Amorepacific debuts “world’s first” electronic skin for cosmetic solutions to environmental stressors

22 Aug 2022 --- South Korean cosmetics company, Amorepacific, in collaboration with professor Kim Jeehwan at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is unveiling the “world’s first” chip-less wireless wearable electronic skin (e-skin) that can transmit data and monitor the wearer’s skin.

The innovation is anticipated to accelerate the creation of improved cosmetics that withstand the harsh elements of varied climates. The e-skin is also sweatproof and can monitor skin changes over extended periods.

The wearable e-skin results from four years of collaborative research between professor Jeehwan’s engineering research team at MIT and Amorepacific’s scientists at its research and innovation center in Korea.

“What kickstarted this research was a question nagging one of our researchers while on a flight, wondering whether it would be possible to accurately measure how dry and sensitive our skin gets at 35,000 feet,” says Park Young-Ho, head of research and innovation center at Amorepacific.

“This scientific achievement has played a major role in raising the bar in skin research, with findings and ongoing data that will help us develop new products across all our brands, including Sulwhasoo, enabling us to provide customers around the world with scientifically advanced beauty products and skin solutions.”

Skin monitoring and data transmission
The ultra-thin patches are the “first” worldwide to provide data transmission and skin monitoring without integrated circuit chips or batteries.

The electronic skin is in the shape of a permeable patch, made possible by epitaxial freestanding compound semiconductors. To ensure that sweat permeates through to prevent skin irritation and protect the patch from coming off, the patches are designed with artificial human sweat ducts.

This e-skin has been demonstrated to correctly measure the wearer’s skin even in challenging situations.The “ground-breaking patches,” which have long-term wearability and power-efficient wireless communication modules with incredibly sensitive sensors and don’t need bulky chips or batteries, are poised to significantly alter the e-skins and e-skin research paradigm.

This e-skin has been demonstrated to correctly measure the wearer’s skin even in challenging situations, in contrast to other e-skin designs that lack permeability.

Customized beauty technologies
In addition to this advancement, Amorepacific’s research and innovation center has created several customized beauty technologies for the global market.

For example, the company created the Myskin Recovery Platform. This integrative platform enables users to easily measure daily skin conditions, the world’s first intelligent tactile sensor capable of measuring skin sensations.

Additionally, Amorepacific’s Mind-linked Bathbot analyzes a person’s feelings using brain waves to create a personalized bath bomb by a robot on-the-spot.

The ultra-thin patches are the “first” worldwide to provide data transmission and skin monitoring.Meanwhile, Jeehwan’s research group has created a number of source technologies for creating and transferring ultra-thin films on single-crystalline compound semiconductors utilizing remote epitaxy.

In other tech developments, the US-based Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation unveiled research findings surrounding a flexible, antibacterial hydrogel-epatch that allows for tailored, high-efficiency wound healing.

Amorepacific and tech in the spotlight
In January, Amorepacific, in cooperation with scientists at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, unveiled the “first” artificial and intelligent skin sensor. The researchers who co-developed the thermo-calorimeter intelligent sensor claim that it can be utilized to create cosmetics with detailed textures.

Eastman, a materials supplier, and Amorepacific are previously partnered to develop environmentally friendly packaging options. Commencing in December last year, Laneige was the first Amorepacific brand to use packaging made of Eastman Cristal Renew copolyester, which is created with certified recycled content.

In acquisition moves, Amorepacific acquired minority shares of Cosrx through a new investment agreement, and the two organizations will work together on numerous initiatives.

By Nicole Kerr