Research and Development¹

Consumer

Consumer

Outstanding skin care research

Skin care expertise and science are crucial throughout our innovation process. They are the foundations on which our claim to be a leading skin care innovator is based. We invented modern skin care in 1911 with the world’s first stable water-in-oil emulsion – and have been setting new standards ever since. Thanks to our scientific know-how, we are gaining an ever greater understanding of the complex processes of the skin, enabling us to develop our own characteristic ingredients that work with it – whether this be Q10, our first anti-aging skin care ingredient, Thiamidol®, the effective active ingredient to combat hyperpigmentation, or Epicelline®, the first epigenetically active ingredient that turns back the skin cells’ age clock. With our focus on the field of microbiome research, we are working towards the next milestone in terms of skin health.

Once again, we achieved relevant results with our intensive research work in the reporting year:

• We managed to deliver a groundbreaking anti-aging innovation in epigenetics based on over 15 years of research expertise. This area of life sciences describes the potential impact of our lifestyle and the environment on our cell functions, and thus also on skin aging mechanisms. For us, epigenetics is key to the development of relevant innovative skin care approaches aimed at substantial skin rejuvenation. With the aid of our skin-specific age clock technology patented in 2021, we succeeded in identifying Epicelline®, our first active ingredient capable of positively modulating the skin’s epigenetic pattern: the biological processes in skin cells are reactivated to improve the way they function. Epicelline® thus manages to turn back the skin cells’ age clock and reverse the signs of skin aging. In the financial year just ended, we launched the new Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum – the first product containing our epigenetic active ingredient Epicelline®. Please see the “Product highlights” section for details. Details of the latest generation of our skin-specific age clock were published in a renowned scientific journal in the reporting year. With the aid of a biological sample, this second-generation age-clock technology enables us to accurately determine phenotypic aging, by which we mean the visual age of a person’s face, as well as the skin cells’ age clock, and to link this directly to the skin’s epigenetic pattern. The DNA methylation patterns of over 370 participants were analyzed with a view to accurately predicting skin aging characteristics and gaining new insights into skin aging mechanisms.

• We also continued research into our patented active ingredient to combat hyperpigmentation, Thiamidol®, in the 2024 financial year. To date, the high effectiveness of products containing Thiamidol® has been proven in over 110 in vivo studies involving more than 8,500 participants of all skin types. These findings have been the basis for numerous scientific publications. They demonstrate that all types of acquired hyperpigmentation can be treated with Thiamidol®, including facial melasma, age spots on the arms and hands and post-acne marks. The crucial factor is that the active ingredient tackles the root cause of the problem, inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme in the skin cells responsible for melanin production. We achieved a special milestone in our Thiamidol®-related endeavors toward the end of the financial year, when the active ingredient was approved in China by the country’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This approval serves as further evidence of our pioneering spirit and innovative capability – and gives us access to one of the most important strategic growth markets for our “Win with Care” strategy. Since 2021, Chinese consumers had only been able to obtain the active ingredient via cross-border e-commerce. The regulatory market approval of Thiamidol® in China marks the first step on the road to full approval of the end products for sale in China’s domestic market.
• Skin microbiome research is another major focus for us, and we have been working intensively in this field for many years with the primary objective of restoring the skin’s balance and helping consumers with acne-prone skin in the long term. The special relevance of this field of research is underscored in particular by the fact that acne is one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions by dermatologists, affecting around one in five people aged 16 and over. The Belgian company S-Biomedic, which we acquired in 2022, is an important strategic partner. Our objective is to be able to offer innovative skin care products designed specifically to restore the balance of acne-prone skin in the future.
• We continued research into our innovative anti-aging active ingredient coenzyme Q10, first launched on the market 26 years ago, in the reporting year. The combination of three sophisticated microscopic technologies – fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), electron microscopy (EM), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) – enabled us to make the cell energy stimulating effect of Q10 on skin cells visible. The results, achieved as part of a research collaboration with University Clinic Ulm, were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark in the reporting year.
• We developed another innovative anti-aging product in the reporting year in the form of the anti-glycation ingredient NAHP (N-acetyl-L-hydroxyproline). Following some ten years of research, a Beiersdorf team succeeded in unraveling the secret of the skin’s so-called glycation process and, after testing around 1,700 substances, identified an active ingredient to combat skin aging, which can also be induced by sugar, in the form of NAHP. Glycation is a naturally occurring chemical reaction that occurs when sugar molecules bind to proteins or lipids. It results in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which weaken the skin’s collagen and elastin fibers and can cause it to lose its elasticity and resilience – a major contributing factor in the increased formation of wrinkles. NAHP combats this process by neutralizing sugar molecules before they bind to proteins or lipids, thus potentially damaging the skin. Beiersdorf has published a number of scientific articles on this active ingredient. The reporting year saw the launch of a new anti-aging product containing NAHP: the innovative formula of the NIVEA Q10 Dual Action Serum combines GLYCOSTOP® with the anti-wrinkle ingredient Q10. Please see the “Product highlights” section for details.

• The development and acceptance of modern testing methods that do not entail the use of animals to assess safety have been an important part of our research work for over four decades. Our efforts here are aimed at proving the safety of our ingredients and products and paving the way for new industry standards. We achieved particular success with the development of a 3D reporter skin model in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (Fraunhofer IGB). This model enables chemical substances to be tested for toxic effects on 3D cell culture models quickly and accurately, without using anything of animal origin. This new development marks a significant step forward in the field of alternative testing methods: it plugs existing gaps as regards their application options and offers considerable benefits in terms of their informative value. The new model can be used to investigate sensitizing substances, which are substances that can cause a reaction (also allergic in nature) in contact with the skin – from cosmetics via pharmaceuticals all the way to paints and detergents. These research results were released at the start of the year in a joint publication in the journal Toxicology. We also received the Hamburg Research Award for Alternatives to Animal Testing for the reporter skin model. But we are not resting on our laurels: with the help of project funding from the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS), we are now aiming to validate the reporter skin model as a standardized and recognized alternative method. Beiersdorf is a founding member of the ICCS, a globally active initiative comprising over 35 cosmetics manufacturers and suppliers, associations, and NGOs with the common goal of boosting the acceptance of testing methods that do not involve the use of animals to assess the safety of cosmetic products at global level.
• The safety and quality of our products are of paramount importance to us. We achieved an important milestone in our R&D health care departments with the overarching realignment of our health care products, involving the transition from the European Medical Devices Directive (MDD) to compliance with the considerably more stringent requirements of the new Medical Devices Regulation (MDR). For us, this entails maintaining the highest standards in terms of product safety and quality. The objective of the new EU regulation is to enhance patient safety by intensifying analyses prior to bringing products onto the market, improving monitoring in the wake of market launch, and imposing more stringent requirements with regard to clinical evidence – all with a view to ensuring that medical products comply with modern standards in terms of safety, quality and innovation. The successful realignment entailed the revision of our technical documentation, updating of risk management processes, and implementation of additional clinical evaluations to ensure that all products comply with the more stringent classification criteria. Not only does this ensure compliance with the latest EU legislation, but it also underscores our commitment to the provision of safe, effective, and reliable products for our consumers around the globe.

At Beiersdorf, we use global patents to protect the results of our research and development and our intellectual property. During the 2024 financial year, we filed over 90 new patent applications (previous year: 60). As of December 31, 2024, our global patent portfolio comprised a total of 1,638 active patents (previous year: approximately 1,500). Approximately 800 patent applications (previous year: 600) were in the ongoing grant procedure as of the reporting date. These figures clearly demonstrate that we were able to significantly enhance our innovative strength compared to the previous year. At the same time, we advanced the geographical expansion of our patent portfolio through our new patent strategy, which was adopted in 2024.

Sustainability as a source of innovation and growth

Sustainability is firmly anchored in our innovation work and is something that we systematically promote through intensive research, often undertaken in collaboration with strategic partners and suppliers. We believe that our products should not only meet the highest standards in terms of safety, quality, and effectiveness, but should also help build a better future. Our aim is to minimize our environmental footprint and maximize our positive contribution to society. As such, product innovation and the ability to adapt ingredients, formulas, and packaging are key elements. With this in mind, we are pushing ahead with efforts to transform our entire brand and product range, working intensively to make every (existing) product as sustainable as possible.

We follow the four key principles for sustainable packaging, namely “avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Specifically, that means preferably using more sustainable, biodegradable, and renewable materials, and incorporating recycled raw materials wherever possible. We also strive to reduce material usage, while also using alternatives to fossil-based virgin plastics. We are making these efforts with a view to building our vision of a circular economy in line with our R&D sustainability pledge and our CARE BEYOND SKIN sustainability agenda. We have set ourselves ambitious packaging targets, which are explained in detail in the “Non-financial Statement.”

Besides packaging, the ingredients we use to manufacture our skin care products are an important lever in helping to reduce our environmental footprint and boost the circularity of our products. Our aspirations in the area of sustainability demand that we regularly update our raw materials strategy and work continuously on the formulation of our products. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the introduction of digital workflows in the laboratory help us to do this. AI-supported findings enable us to adapt formulations so that they can be produced on the basis of an effective combination of ingredients, while at the same time offering other compelling benefits.

Collaboration promotes innovative strength

A feature of Beiersdorf’s international success is strategic collaboration between experts proven in their field. We are convinced that relevant and transformative innovations emerge at the interfaces between disciplines and expertise, producing creative new ideas that go beyond the status quo. In this tradition, we selectively combine external knowledge with our own in-house expertise and use this complementary know-how to jointly set new standards in skin care. In the reporting year, our global collaboration network comprised numerous partners, including renowned research institutes, universities, start-ups, independent scientists, and suppliers.

One example of our commitment to research is the strategic partnership we entered into with US biotech company Rubedo Life Sciences in the reporting year. The collaboration focuses on research into and validation of novel, anti-inflammatory, and senolytic ingredients that specifically target cellular senescence and the elimination of senescent cells [from the Latin senescere = to grow old, age]. Senescent cells accumulate with age and release inflammatory messengers, which may contribute to age-related skin changes and disorders. Together, we want to develop targeted interventions that not only rejuvenate the skin, but also tackle the fundamental characteristics of aging. We see great potential to further improve our understanding of the cellular aging process and thus develop innovative solutions for skin rejuvenation in this initiative. In addition to the partnership, we also joined Rubedo as a strategic investor. Through our Oscar & Paul Corporate Venture Capital Unit, we participated in the latest Series A funding round.

In addition, we entered into an important multi-year partnership with US biotech start-up Macro Biologics in the field of antimicrobial research. Our collaboration will focus on using Macro Biologics’ highly effective and biodegradable antimicrobial peptides – known as amicidins – in our product and formula development. As amicidins are effective against a wide variety of bacteria, they can help to alleviate skin irritations and improve the complexion; moreover, they are designed for early, local application in the prevention of wound infections. The joint objective is to create highly effective, safe, and sustainable solutions for a variety of application areas across Beiersdorf’s brand portfolio, primarily in dermatological skin care and injury care. In this way, we are once again underscoring our aspiration to offer revolutionary, sustainable innovations on an ongoing basis. Here too, in addition to the strategic partnership, we are investing in Macro Biologics through our Oscar & Paul Corporate Venture Capital Unit.

In the reporting year, we expanded our strategic alliance with the renowned German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). A new research collaboration will see both parties pursue the common goal of improving skin cancer prevention. Together, we want to drive forward the development of next-generation sun protection solutions, educate the public on the correct way to use sun protection, and establish a joint advisory service for the prevention of skin cancer at the DKFZ. With a projected term of at least three years, the collaboration has a joint research budget of €3.6 million.

Another partnership forged in the reporting year involved the Swiss medical technology company Hamilton Bonaduz. The aim of the collaboration is to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in respect of the generation of microbiological in vitro product claims and the identification and qualification of antimicrobial agents, with the aim of boosting our innovative capacity. The partnership saw Hamilton Bonaduz automate our modern microbiological methods by transferring them to a new, high-performance robotic platform. This is enabling us to standardize the partial/full automation of microbiological tests from the ingredient to the final formula, in solution, or in vitro on biological surfaces. Microbiological automation is an important step for us along the road toward improving the quality and quantity of data, paving the way to predicting in vivo product performance based on in vitro data using digital tools such as AI. In the future, the collaboration with Hamilton Bonaduz will be extended to include the automation of cell biological or biotechnological processes.

New partnerships were secured with several universities in the financial year, too. Our research alliance with Coburg University of Applied Sciences aims to further investigate the complex biological processes involved in skin aging. With the help of omics data – the analysis of thousands of molecular characteristics such as proteins and metabolic products – we want to shed light on the metabolic processes that play an important role in skin aging. The findings will be used to develop even more effective product solutions for skin rejuvenation in the future.

At the end of 2024, we entered into an important research collaboration with Columbia University based in New York, USA. Projected to run for five years, this cooperation is being funded by Beiersdorf with up to €1 million per annum. The particular fields of research are “aging” and “skin of color”; working groups at Columbia will be able to submit project proposals, the most promising of which will subsequently receive funding. A pilot project has already been launched to establish and characterize a novel in vitro skin wrinkle model.

In 2024, in collaboration with our long-standing research partner Marche Polytechnic University in Ancona, Italy, we developed a professional development program that pairs our own expertise in skin research with the university’s Institute of Life Sciences. Launching in May 2025, this course will provide students with a profound understanding of skin science, along with the skills and abilities relevant for a successful career in skin science. Each year, up to 12 students will initially receive theoretical training in skin science in the form of four courses at the university, the topics being Introduction to Skin Biology and Skin Aging, Redox Biochemistry of the Skin, Senescence and anti-aging, and Experimental Models/​Photoprotection/​Cosmeceuticals. Thereafter, students will undergo a period of consolidation in a three-month practical phase in Beiersdorf’s biological testing department. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a certificate from the university.

Strong research network

We firmly believe that the global presence of our research and development is a major contributor to our business success. This strong research network allows us to set different research priorities in different places around the world and to learn through close dialog with one another. At the same time, the different locations allow us to get much closer to the specific local and regional needs of our consumers. Our consumer-centric approach is guided by the “jobs-to-be-done” (JTBD) method, whereby we focus not only on consumer needs, but also on the “jobs” these consumers want our products to do for their skin.

The largest site in our global research and development network is our skin research center in Hamburg, Germany, where we primarily undertake important application-oriented research. Here we employed a total of 857 people (previous year: 757) as at December 31, 2024. Our stated goal is to use research as a means to improve our understanding of the biological processes at work in the skin and – based on these findings and with the aid of new cutting-edge technologies such as AI – develop new and innovative solutions targeted at consumers’ needs, while always taking the sustainability of our formulations and packaging into account.

The Beiersdorf Study Center is a central part of our skin research center in Hamburg, Germany. It is the means by which we ensure that each new product meets our exacting standards in terms of quality, safety, and compatibility, complementing the tests that external institutes carry out on our behalf prior to every market launch. The Study Center has more than 30 rooms and covers an area of some 1,800m². The study designs and measurement methods vary greatly. “Hot rooms,” for example, are used to test the reliability of deodorants, while the “black room” is where we aim to detect ultra-weak photon emissions. In turn, we use laser microscopy to investigate the effect of skin-smoothing products. Also, the entire Study Center is equipped with an air-conditioning system that enables temperature and humidity parameters to be precisely maintained and solar radiation to be simulated. In the reporting period, we carried out around 500 studies with some 10,200 participants (previous year: around 300 studies with some 8,500 participants) at the Hamburg Study Center. Externally, in 2024, we conducted another around 1,420 studies with some 40,600 participants (previous year: around 700 studies with some 20,000 participants).

In addition to our globally significant skin research center in Hamburg, our global research and development network includes two further large innovation centers in China (Shanghai) and the USA (New Jersey), as well as development laboratories in Brazil, India, and Japan. These different locations enable us to better address local cultural, aesthetic, and climatic conditions and develop products that correspond to local needs and preferences. Through this network we can also participate in global innovation and have access to local talent, providing valuable ideas and insights for our research and development work.

With a workforce of around 90, our innovation center in Shanghai, China covers an area of around 7,500m², making it our second largest, and was opened in July 2020. Here, we focus on developing premium face care and environmentally friendly, high-performance products for the Asian market, and on accelerating development processes through digitalization and AI. In the reporting year, the innovation center made significant strides in implementing the innovation strategy for China, a particular milestone being the development of the NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Professional Anti-Spot Multi-Brightening Super Serum. Launched online in the Chinese market in April 2024, it aims to further leverage the considerable potential for products that brighten the skin’s tone. To position Beiersdorf as a leading innovator in the field of hyperpigmentation, highlight the launch of the serum, and pave the way for Thiamidol® as an outstanding ingredient for brightening skin tone in China, the team at the innovation center in Shanghai hosted a scientific symposium for the first time. Leading experts from Germany, China, Thailand, South Korea, and the USA discussed the social impacts of ingredient innovations, and the latest methods and findings gleaned from skin science research. And at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai – the most important import trade fair in China – we had the opportunity to provide valuable insights into our innovation work.

Our innovation center in Florham Park, New Jersey, USA, which opened in 2022, places particular emphasis on clinical research and the development of local product innovations for the Eucerin and Aquaphor dermocosmetic ranges, as well as for the OTC sun protection brands Coppertone and Eucerin Sun (OTC = non-prescription drugs under US regulations). The team of around 50 employees continued to showcase Beiersdorf’s formulation expertise in the reporting year, focusing specifically on the development of completely new formulations that have an extremely aesthetic look and feel, as they are particularly light, transparent and easy to apply. An application study featuring over 300 participants confirmed the good sensory properties of the newly developed Eucerin eczema line (Eucerin Eczema Relief) with its ultra-light hydrogel formula. In addition, a transparent and easy-to-apply gel (Coppertone Invisible Finish SPF55) was developed and launched under the Coppertone sun protection brand. Working closely with the other innovation centers around the world, the US team continues to expand its skill set, especially focusing on AI-based tools and biomedical measurement instruments to deliver even better product claims and performance to our consumers.

Digitalization and artificial intelligence

Underpinned by digitalization and trendsetting technologies such as AI, skin care expertise and science are the central pillars of our innovation process. This interplay enables us to continuously optimize our processes, speed up the development of innovations, and push the boundaries of skin science and skin care ever further. As well as allowing us to develop even more effective and sustainable formulas more and more rapidly, these innovative technologies also play a crucial role in terms of consumer proximity and the development of packaging solutions. Our activities in the reporting year emphasize how we are further strengthening our position as one of the leading innovators in the sector.

In this context, we revised our R&D technology strategy in the reporting year to ensure that we adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape. By aligning our efforts with global market trends, we want to continue our sustainable growth while securing a competitive edge in what is an increasingly dynamic operating environment in line with our “Win with Care” strategy.

A particular example of digital transformation in our laboratories is our “Future Lab” program. By integrating AI and implementing digital workflows, we are constantly optimizing and accelerating our formulation development processes, enabling us to develop products that are even more sustainable, while maintaining the same high level of effectiveness and quality. With the help of AI-supported findings, our experts are able to fine-tune combinations of ingredients to deliver targeted benefits, whether this be depth of hydration, anti-aging effects, support of the skin barrier, or a blend of particularly sustainable ingredients. Progressive technology such as this enables us to focus on creative breakthroughs that meet the unique needs of the skin.

As already mentioned in this chapter, 2023 saw us install an innovative robot platform at our skin research center in Hamburg, Germany, that enables us to standardize the partial/full automation of microbiological tests, allowing us to better predict product performance in vivo. And at our innovation center in Shanghai, China, we rolled out StAR (Stability Automation Robot), a state-of-the-art robot that allows us to perform important viscosity, consistency, and pH tests efficiently. The robot automates stability tests, guaranteeing both precise and consistent measurement results. It is part of a comprehensive digitalization system in research and development that uses automation and AI to optimize the testing of formulas. This makes conventional stability tests more efficient, more precise, and easier to scale.

And the journey continues in the area of “Future Testing”: at our Hamburg Study Center, for example, we introduced our innovative AI-controlled wrinkle analysis wrinkle.ai as a standardized test procedure in the reporting year. The software enables precise three-dimensional characterization of wrinkles at the corner of the eye, based on a database of 3.4 million measured topography data points. All wrinkles within the defined measurement range are automatically analyzed. The evaluated results provide a robust basis for the statistical analysis of the effectiveness of anti-wrinkle products. At the heart of the system is an internally developed AI algorithm that uses modern analysis methods to independently process comprehensive study data and evaluate it overnight. This helped us, for example, to measure the effectiveness of the innovative Eucerin Epigenetic Serum. Thanks to a combination of precise data capture and AI-supported analysis, the tool delivers relevant results for cosmetic research and product development. The methodology not only permits a detailed analysis of individual skin features, but also creates a basis for evaluating and optimizing new product formulas.

Another example of our increasing digitalization of research and development processes is an explorative study on skin of color. In our development laboratory in India, we have established an approach that provides us with insights into the emotions shown by our consumers as they experience our products. In addition to interviews, images are automatically taken at the point where the consumer evaluates the product to capture facial expressions, for example. These allow us to gain a deeper insight into product use.

We made excellent progress with our AI-powered skin study SKINLY in the reporting year, too. Launched in 2019, this project is a large-scale skin study involving consumers worldwide. A key aspect of this initiative is the active participation of consumers through innovative tools, including a special digital measuring device with three different light sources and a special app. Participants submit current data on more than 80 parameters up to twice a day. These include individual skin properties (e.g., skin age, wrinkle depth, skin tone, complexion, and impurities) as well as information about the individual’s lifestyle (e.g., sleep, nutrition, menstrual cycle, and environmental conditions), the skin care products used, and external environmental factors. The results help us to understand our consumers and their skin as well as the variables that influence them, and to draw lessons for our product development. The more high-quality data is available, the better our data scientists will be able to translate this into relevant, actionable new knowledge for our research, development, and marketing. What’s more, thanks to AI-based machine learning, the SKINLY ecosystem created for the study learns something new with every measurement. More than 20,000 participants aged between 18 and 80+ from over 60 countries have already taken part in the SKINLY study to date. Around one billion data points have been measured and more than 120 million high-quality skin images generated. To broaden our understanding of key areas of research, the study specifically targets groups with significant UV and environmental exposure, allowing us to see exactly how these factors affect skin aging. In order to expand the algorithm using valid data for melanin-rich skin types and to take better account of the diversity of phototypes, we expanded the SKINLY study to include the USA in the reporting year, focusing on participants with Hispanic and African American backgrounds.

Product highlights²

We aspire to create impactful and sustainable skin care innovations that touch people’s lives. For this reason, we are continually pushing the boundaries of skin science as the basis for the ongoing development of new products for all our brands that raise skin care to a new level. This strong culture of innovation, which has long been a distinguishing feature of the company, ensures that our innovation pipeline is well filled year after year. These innovations include innovative product packaging as well as new cosmetic formulations.

The following overview shows a selection of our most important innovations during the reporting year:

• One of our biggest innovations achieved in the financial year just ended was the NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Expert Dual Action Serum. The innovative formula with the new active ingredient GLYCOSTOP® and pure coenzyme Q10 prevents skin aging, which can also be induced by sugar. It also visibly reduces existing wrinkles within two weeks. The product’s active ingredient GLYCOSTOP® has a direct impact on skin saccharification by reducing the glycation process, in which advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed, by up to 68% (in vitro), thereby protecting the skin’s connective tissue fibers and preserving its firmness and elasticity. The product is based on a light, non-greasy formula and complies with the highest sustainability standards. The formula is free of silicons, mineral oils, and non-biodegradable polymers, while the packaging is made of recycled glass and can itself be recycled.
• We also launched two additions to our NIVEA UV series for the face on the market: the NIVEA Sun UV Face Expert Derma Skin Clear UV Fluid SPF 50+ and NIVEA SUN UV Face Expert Invisible Daily UV Fluid SPF 50+. The ultra-light, non-greasy care formula of the Derma Skin Clear UV Fluid mattifies the skin by absorbing excess oil from its surface without blocking the pores. The formula with Licochalcone A and a sun protection factor of 50+ activates the skin’s own defense mechanisms to protect it from oxidative stress caused by UV/HEVIS light. The ultra-light, non-greasy Invisible Daily UV Fluid with niacinamide was developed for all skin types, even sensitive skin, ensuring an 8-hour anti-shine effect and a visibly matte complexion. The formula also leaves the skin feeling soft and looking healthy.
• In the reporting year, we introduced the new NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Anti-Dark Marks CC Fluid 3-in-1, a comprehensive solution for an even skin tone. The fluid hides dark marks and ensures a natural-looking finish, while reducing dark spots and blemishes over time. Enriched with the patented active ingredient Thiamidol® and hyaluronic acid, the formula is available in three shades and adapts to over 60 skin tones thanks to its micro-encapsulated color pigments.
• The two new Serum Infused NIVEA Micellar Waters mark the first time that NIVEA has offered micellar water products with an added serum phase. This provides extra care for the skin directly after deep cleansing, which is the moment when the active ingredients are best absorbed. “Skin Glow” ensures radiant skin, while “Regeneration” is the perfect preparation for overnight skin regeneration.
• We have completely overhauled the NIVEA Body Lotion range, which now offers improved care properties and optimized formulas. The new formulations – including some featuring natural oils and the ingredient hyaluron with its incredible water-binding capacity – provide intensive and long-lasting skin hydration. With a view to reducing plastic waste, the new packaging now comprises 50% recycled plastic and also weighs 20% less thanks to extensive material savings.
• We undertook a comprehensive relaunch of our NIVEA MEN Shower Gels, featuring a new, iconic 3D bottle shape made from 100% recycled material: the more sustainable formula, which is 99% biodegradable with 100% plant-based moisturizers, leaves skin feeling stronger, hydrated and visibly healthy. An 18% reduction in packaging weight and a more sustainable bottle cap design (100% PCR content, 45% lighter) have reduced waste quantities considerably and boosted the eco-friendliness of the shower gel series.
• After 15 years of epigenetic research, we launched a revolutionary anti-aging innovation in the form of the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum in the reporting year. It contains the active ingredient Epicelline® identified using our patented skin-specific age-clock technology: this turns back the skin cells’ age clock by reactivating dormant youth genes. The product formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid, glycine saponin and enoxolone to reverse ten signs of skin aging, resulting in firmer skin, reduced wrinkles, and enhanced facial contours – for a clear lifting effect and a more youthful appearance.

• The reporting year also saw the relaunch or overhaul of a number of products from our Eucerin AtopiControl range, the skin care range for atopic dermatitis (eczema). The calming AtopiControl Ultra-Light Hydro Lotion is the new product in the series. The ultra-light formula is absorbed in under 60 seconds, leaving a pleasant cooling sensation and noticeably soothing itching. It provides a moisturizing effect that lasts for 48 hours, thus supporting daily care for eczema-prone skin. We have optimized other products in the series with an eye to sustainability. The adapted formulas contain proven ingredients such as Licochalcone A, decandiol, NMFs, shea butter, ceramides and omega oils to strengthen the skin barrier, soothe itching and reduce inflammation. Thanks to this relaunch, which included optimization of the product packaging, AtopiControl now offers an effective and more sustainable solution to consumers with atopic skin.
• We also extended and optimized our successful Eucerin Anti-Pigment care range. In addition to individual local product innovations, we introduced Eucerin Anti-Pigment Cleansing Gel in the reporting year – a product that boosts the effectiveness of the anti-pigment active ingredient Thiamidol® with its exfoliating AHA acids. The gentle formula leaves skin radiant and evens out skin tone. Existing products in the Anti-Pigment range have also been overhauled from a sustainability perspective. Synthetic polymers have been replaced with biopolymers in the new formulas, while retaining a high level of sensory performance and effectiveness.
• In the reporting year, we launched the Hidrofugal FORTE OVERNIGHT Roll-on, a highly efficient antiperspirant whose long-lasting effect is built up overnight. Its specially developed dual-action formula with zinc combats odor and sweat efficiently and is twice as effective as deodorant application in the morning.
• In recent months, we introduced the latest and most advanced La Prairie formula to combat skin aging in the form of the Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, which works to revitalize skin cells at molecular level. Life Matrix Cream boosts collagen synthesis, leaving the skin feeling firmer and more elastic with enhanced volume – and a visibly plumping effect.
• Another new product launched was Skin Caviar The Mist, a refreshing and smoothing face mist. Developed for the summer holidays, the La Prairie product boasts an ultra-fine emulsion texture and a fragrance-free formula that can be applied over make-up and sun protection for a dewy-fresh effect. The Mist enriched with the characteristic caviar smooths, refreshes, and energizes the skin.
• Chantecaille, our prestige brand for botanical luxury skin care and cosmetics, launched its 24K Gold Cream Intense, a ceramide-boosted nourishing cream providing intensive hydration for dry or mature skin. It contains 24-carat gold and advanced botanical ingredients to firm the skin and boost its luminosity.
• We also launched a new version of the Chantecaille Just Tinted Moisturizer. The new, moisturizing formula is infused with botanical ingredients and is formulated without cyclic silicones, solid microplastics, talc, fragrance, or parabens. Innovative botanical actives boost hydration and visibly smooth the skin. The relaunch also extended the shade range with four new shades to better match Chantecaille’s diverse consumers.

As a result of our regional research and development activities, we also launched a series of local innovations on the market in the reporting year:

• The launch of the NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Professional Anti-Spot Multi-Brightening Super Serum in China addressed a local need of Asian women. Thanks to the patented active ingredient Thiamidol®, the formula combats the problem of skin yellowing – which increases with advancing age – and the formation of dark spots thoroughly and effectively. The formula promotes an even complexion, while the new anti-aging ingredient NAHP halts the skin glycation process, thus preventing sugar-induced skin damage.
• We also launched the NIVEA Vitamin Body Serum for the Southeast Asian market via our development laboratory in India. It contains the ingredients glutathione, vitamin C and niacinamide, as does the NIVEA C & AHA Body Serum, whose formula also contains alpha hydroxy acids to ensure that it penetrates deeply into the skin, which looks healthy and radiant as a result.
• We also developed the Eucerin Anti-Pigment Daily Body Lotion for the Asian market, thereby entering the anti-pigment skin care product market in the reporting year. The ultra-light, fast-absorbing formula with patented Thiamidol® reduces dark spots effectively, creating an even skin tone, while hyaluronic acid provides long-lasting skin hydration
• We launched NIVEA MEN Anti-Age Hyaluron Moisturizing Cream SPF 30 in the USA. Its moisturizing formula with hyaluron and pro-retinol provides intensive hydration, reduces wrinkles, and visibly firms the skin.
• We also launched new products under the Eucerin brand in the USA: the new Eucerin Face Immersive Hydration series – comprising a serum, daily lotion, night cream and gel-cream – is the first major launch of Eucerin face care products in the USA and is thus instrumental in establishing this category at local level. Eucerin is the first brand on the US market to offer a series featuring both long- and short-chain hyaluronic acid across an entire category. The long-chain hyaluronic acid moisturizes the upper skin layer intensively, while the 40 times smaller short-chain hyaluronic acid penetrates deeper into the epidermal skin layers to plump fine lines and wrinkles. Other new local launches were the Eucerin Face Hydrating Micellar Water and Eucerin Face Hydrating Face Cleansing Gel, which ensure gentle, yet effective face cleansing. The micellar water combines micellar technology with hyaluronic acid, and the cleansing gel removes dirt, talc and make-up reliably yet gently, while supporting skin hydration.
• In our Brazilian development laboratory, we developed another shade in our established Shine Control range with the NIVEA SUN UV Face Shine Control Tinted Light SPF 50 especially for Mexico and Brazil. With its light colored pigments, this sun protection for the face ensures an even skin tone and a long-lasting mattifying effect.