Based in Zurich, the company manufactures and markets a range of 22 topical skin care products and six ingestible supplements to “address the root cause of aging by blending natural ingredients from the Swiss Alps with cutting-edge biotech advancements.”
Niance first made headlines in June 2024, when Russian supermodel, philanthropist and investor Natalia Vodianova took a majority share in the brand. She had been using the products since 2021 and said that Niance “stands out from the hundreds of skin care products I have tried.”
The formulations harness Niance’s own Fernesse biotechnology, which it says: “enables the release of its full Triple-Biotic power (prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics) of its active ingredients, significantly increasing the bioavailability of nutrients.”
Addressing the 12 hallmarks of aging
According to Niance’s COO Yvette Ye, the brand is committed to addressing the root causes of aging through cutting edge science and innovation.
“Our mission is to really empower customers to unlock their full potential for beauty and longevity,” she said.
“Our approach is holistic. We target both internal and external factors to promote healthier, younger-looking skin and overall well-being and longevity.”
With longevity in the spotlight in the cosmetics industry, late last year Niance published an “Addressing the 12 Hallmarks of Aging” white paper on the evolving science of aging and how the brand’s products target the biological processes behind aging through advanced biotechnology and active ingredients.
This hallmarks of aging framework was first introduced in 2013 by researchers Carlos López-Otín, Maria A. Blasco, Linda Partridge, Manuel Serrano and Guido Kroemer, who identified nine key biological mechanisms that drive aging, including genomic instability and mitochondrial dysfunction. In January 2023, an updated framework added the hallmarks of dysbiosis, chronic inflammation and autophagy dysfunction.
Inside the white paper, Niance addresses how its hero ingredient Swiss Glacier Complex of actives and its GENR8 supplements target some of these hallmarks to support skin health through a science-backed approach.
“Our proprietary Swiss Glacier Complex, which is in all Niance skin care products, underwent rigorous lab tests to prove it,” Ye said.
“It can tackle seven of the hallmarks of aging with four groups of very potent active ingredients providing full, comprehensive anti-aging benefits—namely, long lasting hydration and moisturization, skin’s microbiome support, firming and lifting and wrinkle prevention and reduction.”
She also noted the growing consumer awareness of beauty in the longevity sector.
“They are increasingly seeking a holistic approach to have anti-aging integrated into both internal and external care, addressing the body really from the inside out and outside in,” she said.
She added that the concept of healthy aging at a cellular level is growing and is “really the essential answer to long-term beauty and awareness.”
Efficacy testing is a cornerstone
Ye shared that there are three key factors that inform new product development at Niance.
“Innovations are driven by: number one consumer insight, two by science and three by a strong commitment to addressing aging at its root cause,” she explained.
She believes that future skin care shoppers will demand more and more proof of efficacy.
“Efficacy testing is a cornerstone of Niance’s approach, so that’s where we put a lot of focus,” she said. “Every product underwent rigorous lab efficacy tests as well as consumer trials.”
She added that future consumers will also prioritize holistic solutions that integrate beauty, health and sustainability.
“Another trend we are monitoring is the shift toward proactive aging management, where consumers start using advanced skin care and the longevity supplements earlier in life to maintain useful youthfulness. We believe you ‘start young to stay young’,” she said.
“Last but not least, we noticed consumers start to recognize that achieving optimal beauty and the longevity results requires a holistic approach, using both skin care products outside in and the longevity supplements,” she added.
Increased focus on longevity-focused beauty regimes
In recent years, the cosmetics industry’s anti-aging narrative has shifted to focus on longevity and healthy aging, and the industry is seeing more brands innovating in this space.
British trend forecasting agency The Future Laboratory flagged the trend back in 2023 with its ‘Longevity Lifestyles’ macro trend, noting that there was an ever-growing number of people wanting to extend and optimize the quality of their lives.
In 2024 at the InCosmetics Global trade show in Paris, it was clear that many cosmetics ingredients’ suppliers are currently innovating in this area.
Meanwhile, in January 2024, the L’Oréal Group’s venture capital fund BOLD acquired Swiss biotech start-up Timeline, which has developed a proprietary molecule that it said: “can recycle and rejuvenate mitochondria: the powerhouses of cells that tend to malfunction with age.”
Want to know about future skin care innovation? We spoke to a host of experts in this sector to find out more. Sign up here to watch our on-demand broadcast on this topic.
