Home Decorating Craze During 'Jipkok' Stay-at-Home Trend... Spotlight on 'Living Beauty'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] As time spent staying at home due to COVID-19 has increased, more people are pursuing happiness in various ways within their own living spaces.

Lee Min-seon (27), an office worker working from home since the 4th stage of social distancing, said, "Spending all day at home has made me more interested in products that help refresh my mood easily at home," adding, "These days, 'living beauty' products have become part of interior decor, and not only the packaging but also individual beliefs seem to influence consumption."

As such, the extended stay-at-home lifestyle has sparked a craze for home decoration that reflects personal tastes throughout the house. According to Lotte Department Store on the 17th, living product sales from January to September this year increased by 34% compared to the same period last year. Among the main consumer groups, the MZ generation accounted for 22% of 'living' items purchased in August.

In particular, the trend of adding 'scents' to personal spaces or placing 'living beauty' products that embody one's values throughout the home has grown as people seek to wisely cope with the pandemic period, leading to the continued release of related products.

J-Coup's 'Carella Vania (VANIA)', consisting of 15 types of essential oils and 7 types of color therapy oils, is a product that can be used by dropping a small amount into aroma lamps and humidifiers. When mixed with base ingredients and used as a diffuser, it is also effective for air purification.

Additionally, the 'Carella Vania (VANIA)' aroma oil was developed with ideas inspired by the Indian natural healing therapy 'Ayurveda' aromatherapy, in collaboration with aroma essential oil experts to supply high-quality aroma essential oils, allowing users to feel the scent of Indian nature and relax at home.

In the 'meaning out' trend where the MZ generation consumes based on their beliefs, the release of eco-friendly shampoo bars with no shampoo bottle waste is also active. The eco-friendly clean beauty and lifestyle brand 'Skin Kramer' introduced the 'Sweet and Gentle Shampoo Bar', a product that simultaneously manages oily scalp and dry hair and has received vegan certification.

The 'Sweet and Gentle Shampoo Bar' is made from coconut-derived cleansers and corn starch, containing no animal ingredients, and as a paper product, it can replace three plastic containers equivalent to 200mL of liquid shampoo and three treatments, allowing for separate disposal.

Aesop's 'Olus Aromatic Room Spray', which helps refresh the mood by spraying on bedding or in the air morning and evening, boasts a long-lasting woody and citrus scent that refreshingly transforms the atmosphere of any space.