South Korean cosmetics manufacturer Kolmar has achieved what is calling a groundbreaking milestone by developing the world's first hybrid composite sunscreen stabilization technology.
The innovation is claimed to seamlessly integrate the great UV protection of inorganic sunscreens with the superior spreadability of organic sunscreens.
The company unveiled its revolutionary ‘UV-Duo Plus’ technology, which stabilizes composite raw materials by encapsulating inorganic sunscreen particles with organic sunscreen components.
This cutting-edge formulation addresses the shortcomings of traditional hybrid sunscreens, where particle aggregation often led to gaps in the UV protection film.
Sunscreens are classified into organic and inorganic types based on their UV protection mechanisms.
Organic sunscreens absorb and convert UV rays into heat energy, offering smooth application and reduced white cast.
Conversely, inorganic sunscreens reflect UV rays from the skin, providing strong UV protection but often leaving a white cast.
Hybrid sunscreens combine these mechanisms to maximize benefits, though technical challenges such as ingredient aggregation have hindered achieving optimal performance.
Kolmar Korea's UV-Duo Plus technology resolves these issues by introducing an innovative composite raw material.
By coating inorganic sunscreen particles with organic components, this technology ensures even dispersion within formulations, eliminating aggregation and enhancing UV protection efficacy.
Furthermore, UV-Duo Plus technology not only blocks UV rays efficiently but also targets long-wavelength UV (long UVA), which accelerates photoaging.
Clinical tests on human skin demonstrated that suncare products incorporating this technology improved long-wavelength UV blocking efficiency by 24.8% in the 400 nm range compared to conventional sunscreens.
Kolmar Korea has secured a patent for UV-Duo Plus technology and is pursuing international patent applications (PCT) to expand its presence in global markets.
A company representative said: “While hybrid sunscreens that mix two ingredients are already available, no product has achieved a perfect integration of organic and inorganic components.
“With UV-Duo Plus technology, we aim to lead K-beauty suncare innovation and expand our reach in both domestic and international markets."
