In brief
Kao Corporation says it will begin selling Bioré GUARD Mos Block Lotion in Singapore in March 2024. The lotion uses a company-developed technology intended to make it harder for mosquitoes to remain on the skin, rather than relying on volatile active ingredients such as DEET or Picaridin. Kao describes the product as a light-textured, non-greasy insect-repelling lotion formulated with citronella oil. It follows the launch of Bioré GUARD Mos Block Serum in Thailand in 2022. The company also plans launches in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia during 2024, with product names and descriptions varying by region. Kao says the expansion is part of its GUARD OUR FUTURE project addressing mosquito-borne disease concerns in Southeast Asia.
Key takeaways
- Kao plans to launch Bioré GUARD Mos Block Lotion in Singapore in March 2024.
- The lotion uses Kao-developed technology designed to make it difficult for mosquitoes to stay on skin.
- Kao also plans launches in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia during 2024.
- The product is formulated with citronella oil and is described as DEET-free.
February 26, 2024 -- Kao Corporation will launch Bioré GUARD Mos Block Lotion, a product utilizing a distinctive technology developed by the company, in Singapore in March 2024. This is a sister product of Bioré GUARD Mos Block Serum, launched in Thailand in2022. Kao is also planning to launch the product* in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia during 2024.
Kao debuted its GUARD OUR FUTURE project, aiming to protect against mosquito-borne diseases, in Thailand in 2022. By expanding availability in Southeast Asia, where dengue fever has long been a societal issue, the project hopes to deliver product more broadly and, together with a range of other initiatives, help resolve issues facing populations in the region.
*Product name and description will vary depending on the region.
Bioré GUARD Mos Block Lotion,
set to be launched in Singapore
Background
Dengue fever, an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes, has been a major societal issue in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world for many years. Global warming and increasing urbanization are also widening mosquitoes’ habitat, and occurrences of dengue fever are rising. This has also been the case in Singapore, which has seen a large increase in dengue fever cases since 2020, a trend that is expected to continue this year. To prevent dengue fever outbreaks there, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is actively promoting measures encouraging citizens to protect themselves from mosquito bites and prevent mosquitoes from proliferating.
Focusing on the actions of mosquitoes when they land on the skin, Kao developed a new technology making use of the skin’s wetting phenomenon. The technology’s mechanism, which makes it difficult for mosquitoes to stay on the skin, differs from that of conventional insect repellents using volatile active ingredients such as DEET or Picaridin. Applying this technology, Kao developed a non-greasy mosquito repellent with a light texture similar to body lotion, which was launched in Thailand under the name Bioré GUARD Mos Block Serum in June 2022. A sister product, Bioré GUARD Mos Block Lotion, will go on sale in Singapore.
Product features
The product is an insect-repelling lotion utilizing technology developed by Kao that makes it difficult for mosquitoes to stay on the skin.
- Non-greasy mosquito repellent with a light texture similar to body lotion protects against mosquitoes
- Can be used anywhere, any time
- Formulated with citronella oil
*DEET-free
On sale March 2024
Note: The product will also be launched in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia during 2024. Product name and description will vary depending on the region. There are no plans to sell the product in Japan.
About the Bioré Brand
Bioré is a skin care brand offering a range of products to make life more secure and comfortable. Bioré views the skin as a “human interface” that connects people to other people and to society and that is a part of everyday life. Based on the idea of applying an additional, protective layer on the skin’s surface, Bioré offers a range of skin protection guarding against environmental stressors like UV rays, intense heat and infectious diseases.
The GUARD OUR FUTURE Project
In Southeast Asia and many other parts of the world, dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infectious disease, is a societal issue that threatens the lives of many people, particularly children.
Wishing to contribute to solving such issues through its research, Kao launched its GUARD OUR FUTURE project—centered on the innovative concept of a product that keeps mosquitoes away from people’s skin and thus prevents mosquito bites—globally to protect future lives from mosquitoes. Along with delivering this distinctive technology to as many people in need as possible, Kao takes part in many other activities intended to solve the problem.
About Kao
Kao creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its portfolio of over 20 leading brands such as Attack, Bioré, Goldwell, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanebo, Laurier, Merries, and Molton Brown, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people in Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,550 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 35,400 people worldwide and has 136 years of history in innovation. Please visit the Kao Group website for updated information.
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Public Relations
Kao Corporation
+81-3-3660-7043
If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
Questions around this news
How does the mosquito-repelling lotion work?
Kao says the lotion uses technology based on the skin’s wetting phenomenon. Its intended effect is to make it difficult for mosquitoes to remain on the skin after landing. The release distinguishes this mechanism from conventional repellents that rely on volatile active ingredients, and describes the product as non-greasy with a light texture similar to body lotion.
What is dengue fever and how does it spread?
Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. It can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and rash; severe cases may require urgent medical care. Preventing mosquito bites and reducing places where mosquitoes breed are common public-health approaches to limiting transmission.
What is the GUARD OUR FUTURE project?
Kao says it began the project in Thailand in 2022, with the aim of helping protect people from mosquito-borne diseases. The initiative centers on making its mosquito-repelling technology available to people and also includes other activities intended to address the issue. Kao says expanding availability in Southeast Asia is part of this effort.
