Powder Corona Gains Popularity Again, Surpassing BB

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] With the prolonged use of masks becoming common due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the popularity of powder compacts is making a comeback. This is because there is a growing preference for makeup that adheres well and does not smudge, increasing the demand for loose and pressed powders.

According to Auction on the 1st, sales of powder compact items surged by 256% compared to the previous year over the past two months (February 1 to March 25). The most purchased items are loose powders or pressed powders that remove residual oil from the face during the final makeup step. Top-selling powder compact products on Auction include Ipkn Perfume Powder Pact, The History of Whoo Gongjinhyang Mi Powder Pact, Innisfree No-Sebum Powder, and Escada Haute Finish Cake.

The resurgence of powder compacts, which had nearly become extinct due to being overshadowed by BB creams and air cushions, is attributed to the widespread use of masks during COVID-19. Wearing masks for extended periods when going out causes moisture to accumulate inside the mask, leading to smudging of products like BB cream or skin troubles such as pimples.

Powder-related products, when used in the final makeup step, remove residual oil on the face and enhance makeup longevity. Powder products were popular until the early 2000s when heavy coverage makeup was the trend, but they disappeared as bare-face makeup became fashionable.

An Auction cosmetics MD said, "Powder-related products had disappeared due to the trend of bare-face makeup products like BB creams and air cushions but have recently regained popularity due to COVID-19," adding, "They attract attention as alternatives to air cushions or BB creams because they increase makeup fixation without burdening pores."

As prolonged mask-wearing exposes the skin to an environment prone to troubles, the popularity of trouble care and facial pack products is also rising. According to Gmarket and Auction, sales of trouble care products grew by 25-26% compared to the previous year during this period. For skincare packs, the sales growth rate was 138%, more than doubling compared to the same period last year.

A representative from Aekyung Industrial explained, "The acne spot treatment product, Acne Clear Spot Treatment, part of the acne cosmetics brand A Solution, saw a 14.5% increase in sales in February, when mask use expanded due to COVID-19, compared to the previous month." On the other hand, sales of lip makeup products such as lipsticks, which are covered by masks, decreased by 14-18%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.