"How do we reliably measure something as complex as a skin microbiome’s response to a product?" This was the practical, yet profound, question from our R&D team during a project on probiotic cosmetics. It echoed the frustrations of many brands: groundbreaking concepts were hindered by a lack of consensus on how to prove they worked. This question became the catalyst for our journey from identifying a problem in the lab to helping draft the solution for the entire industry.

We didn’t work in a vacuum. The standard-setting process activated every part of our open innovation network:

: Our ongoing dialogues with microbiologists at Xiamen University provided the foundational science on key bacterial markers and ecological principles.

: Our team contributed real-world data on formula stability, pilot-scale production challenges, and compatibility with various testing methods.

: The China Anti-Aging Association served as the essential convener, synthesizing input from universities, manufacturers, testing institutes, and brands to build a unified, practical framework.

The drafting of standards like “Efficacy Evaluation of Skin Microbiome-Regulating Cosmetics” was a meticulous, iterative process.

: The first and hardest step was agreeing on core definitions. What constitutes a “positive” shift in the microbiome? We advocated for definitions based on ecological balance and function, not just the increase of a single “good” bacteria.

: We pooled methodologies—from advanced 16S rRNA gene sequencing to more accessible qPCR assays—to create a tiered evaluation system suitable for different R&D stages.

: We insisted that any standard must culminate in controlled human clinical studies, ensuring lab results translated to real-world skin benefits.

The true value of these group standards extends far beyond a published PDF.

: They establish a common language and credible benchmark, reducing market confusion and elevating the quality of “microbiome-friendly” claims. This protects consumers and rewards genuine innovation.

: It translates to de-risked development. Brands can now navigate this complex category with a clear, pre-validated roadmap for efficacy testing, accelerating their time-to-market.

: It cemented our role not just as a manufacturer, but as a contributor to the industry’s foundational knowledge. It’s the ultimate validation of our “Building on Academia, Validated by Industry” ethos.

Our work on the Skin Microbiome and Soluble Microneedle Patch standards is not an endpoint. It’s a proof-of-concept for our collaborative model. As new questions emerge—about environmental stress, personalized skincare, or novel delivery systems—we are committed to the same process: leveraging our ecosystem to transform shared challenges into shared standards, and ultimately, into superior, trustworthy products for all.