Mother Science
Mother Science is a US-based biotech skincare company that develops premium skincare products around its proprietary patented molecule Malassezin, sold direct-to-consumer and through Sephora to consumers seeking treatments for hyperpigmentation, dark spots, fine lines, and skin barrier damage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Mother Science does
Mother Science (legal entity: Small Molecules Inc.) is a US-based biotech skincare company headquartered in Santa Monica, California that develops and commercializes skincare products built around a proprietary molecule called Malassezin, which the company discovered, patented, and brought to skincare use first after 6+ years of research and clinical trials. The company sells three core SKUs — Molecular Hero Serum ($89), Retinol Synergist ($96), and Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer ($68) — alongside bundled sets ranging from $63 to $157, all positioned in the premium skincare segment. Malassezin is described as 10x more powerful than Vitamin C as an antioxidant, effective across hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and skin barrier concerns, with clinical research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2021) and Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2022), and is protected by 75 global patents.
The company operates a direct-to-consumer-first business model, selling primarily through its Shopify-powered motherscience.com website with a subscription option (10% discount via Recharge) and free standard shipping over $75 within the United States. In March 2026, the brand achieved its first major retail expansion through a flagship partnership with Sephora, debuting on Sephora.com on March 4 and in 140 Sephora stores on March 13. Pricing is positioned at the premium end of the skincare category, supported by an earned-media and content marketing engine (The Citizen Scientist blog, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter), PR coverage in publications such as WWD, Business of Fashion, Glamour, and People.com, and cultural placements including use by the makeup designer on HBO's The White Lotus.
Mother Science is a privately held, venture-backed company co-founded by Grammy-nominated musicians Mike Einziger (guitarist, Incubus) and Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger (violinist). The company has raised approximately $11.1 million across disclosed funding rounds ($6.2M seed in 2023 and a $3.5M round in May 2024 led by Greycroft), with Greycroft co-founder Katherine Power joining the Board of Directors. The company has won multiple industry recognitions including Glamour Best Beauty Innovators of 2023, New Beauty NB100 and Best Dark Spot Serum awards in 2024, and InStyle Best Beauty Buys 2025, and holds Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification.
Mother Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mother Science
- Legal name
- Small Molecules Inc.
- Website
- https://motherscience.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mother Science is a US-based biotech skincare company that develops premium skincare products around its proprietary patented molecule Malassezin, sold direct-to-consumer and through Sephora to consumers seeking treatments for hyperpigmentation, dark spots, fine lines, and skin barrier damage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mother Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Skincare
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF)
Keywords
Where Mother Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mother Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and retail sales of skincare products including serums, moisturizers, and bundled sets. Products are sold through the company's e-commerce website and Sephora retail locations.
- Subscription: Recurring subscription model offering 10% discount on all subscription orders. Customers can choose delivery frequency of 30, 60, 90, or 120 days. Ensures consistent product usage and customer retention.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Molecular Hero Serum - $89 (Subscription: $80.10) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Retinol Synergist - $96 (Subscription: $86.40) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer - $68 (Subscription: $61.20) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Molecular Hero Serum Duo - $133 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Molecular Discovery Set - $63 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Skin Renewal Set - $157 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Molecular Foundation Set - $132 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Barrier Pair - $102 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mother Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mother Science develops, manufactures, and sells premium biotech skincare products built around its proprietary patented ingredient Malassezin. The company offers a focused portfolio of serums, moisturizers, retinol treatments, and bundled sets designed to reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and repair the skin barrier. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through motherscience.com and via Sephora in the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Molecular Hero Serum A 30ml/1 fl. oz. brightening serum priced at $89 ($80.10 on subscription) featuring the proprietary Malassezin molecule to reduce dark spots, even skin tone, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and provide antioxidant protection; rated 4.8/5 across 707 reviews.
- Retinol Synergist A next-generation retinol treatment priced at $96 ($86.40 on subscription) that combines retinol with the proprietary Malassezin molecule to smooth fine lines and wrinkles; rated 4.9/5 across 269 reviews.
- Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer A 50ml/1.69 fl. oz. barrier repair moisturizer priced at $68 ($61.20 on subscription) that uses Malassezin to strengthen and hydrate the skin barrier; 100% of clinical participants showed measured improvement in skin hydration and barrier function; rated 4.8/5 across 188 reviews.
- Molecular Hero Serum Duo A bundle of two 30ml bottles of Molecular Hero Serum priced at $133 (regular $178); rated 4.8/5 across 775 reviews.
- Molecular Discovery Set A travel-sized set featuring Molecular Hero Serum and Molecular Genesis priced at $63 (regular $74); rated 4.8/5 across 905 reviews.
- Skin Renewal Set A bundle of Molecular Hero Serum and Retinol Synergist priced at $157 (regular $185); rated 4.9/5 across 1,001 reviews.
- Molecular Foundation Set A bundle of full-size Molecular Hero Serum and Molecular Genesis priced at $132 (regular $157).
- Barrier Pair A limited-edition bundle of two full-size Molecular Genesis jars priced at $102 (regular $136); rated 4.8/5 across 190 reviews.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of participants had reduction in dark spots after 4 weeks (Molecular Hero Serum)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Mother Science
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Mother Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
Mother Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.
- SephoraflagshipMother Science launched on Sephora.com on March 4, 2026 and in 140 Sephora stores on March 13, 2026. This represents the brand's first major retail expansion since entering the market as a direct-to-consumer brand in 2023. The partnership positions Mother Science alongside peer biotech skincare brand U Beauty in Sephora's growing biotech skincare portfolio.
- U BeautyminorU Beauty is mentioned as a peer biotech skincare brand positioned alongside Mother Science in Sephora's biotech skincare portfolio. Not an active partnership but competitive positioning context.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mother Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SkinMedica: SkinMedica (Allergan/AbbVie) is a clinical/medical-grade skincare brand with a leading dark spot and hyperpigmentation portfolio sold through dermatologists and select retailers. It is comparable as a clinical credibility benchmark and direct competitor in Mother Science's hero category.
- Dermalogica: Dermalogica is a global professional skincare brand with a strong brightening portfolio (PowerBright, BioLumin-C) sold through licensed skin therapists and specialty retail. It is comparable as a clinical-actives competitor targeting hyperpigmentation at prestige price points.
- Drunk Elephant: Drunk Elephant is a prestige, biotech-leaning skincare brand (now owned by LVMH) distributed across Sephora and DTC. It competes in similar categories (serums, moisturizers, retinol) and shares the clinical/biotech narrative at comparable prestige price points.
- Tata Harper: Tata Harper is a prestige natural/biotech skincare brand with high-ASP serums and moisturizers sold DTC and through retailers. Comparable as a founder-led prestige skincare brand that pairs clinical claims with a differentiated ingredient story.
Direct peers
- Glow Recipe: Glow Recipe is a premium fruit-active skincare brand with strong Sephora and DTC presence that has scaled from indie to mass-prestige status. It is comparable as a digitally native, award-winning skincare brand that expanded through Sephora with strong organic social.
- Allies of Skin: Allies of Skin is a clinical biotech skincare brand selling premium serums and moisturizers through its own DTC site and select retailers. Its positioning around clinical actives, barrier repair, and hyperpigmentation overlaps directly with Mother Science's hero product claims.
- Augustinus Bader: Augustinus Bader is a luxury biotech skincare brand built around a proprietary molecular technology (TFC8). Both companies leverage patented, science-driven actives with prestige pricing and clinical claims, and compete for the same biotech-conscious Sephora and DTC shopper.
- U Beauty: U Beauty is explicitly cited by Mother Science as a peer biotech skincare brand co-positioned within Sephora's biotech skincare portfolio. Both brands sell patented, biotech-derived prestige skincare through DTC and Sephora, targeting similar hyperpigmentation and anti-aging use cases.
Emerging players
- Topicals: Topicals is a science-led skincare brand focused on skin concerns including hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It shares the biotech-clinical narrative, premium-but-accessible positioning, and Sephora/DTC distribution pattern.
- Codex Beauty: Codex Beauty is a biotech skincare brand built on a proprietary plant-derived preservative system and clinically validated actives. It targets a similar premium, science-driven shopper and competes in the brightening and anti-aging categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mother Science social profiles
Digital presenceMother Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mother Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mother Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mother Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mother Science
What does Mother Science do?
Mother Science develops, manufactures, and sells premium biotech skincare products built around its proprietary patented ingredient Malassezin. The company offers a focused portfolio of serums, moisturizers, retinol treatments, and bundled sets designed to reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and repair the skin barrier. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through motherscience.com and via Sephora in the United States.
Is Mother Science a public or private company?
Mother Science is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Mother Science founded?
Mother Science was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mother Science based?
Mother Science is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mother Science make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription.
Who are Mother Science's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SkinMedica, Dermalogica, Drunk Elephant and Tata Harper. Direct peers are Glow Recipe, Allies of Skin, Augustinus Bader and U Beauty. Emerging players are Topicals and Codex Beauty.
Does Mother Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mother Science.
What industry is Mother Science in?
Mother Science's product category is Premium Skincare. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAAAF, Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare. Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 2844.