A Japanese cosmetics company unveiled what it said was the world’s first spray-on skin. It is a moisturising face mask made of fibres one-100th the thickness of a human hair.

 

After applying an absorbent lotion, users spray the fibres onto their face. Then a thin translucent sheet quickly forms. This sheet acts as a “greenhouse” for the real skin below to soak up the moisture and still be able to breathe.

 

Users can wear the “second skin” overnight or peel it off after about a minute.

 

“This is the world’s first cosmetic product using such technology,” according to Masayuki Uchiyama. Uchiyama is a skincare researcher at Kao, the firm behind the innovation.

 

The hand-held diffuser was 10 years in the making, said Uchiyama. He admitted: “We struggled to make the device small.”

 

 

Also read:
Top ten beauty essentials to have in your travel bag
Pre-wedding beauty regimen: What to do and when to do it
Six-step guide to doing a facial at home

 

Kao researchers did not initially think of using the technology of ultra-thin fibres to create a layer on the skin, he said. He added that the precise material from which they were made was a secret.

 

“But we learned that the skin can still breathe under the thin fibres for many hours” in an environment akin to a greenhouse.

 

Such cutting-edge tech does not come cheap though. Each diffuser costs 50,000 yen (about ₦167,000 or $460).

 

Nevertheless, Kao predicts cosmetic sales could reach 100 billion yen if they apply the technology to the medical field. In the future, Uchiyama said the face mask could be used to cover scars or to create an invisible medical patch.

 

Similar technologies already exist, including those using cells or polymer. However, Uchiyama said Kao’s technology is different. “Ours is focused on fibres. They’re more flexible and hard to break even if you move.”

 

Make sure to follow Plat4om on Twitter @Plat4omLive, on Instagram @Plat4om, on LinkedIn at Plat4om, and on Facebook at Plat4om. You can also email us info@plat4om.com. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.