Cosmax (192820) announced on the 10th that it’s stepping up personalized beauty research by analyzing the skin microbiomes of Indonesian consumers.
At the end of February in Jakarta, Cosmax Indonesia signed a joint research agreement with the Indonesian Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) to develop the Nusantara Skin Microbiome Map.
BRIN is a presidentially supervised national research agency that sets the country’s R&D strategy and manages government research funding. It also leads research in strategic fields like biotech and health, partners with companies on joint projects, and pushes for technology commercialization.
Under the agreement, Cosmax will build a microbiome database that reflects Indonesia’s unique skin characteristics. The company plans to perform detailed analyses of resident skin microbes in 410 participants—both those with healthy skin and those with acne-prone skin—across three Javan cities: Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya.
Cosmax points out that Indonesia’s hot, humid tropical climate results in a higher share of oily and combination skin types. According to research from Cosmax Indonesia’s R&I Center sensory lab, roughly 8 in 10 teens and people in their early 20s either have acne-prone skin or have experienced acne.
Using the microbiome map, Cosmax plans to expand R&D on climate-adapted products tailored to local skin profiles and to develop solutions for neighboring markets. With growing demand in Indonesia for budget-friendly, personalized cosmetics, the company also intends to step up research into affordable customized products.
Jeong Min-kyung, head of Cosmax Indonesia, said, "This joint research agreement will lay the groundwork for providing personalized beauty solutions based on local consumers' skin data. Through public-private cooperation, we will serve as a bridge connecting K-beauty with the Indonesian market."
