Women’s History Month: Get to know our Founders
Narae Chung and Jacqueline Oak are the Co-founders of Cardon. Narae is the CEO of Cardon and Jacqueline is the COO.
How Cardon Came To Be
What was the inspiration behind building a men’s personal care brand?
Narae: Growing up in South Korea, I saw first-hand the pride that Korean men took in their self-care. It was more than a routine—it was a way of life, an expression of self-worth, self-love and enjoyment. When I worked in the skincare and grooming industry in Asia, I saw the hyper-growth of men’s personal care in Asia. When I moved to the U.S., I saw the same early indicators of the growing popularity of men’s self-care, but there weren’t the same affordable and high quality options that there were in South Korea. That’s why we started Cardon - we wanted to make personal care accessible to men by leveraging K-beauty technology to address male-specific skincare needs like skin irritation and redness from shaving.
Read more about Korean skincare for men here.
How did you two meet?
Jacqueline: Narae and I were roommates at Wharton while pursuing our MBAs. We realized we had complementary skills - Narae was a grooming and skincare aficionado (she’s worked for brands including Gillette, Olay, and SK-II), and I have deep experience in the startup space (I previously worked at Quidsi, an Amazon subsidiary, and M.M.LaFleur). One weekend I helped Narae run a consumer focus group with a few of our male classmates to talk about skincare. The event was really eye opening because it showed how much interest there was in the space and the lack of space for men to talk about it, as well as the absence of a quality brand that addressed this new interest. After that weekend, we decided to start seriously working on the idea, which eventually led to the creation of Cardon.
Tell us about the inspiration for the brand name.
Jacqueline: Cardon is named after the Cardon cactus, the largest cactus species. A common complaint we heard from men was around shaving irritation or having sensitive skin, which makes sense if you’re taking a sharp blade to your face on a regular basis. We decided to include cactus extract as the hero ingredient in our skincare line because of its soothing and healing properties. Cactus extract is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K. In fact, the Aztec used to use cactus to treat sun burns!
The Cardon Difference
What K-Beauty principles and technologies have you utilized in the creation of Cardon products?
Narae: Korean skincare is known for gentle, harsh-free formulas and unique natural ingredients. Korean skincare philosophy also embodies a lifestyle of self-care. Routines are more focused on proactive and preventative measures, and building healthy habits. Cardon incorporates the same high quality standards into its formulations and focus on creating gentle formulas that are focused on soothing. Cardon also develops its products to complement each other and build a simple routine that’s easy to maintain.
What makes Cardon different from other men’s skincare brands?
Jacqueline: One of the biggest things that sets us apart is the way we prioritize in-depth ingredient research to address male specific skincare needs like sensitivity, redness, and irritation from shaving. We also dedicate ourselves to providing customers with quality information and to empowering our customers to embrace skincare as part of their lifestyle and self-care routine.
Read more about the best ingredients for every skin concern here.
Narae: Our Korean skincare R&D is also a major differentiator. We’re able to provide cutting edge products at an extremely high quality while still maintaining an accessible price point.
Cardon Favorites
What is your favorite Cardon product?
Narae: Our Daily SPF + Moisturizer. Sunscreen is actually one of the most difficult skincare products to create because it's categorized as an OTC drug by the FDA, but we wanted to start our product line with an SPF because it’s the most important step in any skincare routine. It was also a category that needed innovation; everything on the market was sticky, greasy and chalky. We spent 18 months iterating on the formula to get it to the lightweight consistency it is today and to complete all the FDA required testing, and we ended up with winning the AskMen Grooming Award for Best sunscreen the year we launched.
Read more about the importance of SPF here.
Jacqueline: Our sheet masks! Sheet masks are a great way to give your skin an immediate boost. Narae used to bring sheet masks from Korea to gift friends. While they enjoyed the masks, she heard a lot of feedback that the masks did not fit their faces perfectly due to different face shapes and sizes. In particular, friends with beards mentioned that the masks did not lay on their faces well and they felt they were wasting the bottom part of the mask. Full-face masks are especially ineffective for bearded men because the skin underneath the beard actually needs hydration the most given it is difficult for skincare products to penetrate facial hair. Cardon’s new sheet masks solves this problem.
We developed two types of sheet masks tailored to men’s faces: a face mask for those who have a beard and a face mask for those who shave and need soothing. Both are slightly larger than traditional Korean sheet masks and have expandable nose slits to customize the fit to better suit different face shapes. The Bamboo Charcoal Face Mask + Beard Oil Duo is a half mask that covers the top of the face and comes with a beard oil treatment to condition the beard and skin underneath, and the Cactus Soothing Mask has vitamin-packed soothing ingredients to calm and soothe skin irritation.
What is the most popular Cardon product right now?
Narae: The Dark Circle Eye Rescue! We can’t keep it in stock. The biggest pain points customers have shared with us are dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, which people feel make them look tired and feel less confident. When I worked in skincare in Korea, I noticed that 45% of the purchasers of dark circle eye products were male. Our eye stick helps reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness with the use of peptides, niacinamide, and camellia japonica flower extract. Also, we made the product easy to apply. You can simply roll the eye serum directly onto your skin vs. having to stick your fingers into a jar.
What’s next for Cardon as a brand?
Jacqueline: Our goal is to help men discover the best, easiest personal care routine that works for their skin and lifestyle. We’ll continue to expand our product line to address unmet needs and pain points, as well as provide resources to comfortably learn about and explore skincare.
Thank you Narae and Jacqueline for taking the time to share Cardon's story!
Explore Cardon Skincare Routines
Beginners
Essentials Skincare Set
good for:
Everything you need, nothing you don’t—the Essentials Set is your skincare starter pack. Just cleanse, moisturize, and protect. We took the guesswork out of developing a skincare routine. This is all you need for everyday skin health.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Essentials Skincare Set
good for:
Everything you need, nothing you don’t—the Essentials Set is your skincare starter pack. Just cleanse, moisturize, and protect. We took the guesswork out of developing a skincare routine. This is all you need for everyday skin health.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
seller
Anti-Aging Skincare Set
good for:
Life comes at you fast. That’s why we developed our Anti-Aging Skincare Set full of just what you need to tackle fine lines, rough texture, and other signs of aging in the skin.
From protecting skin all day long to boosting its ability to repair and rebuild overnight, your past, present, and future selves will thank you.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 02 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Anti-Aging Skincare Set
good for:
Life comes at you fast. That’s why we developed our Anti-Aging Skincare Set full of just what you need to tackle fine lines, rough texture, and other signs of aging in the skin.
From protecting skin all day long to boosting its ability to repair and rebuild overnight, your past, present, and future selves will thank you.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 02 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Hair + Body Shower Set
good for:
New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! The Hair + Body Shower Set has everything you need for an invigorating showertime routine, going beyond cleansing to strengthen, repair, and soothe your hair and skin. You—and your houseguests—will thank you for ditching the 3-in-1 for this trio.
*Vital Body Wash – winner of the 2022 GQ Grooming Awards
Includes Steps:
- 01 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 02 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
- 03 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Hair + Body Shower Set
good for:
New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! The Hair + Body Shower Set has everything you need for an invigorating showertime routine, going beyond cleansing to strengthen, repair, and soothe your hair and skin. You—and your houseguests—will thank you for ditching the 3-in-1 for this trio.
*Vital Body Wash – winner of the 2022 GQ Grooming Awards
Includes Steps:
- 01 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 02 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
- 03 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Dark Circles Skincare Set
good for:
All work and no play makes for dull skin.
The Dark Circles Skincare Set is perfect for those looking to brighten and revive dull and tired looking skin. Cleanses debris and grime from the day, depuffs and treats under eye bags, and rehydrates while soothing the skin in your sleep.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Dark Circles Skincare Set
good for:
All work and no play makes for dull skin.
The Dark Circles Skincare Set is perfect for those looking to brighten and revive dull and tired looking skin. Cleanses debris and grime from the day, depuffs and treats under eye bags, and rehydrates while soothing the skin in your sleep.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Dry Skin Set
good for:
Skin feeling a bit thirsty? The Dry Skin Set was crafted specifically for those with a dry skin type.
If you deal with flakiness, dull complexion, visible fine lines, red patches, or any combination of the above, this set was made for you. This is all you need to hydrate your skin—and keep it hydrated.
Includes Steps:
- 01
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
- 05 Cactus Soothing Face Mask
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Dry Skin Set
good for:
Skin feeling a bit thirsty? The Dry Skin Set was crafted specifically for those with a dry skin type.
If you deal with flakiness, dull complexion, visible fine lines, red patches, or any combination of the above, this set was made for you. This is all you need to hydrate your skin—and keep it hydrated.
Includes Steps:
- 01
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
- 05 Cactus Soothing Face Mask
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
NEW
NEW
Cleanse + Refresh Set
good for:
Hit refresh! The Cleanse + Refresh Set gives you the ultimate cleanse from head to toe with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Strengthening Shampoo boosts hair volume, Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts, and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect set for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or pore-clearing clay mask. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 03 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Cleanse + Refresh Set
good for:
Hit refresh! The Cleanse + Refresh Set gives you the ultimate cleanse from head to toe with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Strengthening Shampoo boosts hair volume, Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts, and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect set for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or pore-clearing clay mask. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 03 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
NEW
NEW
+ Hair
+ Body
Head-to-Toe Set
good for:
We've got you covered head to toe, literally. This set comes with a complete skin and hair care routine.
Includes our invigorating shampoo and conditioner to prevent hair loss, refreshing body wash to treat body acne, clay-infused face wash to deeply cleanse the face from debris, and lightweight gel moisturizer to soothe, rehydrate and repair skin while you sleep.
It's about time you treated the rest of your body as good as you treat your face.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
- 03 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 04 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
- 05 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Head-to-Toe Set
good for:
We've got you covered head to toe, literally. This set comes with a complete skin and hair care routine.
Includes our invigorating shampoo and conditioner to prevent hair loss, refreshing body wash to treat body acne, clay-infused face wash to deeply cleanse the face from debris, and lightweight gel moisturizer to soothe, rehydrate and repair skin while you sleep.
It's about time you treated the rest of your body as good as you treat your face.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
- 03 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 04 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
- 05 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
EDITION
GIFT BOX
Limited Edition Gift Set
good for:
This gift set is complete with our bestselling anti-aging products to protect skin all day long, while repairing skin overnight. Targets dark circles, fine lines, and other signs of premature aging.
*Comes gift wrapped and in our signature gift box.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 02 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
"There is no better present to give an older brother than the gift of perfect skin care. I don't know who will like it more him or his wife. And, of course, I bought more for myself." - David N. | Age: 45-54
Limited Edition Gift Set
good for:
This gift set is complete with our bestselling anti-aging products to protect skin all day long, while repairing skin overnight. Targets dark circles, fine lines, and other signs of premature aging.
*Comes gift wrapped and in our signature gift box.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 02 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
"There is no better present to give an older brother than the gift of perfect skin care. I don't know who will like it more him or his wife. And, of course, I bought more for myself." - David N. | Age: 45-54
Limited Edition Jet Set Travel Kit
good for:
NEW! Limited Edition Jet Set Travel Kit with Dopp Kit.
With our new Jet Set Travel Kit, you can ditch the hotel samples for an on-the-go routine built with your skin in mind. These five simple steps cover all the bases– from cleansing your face to hydrating your lips– and they're all you need to pack before you hit the road. And, yes, it’s TSA-approved.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Clay Cleanser Sample, 15ml
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Sample, 15ml
- 05 Matte Lip Balm
"I am a 55 years old and I have started to show my age on my face. After a long day in an aircraft cabin, this is exactly what my skin needs. It doesn’t take much time to complete and the results are worth it." – Jerri P
Limited Edition Jet Set Travel Kit
good for:
NEW! Limited Edition Jet Set Travel Kit with Dopp Kit.
With our new Jet Set Travel Kit, you can ditch the hotel samples for an on-the-go routine built with your skin in mind. These five simple steps cover all the bases– from cleansing your face to hydrating your lips– and they're all you need to pack before you hit the road. And, yes, it’s TSA-approved.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Clay Cleanser Sample, 15ml
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Sample, 15ml
- 05 Matte Lip Balm
"I am a 55 years old and I have started to show my age on my face. After a long day in an aircraft cabin, this is exactly what my skin needs. It doesn’t take much time to complete and the results are worth it." – Jerri P
Hair Loss
Healthy Hair Duo
good for:
New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! Teamwork makes your hair dreams work.
Our highly-rated Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner teams up to get to the root of hair loss, strengthening and nourishing hair starting right at the scalp. Achieve thicker, healthier follicles with the help of our protein and vitamin-packed formula.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 02 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
"I love this shampoo and conditioner. After six weeks of use, I can say that this combination really helped my dry scalp and to reduce itch.” - Alex L.
Healthy Hair Duo
good for:
New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! Teamwork makes your hair dreams work.
Our highly-rated Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner teams up to get to the root of hair loss, strengthening and nourishing hair starting right at the scalp. Achieve thicker, healthier follicles with the help of our protein and vitamin-packed formula.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 02 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
"I love this shampoo and conditioner. After six weeks of use, I can say that this combination really helped my dry scalp and to reduce itch.” - Alex L.
NEW
NEW
Cleansing Duo
Hit refresh! The Cleansing Duo gives you the ultimate cleanse with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect duo for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or clay mask treatment. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Cleansing Duo
Hit refresh! The Cleansing Duo gives you the ultimate cleanse with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect duo for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or clay mask treatment. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Cardon Products Are
Easy to Use
We never create two products when we can achieve the same results with one. Cardon products are designed to be easy to use every day.
Backed By Korean Innovation
Korean R&D is two decades ahead of the rest of the world. Cardon products use the highest quality, most effective ingredients out there.
Non-Toxic
Finally, an ingredient label you can feel good about. Every ingredient in Cardon products is good for your skin, and easy on the mind.