the science page
the science
behind so topical.
For the person who wants to understand exactly why this works. Precise enough for a dermatologist. Clear enough for anyone who has ever read an ingredients list.
in 14 days
complexion
moisture
absorption
We are not a brand that asks you to trust us. We are a brand that shows you the evidence. This page contains every study, every data point, and every mechanism behind the so mask, cited by institution and presented without embellishment.
what microcurrent is
your skin already uses electricity
Every cell in your body communicates through electrical signals. Your skin uses them continuously, to regulate the barrier, coordinate repair, and tell fibroblast cells to produce collagen and elastin. These signals are measurable. They weaken with age. And when they weaken, production slows.
The result is familiar. Skin that loses firmness. Lines that form and stay. A surface that does not recover the way it once did. Some of that is hydration. Some is sun exposure. And some of it is a gradual quieting of the signals that tell your skin to keep rebuilding.
what microcurrent does
Microcurrent is a very low-level electrical current, measured in microamperes, that supplements the skin's own bioelectrical signals. It does not shock or heat the tissue. It reactivates the fibroblast signalling pathway and stimulates production of collagen types I, III, and IV, as well as elastin. Professional microcurrent facials have been used by aestheticians and clinicians for decades on this basis.
Most at-home microcurrent devices apply current through probes moved methodically across the face in sections, with a conductive gel. The so mask generates microcurrent simultaneously across the entire face, through a self-contained mineral complex that needs no battery, no charging, and no technique.
the technology: MGM-1 and piezoelectricity
what piezoelectric means
Piezoelectric materials generate an electrical charge when compressed. The word comes from the Greek piezein, to press. The principle is used in lighters, medical ultrasound, sonar equipment, and precision instruments. Apply pressure and the material produces electrical output. Release the pressure and it stops.
The minerals in MGM-1, Bismuth Oxychloride, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Oxide, and Potassium Oxide, function as a piezoelectric complex. When you press the so mask against your face, the pressure activates the minerals and generates a sustained electrical current across the full mask surface and into your skin. The energy comes from your hands. Every time.
the verification
The Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), a government-accredited national laboratory, independently verified the electrical output of the so mask. Report number 2024-0575F, August 2024.
Two conditions were tested. Applying direct force to the mask produced 64.8V peak-to-peak. When a non-conducting film was placed between the contact surface and the mask, simulating the barrier layer of skin, the output increased to 73.6V. The 73.6V figure better represents what occurs during real application.
the patent and formal recognition
The MGM-1 technology is protected by Korean Patent No. 10-2491573, titled 'Skin Sheet Containing Piezoelectric Material,' granted January 18, 2023 following Priority Examination, a status reserved for inventions of recognised commercial significance. It survived full technical examination, prior art search, and office action challenge before grant. so topical holds exclusive ANZ rights.
In February 2025, MGM-1 received formal INCI name assignment from the Personal Care Products Council in Washington D.C. Application number 2024-11957. MGM-1 is now listed in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, a formally recognised cosmetic ingredient.
the three mechanisms
collagen activation
The sustained electrical field from MGM-1 supplements the skin's weakening bioelectrical signals. Fibroblast cells, stimulated by the current, increase production of collagen types I, III, and IV, and elastin. With consistent use, this is measurable structural improvement, not surface-level plumping.
Wrinkle measurements were taken using Antera 3D CS by Miravex, a medical-grade 3D imaging device that maps the precise topography of the skin surface using multi-directional lighting. Eight separate wrinkle parameters were measured. All eight improved.
Protocol note: these results were achieved under a twice-daily application protocol over 14 days. The so mask is designed for 2 to 4 uses per week. The data reflects the capability of the technology under intensive conditions.
deeper ingredient delivery
The current temporarily and reversibly increases cell membrane permeability, a process called electroporation. Transient channels form in the lipid bilayer of skin cells, through which active molecule can pass. The channels close within 15 to 30 minutes of the current ceasing. This is why the post-mask step is not optional.
The study measured absorption across the stratum corneum, the epidermis and dermis, and the dermal reservoir. The piezoelectric mask outperformed the control in every layer. The reservoir result matters because molecules deposited there continue to release into deeper tissue after the mask is removed, contributing to the sustained effect beyond the wear time.
Control patch (no piezoelectric): 32.5 micrograms total niacinamide absorbed. Piezoelectric mask: 110.1 micrograms. Ratio: 3.4 times higher, in every measured layer.
guided actives
Charged molecules move more efficiently in the presence of an electrical field. The so mask formulation contains three charged molecules that respond to this: Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, and Niacinamide. The electrical field generated by MGM-1 guides these through the skin barrier more effectively than diffusion alone. It works alongside electroporation: the field opens the pathway and actively moves key ingredients through it.
the hydration result
Hydration was measured using a Corneometer CM825, a clinical instrument that measures moisture content in the stratum corneum via capacitance. Readings were taken at three timepoints: before application, immediately after, and 100 hours after.
The primary driver of the sustained result is Tremella Fuciformis (Snow Mushroom) Extract, which holds up to 500 times its weight in water and has a smaller particle size than conventional hyaluronic acid, allowing deeper penetration. Electroporation-enhanced delivery takes this further, depositing hydration into the dermal reservoir rather than the stratum corneum, where it would evaporate within hours.
the pigmentation result
Pigmentation was measured using a Spectrophotometer CM26dG by Minolta, which measures skin reflectance using the CIE Lab* colour space. The L* value represents brightness. A higher reading means less visible pigmentation.
Niacinamide, confirmed at 118% of specification, inhibits melanosome transfer, the process by which pigment cells pass melanin to skin surface cells. Combined with iontophoretic delivery and the mild tyrosinase inhibition from Ascorbic Acid and Eggplant Extract, the brightening action works at the cellular level.
safety and purity
Two independent safety studies. Tested to the standard applied to medical devices. Zero adverse reactions.
Oct 2024
Feb 2026
Sixty participants across two continents. Two regulatory frameworks. Ages 19 to 75, every skin type. Not one adverse reaction recorded at any reading point.
purity testing
Independent laboratory testing by Soonchunhyang University Industry Academy, October 2024.
- Lead, arsenic, mercury, antimony, cadmium, nickelNot detected
- Methanol, dioxane, formaldehyde, phthalatesNot detected
- All parabens (six tested)Not detected
- Total aerobic microbial countLess than 10 CFU/g. Permitted limit is 1000 CFU/g
- E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureusNot detected
- NiacinamideConfirmed at 118% of specification
- AdenosineConfirmed at 96.5% of specification