2027 Beauty Forecast: Why "So Cool" is the Market You Can't Miss
2026,06.05
By
OTCM
June
2026, NO.21
OTCM 뉴스레터
Why Should We Focus on Cooling Solutions?
Hello, This is Dr. M, OTC skincare specialist.
From running, tennis, golf, and camping to countless outdoor activities, our skin is
now exposed to heat for longer periods than ever before.
Interestingly, alongside this active lifestyle trend, the dermatology and aesthetic
treatment market has also experienced rapid growth. As a result, demand for immediate
cooling and soothing solutions for skin sensitized by both natural external heat and
procedure-induced heat has grown into a significant market segment.
In fact, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026 identified “So Cool” as one of the year's key
beauty trends, recognizing cooling solutions as an essential skincare function that
extends beyond mere sensory appeal.
How should brands respond to this rapidly expanding cooling market? Today, we would like
to introduce OTCM's answer: ICY PACK.
point 1
How Do Today's Cooling Solutions Actually Work?
Cooling creams and serums are already widely available across the market. However, when
we examine their underlying mechanisms, most rely on just three conventional approaches.
Menthol activates TRPM8, the skin's cold-sensing receptor, creating an immediate
perception of coolness without necessarily reducing actual skin temperature.
Mist &
Water-Based Cooling – Evaporative Cooling
This approach lowers skin temperature through the evaporation of water from the skin
surface, which absorbs heat during the process. However, when water content is
insufficient or evaporation occurs too quickly, cooling performance often lacks both
intensity and longevity.
Aloe Vera
& Hyaluronic Acid Cooling – Hydration-Based Soothing
This is perhaps the most common approach, but the resulting sensation is closer to
comfort after hydration than true cooling.
Despite their differences, these three approaches share a common limitation. They rely
on a single cooling mechanism. When skin is affected by multiple heat-related stress
factors simultaneously, a single cooling pathway is often insufficient to provide
comprehensive relief.
Heat-stressed skin—particularly following aesthetic procedures—is rarely affected by a
single factor. Elevated temperature, sensory discomfort, inflammatory responses, and
barrier disruption often occur simultaneously. Rather than relying on one cooling
trigger, OTCM engineered ICY PACK to address all four factors through a comprehensive,
multi-pathway cooling system.
Physical
Cooling-Houttuynia Cordata Water (67%)
Immediately upon application, a high concentration of moisture begins to evaporate from
the skin surface, facilitating a direct and measurable reduction in skin temperature.
OTCM's enzyme-treated Houttuynia Cordata Water, produced using patented technology,
provides cooling and soothing benefits simultaneously.
Sensory
Cooling-Skin-Friendly Cooling Agent
Designed as a next-generation cooling agent, it activates the TRPM8 pathway to deliver
an immediate cooling sensation. Compared with conventional menthol systems, it offers
improved skin compatibility while reducing the potential for irritation.
A significant portion of perceived skin heat is associated with irritation and
inflammatory responses triggered by external stress. Madecassoside helps calm these
reactions and supports therapid stabilization of sensitized skin.
Skin Recovery-Panthenol
+ Aqua Cera
Panthenol helps comfort and restore compromised skin, while Aqua Cera supports the
skin's lipid structure to minimize moisture loss and reinforce barrier function.
Together, they help maintain skin recovery after the cooling process has taken place.
point 3
Cooling by Transformation : From Sorbet Texture to Water
Essence
With Icy Pack, cooling begins the moment it touches the skin.
Sorbet Texture
Upon application, the formula delivers an instant cooling touch while adhering closely
to the skin with a dense, sorbet-like texture.
Gel
Transformation
As the product is gently massaged into the skin, body temperature
triggers a smooth transformation into a soft gel phase, allowing the
active ingredients to spread evenly across the skin.
Water
Essence Absorption
The formula then transitions into a lightweight water-essence texture
that absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky residue.
This three-stage transformation is more than just a sensorial experience. As the
formula reaches its water-essence phase, moisture dispersion and evaporation are
maximized, enabling a faster and more powerful cooling response with a measured skin
temperature reduction of up to -3.5°C.
In other words, the texture itself has been engineered as an integral part of the
cooling mechanism.
point 4
Designed for Post-Procedure Skin: Is It Truly Suitable?
Cooling performance is only part of the equation. Equally important is whether a formula
can be safely applied to skin that has become highly sensitive following aesthetic
procedures.
Immediately after treatment, the skin barrier is temporarily compromised. At this stage,
unnecessary irritants can interfere with recovery and potentially lead to secondary skin
concerns rather than soothing benefits. To minimize these risks, ICY PACK was developed
with post-procedure compatibility in mind from the very beginning.
Silicone-Free Formulated without silicone-based ingredients
that may create an occlusive layer and potentially interfere with the
skin's natural recovery process.
PEG-Free Formulated without PEG-based surfactants that may
unnecessarily enhance ingredient penetration.
Alcohol-Free Free from ethanol-based alcohols that may
contribute to dryness and irritation, making the formula suitable for
sensitive and post-procedure skin.
point 5
Why OTCM? What Makes OTCM Different?
The 4-layer cooling system behind ICY PACK is not simply the result of combining
trending ingredients.
It is the outcome of a mechanism-first development strategy—defining how cooling should
function before selecting and optimizing the ingredients and clean formulation
technologies needed to support that mechanism.
This approach is possible because OTCM manages the entire development process in-house,
from raw material innovation and formulation design to safety evaluation. This allows
us to strategically design not only how each ingredient performs, but also how they
interact to maximize efficacy and synergy.
The implication is clear.
A compelling consumer story, supported by a strong technical foundation.
At OTCM, we develop cooling formulations that do more than simply feel cool—we create
formulations that can clearly explain why they work.
If you would like to learn more about ICY PACK samples or request technical
documentation, please feel free to contact our team at any time.
