Press

A new sequencing method resolves C. acnes to the sub-type level, giving brands a way to substantiate acne and longevity claims that standard testing can't reach. It's the standard the scientific literature already relies on.

The collaboration aims to bring microbiome science and thus, regimens developed around specific skin profiles, to beauty formulation at scale. A new partnership looks to usher in the next era of product development.

AI has the potential to fundamentally improve how consumer products, particularly in health, beauty, and personal care, are developed, evaluated, and recommended. Its greatest value lies not in replacing human expertise, but in enabling better decisions grounded in data, biology, and measurable outcomes. AI can enable better products by improving how complex biological data is analyzed and translated into formulation and recommendation decisions. Human biology is multifactorial and highly variable; AI excels at identifying patterns across large datasets that would otherwise remain invisible.

Microbiome research in cosmetics is generating increasingly sophisticated clinical datasets, yet the real value lies not in sequencing itself but in how this data informs formulation development, personalisation strategies, and claim substantiation. As the industry moves beyond generic “microbiome-friendly” positioning, the ability to translate clinical microbiome outputs into targeted product design becomes critical.

Beauty’s latest buzzword, the microbiome is not the easiest concept to grasp for consumers—and even for brands. Formes de Luxe investigates this new terrain, and the issues that could very well stymy growth for the future.

HelloBiome, a US-based startup, provides a microbiome-focused R&D platform as a solution for businesses. Through collaborations and research with companies, they are expanding their microbiome data, with the goal of evolving into a personalized cosmetics development platform tailored to each individual's microbiome environment. We interviewed CEO Elsa Jungman and CSO Grace Park about the company's technology, future strategies, and potential.