A new partnership looks to usher in the next era of product development.

Cosmax, the South Korea-based contract manufacturer which counts L’Oréal among its brand partners, has joined forces with microbiome intelligence company HelloBiome to integrate microbiome science into its product development processes.

In practice, this means that Cosmax brand partners will be able to define skin or scalp profiles they wish to target and, with HelloBiome’s research and formulation capabilities, Cosmax will develop tailored product systems around those profiles.

The model would mark a shift away from trend-driven or ingredient-driven formulation in favor of multistep, hyper-targeted product regimens meant to be adopted by consumers in full.

In 2025, U.S. skin care sales rose 3 percent in the prestige market and 6 percent in the mass market. As shoppers’ expectations become increasingly sophisticated and performance-oriented, the partnership looks to offer a differentiator for brands.

“Microbiome science has long been seen as complex and difficult to scale,” said Elsa Jungman, founder and chief executive officer of HelloBiome, in a statement. “What we’ve built with Cosmax shows that is can…[enable] brands to create more targeted, clinically credible solutions without adding friction.”

Through the partnership, brands can also opt for ready-to-launch systems targeting specific profiles.

The first of these, a three-step skin care routine targeting oily, breakout-prone skin, has already been developed and includes a facial cleanser, serum and mist, powered by proprietary Cosmax postbiotics called Ambioter and Fillerstin.

“These are complete routines built around a specific biological need, with clinical validation and scalable manufacturing already in place,” Jungman said.

Founded in 1992, Cosmax is one of the world’s largest beauty manufacturers. It operates facilities in South Korea, the U.S., China, Indonesia, Thailand and Italy.