OUR STORY
Before it was a brand, before it was even a thought, kkot™ was simply an act of love—a father’s devotion to his daughter. It started in the quiet corners of their home, where Heung Lee, a graduate of Bastyr University with formal education in herbology and Eastern medicine/acupuncture, would carefully blend natural oils, herbs, and plant extracts into balms and serums. His daughter, who suffered from extreme eczema, struggled with irritated, inflamed skin that no conventional product could soothe. She barely understood the complexities of chemistry but knew that her father’s hands smelled of lavender and rosehip, and that his concoctions provided relief when nothing else did.
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​He wasn’t just making skincare; he was creating a shield—a way to protect her in a world where synthetic additives and harmful chemicals were the norm. His knowledge wasn’t just instinctual; it was studied, rooted in science, and deeply intentional. He believed that nature and science weren’t at odds but, instead, were meant to work in harmony, offering solutions that were both gentle and powerful.
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But love, like life, doesn’t exist in isolation. It is tested. It endures. And sometimes, it must find new purpose in pain.
​When his younger sister was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, the same hands that once made creams for his daughter’s delicate skin now worked tirelessly to soothe the ravages of chemotherapy. He researched not just for beauty, but for relief. He formulated products that calmed inflammation, eased the pain of radiation burns, and restored what illness had taken away. Every batch was an act of defiance against suffering—a way to give her dignity when cancer sought to strip it away.
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Through this, something deeper began to take root. What started as personal remedies for those he loved became something much larger—a realization that women deserved more. More care. More intention. More honesty in what they put on their skin. He saw how women’s bodies were expected to endure without complaint, how industries preyed upon insecurities rather than nurturing resilience. He saw that skincare was more than just an indulgence; it was a form of self-respect, a declaration that women’s well-being mattered.
Kkot, meaning ‘flower,’ was born from this understanding. Not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Not just as another skincare brand, but as a testament to women’s strength—their ability to endure, to heal, to blossom even in the harshest conditions. Every product carried the weight of his journey: a father’s love for his daughter, a brother’s fight for his sister, and the unwavering belief that women should have access to skincare that is as strong and beautiful as they are.
kkot™ is more than just formulas in a bottle; it is a love letter to every woman who has ever felt unseen, every daughter who deserves protection, every sister who has fought battles seen and unseen. It is a brand built not on trends, but on truth. Not on vanity, but on empowerment.
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Because women deserve skincare that isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling whole. About honoring their skin, their stories, and their strength.
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kkot™ is more than a brand, it is a promise.