FORMEL Skin
FORMEL Skin is a Berlin-based direct-to-consumer telemedicine platform founded in 2020 that provides personalized prescription skincare for conditions such as acne, rosacea, and melasma in Germany and Switzerland, combining photo-based remote diagnosis by licensed physicians with custom-compounded formulations and ongoing medical supervision on a monthly subscription basis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FORMEL Skin does
FORMEL Skin (legally Formel Skin Derma GmbH, Berlin) is a direct-to-consumer digital dermatology platform founded in 2020 that delivers personalized prescription-strength skincare through telemedicine. Patients complete an online skin analysis — submitting facial photographs that are evaluated using the "Blickdiagnose" visual-diagnosis method by licensed German physicians supplied via partner Evident Derma Medizin GmbH — and receive a custom-formulated topical treatment (containing clinical-grade actives such as Benzoyl peroxide, Tretinoin, Azelaic acid, Niacinamide, and antibacterial agents), shipped from partner pharmacies in Germany and the Netherlands (Prime Pharmacy, Kamille Apotheek, myCARE). The three-product routine (cleanser, personalized formula, light moisturizer) is supported by ongoing physician supervision via chat, monthly check-ins, and formula adjustments.
The company monetizes through three tiers of monthly subscriptions (Essential €36, Advanced €35, Complete €39) with an initial 2-year contract and auto-refill, plus a mandatory €9 medical fee and a one-time-purchase option; a separate Shopify-based storefront (shop.formelskin.de) sells supplementary OTC products such as SPF serums and SOS pimple patches. Customer acquisition runs through content marketing, paid social (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok pixels), AWIN affiliate marketing, and a referral program offering €40 credits. The platform reports over 1 million successful treatments and a 4.75/5 aggregate rating across 6,253+ reviews.
As of December 2025, FORMEL Skin was acquired by UK healthtech company MANUAL, with the stated intent to combine Germany's largest digital dermatology provider with MANUAL's broader men's-health platform into one of Europe's fastest-growing healthtech groups, expanding from skin into adjacent health verticals. Total disclosed venture funding prior to the acquisition was approximately €66 million, including a €30M Series A in December 2021 led by Singular.
FORMEL Skin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FORMEL Skin
- Legal name
- Formel Skin Derma GmbH
- Website
- https://www.formelskin.de/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- FORMEL Skin is a Berlin-based direct-to-consumer telemedicine platform founded in 2020 that provides personalized prescription skincare for conditions such as acne, rosacea, and melasma in Germany and Switzerland, combining photo-based remote diagnosis by licensed physicians with custom-compounded formulations and ongoing medical supervision on a monthly subscription basis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FORMEL Skin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Telemedicine Dermatology
- NAICS
- Hair, Nail, and Skin Care Services (81211)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dermatology Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF), Acne & Congestion Treatments (HSALADAB)
Keywords
Where FORMEL Skin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FORMEL Skin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription-based Skincare Treatment: Monthly recurring subscription model with three treatment tiers (Essential, Advanced, Complete). Customers receive personalized formulations, ongoing medical supervision, and home delivery of products. Auto-refill option with 2-year initial contract term.
- One-time Purchase: Single-purchase option for individual product orders without ongoing subscription commitment.
- E-commerce Shop: Direct sales of supplementary skincare products including cleansers, moisturizers, SPF serums, and spot treatments through the standalone shop.formelskin.de storefront.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Essential tier - Basic personalized skincare treatment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Advanced tier - Mid-range personalized skincare treatment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Complete tier - Premium personalized skincare treatment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Introductory promotional pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
FORMEL Skin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FORMEL Skin provides telemedicine-based personalized dermatology treatment for individual consumers. Patients complete an online skin analysis by uploading photos and answering a questionnaire; licensed German physicians diagnose conditions and prescribe customized topical formulations containing clinical-grade active ingredients. The treatment is delivered as a 3-product routine (cleansing gel, personalized formula, moisturizer) with ongoing physician chat access and monthly check-ins via the website and mobile app.
Product overview
FORMEL Skin is a digital dermatology platform offering personalized skincare treatments through telemedicine. The core offering is a 3-product system (cleansing gel, personalized formula, light moisturizer) customized based on remote dermatologist analysis of uploaded photos. Treatment plans address conditions including acne, rosacea, hormonal acne, post-pill acne, melasma, and aging concerns. The platform provides ongoing physician monitoring via chat and monthly check-ins. Patients can choose between one-time purchases or Auto-Refill subscriptions. An online shop sells individual products separately.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FORMEL Skin Personalized Skincare Treatment Telemedicine-based personalized skincare treatment combining remote dermatology consultations with customized topical formulations delivered to patients' homes. Includes a 3-product routine (cleanser, personalized formula, moisturizer) with ongoing physician monitoring, offered via monthly subscription tiers (Essential, Advanced, Complete) starting at €35-€39 per month. For adult consumers in Germany and Switzerland with dermatological conditions including acne, rosacea, melasma, and skin aging concerns.
- FORMEL Skin Shop Standalone e-commerce storefront (shop.formelskin.de) selling individual supplementary skincare products including sunscreen (LSF 50), cleansing gel, moisturizers, and SOS pimple patches as standalone purchases without requiring a subscription.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9 out of 10 patients see visible results within 6-8 weeks
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use FORMEL Skin
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
FORMEL Skin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
FORMEL Skin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MANUALcoreUK healthtech company MANUAL acquired FORMEL SKIN in December 2025, combining Germany's largest digital dermatology provider with MANUAL to form one of Europe's fastest-growing healthtech groups. The acquisition aims to expand from dermatology into broader health conditions.
- Partner Pharmacies (Prime Pharmacy, Kamille Apotheek, myCARE)coreFORMEL Skin partners with pharmacy networks in Germany and the Netherlands (Prime Pharmacy B.V., Kamille Apotheek B.V., myCARE e.K.) to manufacture personalized skincare formulations and fulfill product orders.
- Evident Derma Medizin GmbHcoreEvident Derma Medizin GmbH is a jointly responsible entity for medical data processing alongside FORMEL SKIN, providing the physician network for telemedicine consultations and treatment oversight.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FORMEL Skin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Nurx: US telehealth provider delivering prescription treatments (including acne and skincare) via online consultations and home delivery. Comparable telemedicine-plus-personalized-topicals model but focused on a broader condition mix.
- Zava: European online clinic offering remote consultations and prescription treatments, including for skin conditions, across UK, Germany, France, and Ireland. Overlaps in European teleconsultation and prescription fulfillment.
Others
- The Ordinary (DECIEM): Global skincare brand built around single-active-ingredient formulations (Niacinamide, Retinoids, Azelaic acid, etc.). Comparable product-category adjacency but operates as a cosmetics brand rather than telemedicine prescription platform.
Direct peers
- OnlineDoctor: Teledermatology platform operating across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, connecting patients with dermatologists for online assessments. Overlaps with FORMEL Skin's DACH focus and photo-based diagnosis approach.
- Curology: US-based direct-to-consumer telemedicine platform that pairs licensed dermatology providers with personalized prescription skincare formulations on a subscription model. Closely comparable to FORMEL Skin in business model, custom formulation approach, and DTC go-to-market.
- Apostrophe: US-based tele-dermatology service providing custom-formulated prescription skincare via online consultations with dermatologists. Closely mirrors FORMEL Skin's personalized prescription topical offering.
- DermDoc (formerly dermanostic): Germany-based teledermatology provider offering online diagnosis and treatment for skin conditions via photo-based consultations. Direct German-market competitor in remote dermatology.
- Hims & Hers: Public US telehealth platform offering personalized prescription skincare (and other categories) on a subscription basis, with online consultations and home delivery. Comparable end-to-end telemedicine-plus-personalized-product model.
Regional players
- DoktorABC: European telemedicine platform providing online doctor consultations and prescription medication delivery, with a presence in Germany. Adjacent in teleconsultation and prescription drug distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- MANUAL: UK-based digital health platform that acquired FORMEL Skin in December 2025, offering men's health and wellness treatments via telemedicine. Parent and adjacent category operator rather than direct head-to-head competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FORMEL Skin social profiles
Digital presenceFORMEL Skin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
FORMEL Skin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FORMEL Skin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
FORMEL Skin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FORMEL Skin 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 FORMEL Skin
What does FORMEL Skin do?
FORMEL Skin provides telemedicine-based personalized dermatology treatment for individual consumers. Patients complete an online skin analysis by uploading photos and answering a questionnaire; licensed German physicians diagnose conditions and prescribe customized topical formulations containing clinical-grade active ingredients. The treatment is delivered as a 3-product routine (cleansing gel, personalized formula, moisturizer) with ongoing physician chat access and monthly check-ins via the website and mobile app.
Is FORMEL Skin a public or private company?
FORMEL Skin is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was FORMEL Skin founded?
FORMEL Skin was founded in 2020. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is FORMEL Skin based?
FORMEL Skin is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does FORMEL Skin make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription-based Skincare Treatment is the primary driver. The others are one-time Purchase and E-commerce Shop.
Who are FORMEL Skin's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Nurx and Zava. The Ordinary (DECIEM) is listed as an others. Direct peers are OnlineDoctor, Curology, Apostrophe, DermDoc (formerly dermanostic) and Hims & Hers. DoktorABC is listed as a regional player. MANUAL is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does FORMEL Skin have an API?
No public API is recorded for FORMEL Skin.
What industry is FORMEL Skin in?
FORMEL Skin's product category is Telemedicine Dermatology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAGAA, Dermatology Telemedicine Platforms, with a secondary code of CRABAAAF, Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare. Its NAICS code is 81211 and its SIC code is 2844.