Ellead: Korea’s First and Globally Trusted Skin Clinical Research Institute

Ellead | 19th March 2025

Ellead was established in 2001 as Korea’s first and largest skin research institution. Under the slogan “We Provide Trust and Faith,” Ellead specializes in evaluating the efficacy and safety of cosmetic ingredients and finished products.

With numerous patents and research achievements related to human application testing, Ellead has been recognized for its expertise and collaborated with the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to establish guidelines including physical UV protection factor measurement, acne suitability evaluation (2013), dark circle evaluation (2014), blood circulation improvement evaluation (2015), swelling evaluation (2015), and UVA++++ assessment (2016).

Since 2006, Ellead has been providing services to various global brands. It is the only institution in Korea to have received the One Million Dollar Export Tower Award and the Presidential Citation. All clinical trials undergo review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) registered with both the Korea CDC and the U.S. FDA and are conducted according to international standards and internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This ensures successful audits by global brands and enables continuous transactions with clients worldwide.

Ellead’s research is strengthened by two dermatologists with 25 years of clinical experience, who have been involved in study design, supervision, and review since its inception. The institute operates 50 laboratories, employs 50 researchers, and has access to 20,000 test subjects. Cutting-edge equipment such as Raman spectroscopy and proprietary tools like the Ellead Color Chips, which include additional skin tone references, ensure precise color analysis. Continuous research and validation of trained researchers and analysis equipment further guarantee accurate and reliable results for clients.

Ellead is committed to providing “Customized Premium Clinical Testing.” It offers services from ingredient-level testing to final product evaluation, covering cosmetics, health functional foods, oral care products, in vitro testing, medical devices, and beauty equipment assessment. Additionally, Ellead provides consultation during the initial concept development stage and offers visual data to highlight product advantages for consumers.

Ellead Offers the Following Testing Services

Safety Testing

Primary Irritation Test (PIT)
Repeat Insult Patch Test (RIPT)

UV Protection Testing

Ellead operates Korea’s largest UV testing laboratory with over 20 solar simulators and conducts SPF, UVAPF, and water resistance tests according to ISO, FDA, and other international standards. With over 20 years of UV testing expertise, Ellead has contributed to the establishment of Korea’s official UV testing guidelines and has successfully passed audits from major global companies.

Skin & Body Care Testing

Ellead conducts evaluations using advanced equipment to assess:

Hydration, elasticity, keratin, wrinkles, lifting, skin texture, pores, brightness, gloss, barrier function, soothing effects, tone, pigmentation, temperature, acne suitability, stretch marks, cellulite, swelling, skin absorption (Raman Spectroscopy), and more.

* Wrinkle assessment image

* Raman Spectroscopy skin absorption image

Hair & Scalp Care Testing

Ellead provides a variety of hair and scalp-related assessments, including:

Split ends, tensile strength, hair volume, protein absorption, hair shaft porosity, hair loss, cleansing efficiency, hair gloss, color retention, elasticity, hair loss prevention, scalp keratin, scalp elasticity, scalp lifting, and more.

* Hair shaft porosity improvement image

Makeup Product Testing

Ellead evaluates makeup products in areas such as:

Cleansing efficiency, lasting, proofing (water, activity, smudge resistance), coverage, mascara and lipstick performance.

* Waterproof test image

Cleansing Product Testing

Assessments include:

Removal of fine dust and makeup, exfoliation, pore and sebum cleansing.

Oral Care, Health Functional Foods, and Beauty Device Testing

Ellead conducts evaluations for:

Bad breath, gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity, tooth whitening, tooth gloss, plaque removal, tongue coating, and more.

* Teeth gloss evaluation image

Additional Services

Ellead collaborates with dermatologists, dentists, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, and other medical professionals to conduct specialized clinical trials. An in-house professional photographer and studio allow Ellead to provide high-quality before-and-after images for marketing use. Certification marks for completed clinical trials can also be issued upon request.

In Vitro Testing

Ellead’s Osong Research Center has a dedicated team with over 10 years of experience conducting evaluations such as:

Antioxidant testing, alternative animal testing (eye irritation), mRNA evaluation, wrinkle & whitening efficacy tests, cytotoxicity assessments, and more.

Ellead also offers high-throughput screening services for hair growth substances using its 3D hair follicle organoid model, recently published in Biomaterials Research.

* 3D hair follicle organoid image of 1 well

For more details, please visit our website at www.ellead.com or contact us at ellead@ellead.com for premium clinical testing services that meet global standards.

Also, you may meet us face-to-face at In-Cosmetics Global 2025 Amsterdam

👉 Booth No. 12E55

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