Kao strengthens skincare portfolio with new sweat-management innovation
The initial findings of the research were presented at the 3rd Annual Congress of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture.
JAPAN – Kao Corporation has introduced an innovative sweat-transpiration technology that accelerates sweat evaporation on the skin while preserving its natural cooling effect.
This breakthrough from the company’s Skin Care Products Research Laboratory targets discomfort in hot conditions by promoting rapid sweat evaporation rather than inhibiting perspiration.
Researchers at Kao developed a method to spread sweat quickly across the skin surface, enhancing evaporation and minimizing sticky sensations caused by sweat-sebum mixtures.
Key elements include porous silica, which absorbs sodium chloride and sebum from sweat, combined with a hydrophilic plate-like powder that forms a water-attracting film on hydrophobic skin to prevent droplet formation.
Climate change intensifies sweat-related issues such as stickiness and odour globally, yet sweat remains vital for regulating body temperature through evaporation.
Kao’s approach emphasises harnessing sweat’s benefits rather than blocking it.
Experiments measured water contact angles on treated plastic substrates, showing that the powder-porous silica blend sharply reduced contact angles, improving spreading.
On synthetic leather simulating skin, a prototype formula cut artificial sweat evaporation time by about 33% compared to untreated samples.
The technology promises skin comfort in humid, high-sweat scenarios and could curb excessive perspiration while supporting sweat’s physiological role.
Kao plans continued sweat research to alleviate discomfort in hot environments.
Meanwhile, last year, Kao Corporation’s Skin Care Products Research Laboratory and Processing and Development Research Laboratory pioneered a humidity-responsive UV protection film technology.
This innovation integrates agar hydrogel capsules loaded with UV absorbers and a highly water-retaining polymer directly into the aqueous phase of an oil-in-water sunscreen formulation, enabling superior comfort and efficacy.
Agar hydrogel capsules encapsulate large quantities of typically water-insoluble UV absorbers, allowing stable dispersion in the water-based phase while disintegrating and spreading easily upon application.
The highly water-retaining polymer, capable of holding several hundred times its weight in moisture, interacts with these capsules to form a semi-solid, airy texture that liquefies under light pressure for smooth application.
This combination expands formulation possibilities by stably incorporating diverse ingredients previously challenging in water-based systems.
The resulting UV protection film dynamically absorbs and releases moisture in response to humidity changes, thickening when wet and thinning when dry to maintain a breathable, non-sticky layer even in hot, humid conditions.
Tests showed it absorbs over twice the moisture of conventional formulations at 88% relative humidity, reducing sweat-induced discomfort.
User trials with 42 women in humid summer conditions reported that over 70% felt comfortable all day.
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