L’Oréal developed human tissue technology to replace animal testing
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L’Oréal Groupe began researching ways to rebuild human tissues in laboratories more than four decades ago, aiming to find alternatives to animal testing.
In 1979, the company’s research and innovation teams created their first reconstructed human epidermis model. L’Oréal stopped using animals to test the safety of its cosmetic products in 1989 and continued developing alternative evaluation tools as part of its commitment to animal welfare. In 1997, L’Oréal established Episkin, a center dedicated to researching and producing reconstructed tissues.
Episkin operates specialized units in France, China, and Brazil, bringing together researchers from scientific communities, organizations, and companies. The center now produces over 100,000 tissues annually, extending its applicability beyond cosmetics to medical devices, pharmaceuticals, toys, and school supplies. Episkin has a regional presence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which opened in 2019.
This Brazilian branch makes the tissue models and associated safety methods available to the scientific community in Brazil and other Latin American countries, and also focuses on training and knowledge transfer. Through Episkin Academy, the company has trained over 600 people in Latin America, in countries including Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, and Costa Rica, and collaborates with educational institutions and attends regional scientific meetings.
