On the 10th, Cosmax said it signed a joint research agreement last month with Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to study the skin microbiome of local residents. The collaboration will produce a comprehensive “skin microbiome map.”
The companies plan to create a database of skin characteristics to inform locally customized cosmetics. Researchers will perform detailed microbiome analyses on samples from 410 people—those with healthy skin and those with acne-prone skin—in three major Javanese cities: Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya.
About 8 in 10 Indonesian teenagers and people in their early 20s either have acne-prone skin or have experienced acne. More than half of women in their 20s report acne-related concerns.
Cosmax says it will leverage the microbiome map to expand research into personalized products and to prepare for entry into neighboring markets. Jung Min-kyung, head of Cosmax Indonesia, said, “Using local consumers’ skin data, we will deliver tailored beauty solutions. Through public-private cooperation, we will act as a bridge between K-beauty and the Indonesian market and drive innovation across the global cosmetics industry.”
BRIN, an integrated research agency under the president’s office, oversees national R&D strategy and manages and coordinates research budgets. In strategic sectors like bio and health, it conducts its own research and collaborates with companies on joint projects and technology commercialization.
