Age Clock Technology and Epigenetics

Interview with: Heike Fischer, Global Head of Marketing Derma and Dr. Elke Grönniger, Laboratory Manager “Skin Aging” in the Applied Skin Research department
Beiersdorf AG

What is Beiersdorf’s corporate mission?

As recognised experts in skin care, our mission is to make people feel good in their skin. Nobody understands skin as well as we do. For over 140 years, skin research has been at the heart of our company and the foundation for everything we do. Pioneering innovations are an integral part of Beiersdorf’s DNA – and with them we have always made a real difference in the lives of our consumers. We are the inventors of modern skincare with NIVEA Creme, the world’s first stable water-in-oil emulsion. With Eucerin, we were the very first dermocosmetic skincare brand. We have remained true to this spirit of research and innovation to this day. And we continue to shape the future of skincare with numerous pioneering innovations.

What is the Age Clock Technology?

Heike: Our Skin Age Clock Technology is a pioneering development from Beiersdorf research that was patented in 2021 and sets a new standard in skin care. At its core, it is a sophisticated algorithm that precisely determines the biological age of the skin based on individual epigenetic characteristics. Unlike chronological age, which only counts the years since our birth, biological age reflects the actual condition of our skin. It is significantly influenced by environmental factors and our lifestyle and can be precisely determined by analysing epigenetic markers using our Age Clock Technology. This revolutionary technology thus enables Eucerin to decipher the individual condition of the skin and find new ways to rejuvenate the skin from the ground up.

What are the scientific principles behind Age Clock Technology?

Elke: The precision of the Age Clock is based on its skin-specificity – making it a real novelty in the anti-ageing field. For its development, Beiersdorf scientists trained the underlying algorithm exclusively with skin samples by isolating DNA from the samples and analysing the epigenetic patterns present on them. The algorithm learnt to distinguish between ‘young’ and ‘old’ epigenetic profiles. To date, data from over 1,000 skin samples has been incorporated into the development. This in-depth understanding enables us to specifically identify and select ingredients that positively influence the skin’s epigenetic patterns and thus turn back its biological clock.

In which products is Age Clock Technology used?

Heike: With our new Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum, the innovative Age Clock technology has been implemented in a product for the first time and makes the groundbreaking findings of epigenetics research tangible for our consumers. This serum heralds a new era in skin care. Its secret lies in Epicelline^®, an exclusive active ingredient from Eucerin that specifically reverses age-related changes at the epigenetic level. Epicelline^® rejuvenates the skin cells, reactivates their youthful vitality and optimises their functions. In combination with hyaluronic acid, glycine saponin and enoxolone, the serum becomes a true elixir of youth that simultaneously combats ten signs of ageing and makes it possible to look up to five years younger. The highly effective formula firms the skin, reduces wrinkles, sculpts facial contours and ensures a visibly rejuvenated complexion.

Elke: The innovative active ingredient Epicelline^®, which consists of the plant molecule dihydromyricetin (DHM), acts like a gentle ‘reset’ for the skin cells. It acts on an epigenetic level and specifically counteracts the age-related hypermethylation of DNA – a process that influences the activity of genes and contributes to cell ageing. Like an ‘epigenetic micro-peeling’, Epicelline^® refines the epigenetic pattern of the cells and restores their youthful balance. The cells can utilise the silenced youth genes again and the skin is thus renewed from within and its natural rejuvenation potential activated.

What role does epigenetics play in skin care and product development at Beiersdorf?

Elke: Beiersdorf scientists are recognised experts in the field of skin biology and skin ageing. We have been conducting research in the field of epigenetics for more than 15 years and are leaders in skin epigenetics thanks to these findings. We are convinced that our understanding of epigenetics will help us to significantly influence skin ageing. Epigenetics holds an important key for us to rejuvenate the skin from the ground up and thus develop new skin rejuvenation strategies. With new products based on epigenetically active ingredients, such as Epicelline^®, we want to come closer to the dream of many people to turn back the biological age of their skin. Ultimately, our global skin care company is all about maintaining healthy skin so that everyone feels good in their own skin – regardless of their age.

What are the challenges of applying epigenetic research in the cosmetics industry?

Elke: Scientists need a high degree of perseverance and must know how to deal with frustration. At first glance, it often looks as if hours of effort are going nowhere, but progress is often made precisely because of failures and setbacks. Once a suitable active ingredient has been identified and has successfully passed several test phases, we are faced with the next big challenge: integrating this substance into a cream base in a stable way that guarantees long-lasting effectiveness and a pleasant skin feel. At Beiersdorf, we utilize our more than 140 years of experience in the manufacture of high-quality skin care products. This close co-operation between research and product development makes the work really exciting.

Heike: Thanks to our in-depth knowledge of skin biology, we create effective active ingredients that really work with the skin. With Eucerin Hylaruon-Filler Epigenetic Serum – the first product innovation based on our epigenetic research – we are taking on a pioneering role in the field of skincare. And because the topic of epigenetics is not only new to many consumers, but also extremely complex, we have taken a comprehensive educational approach. Even before the official launch, we launched an educational communication campaign to create a basic understanding of epigenetics. We were then able to build on this with our product communication – with catchy explanations of our active ingredient and its mode of action as well as the exceptional performance of our product.

How do your research and development teams work together on an interdisciplinary basis to combine age clock technology and epigenetic approaches?

Elke: At Beiersdorf, an interdisciplinary team of around 20 people is working on epigenetics. These include molecular biologists who prepare the skin samples and isolate DNA, bioinformaticians who have developed and are constantly improving the Age Clock algorithm, cell biologists who implement the findings in the search for active ingredients and product developers who integrate the promising active ingredients into an innovative formula, to name just a few.

What future developments do you see in the field of skincare with regard to age clock technology and epigenetics?

Elke: We are convinced that the findings from epigenetics harbour the next milestone for substantial skin rejuvenation. With our expertise in this field of research, we want to fundamentally change how the skin ages. Our first epigenetic active ingredient already shows impressively where the journey can take us. Our epigenetics research is constantly evolving and further products based on new findings will follow in the coming years. Among other things, we are continuously developing our patented, skin-specific Age Clock and optimising the algorithm. Our second-generation Age Clock now enables us to accurately determine not only the biological age of our skin but also phenotypic ageing, i.e. the visual facial age of a person, based on a biological sample.

Are there any special research projects or collaborations that you are considering for the future?

Elke: At Beiersdorf, we firmly believe that innovations that really make a difference are created at the interface of different disciplines and technologies. This is why we always seek out strategically relevant external partners in order to combine their know-how with our own expertise – in the spirit of our founding fathers and our entrepreneurial DNA. In addition to renowned research institutes and universities, this also includes start-ups – always with the aim of further deciphering skin ageing and creating new, effective product innovations.

How important is it for Beiersdorf to promote consumer education and awareness of such technologies?

Heike: Educating consumers about innovative technologies and new innovations in skin care is of central importance to Beiersdorf. We are convinced that effective skin care is only sustainable in combination with scientific knowledge. Our commitment therefore goes beyond product development in the laboratory – we also rely on medical knowledge, decades of experience and the latest research findings when providing advice. In this way, we want to ensure that our consumers can select the right care products and use them optimally. Our aim is to take responsibility by providing well-founded information and to stand for transparency and science.

 www.beiersdorf.com/research/our-expertise/epigenetics