An Advanced Hydrogel-based Facial Mask for Skin Quality Testing

Abstract

In the event of the ever-increasing growth of the beauty industry and the burgeoning market for facial masks, high-performance and high-safety mask products have emerged. Among these, light-cured collagen peptide-based hydrogels, which are non-toxic, photocurable natural materials, exhibit significant potential for use in facial masks. We developed a novel collagen peptide-lithium chloride hydrogel-based facial mask. Light-cured collagen peptide hydrogel is a non-toxic, light-activated natural material that holds considerable promise for application in facial masks. Nonetheless, there is a significant lack of effective methodologies for real-time assessment of skin quality currently available in the market. To address this deficiency, we have developed an innovative collagen peptide-lithium chloride hydrogel mask, which is characterized by exceptional transparency (98% within the visible spectrum of 400–800 nm), commendable tensile properties (tensile strength of 428.6±2.1 kPa, with a tensile strength increase of 123.9%), substantial water retention capacity (61%), and favorable antimicrobial efficacy (89%). The incorporation of lithium chloride enhances ionic conduction at the interface between the human body and hydrogel, thereby enabling quantitative evaluation of skin quality through impedance analysis. Our collagen peptide-lithium chloride hydrogel facial mask demonstrated effectiveness in distinguishing various skin types, including D⁺ (severely dry), D (mildly to moderately dry), N (moderate), O (mildly to moderately oily), and O⁺ (severely oily). This study presents significant opportunities for the advancement of hydrogel masks and provides a new application platform for polymer hydrogels.