"Celebrities’ Teeth Are Everything" – How One Ingredient Can Also Save Your Skin: What Is the Identity of the Scrub that Only Removes Excess Sebum?

Do you remember the catchy phrase "Celebrities’ Teeth are Everything" that was popular in the 1990s? It was aired in the commercial for the whitening toothpaste "Apagard" developed by SANGI CO., LTD., and it led to the widespread acceptance of the ingredient "Hydroxyapatite."

After years of research into Hydroxyapatite, Sangi discovered that this ingredient is also beneficial for skincare. In 2018, they launched the skincare brand "HAP＋R."

What role does Hydroxyapatite play in skincare? We spoke with Fusao Murata from Sangi.

The Power of Hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite, a type of calcium phosphate, constitutes approximately 60% of bone, 70% of the dentin, and 97% of the enamel. Thus, it has a very high affinity for the body.

"Since it is a component naturally present in the body, it has been widely used as a biomaterial, including for artificial joints and implants."

What makes Hydroxyapatite unique is that it can possess different properties depending on the particle size and shape, even if the chemical formula is the same.

"One of its properties is the adsorption effect. Toothpaste containing Hydroxyapatite adsorbs and removes plaque, which causes cavities."

The skincare apatite "Aparin" was developed leveraging this adsorption effect.

Selective Adsorption that Preserves Necessary Sebum while Removing Unwanted Sebum

"One of the characteristics of our apatite is its 'selective adsorption effect.'

"This removes excess sebum caused by oleic and palmitoleic acids, which can lead to skin irritation, as well as oxidized sebum that causes aging and darkened pores, and old dead skin cells that lead to dullness.

"On the other hand, sebum components that smooth the skin, like squalene, and cholesterol that helps retain moisture and functions as a barrier are left on the skin without adsorption."

In other words, it removes only unwanted substances from the skin while keeping what is necessary.

Utilizing this effect, HAP＋R offers a range of five products, including cleansing and face wash. Among these, the "Face Scrub," released in 2022, has gained significant popularity.

"Aparin is originally composed of fine particles, and after years of research to create scrub particles, we finally succeeded, which became the impetus for the development of the Face Scrub.

"Moreover, our market research revealed that the usage rate of face scrubs is only 7.5%, meaning it’s a very niche market; however, there was a lot of feedback regarding the user experience.

"For example, the current face scrub market features many products that are gentle on the skin or dissolve as you wash, yet we received numerous comments like 'the scrub sensation is not enough.'

"On the other hand, there were also voices saying 'I don’t want it to hurt,' so we decided to focus on developing a texture that provides a scrub sensation without being painful."

What enabled this contrasting user experience is the spherical processing of the scrub particles. By finishing each particle into a round shape, we maintained the sensation of the particles while achieving a pleasing, rolling feeling on the skin.

"However, shaping fine particles into small spheres was more challenging than we anticipated.

"Initially, some suggested that adding thickening agents would make shaping easier, but we had a strong desire to create a scrub just with Aparin, so we finished the particles using only water and Aparin.

"We also focused on making the particle sizes as uniform as possible, as uneven particles can lead to discomfort."

The Face Scrub contains over 1,000 scrub particles per gram, enabling even a small amount to be evenly distributed on the skin.

"While there are many scrubs included, as mentioned earlier, Hydroxyapatite is a component that exists within the body, which makes it environmentally friendly.

"Moreover, leaving a pleasant feeling after washing is important, so we’ve added a minimal amount of menthol but made it a point to keep the number of ingredients used to a minimum."

To use, apply the scrub to damp skin, then gently roll it back and forth about 5 to 10 times before rinsing it off. You should be able to feel refreshed without a tightness in your skin.

"We recommend using it once or twice a week, but some customers use it almost daily since it doesn't cause tightness.

"Additionally, since the scrub leaves a good amount until the end, some people wash behind their ears while cleansing their faces, or use it on the nape where oil tends to accumulate, as well as for caring for the rough skin on elbows and knees. We hope you find various ways to utilize it."

As the hot season approaches, concerns about oiliness can arise. Why not try solving your oil-related issues with the power of hydroxyapatite?