We interviewed Sílvia Cortés, Chief Scientific Officer (CScO) at Niche Beauty Lab, a company founded in Barcelona in 2018 with the mission of democratizing science-based skincare by making high-performance formulas accessible to more consumers.
With brands such as Transparent Lab, Theramid, and Acnemy—and following its integration into the cosnova group—the company continues to grow with a clear focus on scientific rigor, transparency, and accessibility.
In her role, Sílvia leads product development, ensuring that every launch combines real efficacy, safety, and technical excellence.
Name, Position and Company
Sílvia Cortés, Chief Scientific Officer (CScO) at Niche Beauty Lab.
Tell us about the company you work for. What is its story?
Niche Beauty Lab was founded in Barcelona in 2018 with a clear mission: to democratize science-based skincare by making high-performance formulas accessible to more people without compromising on high standards or affordability.
Since then, we have grown with a mindset of continuous improvement—constantly questioning, learning, and refining every product launch by combining scientific rigor, agility, and applied innovation to anticipate what the skin truly needs.
Today, we pursue this mission through our three brands—Transparent Lab, Theramid, and Acnemy—addressing real skincare needs while building long-term consumer trust.
Since January 2026, Niche Beauty Lab has been part of the cosnova group, a milestone that enables us to accelerate our international expansion while further strengthening our capabilities in R&D, product development, and operational excellence. We share a closely aligned vision of how to build relevant and accessible brands, and this new chapter provides us with the scale and resources to bring our mission to even more consumers while preserving the values and standards that define us.
What does your day-to-day role involve?
My day-to-day work sits at the intersection of science, product, and business.
I lead the development of new formulas and the evolution of our product portfolio, including defining technical briefs, selecting active ingredients and concentrations, designing stability, compatibility, and safety tests, and reviewing the scientific evidence supporting product claims.
I also coordinate cross-functional collaboration with suppliers and partners—including raw material manufacturers, production facilities, and external laboratories—and work closely with our internal teams on key decisions to ensure that every launch is technically robust, safe, compliant, and truly differentiated.
In short, my responsibility is to ensure that everything we bring to market meets the highest technical standards and delivers real results.
What makes your company different?
I would highlight three closely connected strengths.
R&D at the heart of the business. We formulate with a genuine research and development mindset. Rather than simply following trends, we develop solutions grounded in scientific logic and focused on efficacy.
Making transparency understandable. Scientific rigor alone is not enough—we also need to communicate clearly. One of our biggest challenges, and one of our key differentiators, is translating technical complexity into useful information that empowers consumers to make informed decisions.
Accessibility without compromising performance. We believe high-efficacy skincare should not be a luxury. Our philosophy is to offer high-performance products at prices that encourage long-term, consistent use—because consistency is what delivers real results.
What challenges do you think you will face over the coming years?
One of the industry’s biggest challenges is that consumers are demanding more evidence and fewer promises. This means raising the bar with stronger scientific substantiation of claims, greater responsibility in managing consumer expectations, and above all, ensuring consistency between what brands promise and what they actually deliver.
At Niche Beauty Lab, we face a very specific challenge: scaling sustainably without losing the qualities that have brought us this far—scientific rigor, quality, and a strong product focus.
As we continue to grow across markets, volumes, and operational complexity, our challenge is to strengthen our processes and partnerships so we can consistently maintain high technical standards—from quality assurance and regulatory compliance to manufacturing, sourcing, and raw material control—while continuing to invest in R&D and talent.
At the same time, we want to keep building long-term consumer trust by ensuring that innovation translates into genuine value rather than simply novelty.
What does being part of the Beauty Cluster bring to your company and to you personally?
For Niche Beauty Lab, being part of the Beauty Cluster provides an opportunity to connect with the wider ecosystem—including industry players, suppliers, partners, talent, and research institutions—and to accelerate collaborations that generate real value through innovation, best practices, and shared projects.
The Cluster serves as a meeting point that encourages synergies and offers a more comprehensive understanding of the beauty industry’s value chain.
On a personal level, it provides continuous learning and a professional network where I can exchange technical and strategic insights on topics ranging from regulation and quality to scientific trends and applied sustainability. It’s the kind of environment where conversations turn into actionable ideas.
Returning to you, how did you enter the beauty industry?
My journey into the beauty industry began in 2011, almost as a natural progression after studying Biology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
I decided to specialize by completing a Master’s degree in Cosmetics and Dermopharmacy at CESIF, and it was during my first internship at a contract manufacturer that I discovered my true passion for research and development.
Since then, I have continued to build my career in this field, always closely connected to the application of science in cosmetics.
Speaking of “beauty,” how would you define it?
For me, beauty is well-being with consistency—when the way you care for your skin makes sense, is easy to understand, and can be sustained over time.
It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin without chasing impossible perfection.
As a scientist, I would add one more thing: beauty is also confidence. When you trust the products you use, understand why they work, and know how they fit your needs, the entire experience changes.
Do you have any hobbies, hidden talents, or passions you’d like to share?
I think one of the things that defines me most—and perhaps my superpower—is my curiosity and my ability to manage multiple roles simultaneously.
I love learning and understanding things in depth, but I’ve also developed the ability to handle many different responsibilities at once.
Motherhood has also taught me how to prioritize effectively and become highly efficient.
What’s the last book you’ve read or film you’ve watched?
The last book I read was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
I really enjoyed it because it offers a fascinating reflection on the decisions we make and the alternative lives we might have lived. It made me think deeply about the importance of accepting our choices and building our future from where we are today.
Business is based on…
For me, business is built on trust.
And trust is built on three things: real quality, transparency—saying what you do and doing what you say—and consistency over time.
