Snail slime boosts US cosmetics trade after taking Korea by storm

Washington

SNAIL slime. On your face. All for the sake of beauty. And, hopefully, a handsome profit for US retailers looking to push it along with other K-beauty trends into the mainstream - if people can get over the "ick" factor.

South Korean consumers are on a constant hunt for innovative products and unusual natural ingredients. Now, the decade-old craze is making its way to everyday consumers in the United States, as K-beauty products jump from niche websites and slide onto the shelves at Target, CVS and Ulta Beauty stores. The retailers earlier this year announced expansions of the merchandise.

"People used to talk about French skincare," said Sarah Chung, the head of Landing International Inc which partnered on Ulta's South Korean collection. "We don't real…