Opportunity
The skincare market, particularly the sheet mask segment, faces significant challenges with existing products. Conventional wet sheet masks, where a nutrient-rich liquid is absorbed into a hydrophilic fabric, suffer from rapid degradation of active ingredients due to lack of encapsulation and shorter shelf lives, often necessitating added preservatives. While emerging dry masks utilizing electrospun nanofibers to encapsulate actives offer improved stability and on-demand activation with minimal skin moisture, they fail to address the growing demand for targeted, localized skincare and hydration in modern fast-paced lifestyles. A critical limitation of both traditional and advanced masks is their reliance on hydrophilic fabric bases, which can lead to moisture evaporation and even reverse absorption of moisture from the skin, compromising efficacy. Furthermore, although unidirectional moisture-wicking masks exist, they are gravity-dependent. They fail to function effectively when users change posture—such as bending over, looking up, or lying down—as the facial orientation relative to gravity changes, preventing proper liquid transport. This creates a clear market opportunity for a dry mask technology that enables multi-directional, skin-induced moisture conduction regardless of user position, offering enhanced convenience, personalized care, and superior hydration without stability compromises.
Technology
This patent invention provides a novel dry mask system centered on a "skin-induced self-moisture-conducting" mechanism. The core innovation lies in a specific stock solution and an electrostatic spray process applied to a hydrophobic non-woven fabric substrate. The stock solution comprises precise weight ratios of a hydrophilic polymer (4-9 parts, e.g., gelatin, PEG, PVA), hyaluronic acid (0.04-0.45 parts), and a mixed solvent (100 parts, e.g., water and acetic acid). This solution can optionally include active ingredients like green tea extract. Using electrostatic spray technology under defined parameters (voltage: 15-25kV positive on syringe, 0 to -5kV on collector; flow rate: 0.1-0.4 ml/h; distance: 5-15 cm; time: >2 hours), the solution forms microspheres with diameters less than 10μm on the hydrophobic fabric. This creates a unique layered structure: the outer fabric surface remains hydrophobic, while the spray-deposited side forms a hydrophilic microsphere layer. Crucially, the microspheres within the fabric's pores establish a wettability gradient channel. When the mask is applied to the skin and water or a nutrient solution is sprayed on its outer (hydrophobic) side, the powerful capillary force of the skin itself "induces" the liquid to travel inward through this gradient channel towards the hydrophilic skin contact surface. This process works longitudinally, laterally, and even against gravity, enabling effective hydration in any user posture. The electrostatic spray microspheres also effectively encapsulate active ingredients, enhancing stability and shelf life without requiring preservatives.
Advantages
- Offers a dry mask format with excellent long-term storage stability due to the encapsulation of active ingredients within electrostatic spray microspheres.
- Enables unique "skin-induced" moisture conduction from the outside to the skin, functioning multi-directionally (longitudinal, lateral, reverse) independent of gravity and user posture.
- Utilizes a hydrophobic non-woven fabric substrate that minimizes water evaporation and prevents reverse moisture absorption from the skin.
- Eliminates or reduces the need for added preservatives, colors, and other additives, appealing to clean beauty trends.
- The preparation method is versatile, compatible with both industrial-scale desktop electrostatic spray equipment and portable, handheld devices for potential personal at-home customization.
- Provides a platform for incorporating various active ingredients (e.g., green tea extract) for targeted skincare benefits like anti-aging, as demonstrated in cell-based tests.
Applications
- Primary application in skincare as a dry sheet mask for facial hydration, nourishment, and treatment.
- Can be used for targeted, localized skin care on specific areas of the face or body.
- Suitable for anti-aging skincare regimens, as evidenced by in-vitro testing showing reduction in UV-induced cell senescence.
- Potential for use in professional skincare settings and for personal, at-home skincare customization due to the adaptable production method.
- Platform technology for delivering a wide range of encapsulated cosmetic or dermatological actives.
