Skin Expertise

Learning from the Skin

Each person’s skin is different, and yet all skin does some truly remarkable things: it protects the body, assists with breathing, regulates body temperature, and generates substances that are important for both it and the rest of the body. And the skin is an unrivaled sensory organ. Which are all good reasons to take care of it and protect it. Furthermore, human skin is also the best teacher for Beiersdorf research – its biology continually offers new starting points for the development of innovative ingredients and products.

At Beiersdorf’s research center in Hamburg (Germany), a multidisciplinary team of human, cell, and molecular biologists, immunologists, and biochemists unlock new processes in the depths of human skin each and every day. In doing so, they look very closely – using electron microscopes and with biochemical, molecular biological, and cell dynamic procedures. They search for new ingredients that protect, support, or promote the biological processes in the skin’s cells in a natural way. As a component of our products, these ingredients later help vitalize the skin and optimize its functions.

A group of physicists and bioengineers support Beiersdorf’s skin researchers in their work, for example measuring test subjects’ skin characteristics using the latest biophysical methods with regard to wrinkles, elasticity, thickness, and moisture. This is how the company ultimately demonstrates that Beiersdorf’s innovative skin care products have a positive effect on the complexion and strengthen the skin’s structure. Because that is the mission of Beiersdorf research – to develop customized products that are carefully formulated, painstakingly tested, and naturally effective.

Skin Function and Structure

With a surface area of up to two square meters and a weight of up to 12 kilograms, the skin is our largest organ and is responsible for a variety of tasks. With the help of about 1.5 million tiny nerve endings in the skin, it is possible to perceive vibration and pain, to touch, and to feel pressure and temperature stimuli. As an “intake organ,” the skin can absorb substances from the environment into the body – such as when applying skin care products. The acid mantle prevents germs from entering the body. By excreting sweat, the skin protects us from overheating. And it goes without saying that the skin is a highly specialized protective barrier against moisture loss, cold, ultraviolet light, mechanical irritations, and pathogens.

  • Asian with moderately pigmented skin

    On the Asian market, especially in Thailand and China, white skin is en vogue. Therefore, Beiersdorf skin experts launches innovative day care products with UV filters and additional whitening ingredients to promote pale skin.

  • European with light skin

    The skin’s behaviour and reactions aren’t just dependent on a person’s age and ethnic background, but also to a great extent by their immediate environment. Other important factors are where people live. Some people live in sunny southern countries with high levels of humidity, others in the cooler north. People who live in the northern hemisphere tend to have dry skin, while people who live in the southern hemisphere often suffer from greasy skin and enlarged pores. Beiersdorf researchers develop customized solutions for them such as lighter formulas and non-greasy emulsions.

  • African with deeply pigmented skin

    Especially people with darker skin are more concerned about irregular pigmentation than wrinkles. For them, researchers at Beiersdorf develop products that regulate the melanin production and even the skin tone.

  • Latin American with moderately pigmented skin

    We have developed innovative day care products with high SPFs for Latin America which also are quickly absorbed, and perceived by consumers to be light and pleasant on the skin despite the heat. Especially in Brazil and Mexico, a tan is a ‘must have’. 

Every Skin Is Different

Human skin is always the same, and yet also very different – men’s skin and women’s skin, extremely light and darker skin, or dry, oily, and sensitive skin all require completely different care. At Beiersdorf’s research labs we develop innovative products that optimally support the natural processes of all skin types, and thus meet the needs of all consumers.

  • Normal Skin

    Properties: Normal skin feels smooth and silky. It is well-balanced, not too oily, and not too dry. 

    Care: Caring for this type of skin is fairly easy: using a moisturizer every day helps the skin create and maintain a healthy protective layer.

  • Dry Skin

    Properties: If the skin lacks lipids and natural moisturizing factors, it becomes dry and brittle. This can result in unpleasant feelings of tightness. The skin is prone to small cracks, itchiness, and flaking.

    Care: Intensive care with rich products is necessary to balance dry skin’s lipid and moisture levels.

  • Oily Skin

    Properties: Oily skin produces too much sebum and as a result, is more shiny than normal skin. It is prone to imperfections and enlarged pores, particularly around the nose and forehead.

    Care: Care should consist of light, non-greasy products that regulate the flow of sebum.

  • Sensitive Skin

    Properties: Feelings of tightness, redness, and inflammations – the path from sensitive skin to unhealthy skin is sometimes extremely short. Sensitive skin reacts very easily to cosmetic products and environmental stress, since the skin’s natural protective mechanism is disturbed. Although sometimes hereditary, this can also be due to external stress factors or improper care. 

    Care: Sensitive skin needs lots of protection and gentle care. 

  • Combination Skin

    Properties: A combination of dry and oily zones. The T-zone, which consists of the forehead, the nose, and the chin, has rather large pores and tends to have imperfections. The skin on the cheeks, temples, and throat is dry with small pores. 

    Care: A variety of balanced products should be used to meet these needs. 

  • Women's and Men's Skin

    At first glance, women’s and men’s skin appear to be very similar. But upon closer inspection, we see that they are fairly different, all the way down to the deeper layers. For example, men’s skin is thicker and has more sebaceous glands. And hormones also create differences – the level of the female sex hormone estrogen declines with age, and with it, the skin’s thickness. In this process, the skin becomes less taut and more dry. And after menopause, women’s skin ages significantly more quickly than men’s. Elderly men complain less about wrinkles, but more about oily skin and tired appearance.  

    Care: Beiersdorf offers different product ranges for women as well as for men (such as NIVEA MEN).