The saying goes that slugs, snails and puppy-dogs tails’ are what boys are made of but women in Seoul are borrowing these ingredients (minus the dogs but who knows) to create lotions and serums with magical powers. If you’re a beauty junkie like me you know Korea is a capital of beauty innovation. Perhaps it’s their quest for white, flawless, velvet skin or their try-anything attitude but either way, the country is the birthplace of products such as BB Creams, CC Creams, and other innovations that are just now hitting the US market in mass force.

Although we were only in Seoul for a short while we had a chance to get a feel for some of the new technology and products. It also helped that I was traveling with an old beauty colleague from New York as well as my husband, a closet beauty aficionado, due to his role at L’Oreal. We visited the famous Sinsa-Dong shopping district where many stores had a focus on beauty.

One brand that caught our attention is a new concept from LG (yes, the fridge makers and a Korea brand) called Frostine’s. The line features a series of toners, serums, lotions and face masks that must be kept refrigerated and last only 6 weeks! LG is branding this innovation, as ‘ICEMETIC’ (ICE + CosMETIC). The premium line (prices from $50 +) can also be purchased with a custom LG refrigerator for bathroom use. It’s an interesting proposition that others – LaPrairie and Skinceuticals – have tentatively tried in the past without much enthusiasm from consumers. We wanted to purchase products to sample but the shop clerk was so adamant on temperature that it became a hassle. Just hope you don’t have to travel in the 6 weeks between purchase and expiration date! The whole thing seems totally impractical not to mention expensive but something I can imagine a crazy celebrity like Lady Gaga being into and even employing an assistant to schlep her fridge from country to country #worstjobever. 

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• koreabeauty
• Frostines