Research & Innovation and the new frontiers of beauty

With skin being our largest organ, it plays a crucial role in human health. Longevity is the next frontier in beauty, fuelled by increasing lifespans, a growing focus on proactive approaches, and changing perceptions of ageing. L’Oréal is capitalising on this significant market opportunity by pioneering advanced scientific solutions that enhance skin and hair health at every stage of life.

L’Oréal Longevity Integrative Science™, leveraging over 15 years of dedicated research, brings a proactive approach that decodes the root causes of skin ageing at the cellular and molecular level, before visible signs appear. Based on 267 biomarkers, the first-of-its-kind, L’Oréal Longevity AI Cloud is the cornerstone of our beauty longevity innovations that help anticipate, intercept and reset the signs of ageing.

Collaboration with external experts and biotech pioneers allows us to enhance the efficacy of our science-backed products and solutions. This includes work with TruDiagnostic on the relationship between epigenetics and beauty, Senisca on ways to modulate aged cells, and Timeline on molecules for longevity applications.

L’Oréal’s longevity solutions range from recent innovations including Lancôme Absolue Longevity Soft Cream, which features rose PDRN, an active that targets cells to stimulate mitochondria for revitalised skin; Vichy Laboratoires Neovadiol Longevity Revolumising Cream, which aims to counteract the alterations associated with established signs of ageing; Vichy Aminexil R.E.G.E.N. Booster, a hair serum designed to combat hair loss and promote healthy hair growth; as well as advanced diagnostics like Cell BioPrint, which analyses biomarkers of beauty longevity within minutes and beauty devices based on light or microneedling, which boosts product absorption inside the skin.

By 2040, two-thirds of the world will have melanin-rich skin, and 43% will have wavy, curly or coily hair – ushering a more diverse beauty landscape. Men, who make up 25% of global beauty consumers, along with booming beauty markets like Mexico, Brazil and India underline the importance of beauty for all ages, genders and cultures.

Our breakthrough molecule Melasyl™, addressing localised hyperpigmentation with clinically proven efficacy across all skin tones, was recognised as one of TIME’s Best Inventions in 2025. This molecule, the result of over thirty years of research and 121 scientific studies, underscores L’Oréal’s commitment to strengthening knowledge on skin colour diversity.

This diversity fuels our innovation, driven by advanced research for every skin and hair type. Improved formulations in skincare include Anthelios UVAIR™ SPF 50, offering ultra-light yet robust daily sun protection and hydration for diverse skin tones; as well as Biotherm Force Supreme Face Reshaper, developed to stimulate skin cell recovery and strengthen the skin barrier for men. In haircare, Elvive Dream Lengths Sleek shampoo, enriched with micro keratin, brings sleek, humidity-proof hair, while Fructis Curls Method range and Redken’s Acidic Bonding Curls expand our offerings for curly and coily hair.

We believe the future of beauty is strengthened by collaboration, cooperation and co-creation. That’s why we embrace open innovation with a unique ecosystem of strategic partners. This collaborative ecosystem extends our reach beyond the beauty sector and brings new expertise to boost groundbreaking innovation.

We collaborate with innovative companies from startups to established industry leaders, and through investments led by L’Oréal’s BOLD venture capital fund. Working with Chinese biotech companies like Shinehigh and Veminsyn, US-based Debut Bio and Europe-based Microphyt, we are involved in the discovery, development and scaling of novel ingredients such as bio-actives and cosmetic ingredients made with low-carbon biomanufacturing. We also invest in technology to support our sustainability ambitions. L’Oréal’s acquisition of Gjosa, a revolutionary water tech company in 2024, brought significant water savings to hair salons worldwide with already more than 440 million liters of water saved by the end of 2025.

L’Oréal has over 46 academic partnerships and shares lab resources with some of the world’s leading universities and hospitals across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. And L’Oréal’s Big Bang Innovation programme, which originated in China, has attracted more than 2,500 startups and SMEs to accelerate their innovations for the Beauty Tech sector, resulting in more than 80 incubator projects.

Two significant milestones in 2025 show how investment is reinforcing our leadership in beauty research and innovation, translating scientific knowledge and expertise into game-changing, consumer-centred beauty solutions in the USA and China.

Celebrating 70 years in the United States, we inaugurated our new $160 million Research & Innovation Center in Clark, New Jersey. This state-of-the-art, 250,000-square-foot facility unites over 600 scientists under one roof to drive our “end-to-end” innovation process. From ingredient discovery and formula development to conducting over 125,000 consumer touchpoints annually, the centre ensures the highest standards of safety and quality at every stage. This strategic hub allows us to deliver tailored solutions for the Group’s second-largest market, meeting the needs of an evolving consumer base with increasingly diverse skin tones and hair types.

Our R&I centre in China, which celebrated its 20^th anniversary in 2025, has become one of L’Oréal’s most dynamic global innovation hubs, shaping the future of beauty “in China, with China, for China”. Through many “firsts” in skin, hair and scalp research, consumer insights and innovations from China also influence the global beauty market. These include new topicals such L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Collagene Royal Supramolecular and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Supramolecular Essence mask that were co-created as a result of L’Oréal’s highly dynamic open innovation ecosystem in China.

L’Oréal continues to make significant advances in its transition towards a sustainable ingredient portfolio. In 2025, 67% of the ingredients in our formulas were sourced from nature or recycled materials. This progress reflects our ongoing focus on “green sciences”, which leverage sustainable cultivation practices, green chemistry, biotechnology, and eco-extraction to redefine how we source and transform our raw materials.

We are focussed on reducing the carbon impact of our portfolio while ensuring the resilience of our supply chains against climate change. This year, we strengthened our partnership with Interstellar Lab to explore the future of sustainable cultivation through their BioPods. These AI-powered, closed-loop, and climate-resilient greenhouse systems allow for the year-round cultivation of high-value-added ingredients for fragrances and skincare actives in controlled environments. By replicating native habitats and utilising advanced sensors, BioPods aim to achieve consistent quality while reducing water consumption compared to traditional agriculture.

The transformative power of green sciences is also shaping the way we formulate. We launched a challenge in collaboration with the BioInnovation Institute (BII), a leading player in supporting bioscience, to identify disruptive technologies to replace some functional ingredients.

Recognising that true transformation requires collective effort, L’Oréal’s internal progress is mirrored by our active participation in the global shift towards a bioeconomy. This transition — the sustainable sourcing and transformation of biomass at scale, at cost, and at speed — is a global priority for many industries. As a member of Bioeconomy for Change and Bio-based Industries Consortium, L’Oréal recently joined the Carbon to Value initiative, a collaborative effort to accelerate the commercialisation of carbontech solutions, involved in capturing, converting, and sequestering CO₂ into valuable end products or services.