After years of research, firm rolls out products that take away the years

NEOSTRATA’S Catherine Mueller and Leigh Ann Catlin with DMark’s managing director Nikki Tang (center).

You can be assured that any product that we introduce into the market has been tested and has data to support the claims that we make about our product,” says Leigh Ann Catlin, NeoStrata’s vice president for international business development at a recent launch.

This declaration may not be something new as many other skin care companies make the same claims. But the difference lies in the New Jersey-based company’s track record.

NeoStrata was founded by dermatologist Dr. Eugene J. Van Scott and Dr. Ruey J. Yu, a dermatopharmacologist, in 1988. They have been doing research on skin care advancement and technology since the 1960s and are widely recognized for making the groundbreaking discovery of the benefits of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to the human skin specifically for treatment of aging skin.

Catlin says the two doctors are very passionate about their work and have never stopped since.

“It was not really their intention to start a company… they’re doctors. They want to continue the research and they’re really more interested in licensing this technology out. But in 1988, they decided they want to start up this company to commercialize the technology themselves. That’s how NeoStrata started,” Catlin explains.

The company holds more than 100 patents in the alpha hydroxy area and has licensed out their technology to many multinational companies such as Pfizer, Unilever, Chanel, Shiseido, and other smaller companies as well.

“Avon was one of the first companies to take a license from them and the product that they launched with this technology became the most successful product in the company’s history,” shares Catlin.

“We’re the originators. Our products are developed by doctors who truly are the experts in formulating the products and the use of the products in topical skin care… all of these companies licensed from us because of their expertise,” adds Catherine J. Mueller, NeoStrata’s executive director for international marketing and sales.

The company recently launched in the Philippines its newest comprehensive anti-aging line Skin Active.

“Skin Active is a range of four products (Exfoliating Wash, Matrix Support SPF 20, Cellular Restoration and Intensive Eye Therapy) that combine the known NeoStrata technology—the AHA and PHA (polyhydroxy acid)—combined with other technologies to provide doctors with highly effective anti-aging skin care with results that will satisfy both doctors and their patients,” Catlin explains.

All four are meant to be used as a regimen to get the best beneficial effect on the skin.

“Based on studies there is not really one ingredient that can address all the needs of aging skin, so NeoStrata decided to put together a regimen of products that when use together, of course you’re getting benefits from using each individual product, but when you use it together it work in a synergistic way and provide undeniably improved results to the skin,” Catlin adds.

Skin Active was launched in the United States at the American Academy of Dermatology in February this year and was recently introduced at the World Congress of Dermatology in Seoul, Korea prior to its Manila launch.

SKIN Active is the newest addition to NeoStrata’s line of skin care products.

Both executives stress the importance of using anti-aging skin care products as early as possible to help maintain a healthy and youthful skin.

“At least in the United States we see more and more interest in taking care of one’s skin . . .  with younger people becoming much more aware of what sun damage does to their skin and they are starting to take note of that,” attests Catlin who has been working in the skin care industry for more than 17 years and has spoken at various international cosmetic dermatology events in different parts of the globe.

Skin Active targets users over 35 years old and is suited for all skin types. Price of each product ranges from P2,300-P3,600. However, it’s only available in select dermatology clinics in the country.

“It’s the approach that our company has decided to take with NeoStrata because the formulations are strong we feel that it really should be understood and provided to patients under the guidance and recommendation of a doctor,” Catlin declares.

“So even though all types can use it, doctors are the ones that can help make sure you are using the right product,” adds Mueller who has over 16 years of experience in the cosmetic skin care industry.

Aside from AHA and PHA, what makes Skin Active different from other NeoStrata products is the use of other potent ingredients which they have never used before such as peptides, apple stem cell extract and chardonnay grape seed extract.

Mueller adds that NeoStrata products can be used by both males and females.

“The packaging is pretty unisex and I think it’s effective for both types of skin,” she confirms.

“I think what’s nice about the Skin Active range is people who either   don’t have the budget or the time to go for laser treatment or some other type of cosmetic procedure they can get some very good, effective results when they start using this regimen of products at home,” Catlin states.

Catlin and Mueller also share that the Asian market is responding well to their products, and that their studies reveal that Asians who use Skin Active show as much improvement as the Caucasians.

“We find that are products are very well accepted around the world. But I think, lightening is a big concern for our Asian market so we have a number of lightening products that are very popular as well,” Catlin says.

NeoStrata is also available in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, India and also in Australia.

In the Philippines, NeoStrata products have been locally distributed by DMark Multisales Corp. for 13 years.

DMark’s managing director Nikki Tang relates that they are the pioneer as far as the cosmeceutical market in the country is concerned, and NeoStrata was the first skin care brand they introduced to the local market.

Tang says the skin care business is very dynamic and competitive. In fact, she just came from the World Congress of Dermatology in Korea to keep abreast with the latest in the industry.

“We’re always at the forefront to research whatever the new trends and technology out there that we can offer to our clients,” Tang explains, adding that they work very closely with doctors and professionals to ensure the products they are going to distribute are well-researched and proven effective.

Aside from NeoStrata, DMark also distributes other skin care lines but marketing all of them is not a problem.

“The thing is we’re very focus. We know our brands well and we know how to position them individually to what indication. We also have a separate team working on per brand. All the brands are very good but what we do is we highlight the unique benefit of what a particular technology can offer to our clients,” says Tang.