Beauty multinational Colgate-Palmolive has commenced the countdown on a new private sector skin care experiment in space.
PCA Skin, a Colgate brand, is poised for takeoff to the International Space Station (ISS) on 19 February.
On board the ISS, its team of astronauts will explore the effects of microgravity on skin-related genes and how it impacts overall skin health.
“We know from historical data that space travel and lengthy exposure to microgravity have profound effects on the skin,” said Lia Arvanitidou, Global Technology and Design VP of Colgate-Palmolive.
“Astronauts in space experience thinning, dry skin that is susceptible to cuts.
“While these changes are comparable to those observed during the normal ageing process on Earth, it appears that they are accelerated in microgravity.
“Through this exciting endeavour, we’ll be able to gather new data on the skin health biomarkers behind those changes – data which will be available faster than it would be on Earth.”
Colgate became the world’s first private sector company to send an oral care experiment to the ISS in June 2021.
Its debut mission sought to learn about the growth and metabolism of oral biofilms.
Beauty’s brave new world
Beauty’s fascination with space runs deep.
Dozens of brands have turned to the cosmic universe for product inspiration, while others have used space technology to conduct research for beauty skus.
Pop princess Ariana Grande used space as her muse for her debut beauty brand R.E.M. Beauty, while Bryedo’s shock fragrance drop with US rap star Travis Scott was said to give a gateway to the smell of space.
L’Oréal, meanwhile, used pollution maps and ultraviolet radiation data from the European Space Agency to develop its skin care items.
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder evaluated its cosmetics using digital imagery analysis from NASA lunar research.