13. Implications and Applications¶

Research & Concept¶

This final project is grounded in long-term practice with fermentation as a method for education, research, and product development.

The work explores kombucha-based fermentation as a living biofabrication system and investigates how vegetable-based pigments obtained through fermentation can be transformed into cosmetic and skin-contact materials.

Rather than presenting a finished cosmetic product, the project focuses on the research and development process of probiotic, biologically compatible, and skin-supportive cosmetic materials.

Research Context & Precedents¶

This project sits at the intersection of fermentation-based biofabrication, natural pigments, cosmetic material systems, and skin-contact applications.

While kombucha SCOBY and fermentation-derived biomaterials have been explored in textiles, wearables, and HCI,
their potential for cosmetic and skin-supportive material prototypes remains underexplored.

This research shifts the focus from textile-only applications toward cosmetic powders, patches, masks, and film-based materials.

Key references include: - Designing Interactions with Kombucha SCOBY — Fiona Bell et al.
- Exploring Biofoam — Eldy S. Lazaro Vasquez et al.
- Light Tissue — Sofia Guridi

Background & Motivation¶

During previous work for a probiotic food brand, I experimented with coffee kombucha–based skin-nourishing masks and peelings.

A freeze-dried peeling developed from fermented coffee grounds remaining after kombucha production showed promising results but lacked structured documentation.
This project transforms intuitive practice into a systematic, experimental, and openly documented research process.

Research Question¶

Is it possible for materials that come into contact with our skin to be produced through natural, living processes that are more compatible with our biological systems?

Methodology & Process¶

The project follows an iterative research approach.

Stage 1 — Kombucha-based vegetable fermentation¶

Vegetables are fermented using kombucha culture as a starter.

Stage 2 — Pigment stabilization¶

Early-stage exploration of pigment preservation and transformation.

Initial Material Experiments (Week 13 Scope)¶

This section documents the first experimental phase conducted during Week 13.

Material Selection¶

Dried red cabbage and purple carrot were selected due to their anthocyanin content.

Fermentation Process¶

Both materials were fermented separately in kombucha liquid to observe pigment behavior.

Drying Strategy¶

Oven drying was avoided due to color darkening
Freeze-drying was inaccessible due to batch limits

Materials were air-dried at room temperature and ground into fine powders.

First Cosmetic Prototype — Failed Iteration¶

The fermented powders were added to a basic wax-based lipstick formulation.

Observed results: - crumbly texture
- poor spreadability
- no visible color payoff

Reflection¶

This failure revealed the need for alternative binding systems and higher pigment density in fermented vegetable-based cosmetics.

Additional Material Experiments (Week 13)¶

Kombucha-Based Healing Tea Fermentation¶

In parallel with cosmetic pigment experiments, kombucha was combined with plant-based teas traditionally associated with soothing and healing properties.
These mixtures were left to ferment to explore their potential for skin bandage and patch applications.

Fermentation Observation — Video Documentation¶

The video documents the active fermentation phase, showing liquid movement, microbial activity, and early surface behavior.

SCOBY Development for Skin Bandage Applications¶

As fermentation progressed, visible SCOBY layers formed on the surface of the liquid.
This stage is critical for the next phase, where the SCOBY and fermentation liquid will be processed together to create powder-based or rehydrated bandage materials intended for skin contact.

Ongoing Fermentation — Skin Bandage Research (Video)¶

This video documents the continuing fermentation process intended specifically for skin bandage and patch development.
It captures surface motion, SCOBY thickness evolution, and the time-based behavior of the living system.

Explanation

This ongoing fermentation experiment focuses on developing a kombucha-based system for skin bandage and patch applications.
The fermentation is intentionally left active to allow the SCOBY to thicken and stabilize while interacting with the infused plant-based teas.

At this stage, the process aims to observe how a living fermentation can later be transformed into a dry, rehydratable material.
Once fermentation reaches sufficient maturity, the SCOBY and the liquid phase will be processed together to obtain a powder or film-like structure that can be reactivated with water and applied onto skin-contact bandages for localized support.

This experiment emphasizes time, transformation, and biological compatibility, rather than a finished medical product.

Material Applications¶

The materials developed through these experiments are explored in systems such as: - cosmetic powders
- skin-contact bandages and patches
- masks
- film-based materials

No medical or therapeutic claims are made.