Skin Deep: La Mer Joins Forces with the Salk Institute to Redefine Aging

In a world where “anti-aging” has been overpromised and overhyped, La Mer is cutting through the noise — with science. The luxury skincare house has just announced a groundbreaking three-year partnership with none other than the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a global authority on cellular biology that’s home to six Nobel Laureates. Yes, that Salk Institute — the one that redefined our understanding of aging at a molecular level.

This isn’t your average beauty-meets-science headline. It’s the first collaboration of its kind for Salk, and it marks a new chapter in how we understand — and eventually, support — healthy aging from the inside out. Together, La Mer and Salk are diving deep into the realm of cellular regeneration, mitochondrial function, and age-related decline, with the ultimate goal of discovering how energy drives renewal — not just in skin, but in the human body itself.

The Fellowship of the Future

To cement its commitment, La Mer has launched the La Mer Healthy Aging Fellowship, a three-year postdoctoral program that champions research into how mitochondria — the cell’s powerhouses — influence aging. The inaugural fellowship recipient, Ankita Chadda, is a postdoctoral researcher under Professor Agnieszka Kendrick, whose lab explores the microscopic transport systems that keep our cells alive and thriving.

With La Mer’s backing, Chadda’s work will use advanced technology to uncover how aging disrupts cellular transport in neurons — a discovery that could one day pave the way to prevent or reverse neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

“As a brand rooted in bioenergetic science, we’re deeply honored to support this kind of groundbreaking research,” said Sandra Main, Global Brand President of La Mer. “La Mer has always believed in the power of bioenergetics to enhance skin’s natural renewal. Our partnership with the Salk Institute reflects our dedication to advancing the science of cellular energy and continuing our founder’s legacy of innovation.”

The Science Behind the Beauty

At the Salk Institute, scientists have long explored how mitochondrial energy fuels cellular health — and how disruptions in this energy flow can accelerate the aging process. Their discoveries have illuminated the critical role mitochondria play in maintaining the vitality of every cell, including the ones in our skin.

“We are driven by the pursuit of discoveries that improve human health,” said Gerald Joyce, President of the Salk Institute. “We are deeply grateful to La Mer for supporting this mission and empowering the next generation of scientists. Together, we can apply our expertise to explore new frontiers in healthy aging.”

For La Mer, this partnership isn’t just a headline — it’s an evolution. The findings could one day inform how La Mer formulates future products, pushing its signature focus on cellular energy and skin renewal even further.

Bioenergetics, But Make It Beautiful

If this partnership sounds like a natural progression, it’s because La Mer has always been about the science of energy. The brand’s most famous creation, Miracle Broth™, is a bio-fermented blend born from the sea — and five decades later, it remains at the heart of every La Mer product.

Now, La Mer is taking its research even further with its newly launched Bioenergetics Research Platform — an ambitious, multi-phase scientific initiative that builds on the Salk collaboration. Think of it as the brand’s in-house innovation lab dedicated to understanding every phase of Miracle Broth’s life cycle: from the kelp forests it originates in, to how it powers skin’s renewal.

From Sea to Skin

Since 2023, La Mer scientists have been studying their signature Giant Sea Kelp, harvested exclusively off the coast of Vancouver Island. The latest research reveals that this kelp’s microbiome — yes, even seaweed has one — is a self-sustaining ecosystem that generates skin-supportive nutrients and bioactives like Vitamins C, E, A, and K before it’s even fermented into Miracle Broth.

This discovery suggests that the kelp used in La Mer’s formulations is already teeming with regenerative properties at the source. In other words, the magic begins long before the jar touches your vanity.

The Energy Effect

La Mer’s bioenergetic studies don’t stop there. Building on a 2023 peer-reviewed publication, the brand has initiated new in vitro studies measuring Miracle Broth’s impact on cellular energy. The findings? Miracle Broth has been shown to boost the skin’s energy potential, help prevent cellular damage, and replenish energy flow for visible rejuvenation.

In layman’s terms: it doesn’t just make skin look better — it helps skin function better, from the inside out.

Science Meets Soul

For a brand often synonymous with luxury, this partnership proves La Mer’s greatest treasure isn’t just what’s in its jars — it’s the commitment to understanding why it works. By funding pioneering research at the molecular level, La Mer isn’t simply chasing youth; it’s exploring how energy, biology, and time intersect to define what it means to age beautifully — and healthily.

Because maybe the future of skincare isn’t about fighting time.
It’s about learning how to move with it — cell by cell, miracle by miracle.