Angela Jia Kim is the founder of Savor Beauty, a clean skincare brand inspired by Korean beauty rituals and made in New York. A former concert pianist, Kim turned a personal skincare mishap into a clean beauty movement, simplifying the Korean beauty routine into a five-step ritual.
Her philosophy extends beyond skincare—she believes self-care is a path to success, a belief that led her to author Radical Radiance: 12 Weeks of Self-Love Rituals and create the Savor Beauty Planner, a system for women to manifest their dreams with intention. Through Glass Skin Facials at her New York City spas, her products, and her teachings, she helps women build confidence, cultivate daily rituals, and design a life that looks and feels radiant.
When she’s not creating skincare or rituals, you’ll find Angela masking with her teen daughter, exploring new restaurants, traveling with her fiancé (they’re getting married in June), dancing in New York City, or walking to work next to Central Park with her mini golden retriever, Zoe. She also loves teatime at Bergdorf Goodman, soul talks with friends, and the art of fashion.
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness, for me, is about peace of mind—a quality of life that fuels personal energy. It’s also about the energy you surround yourself with and the rituals that ground you—how you wake up, how you nourish your body, how you care for your skin, and the energy you invite into your space and life.
What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?
I love to wake up early, splash cold water on my face, and cocoon my skin with a leave-on Chamomile Moisture Mask and Carrot Rose Serum—it’s my way of gently waking up my skin. Then, I move into Pilates or yoga with breathwork to feel good.
One of my favorite moments of the day is sitting in my cozy morning nook at 5 a.m. with my sweet dog, Zoe, and sipping on collagen coffee–while listening to Bach (such purifying music for the soul!) and planning out the day or doing creative work. Having that quiet, intentional time in the morning feels like such a luxury—space just for me before the world wakes up.
Is there a specific fitness activity that you love and why?
I really enjoy mat Pilates because it strengthens my core, which I’ve found is key to feeling well throughout my body—supporting a strong back, toned arms, flexibility, and fluidity.
I also love Kundalini Yoga because it combines breathwork, meditation, and movement. I’m not someone who can just sit still and meditate for an hour—my mind is too active—so Kundalini is the perfect practice for me. It helps open up my chakras and keeps my energy flowing.
I was telling a friend the other day that when you miss a day of this kind of self and soul work, you don’t really feel the absence. So, then you think it’s okay to miss another day and another. But suddenly, you realize your well has dried up—right when you need it the most.
If I go too long without practicing, I notice I’m more reactive in stressful moments instead of responsive. But when I’m consistent, I have this deep well of calm to draw from when challenges arise. That’s when I feel the true power of these rituals.
What is your favorite healthy food, and do you have a favorite way of preparing it?
I love making and eating salads. Whenever I have friends over for a meal, I always whip up a salad—it’s cleanses your system to “eat beauty” while also practical to use up leftovers in the fridge. You can usually throw in whatever you have and turn it into something delicious.
I love using a base of arugula and spinach, then adding whatever I have on hand—cheeses, leftover veggies, some protein, nuts, eggs, or fruits. A quick homemade pesto dressing pulls everything together and makes it so delicious. It’s my go-to beauty food of the day—fresh, vibrant, and always different.
What is your greatest wellness achievement?
Creating a business that blends clean beauty, Korean rituals, and products made by women in New York while also making self-care an easy luxury. Seeing clients transform their skin through our signature Glass Skin Facials in our New York spas brings me so much joy.
I also think that helping thousands of people use self-care as a strategy for success through our Savor Beauty Planners has been incredibly fulfilling. It’s my personal method for manifesting intentions while also taking care of myself, and it feels like such an achievement to have helped so many others do the same.
What person in wellness do you most admire and why?
My mom. She taught me that skincare is self-care before it was trendy—she was nailing the K-beauty glass skin look long before K-beauty was global. She shaped my philosophy on beauty and wellbeing.
What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?
“Treat your skin like it’s the most expensive silk on earth.” My mom said this to me when I was little, and it’s the foundation of Savor Beauty.
What do you think is the most exciting wellness innovation you have recently discovered?
I’m drawn to this next evolution in skincare—where high-performance skincare meets holistic ingredients that work with the skin’s own intelligence. I love how biomimetic ingredients like caviar extract, which is packed with amino acids and omega fatty acids, can pair so beautifully with adaptive peptides to support the skin’s renewal process.
These smart ingredient combinations nourish, strengthen the skin barrier, replenish hydration, and encourage repair, all while responding to what the skin actually needs in the moment. It’s a more intuitive, luxurious, and effective way to approach skincare, and I find that really exciting.
What is your idea of balanced, healthy happiness?
“Flow and glow” has become my mantra of sorts. I am very drawn to the concept of flow versus force—respecting the rhythms of life and allowing abundance, love, and magic to naturally come to you rather than forcing anything. I love the idea that feel-good experiences are the magnets that pull you toward what’s meant for you–whether it’s friendships, relationships, or work.
When something feels like unnecessary resistance, I see it as a sign to let go and make space for what’s truly aligned. Not everything is meant for us, and sometimes, releasing attachment to something that isn’t flowing allows something more fulfilling to take its place.
To me, balanced, healthy happiness is trusting that the right things will come at the right time and allowing space for the next era of magic.
As for balance: a mix of hustle and rest, movement and stillness, structure and spontaneity. It’s having time for my fiancé, daughter, good friends, and my dog Zoe while still feeling inspired by creative work.
What is your favorite place for a healthy vacation or escape?
The Middle East for its food, Paris for its good-life culture, and Bergdorf Goodman for a New York City tea escape. At home, my favorite escape is a wellness day with a Savor Beauty Mask and my phone on Do Not Disturb.
Is there a particular wellness company or brand that truly impresses you with their efforts and why?
- Isa Welly for her beautifully fluid Pilates movements—she moves like liquid silver—her soothing English accent, and her effortless yet effective 20-minute workouts.
- Satya Jewelry for its intentional, soulful designs—and I admire the charitable work that the founder and her company do.
- She’s the First for their incredible mission of empowering girls in developing countries to be the first in their families to receive an education.
I also deeply admire the many woman-owned spas around the world that Savor Beauty partners with—their ability to heal, nurture, and beautify the world, one face at a time.
What brings you joy?
Creating. Whether it’s a skincare ritual, a meal, a new product, or a moment with the people I love, joy is in the small, intentional details.
