AmorePacific Introduces Customized 3D Printed Facial Mask

Sheet masks have become popular in recent years as a way to moisturize, refresh skin, tighten pores, and do all sorts of other wonderful things for the complexion. The only problem is, they’re one size fits all – and as most people have found out at some point or another, one size usually does not fit all, which is why customized products are so appealing. 3D printing is making it easier to tailor products specifically to the needs of individual customers, and that now includes sheet masks, which a Korean company is using technology to personalize in size, shape and content.

AmorePacific released South Korea’s first tailored cosmetic, the Two-Tone Lip Bar lipstick, last year. Now, it is introducing the IOPE Tailored Solution, which consists of a Tailored Mask and Tailored Serum, personalized for every customer. Customers who visit the IOPE Lab will be able to create a customized sheet mask pack and serum using 3D printing and Internet of Things technology.

Ingredients for the serum can be mixed according to skin types and skin issues; it can exfoliate, improve wrinkles and skin firmness, moisturize and more through nine main ingredients that include cypress extract, sugar maple extract and fructan. The mask itself can be customized according to face shape by scanning each customer’s face with a smartphone app. It can then be 3D printed with a specialized 3D printer capable of printing soft, moisturizing materials.

The 3D printer was developed using the bioprinting technology of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology; AmorePacific worked with 3D printer manufacturer LincSolution to create the printer after several tests with 3D printing materials that can attach to the skin. Standard 3D printers, which print with hard plastic, weren’t acceptable for the creation of flexible, moisturizing masks that mold to the skin, so a special one had to be created.

AmorePacific’s goal is to create a “one pack (i.e. mask pack) a day” habit for customers, and if they’re going to be using masks that often, it’s important that those masks are going to meet their needs. People’s faces differ dramatically, so a mask that fits well enough for one person could be barely usable for another. The smartphone app that was developed to go with the IOPE Tailored Solution measures the user’s eyes, nose, lips, the contours of their forehead, and other aspects of their face shape to make sure that a perfectly fitting mask can be produced.

In addition, not everyone has the same skin needs; in fact, people’s skin needs tend to be highly individual and are rarely met in full by standard skin care products. Many people have cabinets full of skin care products that each address a different issue, but the Tailored Solution provides exactly what each individual needs – no more, no less – in one product.

AmorePacific says that this is the first custom 3D printed facial mask on the market, and it took two years to develop the technology. The IOPE Tailored Solution is currently undergoing trials at the IOPE Lab and is expected to be fully launched in 2018.

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