Inspired by Heritage, Backed by Science
Our proprietary fermented ingredients and formulations meet the highest modern efficacy and safety standards, and we strive to make our formulations work for all skin types and skin tones. We continuously work with our artisans to harness the power of fermentation and develop new proprietary fermented ingredients for better skin wellness. Our lab conducts numerous in-vitro tests to verify ingredient efficacy and quality while also conducting multiple human clinical tests to verify non-irritation and efficacy of our final formulations. We aim to produce clean, balanced and elegant formulations that maximize overall efficacy and sensorial experience while minimizing skin irritation. And we do not limit ourselves to our own lab – we work with best external chemists, dermatologists, aestheticians and specialists we can find.
VINBIOME™ Complex
Based on rigorous scientific research, we have carefully selected proven and effective skincare ingredients and have had Hanega’s artisans ferment them to develop proprietary vinegar-fermented extracts that have higher concentrations of absorbable actives for enhanced effectiveness. As we value balanced skin wellness, we have combined our proprietary vinegar-fermented extracts with our proprietary aged vinegars, our Probiotics Complex and our Prebiotics Complex to create a holistic VINBIOME™ Complex that helps to promote a healthy skin microbiome and sustainable skin “prejuvenation”.
VinB10-Biotic™ Ginseng
For generations, the artisans of Hanega have fermented vinegar with ginseng root for Traditional Asian Medicine doctors, who used these vinegars to make traditional medicine. Panax ginseng root is often known for having large amounts of unique saponins called ginsenosides, such as Rg1, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh4 and Rk1, which are beneficial for health and wellness. The long and meticulous fermentation process of aged vinegar further breaks down these unique saponins to more variety and more easily absorbable ginsenosides. Our proprietary VinB10-Biotic™ Ginseng is fermented with 10-year black vinegar and further refined into a multi-functional ingredient that helps to firm, soothe and brighten the skin.* [KR Patent 10-2441142]
1. JJ Nam et al. Ultraviolet- and infrared-induced 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activating skin photoaging is inhibited by red ginseng extract containing high concentration of ginsenoside Rg3(S), 33(6),311-320 (2017)
2. KI To et al. Integrative network pharmacology and experimental verification to reveal the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ginsenoside Rh4, Front Pharmacol. 13,953871 (2022)
VinB10-Biotic™ Wheat
One of the most important ingredients for aged vinegar is a Korean fermentation starter called “nuruk”, which is a mold of wheat that is naturally fermented with various microorganisms and enzymes. “Nuruk” has a rich concentration of polysaccharides that are beneficial to skin health. In collaboration with Hanega’s artisans, we have found the optimal fermentation and refining process to break down these wheat polysaccharides into the most effective form for skincare formulations. Our proprietary VinB10-Biotic™ Wheat is fermented with 10-year black vinegar and further refined into a multi-functional ingredient that helps to firm and soothe the skin.
VinH7-Biotic™ Pine
Another important ingredient for Hanega’s aged vinegars is pine tree needles, which is sourced from acres of pine trees at Hanega’s brewery in Ganghwa Island. Unsurprisingly, pine tree bark extract is often recommended as a skincare ingredient by Korean dermatologists due to its outstanding antioxidant capabilities. Together with Hanega’s artisans, we have found the optimal fermentation and refining process to increase the content of taxifolin, which is one of the representative antioxidant components found in pine trees. Our proprietary VinH7-Biotic™ Pine is fermented with premium 7-year gingko vinegar and further refined into an enhanced antioxidant ingredient that helps to combat oxidative stress on the skin.* [KR Patent 10-2565298]
*Iwona Micek et al. Taxifolin as a Promising Ingredient of Cosmetics for Adult Skin, Antioxidants 10(10),1625 (2021)
VinM3-Biotic™ Mugwort
For centuries, the artisans of Hanega have frequently consumed mugwort for sustained health and wellness. They truly love this ingredient, which they farm themselves for consumption and use in mugwort vinegars. While developing our proprietary aged mugwort vinegar ingredient, VIN-M3™, we were able to modify the fermentation process to increase the content of eupatilin, an active component within mugwort that has strong soothing capabilities. Our proprietary VinM3-Biotic™ Mugwort is fermented with premium 3-year mugwort vinegar and further refined into an enhanced soothing ingredient that helps to calm the skin from external stress factors.*
*EJ Choi et al. Eupatilin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of inflammatory mediators in macrophages,
Life Sci. 20;88(25-26),1121-6 (2011)
Aged Vinegars
The proprietary, multi-year fermentation process of Hanega’s aged vinegars produces an extraordinarily rich culture of probiotics that transforms peak-harvested raw ingredients and prebiotics into a beneficial mixture of postbiotics that are beneficial for healthier skin. The longer the vinegar ferments, the higher the conversion and accumulation of these beneficial postbiotics. For example, our aged vinegars have a high concentration of natural amino acids that help to strengthen the skin barrier with its natural moisturizing factor properties. Various organic acids in our aged vinegars also offer skin benefits such as hydration and exfoliation, while various vitamins help to enhance skin health functions. Our aged vinegars also have many beneficial naturally produced amino peptides like GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid). Our lab is working hard to identify even more of these beneficial natural amino peptides, which are natural byproducts of the years-long fermentation process of our aged vinegars.
Aged Vinegar Ingredients
VIN-B10™
VIN-B10 is 107’s proprietary vinegar ingredient processed from Hanega’s 10-year black vinegar with 35+ beneficial nutrients such as amino acids, organic acids, minerals and vitamins. This premium aged vinegar contains more vitamins, such as vitamin A, B5, C and D, that help to brighten and hydrate skin. The Hanega artisans source the organic rice used in this premium aged vinegar from trusted rice grain farmers from all around Korea.
VIN-H7™
VIN-H7 is 107’s proprietary vinegar ingredient processed from Hanega's 7-year gingko vinegar with 30+ beneficial nutrients such as amino acids, organic acids, minerals and vitamins. The Hanega artisans source the organic gingko used in this premium aged vinegar from trees on Ganghwa Island, away from modern city pollution.
VIN-M3™
VIN-M3 is 107’s proprietary vinegar ingredient processed from Hanega’s 3-year mugwort vinegar with 15+ beneficial nutrients such as amino acids, amino peptides, organic acids and minerals. The Hanega artisans organically grow the mugwort used in this premium aged vinegar on their own farm on Ganghwa Island, using clean seabed water from the surrounding area.
Probiotics Complex
Hanega’s artisans care deeply about their proprietary probiotic cultures. They nurture their probiotics as if they were their own children. They feed their probiotics with the best herbs and naturally-sourced foods, and they even put on traditional Korean folk songs to provide a calm environment for the probiotics to grow. And they never, ever, enter the storing room when they themselves are not in a good emotional mood. The artisans take this much care for their probiotics because they know that effective fermentation of the probiotics culture is critical to producing abundant and balanced postbiotics.
At 107, we similarly value the harmony and wellness of the skin’s microbiome, as any imbalance can cause various skin challenges. We have researched the skin microbiome and selected key probiotic strains that can help make the skin’s microbiome more balanced and healthier. Our Probiotic Complex consists of selective probiotic ingredients such as Lactobacillus Ferment (Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus Johnsonii, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Reuteri), Lactococcus Ferment (Lactococcus Lactis), Bifida Ferment Lysate (Bifidobacterium Longum) and Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment (Streptococcus Thermophilus).
Prebiotics Complex
Microorganisms and probiotics on the skin’s microbiome need “food”, or prebiotics, to be healthy and functional. Based on our research, we have selected key prebiotics ingredients that can help provide sustenance for the skin’s microbiome. Our Prebiotic Complex consists of proven prebiotic ingredients such as Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides and Inulin.
