Chinese botanicals
Explore plants from different regions of China and study their potential for skincare ingredients.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Botanical inspiration.
Scientific exploration.
From botanical ingredients and fermentation strains to microencapsulation and mask materials, Mask Family conducts in-house research into ingredients, formulations and fabrics. Joint laboratories with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiangnan University and Moutai Institute complement basic skincare research with West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Our development process connects basic research, ingredient screening, formulation, process control, safety assessment and efficacy evaluation.
RESEARCH IN NUMBERS
A foundation built through research.
From laboratory facilities to formulation expertise, we continue to develop our in-house research and manufacturing capabilities.
- Core patents
- 43
- In-house product formulations
- 1,000+
- Research centre floor area
- 3,000+ ㎡
- Fully automated production lines
- 13
Figures as of .
THREE AREAS OF EXPLORATION
Ingredients. Formulas. Materials.
Fermentation science
Research fermentation processes and ingredient development to bring botanical ideas into formulation.
Mask materials
Explore charcoal, magnetic-dot and gauze mask materials as part of our work on mask formats.
OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Research at every step.
From basic research to efficacy evaluation, our development process connects each stage of work.
- 01
Basic research
- 02
Ingredient screening
- 03
Formula development
- 04
Process control
- 05
Safety assessment
- 06
Efficacy evaluation
FIELD NOTES / TIBET 2025
From the Tibetan Plateau to fermentation research.
In August 2025, Mask Family researchers travelled to Tibet to collect samples of yak yoghurt and other fermented dairy products for study at our Guangzhou research centre. Field exploration, strain screening and green biomanufacturing form a connected pathway for developing Bifida-derived ingredients.
01 · Collect at the source
Samples of local fermented dairy products provide material for strain isolation and laboratory study.
02 · Screen in the laboratory
Isolation, cultivation, high-throughput screening and omics analysis are combined with safety and functional testing to study promising strains.
03 · Develop ingredients
Green biomanufacturing and fermentation research using selected proprietary strains turn field discoveries into ingredient development knowledge.
INGREDIENT EXPLORATION
Every ingredient has a research pathway.
Plant fractions, brewing microorganisms and fermentation processes offer different starting points. We explore botanical extraction, strain screening and carrier technologies to support formulation development.
Mung bean · Four technology pathways
Mung bean peel fractions, composite-acid microcapsules, sustained-release mung bean extract systems and mung bean ferment provide four pathways for studying plant fractions, fermentation and carrier technologies, supporting products such as our mung bean clay mask.
Galactomyces · Exploring brewing resources
Research with Moutai Institute and Jiangnan University selects strains from fermented grains used in sauce-aroma baijiu production. Strain screening and fermentation process development explore the use of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate in cosmetics.
Patent · ZL202310266181.1
Houttuynia · From plant to ingredient
Joint research with Guizhou Medical University studies Houttuynia plant fractions and development processes, connecting botanical resources with ingredient and skincare formulation research.
Patent · ZL202311129050.5
Dark botanicals · A blended ferment
Research into blackberry and blackcurrant combines defatting, enzymatic treatment and fermentation to develop a blended botanical ferment and explore the connection between plants and biotechnology.
Patent · ZL201710380865.9
Black Gold Bifida · Joint development
Joint research with the South China Collaborative Innovation Institute at South China University of Technology explores the Black Gold Bifida ingredient, building fermentation expertise from ingredient development to formulation applications.
Patent · ZL202211636731.6
Microencapsulation · Studying ingredient carriers
Work with Huazhong University of Science and Technology examines microcapsules and nanocarriers, including ingredient encapsulation, stability and release. Research applications include salicylic acid, copper peptides and multi-component hyaluronic acid systems.
MATERIALS MATTER
A mask is also a study in materials.
Mask materials connect formulation with the experience of use. We explore different materials and structures as part of our work on fit, formula delivery and mask formats.
Charcoal mask fabric
Our work with charcoal mask fabrics explores material characteristics, fit and compatibility with formulations.
Magnetic-dot mask fabric
Joint development with the South China Collaborative Innovation Institute explores magnetic-dot mask fabric structures and their use in face masks.
Cotton gauze · Materials and microbiome research
Cotton gauze with a crossed open-mesh structure offers a pathway for combining fabric and formulation research. Development of Gauze Mask 4.0 brings together microencapsulated salicylic acid and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate as part of formulation research focused on the skin microbiome.
RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
Three joint laboratories. Connected fields of research.
Joint laboratories with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiangnan University and Moutai Institute explore nanocarriers, green biomanufacturing and brewing yeast. Collaboration with West China Hospital, Sichuan University, focuses on basic skincare research.
HUST · Microcapsules and nanocarriers
A joint laboratory established in 2021 with the National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine studies carriers for cosmetic ingredients. Work on microencapsulation and carriers supports development of products including gauze masks and the Little Blue Hydrating Repair Mask.
Jiangnan University · Green biomanufacturing
Established in 2022, the joint laboratory explores natural cosmetic ingredients and biomanufacturing. Research into Bifida, ceramides and botanical co-fermentation connects ingredient development with formulation applications.
Moutai Institute · Brewing yeast research
Established in 2023, the joint laboratory for brewing-yeast cosmetics research and applications explores strains and fermented ingredients from sauce-aroma brewing resources, studying their potential in skincare.
West China Hospital · Basic skincare research
Long-term collaboration with West China Hospital, Sichuan University, explores mask use and skin physiology. Wear time, frequency, product formats and mask materials turn everyday skincare questions into research topics.
Guizhou Medical University · Botanical collaboration
Joint laboratory collaboration began in 2022. Work on plants such as Houttuynia has supported joint ingredient development and research into botanical resources and skincare applications.
An expanding research dialogue
Past industry–academic collaborations with South China University of Technology, Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have brought different research perspectives to ingredient and product development.
QUESTIONS THAT GUIDE RESEARCH
Research questions from everyday routines.
Basic skincare research with West China Hospital, Sichuan University, examines questions arising from everyday mask use. These are topics of investigation.
Wear time
How do differences in mask wear time relate to changes in skin physiology?
Frequency
How do different frequencies of mask use relate to changes in skin physiology?
Product formats
How do ingredient amounts and absorption relate across liquid, lotion, serum, cream and sheet-mask formats?
Mask materials
How can research further examine the safety, environmental aspects and skin-physiology effects of different mask materials?
For your own routine, follow the instructions and precautions for your specific product. Skincare questions ↗