Founded in 2021 by a team of Korean cosmetic chemists with backgrounds at Amorepacific and LG Household & Health, Athe is an independent brand specializing in precision acid formulations, rejecting venture capital to maintain complete control over its small-batch production. The brand’s signature 6.5% AHA Peeling Serum uses food-grade glycolic acid derived from upcycled Jeju sugarcane waste, buffered to a skin-identical pH of 3.8 through a proprietary stabilization system that prevents irritation while delivering clinical-level exfoliation. Athe’s violet glass bottles—a rarity in acid skincare—block 99% of UV light to preserve potency, while its zero-waste manufacturing process repurposes sugarcane pulp into biodegradable packaging cellulose.