Beauty tech torch bearer: Amorepacific fills gap in lip care with new multifunctional device

The Lipcure Beam has won the Consumer Electronics Show 2024 (CES 2024) Innovation Award under the Digital Health category, marking the company’s fifth consecutive win at the major tech event.

“Lips age faster than any other facial skin area,​ becoming thinner and flatter as they lose volume and elasticity over time. Existing lip care products are primarily limited to moisturising functions, and skin diagnostic devices are mainly designed for use in homes or clinics.​

“​We wanted to address this gap via a product that is portable for anyone to carry around. The Lipcure Beam provides the diagnosis of lip condition and fundamental lip care that is as simple as applying lip gloss in a single device,” ​Byung-Fhy Suh, CTO and head of Amorepacific R&I Center, told CosmeticsDesign-Asia​.

According to Suh, it took the company about five years to develop Lipcure Beam, during which it had to overcome challenges such as ensuring all components fit into the average size of a lip product to facilitate ease of use.

The device’s cap contains a precision sensor that detects moisture levels of the lips.

Based on the results, a brush-like applicator emits customised visible light and a light-responsive material is applied on the lips to maximise the response of riboflavin and create a makeup effect.

This reaction strengthens the collagen fibres inside the lips, forming a moisturise barrier on the surface. With this technology, users are said to be able to slow down the process of lip ageing and result in a more youthful appearance.

“The diagnostic tool, light-emitting beam, and light-responsive formula needed to fit into a compact packaging similar to lip products that beauty users are familiar with. This required efficiency in design, and we focused on minimising the space taken up by the electronic components.​

“We also had to extensively review materials across cosmetics and medical fields to find the light-responsive formula appropriate for use on lips. In particular, it took a long time to find the optimal mix of light-responsive materials and the right light intensity to bring about effective care within the amount of time it would take to put on lip gloss.” ​

Through the incorporation of Amorepacific’s patented technology, the device is designed for one-handed operation, and employs a “universal colour system that caters for all races and ages”.

In addition, the light-emitting function is optimised to conserve battery life.

Staying ahead of the curve​

As Lipcure Beam belongs to a new product category, the company will be collecting test-use feedback on the initial model to refine details, such as colour and texture of the formulation, battery capacity, and device design, before confirming its commercial launch.

“Sensitivity to consumer and market trends is key to developing customer-centric technologies. We are also actively testing out technologies from neighbouring industries, as we believe innovation is achieved through the fusion of technologies.​

“We are always looking for skin biotechnology or big data on skin analysis to create synergies with the latest technological developments in various fields,” ​Suh shared. 

At the same time, the firm will continue to leverage the skin science data that it has accumulated for more than 75 years and combine them with novel digital technologies to develop personalised solutions.

“Amorepacific recognises that every individual has unique skin characteristics and beauty needs. Our strength in skin biotechnology and sustainable formulation will be central to our innovations, which we hope would benefit consumers worldwide.”​