Paper maker, paint firm among unlikely exhibitors at Seoul cosmetics ingredients fair

A paper company and a paint-industry affiliate have set up booths at a cosmetics ingredients trade fair. Hansol Paper and KCC Silicone — manufacturers not traditionally associated with cosmetics — are among the exhibitors at In-Cosmetics Korea 2026, running at COEX in Seoul, where both are showcasing beauty raw materials. Industry observers say the center of gravity in the popular cosmetics industry is shifting beyond finished-product brands and ODM (original design manufacturer) production capacity toward differentiation in ingredients and materials.

In-Cosmetics Korea 2026 runs July 1-3 at COEX Hall. The event is the only B2B trade fair in South Korea dedicated exclusively to cosmetics ingredients — not a consumer-facing beauty expo, but a gathering of companies that supply the raw materials, formulations and materials that determine a product's performance and texture. This year's fair is co-hosted alongside Intercharm Korea, a finished-product exhibition, for the second consecutive year. More than 730 companies participated in the two events last year, and about 50 new exhibitors have confirmed participation this year.

The composition of this year's exhibitors stands out. Hansol Paper is presenting an eco-friendly new material called Duracl — a biodegradable ingredient derived from pine trees that can replace synthetic chemical thickeners used in cosmetics. Thickeners govern a product's viscosity, formulation stability and texture, helping active ingredients disperse evenly and be delivered consistently. Duracl represents an extension of wood-cellulose technology — the same base material used in papermaking — into cosmetics. Hansol Paper said it commercialized the ingredient by drawing on its research and development capabilities in paper and materials.

Duracl was previously used as a hair-coating ingredient in the "Hair Strengthening Clinic Line" of Labo-H, a scalp skincare brand Amorepacific launched in March last year. Hansol Paper said Duracl became the first product from South Korea's paper industry to receive the French vegan certification mark "Eve Vegan." "Duracl is a new material derived from pine's natural components that enhances the functional completeness of cosmetics while also considering the environment," a Hansol Paper official said. "Through this exhibition, we will promote its competitiveness as a natural thickener and expand collaboration with beauty brands at home and abroad."

KCC Silicone, an affiliate of a building materials and coatings group, also has a booth at the fair. The company plans to expand cooperation opportunities with domestic and international beauty firms by leading with specialty silicone materials that improve the texture, longevity and stability of cosmetic formulations. In the exhibition's Innovation Zone, KCC Silicone is debuting a newly developed product, Cerasense RBS 12 — a specialty silicone film former incorporating the company's proprietary thixotropic resin blend technology, designed to deliver both a texture that changes during application and film-forming performance at the same time.

The main booth features a lineup organized by formulation type: Cerasense, which enhances adhesion and longevity; Cerasoft, optimized for stable formulation; Cerasilk, which provides a powdery feel; and Cerasnow, offering a light, dry texture. Among them, Cerasilk PDA 90 — a microplastic-free powder gel blend that uniformly disperses naturally derived silica powder — is positioned to address tightening regulations on microplastics.

The participation of paper and silicone companies in a cosmetics ingredients exhibition reflects the underlying technological overlap. At the raw-material level, cosmetics rely on polymer science, surface treatment, dispersion and viscosity-control technologies. The concentration of a cream, the spreadability of a sunscreen, the pigment dispersion in color cosmetics and the moisturizing feel of skincare products are all governed by materials technology. That is precisely why Hansol Paper can extend wood-cellulose expertise into a cosmetics thickener, and why KCC Silicone can bring industrial silicone technology to the beauty market.

A specialty chemicals company with nearly half a century of experience making surfactants — primarily used in detergents — also joined the fair. Hannong Chemicals, a Kospi-listed company focused on surfactants, established a joint venture with global chemical giant BASF called BASF Hannong Chemicals Solutions. The joint venture factory at the Daesan Industrial Complex in Seosan, completed in March, produces nonionic surfactants used across industries including chemicals, agriculture, cosmetics and personal care — giving the company a foundation to extend its cleansing, emulsification and dispersion technologies into cosmetics ingredients.

"In-Cosmetics Korea is a leading exhibition where you can confirm the latest trends and innovative technologies in the global beauty industry," a KCC Silicone official said. "Based on KCC Silicone's differentiated specialty silicone technology, we will provide new value to customers and continue to expand cooperation opportunities in the global market."