasons. According to the brand, those formulations are adjusted by climate, season and daily skin condition rather than sold as a single fixed range.

The brand launched in 2012 and gained traction first in Korea, then across other parts of Asia and into Europe. The pivotal change came in late 2018, when L&P Cosmetics acquired roughly a 70% stake — a deal reported at an enterprise value of about $25–30 million — and the company rebranded from "Manyo Factory" to "ma:nyo" [6]. By May 2022 the brand stated it had completed 36 clinical trials across its formulations, a figure it cites on its ingredients page in support of its "clinically proven" positioning.

ma:nyo operates as a subsidiary of L&P Cosmetics, which acquired its controlling interest in late 2018; L&P is also the owner of the Mediheal mask brand [6]. The two original founders, Kim Hyun Soo and Hwang Kwan Ik, have remained involved in running the company following the acquisition.

The company positions itself around the idea that "small details do wonders," describing an approach built on carefully selected, plant-based ingredients and clean formulation. ma:nyo frames its products as gentle enough for sensitive skin while still effective, and states that it formulates without artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, GMOs, parabens, mineral oils or oil-refining by-products. Running through its messaging is the Korean concept of 소확행 — "small but certain happiness" — which the brand ties to the daily ritual of skincare. Its stated tagline is "as you wish, skin wizard."

ma:nyo's catalogue centres on cleansers, toners, ampoules and serums, moisturisers, sun care and masks, with fermentation-derived ingredients as a recurring theme. The brand's best-known product is the Pure Cleansing Oil, an oil cleanser built on a blend of 14 plant oils — argan, jojoba, soybean and tea tree among them. In editorial coverage it has been described as the number-one cleansing oil in Korea, with more than 20 million units sold and the top cleanser position for seven consecutive years at the Korean retailer Olive Young [8].

Which product counts as the brand's signature has shifted over time. Retailer-editorial coverage from around 2019 identified the Galactomyces Niacin Special Treatment Essence — an essence built on galactomyces, a yeast byproduct of sake fermentation — as its best-selling hero, citing close to 800,000 units sold worldwide [6]. The brand site and more recent press now lead with the Pure Cleansing Oil, which has since overtaken it by volume. Other notable lines include the Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule and the Galactomy Enzyme Peeling Gel.

On the formulation side, the company highlights a proprietary Bifida Biome blend, which it describes as combining Bifida Ferment Lysate with microbiome ingredients to support the skin barrier. Galactomyces fermentation and a high concentration of plant oils are the other pillars of its product story. ma:nyo states that its formulas are vegan and cruelty-free, carrying EVE VEGAN certification and a "no animal ingredients" claim.

In 2026, the brand's Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil was named Best Overall Cleansing Oil by Byrdie [9]. The Pure Cleansing Oil line has also drawn editorial attention in US lifestyle press, including HuffPost, which highlighted its plant-oil formulation and its standing in the Korean market.

ma:nyo runs a packaging-reduction effort it calls the Green Re:Magic campaign, which it says uses plastic-less packaging — a tuck-in flap in place of plastic tape — along with biodegradable paper bubble wrap made from recycled paper, and offers refillable product options. The company also describes a monthly giving programme, donating to organisations including ChildFund Korea, the Beautiful Foundation, Korea Animal Rights Advocates and the Goodwill Store, with documented campaigns ranging from honeybee-habitat restoration to support for orphanage graduates.

ma:nyo is active. Its parent, L&P Cosmetics, is listed on the KOSDAQ exchange, and the brand maintains localized websites across several languages, an ongoing CSR programme and current product campaigns. Its most recent visible milestones include the 2026 Byrdie award and 2025–2026 campaign activity promoted on its homepage. The brand is distributed internationally.