Salmon Injection and Rice Water... The Evolving Cosmetics Ingredient Market

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The cosmetics raw material market is evolving further.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 15th, as of the end of last year, the number of cosmetics responsible sales companies reached 19,750, an increase of 3,863 from the previous year (15,707). Not only existing cosmetics companies but also other industries such as pharmaceuticals and fashion are launching cosmetics using various raw materials.

The cosmetics brand EnterNity incorporated salmon injection ingredients into cosmetics. The 'EnterNity Intensive Ampoule' contains 10,000 ppm of over 95% pure salmon testis DNA, which is most similar to human base composition. It also includes 20,000 ppm each of ceramide encapsulation that creates a skin protective barrier and white tomato extract rich in carotenoids. Additionally, it contains 1,000 ppm of fullerene, which absorbs harmful reactive oxygen species, the core cause of aging, with antioxidant effects.

Just as there has long been a folk remedy of washing the face with rice water to care for the skin, recently grains such as rice and wheat flour are gaining attention again as cosmetic raw materials.

Samyang Group’s food and chemical affiliate Samyang Corporation’s clean beauty brand ‘About Me’ collaborated with the Makgeolli startup ‘Hangang Jujyo’ in Seongsu-dong to launch ‘Rice Makgeolli Skin’ and ‘Rice Makgeolli Gel Mask.’ The Rice Makgeolli Skin is a basic product that provides quick relief to dry skin by adding fermented ingredients derived from rice makgeolli, such as Aspergillus rice fermentation extract, and rice bran oil extracted from rice.

CU, which has hit products ranging from popcorn, beer, to T-shirts under the GomPyo brand, has also launched GomPyo cosmetics in collaboration with Swanicoco. The GomPyo cushion pact product contains wheat flour from Daehan Flour Mills.

Collagen from starfish bodies is also used as a cosmetic raw material. Starstech developed the 'TDS technology for effective dermal layer delivery of starfish collagen peptides' and is preparing to enter the cosmetics raw material market with a new material under the brand name 'Penellagen.' Collagen is an essential component of cartilage, hair, and nails, accounting for 80-90% of skin tissue.