Now it’s time to take a close look at a small but competitive business making a difference for the Korean economy. This is the second installment of the special series on the companies that made an impression at the 2016 Beauty Expo Korea. Today, the spotlight is on YOUCEL, a company that showcased a brand new direction for the cosmetics industry at the latest expo. YOUCEL’s vice president Kim Seung-soo (김승수) is here to tell us more.

When we took part in the expo, about a hundred firms came by to hold talks with us each day. One of the reasons so many companies were drawn to us was because they wanted to talk about our sheet masks. Sheet masks available these days are heavily dependent on the cotton sheet or pulp sheet markets, making it inevitable for most companies to compete with each other solely based on the price. Many are now looking for something new, and our product is both new and natural, which helps draw attention. Also, it appears that European and American companies tend to prefer high-tech products.



About 1,500 foreign buyers visited the 3-day exhibition, and of them, over 100 buyers held talks with YOUCEL each day. How did a bio-cosmetics ingredient producer founded in 2008 come to find itself at the center of attention?

One of the company’s biggest assets is the “dried bio-cellulose”, which is made with our original technology. We are the world’s first to develop this technology, so we took part in the expo with a product based on this. “Bio-cellulose” is becoming very popular in the cosmetics industry. When you ferment a coconut, it divides into three layers. The top layer is the edible coconut jelly, while the middle layer is a very elastic, resilient compound that can be made into sheet masks. Bio-cellulose is 100% natural, and through hot air drying, it can become as dry as paper. But due to its high absorbability, it returns to its original form and function once you soak it in water or facial essence.

YOUCEL is the only company in the world with the technology to make “dried bio-cellulose.” “Bio-cellulose” is a vegetable fiber compound derived from coconuts. Up close, bio-cellulose is structured like a 3-dimentional net, so it sticks to the skin very closely, and delivers nutrients well. The “bio-cellulose” can absorb about 200 times its weight, which is why it’s gaining popularity as sheet mask material. YOUCEL has added its own patented hot air drying technology to the “bio-cellulose” compound and created “dried bio-cellulose.”

At first, we made the “bio-cellulose” products. But since it’s made with fermented coconuts, it becomes an ideal breeding ground of micro-organisms, once exposed. In general, sheet masks are put through a gamma-ray process to eliminate any micro-organism. But even after that process, we found that some of our new products were contaminated and spoiled. So we worked to figure out a way to solve the micro-organism problem, and “dried bio-cellulose” was the result.

YOUCEL’s founder and president Cha Jae-young (차재영) was a university professor before creating this start-up. A doctor of molecular biology, he was confident in the potential of “bio-cellulose” while researching the compound, and founded the company in 2008. He was able to develop the technology to create bio-cellulose compounds by mix-culturing lactobacillus and natural micro-organisms, but found that the compound had a fatal flaw – its susceptibility to fungus and bacteria. YOUCEL concentrated all its efforts to solve this problem, and in 2014 it became the first in the world to patent the technology to create the dried bio-cellulose. When cosmetic products are manufactured through a process that shares all the advantages of bio-cellulose and is 100% anti-bacterial and anti-preservatives, they do not require any sterilization or low-temp storage. Also, YOUCEL’s thin paper-like dry sheets can be coated with the main ingredients of skin care products, such as a facial essence. So all you would need to do is add a little bit of water to the dried bio-cellulose based facial mask, before putting it on your face to help keep your skin clear, healthy and glowing.



YOUCEL’s technology has become globally known and numerous European and American companies have contacted us. I believe they are interested in our products because we’re very high-tech, and also because natural and preservative-free products are trending these days. We plan to sign deals with three European companies and two global firms based in Japan next year, and introduce products soon. Also more recently, many Chinese companies have shown interests in our products as well.

Armed with unique ideas and technology, Korea has created many new types of cosmetic products including BB Cream, Cushion Foundation, and sheet masks. The “dried bio-cellulose” has put its name up on the list and drawn attention within the cosmetics market. But to YOUCEL, cosmetics is just the first step.

We will receive the United States Pharmacopeia next January or February. Once we receive the USP, we can use our invention in medicinal products or medical supplies. For instance, because it is antibacterial and preservative-free, burn wounds could be wrapped with it to help not only calm the skin, but also help the skin’s regenerating process. We’re also working on developing fabrics by coating denims with bio-cellulose to create fabrics that are extremely soft to touch. Bringing electronics and bio-technology together is also very helpful in creating materials that are sturdy but flexible. So global electronics companies, both from home and abroad, approached YOUCEL, seeking to develop the product further.

From cooling and moisturizing patches for burn patients, clothing fabrics that wraps around the skin, to a new flexible material that’s stronger… YOUCEL has developed an original technology that has no limits. The company’s only just getting ready.