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Concept

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
  • 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?

Why, What, Who?

Why

To rethink cosmetics and skin-contact materials as biologically compatible systems.

What

Kombucha-based fermentation and experimental skin-contact material research.

Who

İpek Kuşcu