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- Developing “Scalp Sun Essence” and Hair Light Protection Formulas to Expand Sunscreen Product Matrix
- Launching a New Method for Evaluating Hair Sunscreen Efficacy, with Results Published in an International Academic Journal
Seoul, South KoreaMay 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As a leading enterprise driving the global K-beauty sunscreen trend, Kolmar Korea is accelerating its expansion into the next-generation sunscreen market, extending its professional R&D expertise from skin protection to scalp and hair care.
A Kolmar Korea researcher tests ‘scalp sun essence’ formulation.
The global trend of “scalp-as-skin” care is heating up, with consumers increasingly treating the scalp and hair as an extension of their skincare routine. To meet this demand, Kolmar Korea has developed a dedicated sunscreen solution for the scalp and a hair light protection technology, while also introducing a new method for evaluating hair sunscreen efficacy.
Kolmar Korea recently developed a specialized scalp sunscreen product—the “Scalp Sun Essence”—with an SPF50+ rating, designed for direct application to the scalp.
Traditional sunscreen products are often heavy in oils and unsuitable for the scalp and hair. This scalp sun essence uses an optimized formulation that combines water-soluble and oil-soluble UV filters, resulting in a light and refreshing texture.
Kolmar Korea plans to expand the product line to include spray and other formats, along with dedicated scalp sunscreen cleansers. The company expects to launch this product series in South Korea this year, with a global rollout, including the U.S. market, next year.
Beyond scalp care, Kolmar Korea has also developed a “Hair Light Protection Formula” to shield hair from damage caused by UV and other harmful light rays.
Prolonged exposure to UV and harmful light can lead to hair fading, dryness, and breakage. Traditional hair care products often focus on repairing heat damage, overlooking the area of light damage protection.
To fill this gap, Kolmar Korea innovated its sunscreen technology: using specialized silicone oils with large molecules and high refractive indices to efficiently scatter light and protect hair from light damage. This formula maintains a lightweight texture while reducing the use of photostabilizers and solubilizing oils.
The formula can also be enriched with active ingredients such as biotin, panthenol, and niacinamide to create multifunctional products that offer benefits like reducing hair loss, soothing the scalp, and improving oiliness and pore issues.
Additionally, Kolmar Korea has proposed a new method for objectively evaluating hair sunscreen efficacy.
Previously, the industry lacked standardized metrics for measuring hair sunscreen performance. To address this, the company developed a novel evaluation method: assessing damage by comparing hair color changes before and after UV exposure, thereby measuring sunscreen effectiveness.
The related research findings were published last year in the internationally renowned dermatology journal Skin Research and Technology (Impact Factor: 3.2), earning industry recognition for their scientific value.
A Kolmar Korea representative stated, “The global sunscreen market is increasingly segmenting, with demand for scalp and hair sunscreen solutions rising rapidly. We will leverage our full-chain R&D capabilities in product development, ingredient innovation, and efficacy evaluation to lead the next-generation hair sunscreen market.”
Kolmar Korea holds over a 70% share of the South Korean sunscreen market and is a core player in popularizing K-beauty sunscreen globally. In 2013, it became the first company in the South Korean beauty industry to receive Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In 2022, Kolmar Korea established the country’s first specialized sunscreen research center—the “UV Technology Innovation Lab”—further strengthening its R&D capabilities. Recently, sunscreen products co-developed by Kolmar Korea with renowned K-beauty brands such as Beauty of Joseon, SKIN 1004, and Round Lab have surpassed cumulative global sales of 100 million units.