Shiseido Develops World’s First Measurement System for Three-Dimensional Shape and Subsurface Scattering Light in Facial Skin
Shiseido Company, Limited (“Shiseido”), in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, has developed an innovative measurement system that realizes a comprehensive non-invasive approach to visually and numerically measuring and analyzing the three-dimensional facial shape as well as optical properties of facial skin, such as subsurface scattering light, which has been difficult to analyze until now (Figure 1). With this system, we measured the facial skin of more than 1,000 people, analyzing subsurface scattering light, which is an important factor for skin translucency, and as a result, it was revealed that the subsurface scattering light decreases with age and is associated with five factors, including melanin level and the condition of the stratum corneum. Among these research results, the research paper titled “Development of a System to Measure the Optical Properties of Facial Skin” was published in the Journal of Imaging Science and Technology and received the Charles E. Ives Journal Award*1. In addition, some of these results were presented at the Optics ＆ Photonics Japan 2022 held from November 13 to 16, 2022.
This research is being conducted under the Science/Creativity approach of Shiseido’s R＆D philosophy “DYNAMIC HARMONY”. While the skin appearance, which strongly influences our impression of the skin, tends to be judged subjectively, we will further pursue research to elucidate the visual quality of the skin objectively and quantitatively through cutting-edge science to help realize the ideal skin for each individual.
About Shiseido
Shiseido Company, Limited is a Japanese multinational cosmetic company founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1872. Its product categories consist of: skin care, makeup, body care, hair care, and fragrances. The company is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022. It is the largest cosmetic firm in Japan and the fifth largest cosmetic company in the world. In Japan, Shiseido is available at cosmetic counters at selected department stores and most pharmacies. The company owns numerous brands and subsidiaries worldwide, in addition to its founding label. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, and is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
About Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is a public university in Norway and the largest university by enrollment in the country. The university’s headquarters campus is located in Trondheim, with regional campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund.
NTNU in its current form was established by the King-in-Council in 1996 by the merger of the former University of Trondheim and other university-level institutions, with roots dating back to 1760, and has later also incorporated some former university colleges. NTNU is consistently ranked in the top one percentage among the world’s universities, usually in the 400–600 range depending on ranking.As of now, the university has about 9,000 employees and 42,000 students.
Source: Shiseido
