Sportmetics & Microfactory : the future of cosmetics for female athletes

In the realm of sports, female athletes face unique challenges, especially when balancing performance with maintaining their appearance. At Microfactory, we’re pioneering solutions to help these athletes look and feel their best, even under the most strenuous conditions. Our innovative U-Skin and T-Skin technologies offer unparalleled insights and testing capabilities for cosmetics designed for athletes, bridging the gap between sports and beauty, or what we call “sportmetics”.

U-Skin™ is specifically engineered to replicate the high levels of sweat production experienced by female athletes. This advanced microfluidic system, embedded in a 3×3 cm polymer surface, features 400 pores per square centimeter, mimicking the density and functionality of human skin pores. U-Skin’s ability to produce synthetic sweat allows developers to rigorously test and enhance waterproof eyeliners, sweat-resistant foundations, and long-lasting sunscreens.

By creating a controlled environment, U-Skin enables real-time observation of how cosmetics interact with sweat. This accelerates the evaluation process, ensuring products remain effective and resilient under extreme conditions, such as those faced during the Olympic Games.

While U-Skin™ focuses on liquid sweat simulation, T-Skin™ introduces a steam-based approach to mimic the evaporative cooling process on an athlete’s skin. This technology is crucial for evaluating how temperature and moisture changes impact makeup durability during intense activities. Continuous steam production in T-Skin™ replicates the sustained release of sweat typical in endurance sports, providing a rigorous testing ground for cosmetic resilience.

Our technologies are at the forefront of the sportmetics trend, catering to the specific needs of female athletes. Key product applications can include:

1. High-Performance Makeup: Designed to resist sweat and water, ensuring athletes look fresh throughout their activities.
2. Specific Hair Care: Shampoos and conditioners that protect hair&scalp from sweat.
3. Pre- and Post-workout Products: Sunscreens and soothing, moisturizing products for use before and after exercise.

Both U-Skin™ and T-Skin™ offer sophisticated environmental controls to simulate various athletic conditions. Adjusting temperature and humidity around the polymer samples ensures that cosmetics can withstand real-world usage scenarios. This precise simulation is essential for developing products that maintain their performance and aesthetic appeal during intense physical activity.

U-Skin™ and T-Skin™ are transforming the landscape of cosmetic testing by providing realistic, polymer-based models that address the specific challenges faced by female athletes. These technologies enable the creation of innovative beauty products that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also high-performing under pressure.

As we approach major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the relevance of sportmetics becomes increasingly apparent. Microfactory’s U-Skin™ and T-Skin™ technologies set new standards in cosmetic testing, ensuring that female athletes can remain confident in their appearance while achieving peak performance. By offering realistic testing environments, these technologies pave the way for products that truly meet the needs of women in sports, combining beauty with endurance for the perfect finish.