L’Oréal has always built on cutting-edge research. In 2015, we have gained a much better scientific understanding of the effects of long UVA rays and pollution on the skin. This has led to the publication of scientific studies and the development of technologies to counteract these effects. Another key issue is sustainable development. 65% of our new formulas have a positive environmental or social impact(1). We have also developed new naturally-sourced active ingredients, such as quinoa bran extract, a high-performance peeling agent, and the powerful antioxidant baicaline.

We take advantage of our multi-hub organisation to capture the best of regional scientific ecosystems. In Japan for example, we are working on optic particles and on pigments with top experts in these raw materials; in India, our Advanced Research teams are decrypting the ancestral knowledge of ayurvedic medicine to develop new active ingredients based on plant extracts.

We began our digital transformation more than 15 years ago. Today it is paying off in terms of innovation capacity and differentiation. With the help of digital technologies, we are capitalising on a wealth of skin and hair knowledge accumulated over more than a century, and also developing cutting-edge methods, such as molecular and formula modelling. And with our advanced numerical simulations, we can create high-precision, customised products and services such as the first connected, flexible UV patch that instantly informs users about the quantity of UV rays they are receiving.