Miami resident Hye Kim has merged her passion for motherhood and skincare into one with the launch of her Korean beauty brand, Olivia Umma (@oliviaumma)—translating to Olivia’s mother in Korean. Aside from its colorful packaging that makes for the perfect snap on the feed, the products feature natural ingredients that produce real results. Here, we learn more about the skincare guru, plus her favorite spots in Miami.

Hye Kim hosts a luncheon at Strawberry Moon in Miami to introduce Olivia Umma. PHOTO BY RYAN TROY

What prompted you to create your own line of skincare?

I have always been an avid skincare enthusiast—to say I’ve tried it all isn’t a far stretch. However, I had difficulty finding a line that met all my needs. A few years back, my now teenage daughter also started showing a lot of interest in skincare, as did her friends. It was then that I set out determined to launch a line that was vegan and safe for cross-generational users while providing the results we all look for: clear and brilliant skin. I’m also rather aesthetic in all aspects of my life, so I knew the packaging would be essential. Hence, my daughter Olivia and I designed and created OLIVIAUMMA, a brand offering effective results and bathroom counter appeal.

What is the most exciting part of entering the beauty industry?

My favorite part of this process has been the teamwork. I have been in the fashion retail business for a long time, but throughout this journey, I discovered that the beauty industry is different. OLIVIAUMMA consists of a village of global participants, including a top-notch lab in Seoul that designs our products’ recipes and produces our final products, a design team that fully understands my visions, and an amazing marketing team on the ground. I serve as the conductor.

Tell us what makes Olivia Umma so unique.

OLIVIAUMMA is unique because it’s truly designed to be cross-generational. It’s meant to speak to a larger audience from product to packaging. Our first collection, Glass Skin Tanghulu, is named after a popular Chinese dessert made from dipping fruit in melted sugar, which creates a glass effect upon drying. Each product in the range is designed to give your skin a glass-like glow.

Olivia Umma’s product packaging is colorful and aesthetically pleasing for the home. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BRAND

What are your favorite Miami beauty destinations?

I am a big fan of Korean beauty and generally stick to my favorite spots in Seoul, but in Miami, I love Skincare by Amy Peterson on Miami Beach because she offers innovative facial treatments, a needle-free micro-needling called CELLSTORY and state-of-the-art lasers like Clear + Brilliant.

Favorite fitness destinations:

I love to switch things up, so I have been a Class Pass member for the last decade. Some of my favorites are Sweat440 and Pilates One.

Best part about living in Miami:

As we speak, I am in Korea for meetings as we grow OLIVIAUMMA, and it’s 10 degrees Fahrenheit. I miss Miami’s weather already!