Premium Beauty News - After having spent more than twenty years in Silicon Valley, creating two technology companies and registering 40 patents, you decided to venture into cosmetics in 2019. How did an electrical and electronic engineering graduate from Stanford University come to this?
Barbara Paldus - Because it was possible to innovate! It was my son, who was ten at the time, who sparked my interest in mainstream skincare products, as he was allergic to many of them. I looked into the matter and discovered that the problem was caused by a preservative: phenoxyethanol. As I continued my research, I discovered that the use of many preservatives could, more generally, upset the balance of the skin microbiome. This is how I came up with the idea of creating a cosmetic biotechnology brand dedicated to supporting the microbiome.
I started looking for a skincare brand to take over and chose the Irish company Bia. That is how the Codex Labs adventure began in 2019.
Premium Beauty News - What alternative to phenoxyethanol does Codex Labs use?
Barbara Paldus - It is a patented food-grade preservative system called PreservX®, which is present in every Codex Labs skincare product. It protects water-based formulas by boosting the balance of the skin’s microbiome, but not only that. It also has a moisturising and protective function. It is derived from the fermentation of lactobacillus, coconut oil, propanediol and organic food acids.
Premium Beauty News - How is Codex Labs positioned in the cosmetics landscape?
Barbara Paldus - Transparency is at the heart of our commitments, both in terms of composition and results. Our products are designed with the support of a team of experts, including scientists, botanists, cosmetic chemists, and dermatologists. By combining their knowledge and insights, we provide consumers with effective skincare solutions that take into account the microbiome, which we believe is essential. All formulas are clinically tested by the Eurofins analysis laboratory in Lyon, France.
Codex Labs is a dermo-cosmetics brand offering skincare products - most of which are Cosmos certified by Ecocert - that provide an effective response to skin issues such as acne, the signs of ageing (fine lines and wrinkles), skin sensitivity and dryness, and oxidative stress. From the second quarter of 2024, we will be introducing a range of skincare products and cleansers for eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
At the end of 2023, we launched our first dietary supplements: one for hormonal acne and another to support the skin barrier. Others are planned for the second quarter of 2024.
At Codex Labs, we are convinced that the skin is a mirror of our body’s condition, particularly our internal organs. That is why we want to take our expertise much further by offering DNA testing on our new www.sgbnet.com platform, which was recently launched in the United States. We are currently working on adapting it to France and other European countries, to launch it at the end of 2024.
Premium Beauty News - Can you tell us more about this platform?
Barbara Paldus - At Codex Labs, we are convinced that many health issues can be solved by correlating solutions for the skin, the intestine, and the brain. In other words, we take a close interest in the diet, lifestyle, and mental health of each individual to provide them with personalised solutions to their skin problems.
We offer two kits: DNA Decode My Skin, which focuses on the skin, and DNA Decode My Health, which looks at the absorption, transport, and metabolism of vitamins A to E and folic acid. Afterwards, the person who has taken the test can schedule a consultation with an expert who will help them analyse the results and provide advice on their lifestyle and diet. We provide recommendations on which professionals to consult to deal with a given problem, whether it be a dermatologist, a nutritionist, a naturopath, a psychologist...
Premium Beauty News - The idea behind this testing platform is also to make a link with Codex Labs products?
Barbara Paldus - Not explicitly, but necessarily yes. Let me explain. We are convinced that our products - food supplements and skincare products - are highly effective. In certain countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United States and even England and Ireland, we are already present in a large number of pharmacies and health and beauty stores, and professionals - dermatologists, naturopaths... – who recommend our products.
Premium Beauty News - And in France, where is the brand distributed?
Barbara Paldus - At the moment, we have a 100% online presence in the French market on the Nocibé.fr, Blissim.fr, Slolie.fr and Ecco-verde.fr websites. In 2023, we ran a communication and awareness-raising campaign for healthcare professionals in France to help them discover our products, their composition, and their effectiveness. As a result, we have established several partnerships with dermatologists and naturopaths. Our presence in pharmacies and health and beauty stores in France is scheduled for 2024. Pharmacy outlets are our primary channel, in complete harmony with our values.
