Proteomics: The Hidden Layer of Skincare You Never See

Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, how they are expressed, modified and interact with the body. In skincare, proteomics is emerging as a powerful tool to understand how products influence skin function at a molecular level. Proteins play an important part in many skin processes and by analysing them, offers a more accurate picture of skin health, deeper than surface level observations alone. Unlike genomics, proteomics captures which proteins are present and active under specific conditions.

What We Know:

• Proteomic analysis can identify shifts in structural proteins (e.g., keratin, filaggrin, collagen) associated with barrier strength and elasticity (Ma et al, 2020).

• Longitudinal proteomic monitoring reveals how products influence ageing pathways, including oxidative stress responses and collagen degradation (McCabe et al, 2020).

• Proteomics helps differentiate between short-term cosmetic effects and deeper, biologically meaningful changes (Benoit et al, 2023).

• Proteomics can be combined with microbiome data to show how protein changes relate to shifts in microbial activity, giving a clearer picture of overall skin health (Roux et al, 2021).

Industry Impact and Potential:

Proteomics opens new opportunities for product development;

• Targeted formulations: By identifying protein level changes, more precise ingredient selection for specific skin concerns can occur.

• Personalised skincare: Proteomic fingerprints may help tailor products to individual biological responses rather than general skin types.

• Credible product claims: By combining proteomics with clinical endpoints, formulators can link specific protein changes directly to visible and functional outcomes.

Our Position:

At Sequential, we move beyond generic claims to generate clear, defensible evidence of biological impact. By integrating proteomic analysis with microbiome and multi-omic data from our global database of 50,000+ samples, we can determine exactly how formulations influence skin function over time. Our approach focuses on real-world evidence, quantifying changes in protein expression, barrier integrity and resilience, to support the development of products grounded in measurable outcomes rather than marketing terminology.

References:

Benoit, I. et al. (2023). A proteome-centric view of skin ageing and age-related pathways. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol, 16, 79–85.

Ma, J. et al. (2020). Quantitative proteomics analysis of young and elderly skin. Aging (Albany NY), 12, 13529–13554.

McCabe, M. et al. (2020). Alterations in extracellular matrix composition during ageing. Matrix Biology Plus, 8.

Roux, P. et al. (2021). Integrative multi-omics reveals microbe–metabolite clusters linked to skin health. J Invest Dermatol.