The Science

Twelve years of research. Two patents. One radical idea about sensitive skin.

That the most reactive skin deserves the most exacting technology.

The patented ingredient: Taraxacum Coreanum Phytoplacenta Culture Extract.

White dandelion — taraxacum coreanum — is native to the Korean peninsula and has been used in traditional Eastern medicine for centuries to reduce inflammation and support healing. Most skincare that claims the benefits of white dandelion uses a rough whole-plant extract: inconsistent in potency, wasteful of the plant, and largely unproven in clinical testing.

Talitha Koum’s founder took a different approach. Working with phytochemists, she isolated the placental tissue of the flower — the area where its active compounds are most concentrated — and developed a plant cell culture process that cultivates those compounds in a controlled environment, without harvesting wild flowers.

The result is registered under:

US Patent No. 11,684,564 B2

Registered June 27, 2023 · United States Patent and Trademark Office

Cosmetic composition for improving skin containing Taraxacum Coreanum Phytoplacenta Culture Extract.

Korea Patent No. 10-2552616

Registered July 5, 2023 · Korean Intellectual Property Office

HM+Barrier™ — US Trademark No. 7,334,489

Registered March 26, 2024 · USPTO Class 3 Cosmetics
What the Clinical Panels Found

Independently tested. Not on animals. Only on the people we made these for.

+81%

72-Hour Hydration (Face Cream)

Moisture content at 72 hours post-application — a single use of HM+Barrier™ Face Cream. Korea Dermatology Research Institute.

+118%

Barrier Recovery (4 Weeks)

Improvement in trans-epidermal water-loss recovery. 100% of panelists reported a visibly strengthened barrier.

+154%

Redness Relief (48 Hours)

Reduction in UV-induced redness with HM+Barrier™ Multi-Balm. Clinically validated on sensitive-skin panels.

+85%

Moisture Barrier (Essence Soo)

Improvement in damaged moisture barrier after 7 days of Essence Soo. Humanethic clinical panel.

+57%

Skin Soothing (Serum)

Redness reduction at 7 days of Brighteous Serum. Paired with 35% improvement in barrier function.

100%

Dermatest Excellent

Every core Talitha Koum product has passed Dermatest’s highest sensitive-skin tier. Vegan Society and PETA certified.

HM+Barrier™: what’s actually in it.

Our trademarked complex is three botanicals working together. Each brings something different — and each is at a concentration that most clean brands won’t pay for.

1. Taraxacum Coreanum Phytoplacenta Culture Extract (patented)

Rich in Vitamins A, B, and B2. Essential amino acids and trace minerals. Calms inflammation at the cellular level; supports the skin’s natural rebuilding cycle.

2. Prunus Persica (Peach) Flower Extract

Antioxidant and anti-aging. Polyphenols and flavonoids. Works synergistically with dandelion placenta to extend barrier-repair benefits.

3. Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Flower Extract

Potent antioxidant. Saponins and catechins for calming reactive skin. Rounds out the HM+Barrier™ triad with a broad anti-oxidant profile.

“We are committed to producing our products with uncompromising criteria.”

What we leave out.

Every Talitha Koum formulation is 14-Free: no parabens (7 types), no silicones (3 types), no BHT, no BHA, no phenoxyethanol, no TEA. Fragrance-free where the formula allows. Sulfate-free cleansers. Non-toxic, PCR-recycled packaging with metal-free eco pumps.

Dermatest Excellent
Sensitive skin
Vegan Society
Registered vegan
PETA
Cruelty-free & vegan
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