Article by Massera Winigah 9 minutes read
The skin has long been viewed as a mirror of beauty, but is now recognised as a mirror of biology, an outward expression of our inner state. Longevity science now understands that skin ageing is not an isolated cosmetic issue, but rather a visible manifestation of underlying systemic processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, cellular damage and metabolic decline. These processes reflect the body’s overall health and resilience.
So, how well do you know your skin’s biological age?
This was one of the topics explored during the recent webinar co-hosted by Hello Tomorrow and L’Oréal, entitled “L’Oréal Longevity Integrative Science™: From In-depth Research to Beauty Innovation.” This discussion, moderated by Amrita Jain, Investment Director at Deepbright Ventures, featured multiple insights from L’Oréal’s R&I team, including Carine Ballihaut, Science Transformation Director, Nukhet Cavusoglu, Head of High-Throughput Biology/Diagnostic, Fred Orsita, Head of Tech Innovation and VP Tech Incubator.
The session examined how personalised skincare, biomarker-driven diagnostics, and proactive approaches to ageing are creating new possibilities, not just for cosmetics, but for consumer health at large. For corporate open innovation teams and deep tech start-ups working in this field, this signals an opportunity to reimagine how we understand and extend the human healthspan – and to come up with new business models in longevity science.
Longevity science redefined: From reactive care to proactive wellness
For a long time, longevity was simply about living longer. But today, the focus has shifted, from lifespan to healthspan: the number of years we live in good health, free from chronic, age-related diseases.
This shift reflects a deeper change in how we approach ageing. Longevity science is about delaying the biological mechanisms behind ageing. The goal is to preserve function, vitality, and quality of life, not just add years to life, but life to years.
This vision is becoming more tangible thanks to major advances in molecular biology, especially in the field of omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. These tools are helping researchers understand ageing at the molecular level, unlocking new possibilities for personalised, proactive interventions.
A quick guide to omics: Understanding the tools behind the shift
Genomics studies the full set of a person’s genes, how they interact with each other and the environment. Think of it as the body’s instruction manual, written in DNA.
Transcriptomics looks at RNA, the molecules that translate DNA into action. It shows which parts of the manual are being “read” at a given moment.
Proteomics focuses on proteins, what the body actually builds from those instructions. It tracks how proteins function and change with ageing, disease, or treatment.
Metabolomics examines small molecules (metabolites) produced by cells. These offer a snapshot of the body’s real-time metabolic state.
Together, these approaches allow us to monitor the ageing process in unprecedented detail, and intervene earlier.
Skin as a window into ageing
Between 2000 and 2023, scientific publications on longevity have increased more than twelvefold. Over 93,000 peer-reviewed studies now inform our understanding of ageing, and many of them focus on skin health, one of the most visible and measurable indicators of biological ageing.
In 2024, researcher Nukhet Cavusoglu co-authored a pivotal study titled Clinical vs. chronological skin age: exploring determinants and stratum corneum protein markers of differential skin ageing in 351 healthy women. The study involved dermatological assessments of 21 clinical signs of skin ageing in women aged 36 to 75.
By analysing how these signs correlated with five key proteins found in the skin’s outer layer (the stratum corneum), the team identified distinct protein signatures associated with specific ageing traits. Using advanced statistical modelling, they isolated six clinical signs most predictive of a person’s chronological age, revealing a clear distinction between “clinical skin age” and “chronological age”.
What’s the difference between clinical skin age and chronological age?
Chronological age is the number of years you’ve lived. Clinical skin age, on the other hand, reflects the visible and molecular signs of ageing in your skin, such as elasticity, smoothness, and protein composition.
This distinction matters. It means two people of the same age can have skin that looks and behaves very differently. And it opens the door to more personalised skincare, where interventions are tailored not just to age, but to the unique biological state of a person’s skin.
For stakeholders in industries such as consumer health, beauty, and biotech, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. But, how can these complex biological insights be translated into accessible, actionable experiences for consumers?
Introducing omics technology, the engine behind precision longevity
Omics technologies refer to large-scale methods used to study biological molecules such as genes, proteins, and metabolites. These tools allow scientists to understand how our bodies function at a systems level. They identify patterns, imbalances, or early signs of ageing that wouldn’t be visible otherwise.
One key branch is proteomics, the study of proteins and how they behave. This is particularly relevant in skin biology, where proteins serve as key indicators of how our skin ages over time.
L’Oréal’s research teams have been at the forefront of this work. Through clinical studies involving more than 350 women, they’ve identified specific skin proteins, such as LCN1, IDE, and TG3, that act as biomarkers for age acceleration or deceleration. In other words, the presence or absence of certain proteins can reveal how fast someone’s skin is really ageing, regardless of their actual age.
Building on this, they developed a “skin surface protein clock” that provides a more accurate picture of biological skin age. Even more importantly, it helps predict how an individual’s skin is likely to respond to different active ingredients.
This kind of insight marks a shift from reactive to proactive skincare, by enabling personalised routines tailored not just to skin type, but to the molecular signatures of ageing unique to each person.
>>>> Learn more about omics technologies
L’Oréal longevity tech innovation Cell BioPrint
L’Oréal, long recognised for its pioneering work in dermatological science, is now positioning itself at the vanguard of longevity innovation. During the webinar, the company presented its latest research on how omics technologies, particularly proteomics, can be used to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind skin ageing.
The cornerstone of this work is L’Oréal Cell BioPrint, a microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip” device capable of delivering personalised skin diagnostics in under five minutes. This compact tool analyses key skin proteins to generate a “biological age” for an individual’s skin and predicts their responsiveness to active ingredients. It’s a science-backed shift from reactive skincare to proactive longevity care.
Cell BioPrint condenses advanced scientific diagnostics into an intuitive consumer interface experience. Consumers are no longer passive recipients of skincare products; they are equipped with data that informs their choices. From understanding if their skin is prone to wrinkles or sunspots, to knowing whether they are responsive to antioxidants or peptides, users can now engage with beauty through the lens of longevity.
This approach also reflects the democratisation of health insights, in the sense that what used to require lab visits and specialist equipment is now becoming available in-store or even at home.
What are the opportunities for corporate open innovation teams and deep tech founders in longevity science?
Longevity science is becoming one of the most promising frontiers for R&D, offering real-world applications across diagnostics, personalisation, and proactive care. Especially, in the development of tools that use biomarkers from proteomic and genomic data to measure biological, rather than chronological, age. L’Oréal’s Cell BioPrint is a remarkable example of how these insights are being translated into market-ready innovations.
A wide-open field for collaboration
The field of longevity science presents an opportunity for cross-sector collaboration. We’re seeing beauty brands team up with biotech startups, pharma researchers working alongside data scientists, there’s a lot of room for cross-sector partnerships here.
Whether it’s microfluidics, molecular diagnostics, wearable biosensors, or next-gen therapeutics, there’s huge potential for deep tech innovators and corporates to join forces. These kinds of partnerships are what turn breakthrough science into something practical, something people can use to take charge of their health in a more personalised, preventative, and data-driven way.
New tech means new business models in longevity science
At the same time, the industry’s growing interest in personalised wellness can be explored for new business models built around diagnostics-as-a-service, preventive skincare platforms, and smart packaging technologies.
Why does this matter now? Market timing and shifting consumer expectations
Ageing is one of the most universal human experiences, and one of the most expensive challenges in healthcare systems. As populations age and chronic diseases rise, proactive longevity strategies could dramatically ease public health burdens and improve the overall quality of life.
At the same time, consumer expectations are changing. Today’s health-conscious individuals want personalised, data-driven solutions that reflect their biology. They are becoming more proactive about their wellbeing and are demanding technologies that can detect and predict health issues and tailor interventions. Although supplements and skincare products remain popular, the next wave of growth is expected to come from diagnostics, digital health platforms and omics-based insights.
A report by Statista shows that the global longevity and anti-ageing market is projected to reach nearly 80 billion U.S. dollars by 2032. Tools like L’Oréal’s Cell BioPrint show how cutting-edge research can be transformed into intuitive, consumer-ready solutions, by offering both functional value and emotional relevance. This ultimately bridges the gap between deep tech and everyday wellness.
However, setting the stage for what’s to come in longevity science requires collaboration. Real breakthroughs will come from partnerships between corporations, start-ups and research institutions that combine expertise in biology, materials science, AI and more. The most impactful solutions, whether it’s biomarker discovery, advanced delivery systems, or personalised diagnostics, will emerge at the intersection of disciplines.
Author
