Korean Body Scrub Marketing: How LHA Changes the 5,000 Won Game
BeauticsLab
November 5, 2025
Table of Contents
"Why does a 5,000 won Daiso product include LHA, a premium ingredient?"
At 5,000 won (Growus) vs 18,000 won (Tree Hut), the price difference is 3.6x. However, when you look at the exfoliation approach, the strategies are completely different. Growus includes 4 chemical exfoliants (LHA, BHA, AHA, PHA), while Tree Hut focuses on physical scrubbing.
Analysis Data:
- Period: Week 44, 2025 (First week of November)
- Products: Growus Shining Therapy Shimmer Body Scrub (Daiso), Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub (Olive Young)
Product Overview: Daiso vs Olive Young's #1🔗
Both products are body scrubs, but their exfoliation approaches are fundamentally different.
Basic Information Comparison🔗
| Category | Growus Shining Therapy | Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub |
|---|---|---|
| Retailer | Daiso | Olive Young |
| Brand | Growus | Tree Hut (8 consecutive years #1) |
| Price/Volume | 5,000 won / 135ml | 18,000 won / 510g |
| Per-Unit Price | 37 won/ml | 35 won/g |
| Reviews | 64 reviews | 52,298 reviews |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5.0 | 4.8 / 5.0 |
Per-unit pricing is nearly identical. However, the total price difference is due to volume (135ml vs 510g, 3.8x difference).
Core Difference: Exfoliation Methods🔗
Growus: Physical + Chemical Dual System🔗
Physical Scrub- Apricot seed powder
| Ingredient | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Capryloyl Salicylic Acid | LHA | Next-gen BHA, gentle pore care |
| Salicylic Acid | BHA | Oil-soluble exfoliation, pore penetration |
| Lactic Acid | AHA | Water-soluble exfoliation, skin texture improvement |
| Gluconolactone | PHA | Gentle exfoliation, moisturizing |
- Pearl extract, sea buckthorn fruit extract
- Lactobacillus/hibiscus flower ferment filtrate
Tree Hut: Physical Scrub Focus🔗
Physical Scrub- Sugar (sugar particles)
- Shea butter (moisturizing)
| Ingredient | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Salicylic Acid | BHA | Oil-soluble exfoliation, pore penetration |
| Benzyl Salicylate | BHA derivative | Fragrance component, mild exfoliation |
| Lactic Acid | AHA | Water-soluble exfoliation |
- Various scent options including Moroccan Rose
- Focus on physical exfoliation through sugar particles
Ingredient Comparison Summary🔗
| Comparison Item | Growus | Tree Hut |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Scrub | Apricot seed powder | Sugar (sugar particles) |
| Chemical Exfoliants | 4 types (LHA, BHA, AHA, PHA) | 3 types (BHA, BHA derivative, AHA) |
| LHA | ✅ Included | ❌ None |
| PHA | ✅ Included | ❌ None |
| Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin, ferment ingredients | Shea butter, oils |
| Scent | Dreaming Jasmine Garden (1 option) | Moroccan Rose + 15 options |
What is LHA (Capryloyl Salicylic Acid)?🔗
LHA stands for Lipohydroxy Acid, a lipophilic derivative of salicylic acid (BHA).
LHA Characteristics🔗
| Feature | Salicylic Acid (BHA) | LHA |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular Size | Small | Larger (lipid-bound) |
| Skin Penetration | Fast | Slow, acts on upper epidermis |
| Irritation Level | Moderate | Low |
| Exfoliation | Effective | Effective |
| Pore Care | ✅ | ✅ |
- Less irritating than salicylic acid
- Maintains similar exfoliation efficacy
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Generally, LHA is used in premium products. Development costs and raw material prices are higher than regular BHA.
Why the Price Difference?🔗
1. Volume Difference🔗
- Growus: 135ml (small size)
- Tree Hut: 510g (large size, 3.8x larger)
2. Distribution Structure🔗
- Growus: Daiso exclusive (PB brand)
- Tree Hut: Olive Young and multiple channels
3. Brand Value🔗
- Growus: New brand
- Tree Hut: 8 consecutive years #1, 50,000+ reviews
4. Product Strategy🔗
- Growus: Enhanced chemical exfoliation
- Tree Hut: Physical scrub + scent experience focus
Per-unit pricing is nearly identical (37 won vs 35 won), but the approaches differ. Growus packs various exfoliants into a small volume, while Tree Hut emphasizes convenience through large volume.
Selection Guide🔗
| Selection Criteria | Growus Recommended | Tree Hut Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Exfoliation Method | Prefer chemical exfoliation | Prefer physical scrubbing |
| Skin Type | Sensitive skin (gentle LHA) | All skin types (proven product) |
| Usage Purpose | Exfoliation + pore care | Exfoliation + scent experience |
| Volume Preference | Small size (135ml) | Large size (510g) |
| Price | 5,000 won (entry-level) | 18,000 won (long-term use) |
| Purchase Accessibility | Daiso exclusive | Olive Young and multiple channels |
Selection Considerations🔗
1. If you prioritize exfoliant ingredients- Growus includes 4 chemical exfoliants (LHA, BHA, AHA, PHA)
- Tree Hut includes 3 types (BHA, BHA derivative, AHA) and focuses on physical scrubbing
- Tree Hut is proven with 8 consecutive years #1, 52,298 reviews, 4.8 rating
- Growus has 64 reviews, 4.6 rating with relatively fewer reviews
- Small quantity test: Growus (5,000 won)
- Long-term use: Tree Hut (18,000 won but 3.8x volume)
Conclusion🔗
Growus Shining Therapy Shimmer Body Scrub and Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub have different exfoliation approaches.
Key Summary🔗
| Comparison Criteria | Growus | Tree Hut |
|---|---|---|
| Exfoliation Strategy | 4 chemical exfoliants | Physical scrub focus |
| Differentiating Ingredients | LHA, PHA | Shea butter, various scents |
| Volume/Price | 135ml / 5,000 won (37 won/ml) | 510g / 18,000 won (35 won/g) |
If you're interested in chemical exfoliants (LHA, PHA, etc.) and want to test with a small quantity, Growus is suitable. If you want a proven product for long-term use and value scent experience, Tree Hut is appropriate.
Per-unit pricing is nearly identical, so it's more rational to choose based on exfoliation method and usage purpose rather than total price.
Frequently Asked Questions🔗
Q. Is the Growus product effective?A. The exfoliant ingredients (LHA, BHA, AHA, PHA) are dermatologically proven. It received 4.6 rating from 64 reviews, but has less validation data compared to Tree Hut (52,298 reviews).
Q. Why is Tree Hut more expensive?A. Per-unit pricing is nearly identical (35 won/g vs 37 won/ml). The total price difference is due to volume (510g vs 135ml). Additionally, 8 consecutive years #1 brand value, various scent options, and proven quality are reflected in the price.
Q. Why is LHA a premium ingredient?A. LHA is a lipophilic derivative of salicylic acid (BHA), with higher development costs and raw material prices. It maintains similar exfoliation efficacy but causes less skin irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin. It's generally used in dermocosmetics or premium products.
Q. Is chemical exfoliation better than physical scrubbing?A. It can't be categorized as "better/worse". Chemical exfoliation removes not only surface dead skin but also sebum inside pores, while physical scrubbing provides immediate smoothness. You can choose or use both alternately based on skin type and purpose.
Q. Can I use both?A. Yes, you can alternate based on purpose. For example:
- Twice weekly exfoliation: Tree Hut (physical scrub)
- Once weekly deep care: Growus (chemical exfoliation)
Or you can test with Growus first, then purchase Tree Hut in bulk if satisfied.
Q. Which should sensitive skin use?A. Both are usable, but Growus includes LHA (gentle BHA), making it theoretically more suitable. However, Tree Hut is proven by 52,298 reviews, so checking sensitive skin user reviews before selection is safer. Both contain fragrance, so patch testing is essential.
This article is based on data from Week 44, 2025 (first week of November). Growus product information was verified from product images and full ingredient lists, while Tree Hut data uses official Olive Young data. Please verify your skin condition and allergies before product selection.
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