INFINITE INNOVATION

Can Microbiology help make beauty sustainable?

- CAROL RH MALASIG

IN THE EVER-EVOLVING WORLD OF BEAUT Y, science has now set its sights on a realm that was once invisible–the microbiome. There’s now a growing movement advocating for the understanding of these unseen ecosystems, which consist of living organisms that coexist with us, and how they hold the key to unlocking healthy skin. Leading the charge is Jasmina Aganovic, a beauty entrepreneur and expressive biology advocate.

Aganovic, who struggled with her skin as a teenager, grew up with an interest in beauty. “I became fascinated by the ingredients and the formulas and how they all worked together to make the claims that you would see on the packaging,” she narrates. This interest led to a degree in chemical and biological engineering that proved helpful in doing research and development for the beauty industry.

She founded Mother Dirt which produced groundbreaking probiotic skincare. Between Mother Dirt and putting up Arcaea, she also worked for Gingko Bioworks, which focused on building a biology-based platform for many different industries. “My experience showed me how much is already possible with many of these new technologies,” she shares. “And it also showed me what could be possible in the future.”

At Arcaea, Aganovic says they are creating new ingredients with the help of biology, aligning them with our natural makeup instead of working against it.

MAKING STRIDES