Solésence

What Solésence does

Solésence is a B2B developer and contract manufacturer of mineral-based skincare, sun care, and color cosmetics headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois. Founded in 2016 as a subsidiary of Nanophase Technologies Corporation, the company rebranded to Solésence in March 2025 and uplisted to Nasdaq under ticker SLSN the following month. It operates more than 300,000 square feet of FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant manufacturing across two facilities in the Chicagoland area, with 8 clean rooms and annual capacity exceeding 50 million units, and employs over 180 people.

The company's competitive core is a patented mineral-based technology suite: Kleair™ (high-transparency zinc oxide for broad-spectrum SPF), WHSPR™ (allantoin delivery system enabling OTC-grade sensitive skin claims in anhydrous formats), Chromalüm™ (color integration technology for SPF-infused color cosmetics), Blüm™ (HEV blue light protection), and the original Active Stress Defense™ platform. The stack enables the delivery of broad-spectrum SPF 40–50+, pollution-induced free radical reduction above 85%, and clinical skin health outcomes such as 63% redness reduction and 112% hydration improvement in formats where mineral actives have historically underperformed on aesthetics. Over 120 patents protect the platform, which is exclusively available through Solésence-finished goods.

Solésence serves 60+ brand partners globally via three go-to-market paths—market-ready white label products, white label+ with light customization, and full custom development—spanning prestige (Colorescience since 2017, Bloomeffects, glo skin beauty), indie and clean beauty (Credo, 13 Lune, Iris&Romeo, Ciele), and sensitive-skin-focused brands. Revenue is generated through per-unit manufacturing contracts, custom development project fees, and embedded technology licensing enabled by the proprietary-only distribution model.

Name

Solésence

Legal name

Solésence, Inc.

Website

https://solesence.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Solésence is a Nasdaq-listed B2B manufacturer (SLSN) developing mineral-based skincare, sun care, and color cosmetics via proprietary zinc oxide platforms (Kleair™, WHSPR™, Chromalüm™) for 60+ global beauty brand partners through white-label, custom, and full-service development paths.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mineral Sun Care and Color Cosmetics Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

SPF Cosmetics & Daily Wear (Tinted SPF, BB/CC, SPF Primers) (CRABAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sun Care & After-Sun (Non-color) (CRADANAH), Sun Protection for Sensitive/Medical Needs (Reef-Safe, Hypoallergenic, Post-Procedure) (CRABAHAN), Sensitive Skin & Barrier Repair (CRABAAAG), Private Label & Contract/White-Label Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAO)

Keywords

• Mineral sunscreen manufacturing
• White label skincare
• Contract cosmetics manufacturing
• Beauty brand partnerships
• Zinc oxide sun care

Headquarters

HQ city

Romeoville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. White Label Product Sales: Solésence manufactures and sells pre-formulated, market-ready beauty products under white label arrangements where brand partners rebrand and distribute. Products include skincare, sun care, and color cosmetics with SPF.
2. Custom Product Development & Manufacturing: Full-service custom development for brand partners with specific formulation requirements, from concept to commercialization, including regulatory compliance, SPF testing, and manufacturing.
3. Technology Licensing: Patented technologies (Kleair™, WHSPR™, Chromalüm™, Blüm™, Active Stress Defense™) are available exclusively through Solésence finished goods, effectively functioning as proprietary technology licensing embedded in manufactured products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Solésence is a B2B contract manufacturer that develops and produces mineral-based skincare, sun care, and color cosmetics for beauty brands. The company offers three paths to market—market-ready white label products, white label+ with light customization, and full custom product development—all built on proprietary Kleair™, Chromalüm™, Blüm™, WHSPR™, and Active Stress Defense™ technologies that deliver broad-spectrum SPF, HEV/blue light protection, and OTC-grade sensitive skin claims. Revenue comes from selling finished goods to 60+ brand partners and from custom formulation and regulatory services, not from direct consumer sales.

Product overview

Solésence is a developer and manufacturer of clean, inclusive, mineral-based skincare and makeup products at the forefront of skin health. The company operates a platform-based architecture centered on its proprietary technology suite including Kleair™ (zinc oxide SPF technology), Chromalüm™ (color technology), Blüm™ (blue light protection), WHSPR™ (allantoin delivery system), and the original Active Stress Defense™ platform. These technologies work synergistically to deliver environmental protection (UVA, UVB, pollution, blue light) in cosmetic formats. Solésence offers three paths to market: market-ready white label products (pre-tested and ready for launch), white label+ (with customization), and full custom development. Key market-ready products include Lip Oil SPF 40+, Natural Glow Face Oil SPF 40+, Au Lait Face Milk SPF 50+, One & Done Complexion Balancer, Beauty Drops Total Protection Serum, and Hydrating Lip Shield, all featuring mineral-based SPF with skin health benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lip Oil SPF 40+ Patented soft lip oil with Kleair™ technology delivering non-nano mineral sunscreen actives in 12 shades; reduces pollution-induced free radicals by over 85%. Designed for white-label or custom use by brand partners.
• Natural Glow Face Oil SPF 40+ Air-weight, low-viscosity serum delivering broad-spectrum SPF 40+ with Kleair™ and Blüm™ technologies; blurs fine lines while reducing pollution-induced free radicals by over 85%. Available as a market-ready white label product.
• Au Lait Face Milk SPF 50+ Multi-functional, ultra-lightweight daily skincare hybrid with Kleair™ broad-spectrum SPF 50+, available untinted or in 18 shades and formulated microplastics-free per EU regulations. Market-ready white label product for brand partners.
• Soft Glow SPF 50+ Market-ready SPF 50+ complexion product featuring Solésence Kleair™ technology delivering broad-spectrum mineral UV protection.
• One & Done Complexion Balancer Lightweight tone correction and total protection product with Active Stress Defense™ delivering SPF 40+, blue light protection, and antioxidant complex with green tea extract.
• Beauty Drops Total Protection Serum Ultra-lightweight daily skin protector available in 18 shades, delivering broad-spectrum SPF 50+ with antioxidant enhancement and blue light protection.
• Hydrating Lip Shield Multi-functional liquid lip gloss with SPF 35+, pollution protection, and antioxidant system enhancement, available in three shades.
• Market-Ready White Label Products Pre-tested, ready-for-launch products that brand partners can white-label, spanning 11+ trend-driven skincare and color cosmetics items with integrated environmental protection. Includes tier above: White Label+ for light customization.
• Custom Product Development Full custom product development services for brand partners requiring unique formulations, starting from scratch with complete customization including regulatory compliance, SPF testing, and cGMP manufacturing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 63% redness reduction with WHSPR™ formulation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Mazur GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 May 2026Premier sponsor of Mazur Group's annual Beauty Biz Roundtable (multiple years). VP of Innovation Yoana Dvorzsak spoke at the 2026 Beauty Biz Roundtable in Santa Monica, CA on May 15. Hosted roundtable discussions on building successful brand partnerships.
• UV Safety CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Solésence is a member of the UV Safety Coalition that supported the APPG for Beauty, Hair & Wellbeing's year-long inquiry into UV safety in the U.K. The coalition launched the landmark report 'A Preventable Crisis: The Case for a National UV Safety Strategy' at British Parliament on May 13, 2026. Solésence will work to implement the report's recommendations and engage industry leaders to drive adoption of comprehensive UV protection behaviors.
• Skin Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Solésence President and CEO Kevin Cureton moderated the panel 'Men and Sun Protection' at the 2026 Skin Cancer Foundation Partner Summit on May 13 in New York City. Solésence participates in Skin Cancer Awareness Month to educate consumers on skin health and skin cancer prevention. Company products carry the Skin Cancer Foundation Shield recommendation.
• BloomeffectscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026Botanical skincare brand (Dutch Tulips) partnered with Solésence for Melanoma Monday Nasdaq Tower campaign on May 4, 2026. Shortlisted for Allure 2026 Reader's Choice Award. Featured at BeautyMatter Future50 Supermarket display alongside Colorescience.
• CielecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026Brand partner participating in Melanoma Monday Nasdaq Tower awareness campaign alongside Solésence on May 4, 2026.
• Iris&RomeocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026Brand partner participating in Melanoma Monday Nasdaq Tower awareness campaign alongside Solésence on May 4, 2026.
• Chicago InnovationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026Winner of the 22nd Annual Chicago Innovation Awards (November 2023). Joined fellow winners in ringing the Nasdaq Opening Bell in July 2024. CEO Kevin Cureton spoke at Chicago Innovation's 'Innovating Our Health and Wellness' event in March 2026. Company hosts table at Wellness Innovators Networking Expo.
• glo skin beautycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2026Select brand partner featured on Solésence website. Represents one of the company's 60+ active brand partnerships.
• PaklabminorOthers · 27 February 2026Prior employer of newly appointed VP of Brand Partnerships Yoolie Park, who brings over 20 years of beauty industry experience from Paklab, APG, IPKG, and Nestfiller.
• SolariumminorOthers · 31 October 2025Confidential settlement agreement entered on October 31, 2025 as reported in SEC filing. Specific details not disclosed. Represents resolution of a legal dispute.
• BeautyMattercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2023Sponsor of BeautyMatter Future50 Summit (March 2026) and BeautyMatter NEXT Awards (2023). Joint webinar series including 'Translating the Blue Light Trend into a Product Strategy' and 'The Art of Developing a Breakthrough Product.' Solésence CEO Kevin Cureton presented webinar on 'The SPF Advantage' in January 2026.
• ColorescienceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2017Solésence's first brand partner (announced January 2017) and most prominent strategic relationship. Joint development and supply relationship using patented mineral skin care actives technology to develop sunscreen products exclusively for Colorescience. Colorescience's Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield, using Solésence's Enviroscreen/Kleair™ technology, won Oprah's O'Ward and has been featured in O Magazine. The partnership continues to drive significant brand partner growth.
• CredocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSelect brand partner featured on Solésence website, representing clean beauty retail channel.
• 13 LunecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSelect brand partner featured on Solésence website, representing indie beauty retail channel.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Supergoop!: Mineral-based SPF skincare and color cosmetics brand with strong indie/prestige channel presence. Directly comparable to Solésence's Kleair™-powered mineral SPF offerings, including tinted SPF, lip products, and face formulations targeting sensitive-skin and everyday environmental defense consumers.
• EltaMD: Dermatologist-recommended mineral sunscreen brand owned by Colgate-Palmolive. Highly comparable to Solésence in zinc-oxide-based, sensitive-skin-positioned sun protection sold through professional and prestige channels, including tinted daily-wear SPF formats overlapping with Solésence's Chromalüm™ + Kleair™ products.
• Colorescience: Mineral SPF color cosmetics brand (Sunforgettable Total Protection) and Solésence's flagship brand partner since 2017. Overlaps with Solésence in mineral zinc-oxide SPF, sensitive-skin positioning, and tinted/wearable formats, and uses Solésence's Enviroscreen/Kleair™ technology as its core formulation platform.
• Blue Lizard (Crown Labs): Mineral sunscreen brand owned by Crown Laboratories with a focus on sensitive skin, reef-safe formulations, and pediatric use. Comparable to Solésence's mineral SPF and sensitive-skin claims (WHSPR™/Active Stress Defense™), competing for similar drugstore, pediatrician, and prestige channel partners.
• Intercos Group: One of the largest global contract manufacturers of color cosmetics, skincare, and personal care, serving prestige and mass beauty brands. Direct peer to Solésence in the contract manufacturing business model, with overlapping capabilities in customized formulation, regulatory support, and global manufacturing.
• Cosmax: Large global Korean beauty contract manufacturer (ODM/OEM) with capabilities in skincare, color cosmetics, and sun care for indie, prestige, and mass brands. Comparable to Solésence in white-label and custom development services, particularly relevant for brand partners seeking pan-Asia manufacturing scale.

Broad incumbents

• Beiersdorf: Global personal-care conglomerate owning Eucerin, Coppertone, La Prairie, and Nivea. Overlaps with Solésence broadly in mineral/chemical sun protection, sensitive-skin dermatological skincare (Eucerin), and prestige color with SPF, and is a relevant incumbent peer for partnership or competitive pressure.
• L'Oréal: Largest global beauty company with mineral SPF, sensitive-skin dermatological brands (La Roche-Posay, Vichy, SkinCeuticals) and active color cosmetics with SPF. Highly comparable to Solésence's end-markets and represents both a partner and a competitor for indie/prestige brand acquisition.
• Edgewell Personal Care: Owner of Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Bulldog, and Jack Black sun and skincare brands. Direct incumbent peer in mass-market and men's sun protection, and a relevant comparison point on mineral-vs-chemical SPF positioning and brand-partner economics for retailers that Solésence's brand partners also target.

Emerging players

• The Honest Company: Clean-beauty and personal care company (Honest Beauty, Honest Sun) with mineral and reef-safe SPF products in prestige/mass channels. Comparable to Solésence in clean-beauty positioning and zinc-oxide sun care, though operating as a brand owner rather than a contract manufacturer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/solesence
• TikToktiktok.com/@solesence
• Xx.com/solesence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15085664

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solésence