SCIENCE AND BEAUTY: A
WINNING
EQUATION
For centuries, the quest for beauty has been rooted in science. With billions of euros invested in beauty R&D, thousands of researchers mobilized, and cutting-edge technologies, the cosmetics industry is developing ever more innovative beauty products tailored to consumer needs.
Europe, a Land of Cosmetic Innovation
With €2.35 billion invested annually in research and innovation, the European beauty industry is constantly pushing the boundaries of cosmetic science. More than 30,000 scientists, spread across 77 innovation centers, work to create increasingly high-performance cosmetic formulas. Proof of this dynamism? 25% to 30% of the 10,000 beauty products from major companies are reformulated every year with new active ingredients and advanced technologies.
L'Oréal, spearheading research
With over €1.3 billion invested in 2024, 21 research centers in 11 countries, a team of 4,200 scientists, and 8,000 digital experts, L'Oréal stands as a major player in beauty innovation.
Results: 694 patterns filed in 2024, 52% of which by women and 3,636 new formulas launched.
The group also launches large-scale studies. Conducted in partnership with Verily (Alphabet), the "My Skin & Hair Journey" study analyzes the biological, clinical, and environmental factors that influence skincare and hair health. It is the largest study ever conducted in the beauty sector. Finally, through its BOLD venture capital fund, the Group invests in innovative beauty startups.
Inclusivity,
a Core Concern
By 2030, 40% of the world's population will have curly hair. Aware of this demographic shift and the diversity of skin and hair types, L'Oréal develops skincare, hair care and makeup products tailored to the specific needs of each individual.
L'Oréal develops a wide range of innovations, such as Melasyl, a patented active ingredient targeting hyperpigmentation. Protected by over 20 patents, Melasyl is the result of 121 clinical studies conducted with 12,000 participants.
40%
of the world's population will have curly hair.
Commitment to a Sustainable Future
A pioneer in reconstructed tissues with its Episkin subsidiary, L'Oréal promotes alternative methods to animal testing. Moreover, by 2030, L’Oréal will aim to sustainably source at least 90% of biobased materials used in formulas and packaging. Finally, the group is investing heavily in green sciences, biotechnology, and the circular economy.
Lavernos
in charge of Research,
Innovation and Technology L'Oréal Group
Barbara
Lavernos
Deputy Chief Executive Officer,
in charge of Research,
Innovation and Technology L'Oréal Group
With 115 years of innovation, L'Oréal is the largest research laboratory in the cosmetics industry. Our researchers innovate every day for a beauty science that is ever more effective, responsible, inclusive, and personalized, that protects against external aggressions, brings well-being and self-esteem, and supports the stages of life, all while reducing its environmental footprint. Creating beauty that moves the world forward means putting ever more effective products and experiences into the hands of our consumers, tailored to the needs of each and every one.
This is not a beauty podcast
A new podcast from L’Oréal Groupe and New York Times explores the essential role beauty plays in the human experience. Across six episodes, hear about the hidden role beauty plays in sports, technology, business, science, health and politics, interviewing individuals from around the world.
Beauty
Is Science
Biotech innovations with a focus on sustainability are among today’s top directions in the beauty industry, according to the trend tracker Exploding Topics. While the beauty industry has long looked to science and technology to develop new cosmetic ingredients, products and treatments, its innovations have moved well beyond biology and chemistry to mark dramatic new milestones in the science of beauty and cosmetic research.
As reported in Season 1 of the “This Is Not a Beauty Podcast” series, hosted by Isabella Rossellini, reconstructed human skin models, initially developed for use as an alternative to animal testing, are often used today in medical, industrial and academic research around the world Now created via 3-D printing technology, these models are opening new doors for burn treatments, skin grafts, oral cancer treatment and the creation of heart patches and heart valves.
As Rossellini said: “What’s most exciting to me about artificial skin is not only helping to eradicate animal testing altogether… but also the way it demonstrates one of the beauties of science. How do developments within the industry ripple out far and wide, and change lives?”
Season 2 of “This Is Not a Beauty Podcast” will travel to South America to speak to Juliana Farias, head of L’Oréal’s development lab in Brazil, about the hair science tools the company has developed to analyze the complexities of different hair types around the world, and how these findings fan out not only to other areas of cosmetics research, but to scientific innovation in general.
The new series will also investigate the relationship between psychology and color, delving into how color affects mood, emotions and self-expression and serves as a carrier of nonverbal information. Finally, the podcast will move outward and upward to explore how beauty is crossing new frontiers, this time in space.
How are advances in cosmetics science, research and innovation shaping the beauty industry today? And how do these developments support new start-ups, enable diversity, inclusion, and sustainability?
