Your Skin Has a Barrier for a Reason. We Built a Way Through It Without Breaking It.
Most skincare actives never reach the layer where they are needed most. Cetosome® was developed to overcome this challenge through a patented biomimetic delivery system that supports deeper penetration, controlled release, and targeted delivery, working with the skin's natural barrier instead of disrupting it.
50–850nm
nanoparticle size
24h
controlled release
US 9,084,818 B2
patented mechanism
An active can only work where it can reach.
Even scientifically proven actives may deliver limited benefits if they remain on the skin's surface.
The effectiveness of a skincare product depends on more than its active ingredients. The skin's outermost layer, the stratum corneum, acts as a highly efficient barrier, preventing most topically applied ingredients from reaching deeper tissues. As a result, even scientifically proven actives may deliver limited benefits if they remain on the skin's surface.
Traditional formulations often attempt to improve penetration using higher concentrations or penetration enhancers, which may compromise barrier integrity and increase the risk of irritation. Cetosome® takes a different approach by using a patented self-assembling nanoparticle system that bio-mimics the skin's natural lipid structure, supporting effective delivery while preserving the skin barrier.
Built from the same chemistry skin already speaks.
Effective topical therapy depends not only on the ingredient itself but on how efficiently it is delivered. Cetosome® is engineered as a biomimetic nanovesicular system that closely resembles the skin's natural lipid architecture, letting actives move through the barrier in a controlled, compatible manner.
Nanovesicular structure
At the core of Cetosome® is a self-assembling nanovesicle built around a lipid bilayer. This unique structure supports the encapsulation of both hydrophilic and lipophilic actives while maintaining compatibility with the skin's natural lipid environment. The result is controlled delivery, sustained diffusion, and enhanced penetration without relying on aggressive barrier disruption.
Dual-solubility system
Most delivery systems are designed for either water-soluble (hydrophilic) or oil-soluble (lipophilic) ingredients. Cetosome® supports both within a single delivery platform. This dual-solubility architecture enables efficient encapsulation and transport of a wide range of dermatological actives, providing greater formulation flexibility without requiring separate delivery technologies.
Bio-mimics skin barrier interaction
The skin barrier is built from ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids arranged in a highly organised lipid matrix. Cetosome® bio-mimics this natural lipid architecture, allowing its self-assembling nanoparticles to interact with the barrier in a skin-compatible manner. Instead of disrupting the barrier, it supports targeted penetration while helping preserve its protective function.
Surface to target, gradually.
Surface
Application begins at the skin's surface.
Stratum corneum
Nanoparticles navigate the outermost barrier layer.
Viable epidermis
Actives release gradually through sustained diffusion.
Target layer
Ingredients arrive where biological activity occurs.
Not a single dose.
Conventional formulations often release active ingredients rapidly, resulting in a high initial concentration followed by a quick decline. Cetosome® is engineered for controlled and sustained release, providing a gradual delivery profile across up to 24 hours. This helps maintain ingredient availability over time while supporting better skin tolerance.
Gradual, sustained delivery instead of a single concentration spike.
Three properties working as one system.
Cetosome® is built on measurable physicochemical properties. Its self-assembling nanoparticles, bio-mimetic lipid interaction, and controlled release profile work together to enhance the transport of encapsulated actives through the skin, based on the patented Cetosome® platform rather than conventional topical methods.
Self-assembling nanoparticles
Cetosome® utilizes self-assembling nanoparticles that encapsulate active ingredients within a stable lipid-based vesicle. This architecture helps protect sensitive actives during delivery while supporting their movement through the skin's outer barrier. The nanoparticles are engineered to improve formulation stability and enable efficient transport without disrupting the skin's natural structure.
Bio-mimetic lipid interaction
The nanoparticle bilayer is designed to resemble the lipid components naturally present within the skin barrier. This bio-mimetic interaction allows Cetosome® to work in harmony with the skin rather than against it, supporting deeper penetration while helping maintain barrier integrity. The result is a delivery mechanism that combines compatibility, precision, and controlled performance.
Controlled delivery profile
Unlike conventional formulations that release most of their active ingredients immediately after application, Cetosome® delivers encapsulated actives gradually over time. This controlled delivery profile supports sustained ingredient availability across up to 24 hours, helping optimise therapeutic performance while improving skin comfort and reducing unnecessary concentration spikes.
How Cetosome® compares to conventional delivery.
Traditional systems often balance compromises between stability, penetration depth, and release control. Cetosome® integrates these characteristics into one patented platform.
The effectiveness of a topical formulation is determined not only by the concentration of its actives, but by how efficiently they are delivered into the skin. Even clinically proven actives may offer limited benefits if they remain on the surface. Effective dermatology begins with ensuring the right ingredient reaches the right target layer.
The technology behind every Monoskin product.
Cetosome® is the common delivery platform across the Monoskin portfolio, ensuring consistent, targeted delivery across different dermatological applications.
wecalm™
Ceramides for barrier care
4ZERØ1™
Barrier-repair actives
432one™
Soothing ingredients
nanogrow™
Follicle-supporting actives
Bridging the gap between the right active and the right delivery.
Every skin concern requires the right active ingredient, but every active ingredient also requires an effective delivery system. Cetosome® bridges this gap by combining biomimetic lipid interaction, self-assembling nanoparticles, dual-solubility support, controlled release, and targeted delivery into one patented technology advancing dermatological care through precision delivery.
One technology, multiple dermatological applications
The same patented Cetosome® platform supports a wide range of active ingredients across Monoskin formulations. Whether delivering ceramides for barrier repair, caffeine for hair care, or soothing agents for compromised skin, the delivery mechanism remains the same, providing targeted penetration, controlled release, and enhanced delivery through one unified technology.
One delivery platform, multiple active ingredients
Modern dermatology relies on a wide variety of active ingredients, each with unique chemical properties and therapeutic roles. Cetosome® provides a single platform capable of supporting both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules, letting diverse formulations benefit from the same patented technology without changing the underlying delivery mechanism.
Engineered for modern dermatology
From barrier repair to post-procedure care and hair wellness, successful topical therapy depends on both formulation science and delivery technology. Cetosome® was developed to complement modern dermatological treatments by supporting targeted delivery, controlled release, and enhanced penetration across multiple therapeutic applications.
Innovation beyond ingredients
Many skincare innovations focus on discovering new active ingredients. Monoskin takes a different approach by improving how those ingredients are delivered. By combining biomimetic science, self-assembling nanoparticles, dual-solubility support, and controlled release, Cetosome® enhances the performance of established actives through smarter delivery rather than higher concentrations.
Publicly documented. Independently verifiable.
Cetosome® is protected under US Patent US 9,084,818 B2, licensed from Cymbiotics Inc., USA. The technology is based on self-assembling nanoparticles with cetylated components that support targeted dermal delivery, its mechanism and design publicly documented, providing scientific transparency beyond conventional marketing claims.
US Patent
US 9,084,818 B2
- Assignee / licensor
- Cymbiotics Inc., USA
- Basis
- Self-assembling nanoparticles, cetylated components
- Status
- Publicly documented, verifiable
The right ingredient is only as effective as the technology that delivers it.
At Monoskin, innovation begins with delivery. By improving how actives interact with the skin, Cetosome® enhances the potential of every formulation without compromising the skin barrier.