Customized cosmetics stores will soon open to allow users to pick the ingredients, colors and fragrances of their choice, government and industry officials said Thursday.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been receiving applications from companies wanting to launch the DIY-style service from this week and is anticipating the first stores to open as early as next month. Industry leader AmorePacific aims to open its shop in June, and LG Household & Health Care is operating a task force ahead of its own launch.
AmorePacific headquarters in Seoul (Yonhap)
Customers will be able to partially "concoct" their undermakeup, color makeup and fragrances at the stores according to their needs and wishes. The stores would be given sanitary guidelines to keep the products safe and clean and provide detailed information on the ingredients and product expiration dates.
Shops run by cosmetics brands, makeup counters at duty-free shops and stores at designated special tourism zones nationwide are eligible to provide the service.
The ministry on March 9 had announced measures to make the country's cosmetics industry more competitive by removing some of the major restrictions that industry officials argued were limiting the variety in their products.
"We had anticipated test operations to begin in early April, but it could change to late April if companies need a longer preparation period," Kwon Oh-sang, head of the cosmetics division at the ministry, said. "We will check for any necessary modifications through the six-month test operation and follow through with a formal launch." (Yonhap)