Patchology’s Flash Patch Eye Gels and FlashMasques are said to work in just five minutes and provide noteworthy results. The brand is taking the hot “patch and sheet” trend in skin care by expanding into hand masks too. Products are sold online and at luxury outposts like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Company CEO Chris Hobson of Dedham, MA took time to chat with Happi.com about this expanding space:
 
Happi: How and why did you start the company? 
 
Chris Hobson: We were inspired to create the Patchology brand when we saw a void in the marketplace for more targeted and more effective skin care solutions. Our R&D team started developing powerful transdermal patches almost 10 years ago, so we have a rich heritage of using patches to deliver ingredients to the skin better than topical products.
 
To help us translate this technical knowledge into the Patchology brand we've since added a team of beauty industry veterans from the likes of P&G, AmorePacific and Peter Thomas Roth. Patchology combines our unique and advanced patch technologies with today’s most effective cosmeceutical ingredients for powerful products that deliver immediately noticeable results. 
 
Happi: What makes the products different from others in the marketplace?  
 
CH: For starters, we're different because we are 100% focused on patches. You won't see us launching a moisturizer or serum or toner— there are many great options on the market already. It's just that we believe that there are certain skin care challenges that can be addressed more effectively with patches so that's where we are focused.
 
Second, while other skin care companies may offer a patch or a mask, because we are laser-focused on patches, Patchology has the expertise to utilize a variety of innovative patch technologies to address specific skin concerns. In the case of our Energizing Eye Patches, our goal was to create a micro-current patch that would deliver targeted renewal and revitalization in the areas where your skin needs it the most in just 20 minutes. When used weekly over an extended period of time, these patches can truly transform skin and provide users with long-term benefits. 
 
In the case of our newest FlashPatches and FlashMasques, our goal was to provide consumers with instant results and skin benefits in just five minutes of use. Our unique HydraSurge5 Moisture System utilized within both of these products contains five proven maximum hydration ingredients to drench skin with moisture instantly upon use. Yeast amino acids reduces trans-epidermal water loss, as it moisturizes with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant protection; trehalose locks water into the skin for lasting hydration; taurine softens and moisturizes skin; inositol enhances water-binding properties for skin; and betaine strengthens skin barrier and controls water in skin improving skin firmness and elasticity.
 
Happi: What are consumers looking for in their skin care today? 
 
CH: Our brand continues to ask this question every day with each potential new launch. This market demand is so important to us that we have actually created a consumer Patchologist Program which allows us to crowdsource feedback on the skin concerns and patch focus areas our consumers would like to see created, as well as to test iterations of potential new launches. This information has been extremely valuable to our brand to ensure we create patches that are not only needed, but are easily integrated into consumers’ beauty routines. 
 
Based on our most recent research, we found that users were looking for instant gratification and a quick solution, which led us to create our newest FlashMasques and FlashPatches. These provide instant brightening and hydration benefits upon the first five minutes of wear!   
 
Happi: Any exciting future plans for the company? 
 
CH: As the cosmetic patch universe continues to expand, our brand’s goal is to create performance patch treatments with targeted solutions for every skin concern. We like to say, “there’s a patch for that!” Imagine that there will be patch solutions to target every age woe or problem zone whether these be age spots on hands, lips, intensive overnight retinol patches for forehead, marionette lines, décolleté, adult acne or rosacea. The possibilities are infinite!