Redefining Facial Cleansing with Carbonated Foam × Non-Decomposed Placenta: "P/d Carbonated Foam Cleanser" Born From the Concept of a "Wash-Off Serum"

The placenta-focused skincare brand "p/d" launched its new product, "p/d Carbonated Foam Cleanser," which combines original non-decomposed placenta extract with 10,000 ppm of carbonation. Why incorporate placenta—a hugely popular ingredient—into a facial cleanser that gets washed away? We spoke with Eri Ishizaki from PDS Life Co., Ltd. about the characteristics of non-decomposed placenta researched over 30 years and a new approach to achieving beautiful skin through daily cleansing.

Upcycling Discarded Placenta: The Story Behind Unique Procurement and Processing

As a placenta-focused skincare brand, how do you procure your raw materials?

The factory we procure placenta from uses pig placenta as its raw material. When pigs give birth, the placenta is expelled along with them, but normally, it ends up being discarded. However, this factory contracts directly with pig farmers in Hokkaido to purchase it, turning it into placenta extract at a Hokkaido factory to create cosmetics—an upcycling initiative. By supplying freezers to contract farmers and having them place the placenta into the freezer immediately after birth, the raw material reaches the factory in an exceptionally fresh state. This is the advantage of direct purchasing.

What benefits come from using fresh raw materials?

First, freezing immediately after birth preserves freshness. Furthermore, by using a proprietary defrosting method that slowly thaws from the inside out, drip loss is minimized, preventing the placenta's nutrients from draining away. After thawing, craftspeople carefully wash each placenta by hand using pure Hokkaido water. Placenta naturally has a distinct odor, but going through these processes allows us to suppress that odor.

That explains why there is almost no distinct placenta odor even though it is fragrance-free.

That's right. Products formulated with placenta are generally said to have a distinct smell. However, despite containing high concentrations of placenta, our booster serum receives many comments from customers saying they aren't bothered by any odor. This is a major strength of our placenta. Furthermore, by intentionally keeping it fragrance-free, we believe more people can use it comfortably regardless of gender.

The Functionality and Experience Brought to Skin by 10,000 ppm Carbonated Foam

"p/d Carbonated Foam Cleanser" uses non-decomposed placenta extract—how does this differ from regular placenta?

Non-decomposed placenta extract is extracted without breaking down its proteins. Its ingredients penetrate deep into the stratum corneum of the skin, providing continuous support for moisture and firmness.

Since facial wash is ultimately rinsed off, why include a beauty ingredient like placenta in it?

Because it is designed to retain placenta's beauty components on the skin even during the rinse-off process, ensuring solid hydration after washing. You'll find that your skin doesn't feel tight even long after washing, remaining wonderfully moisturized. Of course, it also functions effectively as a cleanser, so dirt is thoroughly removed as well.

In the renewal during the first half of this year, you boosted the carbonation concentration to 10,000 ppm. What was the intention behind this?

High-concentration carbonation allows the foam to penetrate deep into pore dirt and dead skin cells, leaving the skin surface smooth and refreshed. Additionally, dense, elastic foam offers the benefit of reducing friction during cleansing. To help customers experience the benefits of carbonation even more easily, we upgraded the carbonation concentration to 10,000 ppm this time.

I pumped some onto my hand and turned it upside down, but it didn't fall off. It's such a fluffy, dense foam—just like whipped cream!

That's right. To prevent these high-concentration carbonated components from escaping, another key feature is that the foam is made firm and bouncy.

Are there any effective ways to use it?

We recommend using it differently in the morning and at night. In the morning, you can get ready while applying the foam to your face as a mask. This technique is only possible thanks to the dense foam; once rinsed off, the power of carbonic acid helps reduce puffiness, leaving your face feeling refreshed. I call this "waking up the skin."

At night, applying a foam mask while taking a bath is recommended. The synergistic effect with the heat from the bath makes it easier to remove dirt from pores, leaving your skin with a clean, refreshed finish. It is also suitable for caring for the neck and décolleté, areas that are prone to showing signs of aging.

Facial cleansing is often thought of as merely a step to remove dirt. However, "p/d Foaming Wash" redefines this routine into a skincare step that delivers beauty ingredients. Featuring dense foam powered by high-concentration carbonic acid and non-decomposed placenta technology cultivated for over 30 years, the concept born from this combination—"building a skin foundation through daily cleansing"—redefines the very role of facial cleansers.

Text by Junko Hayashida