That's exactly what happened in a small laboratory in Seoul, South Korea, where cosmetic chemist Dr. Kim Min-jun was working on a seemingly impossible challenge...
How to create a chemical peel that actually worked — without the chemical burn.
Dr. Kim had seen too many patients with damaged skin barriers from overly aggressive peels. Yet he knew the science was sound: controlled acid exfoliation could transform skin texture, unclog pores, and fade imperfections better than any other single treatment.
The problem wasn't the concept — it was the execution.
Most peels used high-concentration acids that worked by essentially "burning" off the top layer of skin. This shock-and-awe approach got results, but at a terrible cost: inflammation, sensitivity, and often permanent barrier damage.
Dr. Kim knew there had to be a better way.
After months of research into traditional fermentation techniques, he had his breakthrough. By combining specific strains of rice fermentation with precisely buffered lactic acid, he could create what he called "intelligent exfoliation."
Instead of stripping away skin indiscriminately, this formula would:
• Dissolve the "glue" holding dead skin cells together (like Cleopatra's lactic acid)
• Provide protective amino acids and minerals during the process (like the geishas' rice water)
• Maintain optimal pH balance to prevent irritation
• Deliver hydration simultaneously with exfoliation