Launch Date: May 2023
Geography: Santa Monica, CA, US
Founders:
Board Member: Katherine Power
Notable Investors:
2025 Full Year Projected Revenue: $8M - $10M, according to industry estimates
Primary Category: Skincare
Funding: Venture Capital
Primary Distribution Channel: DTC
Mother Science was founded by Mike Einziger, guitarist of Incubus, and renowned violinist, Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger. In addition to their passion for music, they are enthralled by science. While on tour in 2016, Ann Marie developed tinea versicolor, a harmless skin condition that caused lightened patches of skin. She wondered if an ingredient made by the skin microbiome could be used intentionally to reduce dark spots. The couple assembled a team of leading scientists with CEO Edna Coryell and through their research, identified malassezin, a naturally occurring molecule found on skin with dramatic skin health benefits including powerful results for dark spot reduction, brightening, smoothing, and minimizing the look of lines and wrinkles. Mother Science is writing the playbook on how to bring a novel ingredient to market.
Mother Science launched Molecular Hero Serum in May 2023, a first-of-its-kind serum featuring malassezin that reduces the appearance of dark spots/sun damage for a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion. Retinol Synergist launched in April 2024 and Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer followed.
Insights: Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger, Co-Founder
Why now and why you?
We didn’t set out to build a beauty brand; we set out to find answers. And when we stumbled into something truly novel, we realized we had an opportunity, and a responsibility to do things differently.
Why now? Because the beauty industry is ready for more than surface-level solutions. Consumers are demanding results rooted in science and efficacy. They want transparency, real science, and products that not only work but work in a way that respects their skin and their intelligence. Mother Science exists to meet that moment.
And why us? Because we’ve done the hard part: discovered and brought to life a completely new molecule that had never been used in skincare before. But more importantly, we’ve wrapped that innovation in a brand that people connect with—a brand that’s grounded in science but driven by empathy; that doesn’t just promise transformation but delivers it. We’re focused on meeting consumers where they are: informed, discerning, and ready for solutions that go deeper.
What fuels your competitive advantage?
Our competitive advantage is fueled by innovation, starting with malassezin. We were the first to characterize its use in skincare, and it’s a truly landscape-changing ingredient. It works differently from other actives, delivering high efficacy in addressing hyperpigmentation, skin texture, and barrier function, all while being gentle, stable, and suitable for every skin tone.
But what truly sets us apart is how we've brought malassezin to market. We’ve built an unmatched foundation of scientific rigor; from cell-based assays and ex vivo studies to clinical trials and genetic expression data. This deep R&D investment gives us a level of evidence and confidence that’s rare in the beauty space.
As an indie brand, we’ve also accomplished what few others can: navigating complex regulatory pathways typically dominated by global corporations, securing robust IP, and publishing our findings in peer-reviewed journals. We've translated all of this into an accessible, effective consumer experience.
That combination of proprietary science, clinical validation, and relentless efficacy is what makes Mother Science not just competitive but category-defining.
What are you most proud of accomplishing to date?
Bringing malassezin to market through Mother Science has been the most meaningful and proudest accomplishment. What started as a personal curiosity, driven by a simple question about a skin condition I experienced, turned into a seven-year scientific journey that led to the discovery and commercialization of a novel ingredient that had never been used in skincare before.
It wasn’t just about developing a product, it was about challenging conventional thinking, asking questions no one was asking, and navigating the complexities of scientific discovery, formulation, clinical validation, and regulatory processes from scratch. We wrote our own playbook for an ingredient that hadn’t existed in the skincare space before.
But what I’m most proud of is not just the science, but the brand we’ve built around it. We created Mother Science to be more than just a vehicle for innovation. We wanted to build something customers could trust, see real results from, and feel deeply connected to. And seeing our community share how this has changed their skin, and their confidence, has been the most fulfilling outcome of all.
What is the one thing you wish someone had told you?
I wish someone told me that the real challenge is not characterizing malassezin or making an amazing product … the hardest thing is to clearly message the research on a new ingredient, on a new active ingredient. It keeps me up at night figuring out how to reach people with the research that enthralls me.
What would you tell your past self before starting this journey?
My past self sometimes felt like an imposter … what gives a musician like myself the credibility to dream about disrupting the beauty industry? I would tell my past self that being an outsider to the beauty industry is a superpower. A new perspective and naive ambition are really powerful. I would remind myself that I love a challenge and that I love learning and sharing. I would tell myself that the epiphany to use malassezin for skincare is a powerful one, and that I would be capable of writing a playbook to bring it to the market.
What does success look like in the next 3-5 years?
Mother Science will be synonymous with innovation as we bring next generation ingredients to market. The success of our brand is rooted in educating our audience on the amazing properties of our novel active ingredient, malassezin. I want thought leaders, dermatologists, and beauty editors to share and amplify our research on malassezin and other molecules in our pipeline of future innovation.
What's one industry trend that is overhyped, and what's being overlooked?
There's a lot of pressure right now to integrate AI into every corner of the beauty industry even when it doesn’t feel natural or particularly helpful. I’m personally excited about AI's transformative potential, but too often it’s being applied in ways that are more performative than purposeful. Innovation should solve real problems not just signal that a brand is keeping up.
On the flip side, one area I believe is seriously overlooked is insect repellent. It may sound unexpected in a beauty conversation, but protecting skin from mosquito bites is more than cosmetic; it’s about wellness and disease prevention. I’d love to see more brands explore ways to make repellent both effective and enjoyable to use as part of a daily skincare routine. If I had the bandwidth right now, I’d be innovating in this space myself.
How do you think the industry needs to evolve?
I think that the industry is headed in a good direction, and I can see an evolution toward innovation that is rooted in clinical science. I like seeing how beauty fans are becoming citizen scientists, asking good questions about ingredients and efficacy. The whole community is becoming more open to scientific literacy, and that warms my teacher’s heart.
If you could wave a magic wand, what one wish would you make for your business?
I wish I could regularly treat our whole team to really over-the-top, crazy, luxurious retreats together. Our business is successful because of them, and they deserve all the treats. They work hard, and I want them to know how much I appreciate them. I would absolutely use a magic wand to spoil them.
