17 april 2025
Cosmax and Bertis join forces to redefine anti-aging skincare with skin proteome cosmetics
Following its successful ventures in skin microbiome research, Korean cosmetic manufacturing giant Cosmax is now set to transform the anti-aging cosmetics market through the development of customised skin proteome cosmetics.
On 15 April, the renowned Korean cosmetic manufacturing company Cosmax announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Bertis, a leader in proteomics-based precision medicine technology, to collaborate on research related to skin proteomics.
Proteomics: the emerging science powering next-gen skincare
Proteomics is an emerging area of research that focuses on the study of the proteome, a term that describes the entire range of proteins produced by an organism. Since more than one million proteins exist in a human body, proteomics has been recently gaining significant traction in the biotech industry for its potential to identify specific biomarkers and uncover important insights into human health indicators, including those associated with aging, diseases and skin health.
Bertis: leaders in proteomics technology
Bertis Inc. is a pioneering South Korean company that specialises in using proteomics to identify biomarkers associated with cancer, aging, and other major diseases. Over the years, Bertis has established itself as a leader in the proteomics industry by introducing ground-breaking products such as Mastocheck®, the world’s first proteomics-based blood test for early breast cancer diagnosis and PASS (Pan-omics Analysis Service & Solution), which provides tailored proteomic analysis services.
Tailored skincare through protein mapping
Through this partnership, Cosmax plans to leverage Bertis’ advancements in proteomics technology to conduct personalised skin diagnostics and develop customised skin proteome cosmetics specifically designed to target individual factors contributing to skin aging. In the initial phase of this collaboration, the two companies will work on establishing skin proteome analysis techniques to gather the essential data required for the development of cosmetics based on individual skin profiles.
While traditional proteome analysis uses blood or saliva samples for the diagnosis of various conditions, skin proteome analysis requires the collection of epidermal samples. To obtain the necessary epidermal samples, Cosmax plans to use a commercially viable and non-invasive technique called “tape-stripping“, which will allow them to easily identify thousands of protein variations within the skin.
A new frontier in anti-aging
The accumulated data will then be compiled into an extensive database that categorises skin proteins according to specific factors contributing to skin aging such as intrinsic aging or photoaging, which will later serve as the basis for the development of a dedicated skin proteome diagnostic software.
This innovative software will ultimately allow Cosmax to create customised skincare solutions that can precisely target specific factors contributing to skin aging, based on individual proteomic profiles. In this process, the company also plans to use Bertis’ extensive peptide library, which includes over 7,000 different types of peptides, to develop new and innovative anti-aging functional ingredients1.
A spokesperson from Cosmax stated:
“To effectively combat skin aging, it’s not enough to simply apply anti-aging cosmetics, but it’s crucial to accurately identify the underlying causes of aging and choose formulas designed to address those specific factors. […] This joint research, along with Cosmax’s established expertise in skin microbiome research, is set to revolutionise the anti-aging cosmetics market”.
Notes
[1] In Korea, “Functional Cosmetics” are defined as a category of cosmetics with specific functions that help alter the condition of skin or hair, as opposed to products that are simply hydrating. In Korean skincare there are only 5 recognised categories of functional cosmetics: Whitening, Anti-wrinkle, Rinse-off Acne Treatments, UV Protection, and Skin Barrier Restoration.
“Functional Cosmetics” are subject to pre-market approval and they are typically (but not always) formulated with “functional ingredients” that have been pre-approved by the Korean authorities. Functional cosmetics can also be formulated with unapproved functional proprietary ingredients, but these ingredients (known as non-notified raw materials) must undergo testing, review, and approval by the MFDS.
Source: Cosmax.
Words: © 2025 Odile Monod.
Visuals: Cosmax.
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