Beauty and biotech: How Debut is a catalyst for change

In a rapidly evolving beauty industry, sustainability and innovation are key drivers of progress. BOLD portfolio company Debut is at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology to revolutionize ingredient sourcing and production. 

Working hand-in-hand with L’Oréal, Debut and the Group are combining their expertise to put innovation into action. Together, the two are crafting a sustainable vision for the industry that yields greater purity, performance and potency for the end consumer.  

Pioneering eco-friendly beauty

Five years ago, Debut’s Founder and CEO Joshua Britton developed the idea behind the company’s technology while researching his PhD. Today, the company’s approach to ingredient creation is redefining what’s possible for cosmetics development. Debut creates bio-identical  and novel active ingredients through advanced biotechnologies, such as bio-fermentation and cell-free technology. These processes allow for the sustainable production of ingredients that are indistinguishable from those found in nature, but without the environmental impact associated with traditional methods.

By replacing petroleum, chemical, animal and cultivation-based ingredients with bio-engineered alternatives, Debut is significantly reducing the industry's reliance on non-renewable resources. This shift not only minimizes carbon emissions but also preserves biodiversity and reduces the strain on ecosystems traditionally exploited for cosmetic ingredients.

Increased impact for consumers

Debut’s ingredients may have a lesser environmental impact, but they have even greater purity, potency and performance for the end consumer. Lab-produced ingredients offer superior purity and performance compared to their natural or synthetic counterparts. This means they can be used at lower concentrations, reducing the risk of skin irritation while improving effectiveness.

Controlled manufacturing processes also ensure consistency in quality, eliminating the variability caused by climate change and external environmental factors. This reliability in production leads to more stable and effective cosmetic products, providing consumers with better results while adhering to high standards of safety and sustainability.

Supporting L'Oréal's mission 

Facilitating groundbreaking innovation through partnership is our mission at BOLD. Since 2023, we have supported Debut’s journey via investment, collaborative opportunities and access to L’Oréal resources and experts. 

Following BOLD’s initial investment in Debut in 2023 , we scaled up our partnership with the San-Diego based company. This included providing resources to L’Oréal teams, along with additional financial support. For example, just later that same year, BOLD led a $40 million Series B funding round as Debut eyed a new category: fragrance. 

Beyond financing, BOLD facilitates key partnerships between the Group and portfolio companies. Not only does this nurture the startups’ growth, it fuels our mission at BOLD to support the Group’s aim to create the beauty that moves the world. For example, Debut is highly complementary to L'Oréal's global R&D efforts and a key partner towards meeting its L'Oréal for the Future sustainability commitments.

Most recently, Debut and L’Oréal signed an agreement to develop more than a dozen vital bio-identical ingredients that will replace conventionally sourced ingredients currently used in the Group’s brands. These will be deployed globally and across categories , including skincare, haircare, color cosmetics and fragrance. As part of the agreement, Debut will create new bio-based and novel active ingredients using proprietary advanced biomanufacturing processes which combine fermentation and cell-free technology  to replace unsustainable processes. 

A vision for a sustainable future in Beauty

Debut’s innovative technologies and commitment to sustainability are not just advancing the beauty industry; they are helping to redefine it. As part of L'Oréal’s broader vision, Debut’s contributions are crucial in moving the industry towards a future where beauty products are not only effective and safe but also higher-performing and environmentally responsible.

With companies like Debut leading the way, the beauty industry is well on its path to creating products that benefit both people and the planet, in line with L’Oréal’s mission to be the innovation beacon for the beauty industry.