Lypo-C is the innovation of Kanagawa-based SPIC Corporation, developed by Dr. Atsuo Yanagisawa, president of SPIC Salon Medical Clinic, as well as the director of the Infusion Care Research Society.
Made in the form of liquid sachets, each sachet contains nano-sized vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes. Each liposome is about 100 nanometres in size. The vitamin C used is DSM’s Scotland-produced Quali-C.
The company’s Singapore partner Whitetree Health and Beauty recently exhibited Lypo-C at the Beauty Asia Fair 2023 held in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands.
Whitetree Health and Beauty specialises in helping Japanese companies expand overseas, such as providing consultation and design services.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, Stanley Pang, senior sales executive, said that Japanese firms with novel products have been seeking to grow their business overseas in part due to a shrinking and ageing population that preferred products that they were familiar with.
“In the Japanese market, it can be very hard for novel products, new innovations to reach the local market because generally, the older generation prefer to use something that they are more familiar with,” he said.
Lypo-C was launched by SPIC Corporation about eight years ago.
“Lypo-C is innovative because it uses the liposomal technology where vitamin C is encapsulated in liposomes. The liposomes, being nano-sized particles, could be better absorbed by the body and also act as a barrier to protect vitamin C against the digestive fluid.”
The product could be directly consumed from the sachet or mixed with juices.
“You can take it directly from the sachet but because it's just vitamin C and doesn't come with any flavouring, we therefore recommend consumers to mix it with juices,” said Pang.
Whitetree Health and Beauty, which also runs a multi-concept café and salon is also selling Lypo-C at SGD$130 (US$98) for 30 packs.
Pang said that the firm would be keen to work with retail stores or distributors to grow the presence of Lypo-C across Singapore. At the moment, Lypo-C is also sold in various salons across Singapore, including Dr. stretch, allumer Singapore as well as Mount Alvernia Hospital.
Singapore is a location of interest for expansion as it is considered as a hub in the region.
“We have more and more Japanese companies looking to expand to Singapore. For example, we have Don Don Donki, Welcia. Singapore is like the tradehub and people know Singapore as a place to expand their geographical market presence," said Pang.