Beiersdorf Research & Development

Beiersdorf’s expertise in the area of research and development has been driving our company’s success for more than 130 years. The Consumer Business Segment develops innovative, high-quality skin care products that are tailored to the needs and wishes of consumers worldwide.

At the end of 2015, 1,108 people were employed in Beiersdorf’s Research and Development area (previous year: 1,071). Of this total, 637 (previous year: 602) worked in the Consumer Business Segment and 471 (previous year: 469) in the tesa Business Segment.

Beiersdorf is globally known for its leading skin care expertise. Our research and development activities aim to define skin care of the future. The effort focuses on addressing consumer demand for efficacious yet mild products more than ever before.

In the year under review, a Beiersdorf research cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) showed how skin cells naturally protect themselves against stress caused by environmental influences. The researchers discovered that skin cells defend themselves by using the “first line response,” a key rapid change in skin cell metabolism. This mechanism enables skin cells to counteract within minutes stress caused by, for example, solar radiation or oxidative stress. This important insight can be used to develop future skin care products to prevent environmentally induced skin sensitivity and aging by fortifying the identified natural skin function. The work was highlighted by “Molecular Cell”, one of the most highly respected science journals.

Also in 2015, a cooperative project between researchers from the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Nice and Beiersdorf discovered a molecular mechanism that leads to melasma, one of the most common discolorations that affects consumers with darker complexions. The research group is currently exploiting this discovery to deliver solutions for this skin disorder.

Sensitive skin is another major skin disorder that Beiersdorf’s research focuses on. Many people with sensitive skin suffer from skin inflammation. Our researchers found effective soothing agents that helped develop skin-calming cosmetic products. In 2015, one highly recognized result involved Licochalcone A, a substance contained in licorice that has a positive effect on a key inflammatory pathway in the skin. The active ingredient with its antioxidant properties also helps the skin activate its own defenses against UV stress. 

At Beiersdorf, product safety and tolerability are our top priority. Remarkable progress has been made in the core methods for cosmetic safety, eye irritation, skin sensitization and genotoxicity. Alternative methods for these endpoints are now undergoing the official acceptance process at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Commission. We also achieved progress in our work to identify skin-irritating substances at an early stage of our research and thus prevent the possibility of allergic reactions.

Beiersdorf’s Research and Development unit drives the integration of internal as well as external knowledge and ideas to create outstanding products. This objective is achieved through close relationships with leading research institutes, universities, and suppliers as well as through our Open Innovation network Pearlfinder, where Beiersdorf scientists post technical challenges and our external partners submit possible solutions.

 The launch of the new NIVEA Protect & Shave Razor, which was the result of a close, long-term partnership between our Research and Development unit and the Japanese razor blade manufacturer Kai.

 In its second year, the Beiersdorf Innovation Pitch attracted many ideas from exhibitors at the “in-cosmetics” trade fair in Barcelona, Spain. The three winning contributions now have an opportunity to develop their projects through our strong brands NIVEA and Eucerin.

 With our new Open Innovation format Supplier Fair, we opened the doors of our Research and Development unit for the first time, welcoming three long-standing strategic partners to present functional raw materials and their application in our particular categories.

 Our Open Innovation initiative was intensified with a focus on regional development laboratories. The closeness to innovation hot spots and consumers in the respective regions led to some unique products and innovation partner relationships.

To best meet consumers’ needs around the world, we further strengthened our regional and local development activities. We conduct regional consumer tests to customize product formulas and design specified packaging solutions. Being close to the market allows a fast and precise adoption of the local needs and the development of regional innovations.

In 2015, we expanded the development laboratories for the Far East in Wuhan, China, which is now our biggest development location outside Beiersdorf’s headquarters laboratories in Hamburg. In Sanand, India, we opened a development laboratory located on the premises of the new production facility. Solutions are developed there for the Near East region, which has a distinct market diversity and large outreach within our global network. One of the first tasks of the newly completed laboratory was to test and refine the formulation and packaging for the NIVEA MEN Body Deodorizer. The product was especially created for Indian consumers and provides day-long control of body odor through a single application per day.

Another expansion of activities in the regions took place in Silao, Mexico. In 2015, the team began working in new, fully equipped laboratories to develop innovations for Latin America and North America. The focus here is on deodorant, body, sun, and cleansing products specifically designed for the local markets. A good example from Silao is the development and launch of NIVEA Aclarado Natural Deodorant, which is designed to help recover the natural skin tone of the armpit.

Beiersdorf’s approach to localization goes hand in hand with our intention to further integrate consumers’ needs and wishes into all steps of product development, from idea creation to post-launch assessment. Through our consumer integration approach, Beiersdorf employees connect with and observe consumers, e.g. while they shop and under special product-use conditions, using traditional as well as state-of-the-art digital research technologies. In 2015, Beiersdorf conducted about 1,800 studies with approximately 38,000 participants in all regions.

The Consumer Business Segment filed patents for 61 innovations in 2015 (previous year: 76), and its products repeatedly set significant new market trends.

In 2015, key innovations included:

 NIVEA Care Creme for face, body, and hands offers intensive nourishment for more than 24 hours, providing a light and soft skin feeling without greasiness. The new NIVEA Care range addresses the specific needs of our female consumers. It consists of an intensively nourishing cream, a product for an improved skin tone, and an anti-aging cream. All three products were launched in 2015 in different markets.

 NIVEA CELLular Anti-Age is one of the most popular anti-aging care product ranges in Europe, having won the 2015 Nielsen European Breakthrough Innovation Award among more than 8,000 initiatives launched in Europe. The new line extension NIVEA CELLular Radiance continues this success and provides a more youthful radiance with both instant and long-term visible results. The benefit agents support skin functions on a cellular level and the soft pigments deliver instant improved skin appearance.

 As a result of continuous research to identify a superior and skin-friendly deodorant, NIVEA launched the first set of products with an innovative technology to meet the growing consumer demand for aluminum-free and yet highly effective deodorants: aluminum-free NIVEA Fresh Deodorants with 48-hour odor protection. Both the roll-on and spray versions fight malodor formation at its root, delivering reliable, scientifically proven 48-hour deodorant protection.

 The first all-purpose cream for men, NIVEA MEN Creme, gives male skin a boost of hydration and prevents it from drying out. It offers a masculine, fresh scent, and is ideal for the face, body, and hands. The light formula is non-greasy, non-sticky, and absorbs quickly. The cream tin was awarded the 2015 German Packaging Prize in the category “Retail Packaging/Hygiene & Cosmetics.”

 NIVEA MEN Active Clean Shower and NIVEA MEN Active Clean Shampoo are the first body and hair cleansing products containing activated charcoal by NIVEA. Thanks to the innovative formula with activated charcoal, body and hair are thoroughly cleaned.

 Eucerin Sun Gel-Creme Oil Control Dry Touch SPF 30/50+ is a daily sunscreen with a high sun protection factor specifically developed for oily and acne-prone facial skin. It leaves a dry-touch feeling to the skin due to pigment technology. Additionally, it combines special photo protection against sun-induced skin damage and an active solution to help improve the skin’s condition.

 Hansaplast launched the high performance Blister Plaster as a result of a continuous research program. High-tech hydrocolloid materials from professional wound care combined with easy-to-use product design provide outstanding protection over several days plus immediate pain reduction and faster healing via an active gel cushion.

 In 2015, La Prairie launched the Anti-Aging Rapid Response Booster. An active delivery system targets the cells that are responsible for younger-looking skin and precisely delivers anti-wrinkle ingredients to those areas where the skin needs them most. La Prairie also expanded its successful Skin Caviar Collection with the light-textured Skin Caviar Luxe Cream Sheer.