Our Story: Learn more about the history of OneSkin & the scientists behind our product.

Reference Lab

Feb 2nd, 2023

Born in the Lab

Our story began in a doctorate lab in Brazil, where our founding team met while completing their PhDs. Carolina, Alessandra, Mariana, and Juliana bonded over their shared interest in longevity science and their dreams of making age-related diseases a thing of the past.

Together, the group explored their shared interest in skin–and its potential as the body’s largest organ to unlock the secrets to whole-system longevity. Our founders understood that if they could effectively slow the rate of skin aging, they could promote overall body health–complementing longevity practices and personalized medicine to optimize human living.

Our Origins as a Research Company

A few patents and papers later, our founders joined forces to start a research company dedicated to testing the anti-aging efficacy of topical skincare using their breakthrough invention, MolClock, the first ever skin-specific molecular clock. This advanced algorithm identifies the skin’s molecular age based on DNA methylation – an important indicator of overall skin health. By analyzing skin age with MolClock before and after the application of topical products, our team discovered how to quantify the efficacy of skin products at the molecular level.

The team put thousands of ingredients and cosmetic formulations to the test. What they discovered was shocking: not only are most skincare products ineffective, many actually accelerate skin aging at the cellular level. While the team never set out to create skin products, they knew they had to get involved–formulating a new kind of skin care that actually lived up to their high scientific standards.

Together, they embarked on a mission they never intended to pursue, but haven't stopped chasing since: revolutionizing the skin care industry by developing proven products that actually reverse aging at the molecular level.

Discovering the OS-01 Peptide

To revolutionize the way people care for their skin, our team needed to discover a technology unlike anything on the market. So, they got to work doing what they do best: identifying new molecules and analyzing their effects on the skin at the cellular level. While many skincare companies make claims about aging, OneSkin is the first company that replicates skin aging in the lab to validate the efficacy of our products at the cellular level. After analyzing thousands of peptides, our founders discovered OS-01: the first peptide proven to reverse aging on the molecular level by reducing the accumulation of senescent cells in lab-grown ex vivo human skin models. Learn more about cellular senescence here.

Looking to the Future

Thanks to our founders, science is in the OneSkin DNA. Most “science-backed” skincare companies are led by marketing teams that outsource their research to external labs. OneSkin is different. We’re led by scientists who run our end-to-end R&D process in-house and adhere to the strict rigor of the scientific process. The result? Research first. Products second. Data-validated claims always.
Fueled by our passion for science and our love of life, we’re on a mission to revolutionize the way humans experience aging.

 

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais in collaboration with Rutgers University
• Alumnus of IndieBio, the world's leading biotechnology accelerator
• Co-inventor of three patents

“By addressing aging, we can be more effective in preventing most of the individual diseases we struggle to treat. I dream of a future in which everyone will live free from limitations associated with aging. If I can help move the needle towards that future, I will have fulfilled my life’s purpose.”

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• PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais in collaboration with 3B’s Research Group in Portugal
• Second post-doctoral, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Co-inventor of three patents
• Author of 20 peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals

“Over the past decade, I’ve focused my research on understanding skin biology and skin regeneration. For me, OneSkin became the connecting dot—it’s where I unite my research with my dream of extending the years that people can spend in good health.”

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• PhD in bioinformatics with an emphasis in genomics, Federal University of Minas Gerais with post-doctorate at the Gene Center at LMU, Germany.
• Head of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Lab, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA)
• Co-inventor of four patents
• Author of 26 peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals

“I was diagnosed with cancer at 13, an experience that motivated me to research pathologies like cancer and age-related diseases and develop technologies that help people to lead healthier lives. My experiences have propelled my desire to use science to create a better future for the world.”

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• PhD in molecular biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais
• Professor of Pathology, Catholic University of Brasilia
• Co-inventor of four patents
• Author of 34 peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals

“I feel tremendous privilege that I have the opportunity to generate new technologies and use my knowledge for the benefits of others. I love being a part of a new generation of scientists. The best way to achieve a brighter future is to build it.”