Shiseido begins 2026 with a major step in its skin research, combining highly sophisticated optical measurements with scientific models of light penetration to understand what happens beneath the skin's surface and why certain factors influence its visual appearance.
In an official statement, the company explains that its new breakthrough is based on an optical measurement system capable of evaluating the light that penetrates the skin, disperses, and re-emerges, a concept known as subsurface scattering light. This non-invasive technology has been perfected in collaboration with the Muroran Institute of Technology, allowing for the analysis of how different wavelengths interact with specific skin layers.
Shiseido has shared the main conclusions of this major breakthrough in skin research:
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Epidermal melanin (in the outermost layer) absorbs a large part of the short-wavelength light, preventing it from re-emitting, which directly impacts the perception of skin uniformity and tone.
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Collagen density in the dermis (deepest layer) influences the amount of longer-wavelength light re-emitted, a key factor in the feeling of radiance and translucency.
In addition to this technology, Shiseido has developed a mathematical model that simulates the skin in nine layers and allows for a precise correlation of how light travels and transforms as it penetrates deeper, revealing in detail which physical structures, such as collagen and melanin, determine how the skin looks from the outside.
This work complements previous research by the Japanese company, such as the world's first 3D facial measurement system, which had already shown that light scattering beneath the surface decreases with age and responds to multiple biological factors.
Shiseido is not only observing but also applying these insights to a real innovation pipeline: it plans to use this scientific data to design more precise and personalized skincare solutions that truly act on the optical properties of the skin that matter most to consumers (such as glow, even tone, or youthful appearance), leaving behind subjective promises without scientific backing.