Acropass (아크로패스) is a South Korean skincare and dermacosmetic brand that specializes in dissolving microneedle patches. The brand was developed by RAPHAS Co., Ltd., a Korean biotechnology and drug-delivery company whose core technology is based on dissolving microneedles. Acropass positions itself at the intersection of cosmetics, transdermal delivery technology, and targeted skincare.1

The brand’s central concept involves using microscopic dissolving structures to help deliver cosmetic ingredients into the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin), rather than applying active ingredients only onto the surface.

The name “Acropass” is a combination of two elements:

• Acro: Conveys the idea of a height, summit, or pinnacle.
• Pass/Path: Represents transmission, passage, or a route.

Together, the name expresses the concept of creating a pathway toward a higher level of beauty. This naming aligns with the brand’s technical approach, which focuses on establishing a “pathway” for active ingredients through the skin barrier.

Acropass is not a conventional cosmetics label; its parent company, RAPHAS, has a background in biotechnology and drug delivery. RAPHAS describes its own name as a combination of “Rapha” (meaning healing) and “Path” (meaning passage or path). The company’s corporate focus has been the development of drug-delivery and dissolving-microneedle technology.

Instead of starting with a standard skincare product and adding marketing concepts, RAPHAS developed a microneedle delivery platform and subsequently applied that technology to cosmetics. A key component of their manufacturing process is the proprietary DEN (Droplet Extension) technology, which is used to produce dissolving microneedles.

Acropass emerged from RAPHAS’s research into dissolving microneedle technology. Reports from the 2010s identified Acropass as RAPHAS’s first beauty product utilizing this specific technology. At that time, RAPHAS was positioning microneedles as a novel approach to delivering active ingredients through the skin.

This concept represented a significant departure from traditional cosmetic patches, which generally place ingredients on top of the skin. Acropass uses tiny structures made from materials such as hyaluronic acid that interact with moisture in the skin and dissolve after application.

Over time, the brand expanded its product range and international presence. RAPHAS currently describes Acropass as a global brand using dissolving microneedles, with products marketed in multiple countries.

Dissolving Microneedles

A dissolving microneedle is an extremely small needle-like structure made from water-soluble or biodegradable materials. Unlike metal needles, these structures do not remain permanently in the skin; they dissolve upon contacting moisture.

For Acropass, ingredients such as hyaluronic acid are formed into microscopic needle or cone-like structures. When the patch is applied, these structures interact with the skin and gradually dissolve. The intended mechanism follows this sequence:

Patch → microscopic structures contact skin → structures pass into the outer skin layer → dissolve → ingredients are released

This allows the brand to approach skincare as a delivery problem rather than solely an ingredient problem.

DEN (Droplet Extension) Manufacturing

One of RAPHAS’s most important technologies is its DEN — Droplet Extension — manufacturing process. According to RAPHAS, DEN differs from conventional molding approaches because it produces dissolving microneedles without relying on high-temperature or UV processing. This method is intended to help preserve the stability of active ingredients incorporated into the structures.

Microcone® Technology

In its Korean products, Acropass also uses the term Microcone®. The brand describes Microcone as structures made by solidifying active ingredients into tiny cone-shaped forms. These structures are designed to pass through the outermost skin layer and dissolve. This technology explains why many Acropass products feature a visibly textured area in the middle of the patch where the microscopic cones or needles are located.

Acropass combines three main ideas in its product philosophy:

1. Targeted Application: Patches can be placed directly over specific areas of concern, rather than applying serums over the entire face.
2. Microneedle Delivery: Using dissolving microneedles or microcones as a delivery mechanism for cosmetic ingredients.
3. Occlusive Patch Technology: Some patches use hydrocolloid materials to protect the application area and maintain moisture, complementing the dissolving-microneedle system.

Major Product Lines

The brand has developed products aimed at several different skin concerns:

• Acne / Skin-Trouble Care: One of the best-known categories is the Trouble Cure line. The Korean product range includes the Trouble Cure Microcone Patch, described for skin prone to acne. This category helped establish Acropass’s identity as a targeted “emergency” skincare product.3
• Anti-Aging / Wrinkle Care: Acropass develops microneedle patches intended for areas with wrinkles. For example, the Retial-N Microcone Patch is designed for wrinkle-focused application and includes ingredients such as hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ascorbyl glucoside.
• Soothing Care: The brand offers soothing-oriented products. Its Japanese range has included AC Care NE, a microneedle patch formulated with ingredients including CICA and madecassoside.
• Skin Tone / Brightening: Historically, Acropass has offered products aimed at improving the appearance of uneven skin tone and pigmentation-related concerns, though exact lineups differ between markets.

Acropass distinguishes itself from ordinary hydrocolloid acne patches through its delivery mechanism. While a conventional patch primarily works as a physical covering to manage moisture and exudate, Acropass adds microneedle/microcone delivery to facilitate the penetration of selected cosmetic ingredients into the outer skin layer.

While formulations vary by market and product line, hyaluronic acid is particularly important as it functions as a structural material for the dissolving microneedles. Individual products may additionally contain ingredients such as:

• Niacinamide
• Ascorbyl glucoside
• CICA / Centella asiatica derivatives
• Madecassoside
• Retinoid-related ingredients

Because Acropass formulations differ by product and market, users should check the packaging for specific ingredient lists. For instance, the Korean Retial-N product listing identifies RAPHAS as both the manufacturer and the responsible cosmetics seller.2

Acropass is not limited to South Korea. RAPHAS Japan describes Acropass as a global brand, maintaining localized product portfolios and communications. The brand has also been associated with international OEM/ODM activities through RAPHAS, where the technology is used in products manufactured for other companies.

According to RAPHAS, Acropass products have received recognition in South Korea’s Olive Young Awards, with reports of five consecutive years of awards. Specifically, the Trouble Cure product reportedly received recognition from 2020 through 2024.3 RAPHAS also states that its dissolving-microneedle technology is protected by numerous patents.

Most Acropass consumer skincare products are classified as cosmetics. However, RAPHAS stated that in 2023 it became the first microneedle-patch manufacturer to pass a U.S. FDA OTC drug review. This achievement relates to RAPHAS’s broader microneedle platform and does not automatically imply FDA approval of every individual Acropass cosmetic product.

Acropass occupies a unique position within K-beauty by competing heavily around delivery technology rather than just ingredients or packaging. Its fundamental proposition is that the way an ingredient reaches the skin matters, not just which ingredient is used.

The brand’s Korean slogan, “바르지말고 붙이세요,” roughly translates to “Don’t apply it; stick it on.” This captures the philosophy of replacing conventional topical application with targeted patch-based delivery. Acropass serves as a case study in the convergence of K-beauty, biotechnology, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical delivery technology.

1. ACROPASS
2. 아크로패스
3. 전제품 – 마이크로콘® 패치 – 아크로패스