Cosmetic cooling furniture for the bedroom

The popularity of cosmetic coolers will almost triple by the end of 2004, according to a Korean manufacturer. The mini-fridge concept, which was launched in Asia in 1997 is set to hit the western market as the latest in bedroom decor.

"By storing cosmetics in a special cooler, you can prolong product life and protect make-up and toilettres from harmful bacteria and side-effects of chemical ingredients. Ensuring more effective and safe use, cosmetics coolers have become necessities," said president Park Jin-soo of Magic Art.

The growing trend that women are spending more on high-functional skin care creams and lotions is believed to have spurned the rapid growth of the coolers pioneered by Magic Art in Korea.

Magic Art has recently introduced its new product to the Noblian range, a cosmetic cooling technology that is grafted to furniture to suit the bedroom environment.

"Placed in a bedroom, the cooler does not disturb a person's sleep at night," claimed a company spokesperson.

Magic Art coolers also have a thermoelectric semiconductor module that precisely controls temperature.

"If kept in an ordinary refrigerator cosmetics can become too cold to put on the skin. An average fridge is far below cosmetics ideal temperature of 10 degrees celsius," said Jin-soo.

Ordinary fridges that maintain low temperature by circulating cool air cause dew to form inside the covers of cosmetic containers that alter chemical components and deteriorate quality.

Magic Art claims that the temperature of its Noblian cooler range is ideally suited to all cosmetics using an air-circulation method that is susceptible to change in temperature when the fridge door is open.

To meet the growing demand and to cut production costs of its fridges, Magic Art plans to establish a manufacturing base in Guangdong Province, China, before it expands further into India, Russia and the United States next year.

A Noblian cooler retails for around $200 but will be available for about half the current price next year once its Chinese plant begins operations.

Currently, the company has a monthly production capacity of more than 5,000 units. It has sold 20,000 units so far this year and set the 2004 sales target at 50,000 units.

The company is currently developing a portable cosmetics fridge that will use smaller, more powerful batteries.