“Discovery & Exploration” are central building blocks of our R&D work. Accordingly, intensive application-oriented research activities are an important focus at our skin research center in Hamburg. With a team of more than 700 researchers and developers, it is the largest site in our global R&D network.
In addition to active ingredient and microbiome research, in Hamburg we focus on research into skin aging processes, the protection of skin against solar radiation, the use of in vitro, in silico and in vivo methods, and the development of alternative methods for safety assessment. The intensive research work of our human, cellular and molecular biologists, immunologists and biochemists enables us to even better understand the skin's own metabolic processes.
Based on this knowledge, we can create new product solutions tailored to the needs of our consumers. All this is done with the help of state-of-the-art technologies and artificial intelligence.
An important part of our Hamburg Skin Research Center is our integrated Study Center. With it, we ensure that every new product meets our high standards of product quality, safety and tolerability – in addition to the tests we have carried out by external institutes before every market launch. Each year, our Study Center conducts well over 300 studies involving around 8,000 participants.
The study designs and measurement methods vary considerably in some cases. In hot rooms, for example, we test the reliability of deodorants, and we use laser microscopy to investigate the effect of skin-smoothing products. Another distinct feature is the specially equipped bathrooms, where we can closely observe the application of new products via a semipermeable mirror and thus draw conclusions for product and packaging development.
In addition to the large skin research center in Hamburg, our global R&D network includes two major innovation centers in China (Shanghai) and the USA (Florham Park, New Jersey), as well as development labs in Brazil, India and Japan. Although in principle the innovation centers have very similar tasks and focus on the development of regional innovations, regional requirements have led to them also pursuing different R&D priorities today.
Our innovation center in Shanghai, China, which opened in July 2020, is the second largest site in our research network with around 100 employees. As prestige products are becoming increasingly popular in the Chinese market, we have established a center of excellence for premium facial care and cleansing products here. In addition, we are working intensively in Shanghai on the development of local and regional product innovations and sustainable packaging solutions.
Our innovation center in Florham Park, New Jersey in the US, which opened in 2022, specializes in sun protection. It also focuses on non-prescription products, so-called OTC (over the counter) products. The US is not only the world's largest market for sun care products, it also places high demands on OTC products – and with our approximately 60 experts the innovation center on site, we can optimally meet these. It is characterized by increased skin measurement capabilities with a strong models and methods development focus.
