L’Oréal has acquired Lactobio, a Copenhagen-based probiotic and microbiome research company, boosting its beauty ingredient platform with live bacteria technologies.
Lactobio, founded in 2017, is home to a microbiome discovery platform and screening method that aids researchers in identifying the most effective and safe Lactobacillus strains for topical skin and hair applications, per L'Oreal.
The move is the latest enhancement of L'Oreal's ingredient technologies. In September, L'Oreal invested in Shinehigh Innovation, which boasts smart self-assembling technology that reportedly allows "previously impossible" combinations of ingredients, resulting in end-products with greater efficacy and sustainability.
“The integration of Lactobio into our Advanced Research is highly complementary: L’Oréal’s strong scientific knowledge and technological advancements coupled with Lactobio’s best-in-class formulations using living organisms will significantly strengthen and accelerate our microbiome research dedicated to beauty,” said Anne Colonna, global head of advanced research of L’Oréal Groupe. “In joining forces, we aim to develop a new generation of cosmetics that will use cutting-edge innovations in the formulation process to provide science-based, precision probiotic and postbiotic products with new performance levels.”
“Denmark has a long history of innovation based on living microorganisms applied to food, agriculture and health, and it was against this background that we were inspired to create Lactobio,” said Søren Kjærulff, Ph.D., founder and chief scientific officer of Lactobio. “I am incredibly proud of what our team has achieved and excited for what the future holds as part of L’Oréal Groupe, where together, we can apply microbiome research to new fields of beauty innovation for people all over the world.”
