HelioScience
HelioScience is a Marseille-based, FDA-registered contract testing laboratory providing in vitro and in vivo photoprotection efficacy, safety, and aquatic environmental impact assessments for cosmetic and personal care manufacturers developing sun protection products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersMarseille, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HelioScience does
HelioScience is a privately held French contract testing laboratory (HELIOSCIENCE SARL) headquartered at the Cité de la Cosmétique in Marseille, with a second laboratory in Teaneck, New Jersey. The company specializes in the evaluation of sun protection products for cosmetics and personal care manufacturers, offering both in vitro and in vivo testing covering SPF, UVA protection, critical wavelength, water resistance, photostability, infrared, blue light, and visible light protection. It also provides aquatic environmental impact assessments through its HELIOBIOD (biodegradability per OECD 301/302) and HELIOECO (ecotoxicity on freshwater and marine organisms, including corals) suites, plus environmental claims and eco-label consulting.
The laboratory's core technology stack is built around a portfolio of 18+ proprietary internal test methods — branded as Heliotest N°01–05, HelioIR, HelioBlue, HelioVisible, HelioSpectrum, HelioEquiv, HelioChem, HelioAging, HelioPreTox, HelioTox, HelioIO, HelioMut, HelioSkin, HelioAntiOx, and HelioSand — protected by know-how and pending patents, alongside standardized ISO, FDA, Colipa, and Boots methods. It manufactures its own PMMA test plates (Sunplates XT sandblasted and MD4-5 molded), with surface roughness verified by 3D profilometry. HelioScience contributed to the ALT-SPF Consortium and the resulting ISO 23698:2024 HDRS standard, holds U.S. FDA laboratory registration, and is agréé CIR (2026–2030) and CII (2021–2025) under French tax authority approval.
The business model is B2B professional services, project- or contract-based, with quote-based pricing (no public price list). Customer acquisition runs through direct website contact, dedicated email channels ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected]), volunteer recruitment for in vivo studies, and industry events (NY SCC Suppliers Day, In-Cosmetics Asia, Cosmeticorium, EuroSun 2026). A secondary revenue stream comes from direct shipment of PMMA Sunplates globally via DAP terms, payable by bank transfer, cheque, or PayPal. The company is founder-led by Jean-Claude Hubaud (CEO and Founder), with 1–10 employees and no external funding or parent organization disclosed.
HelioScience firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HelioScience
- Legal name
- HELIOSCIENCE SARL
- Website
- https://helioscience.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HelioScience is a Marseille-based, FDA-registered contract testing laboratory providing in vitro and in vivo photoprotection efficacy, safety, and aquatic environmental impact assessments for cosmetic and personal care manufacturers developing sun protection products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HelioScience industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cosmetic Testing Laboratory
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sunscreen (Body) (CRABAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chemical Sun Protection (CRABAHAD), Sun Protection for Sensitive/Medical Needs (Reef-Safe, Hypoallergenic, Post-Procedure) (CRABAHAN)
Keywords
Where HelioScience is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marseille
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
HelioScience business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Laboratory Testing Services (B2B): HelioScience generates revenue by providing specialized laboratory testing services to cosmetic companies for the evaluation of sun protection products. Services include in vitro and in vivo photoprotection testing, aquatic environmental impact assessment (biodegradability and ecotoxicity), PMMA plate sales, and quality control testing. Revenue is likely project-based or contract-based given the B2B nature of services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
HelioScience product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HelioScience is a contract testing laboratory specializing in the evaluation of sun protection and cosmetic products using in vitro and in vivo methods. The company provides SPF, UVA, water resistance, photostability, infrared, blue light, and visible light protection testing, along with aquatic environmental impact assessment (biodegradability and ecotoxicity) and consulting on environmental claims and eco-label certification. It also manufactures and sells proprietary PMMA test plates (Sunplates XT and MD4-5) used as supports for in vitro photoprotection testing.
Product overview
HelioScience is a specialized contract testing laboratory providing comprehensive sun protection product evaluation services. The company offers a portfolio of proprietary internal test methods (Heliotest N°1-5, HelioIR, HelioBlue, HelioVisible, HelioSpectrum, HelioEquiv, HelioChem, HelioAging, HelioPreTox, HelioTox, HelioIO, HelioMut, HelioSkin, HelioAntiOx, HelioSand) alongside standardized ISO, FDA, Colipa, and Boots methods for both in vitro and in vivo testing. Additionally, HelioScience manufactures and sells PMMA testing plates (Sunplates XT and MD4-5) as physical products for in vitro testing, and provides environmental impact assessment services through HELIOBIOD and HELIOECO for biodegradability and ecotoxicity evaluation. The company also supports environmental claims and eco-label certifications for cosmetic products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In Vitro Tests
Quantifiable outcome
- ISO 23698 validated HDRS method developed through ALT-SPF Consortium participation, providing an alternative in vivo method for SPF determination.
Companies that use HelioScience
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
HelioScience technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability3 records
Feature12 records
HelioScience partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ALT-SPF ConsortiumcoreHelioScience participated in the ALT-SPF Consortium, a collaborative initiative aimed at developing alternative methods for SPF determination. The consortium contributed to the development and validation of the HDRS (Hybrid Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy) method, which has been standardized under ISO 23698:2024. This partnership positions HelioScience as a key contributor to the advancement of in vitro sun protection testing standards.
- Cité de la CosmétiqueminorHelioScience participated in the creation of the Cité de la Cosmétique, a cosmetic industry hub in Marseille, France. The company is headquartered at the Cité de la Cosmétique, 2 Rue Odette Jasse, 13015 Marseille, indicating a location-based association with the initiative.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HelioScience competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SGS: Multinational testing, inspection and certification group with cosmetic and personal care testing lines, a broad incumbent whose services intersect HelioScience's niche.
- Intertek: Global TIC provider offering cosmetic and consumer-product testing including SPF/regulatory support, competing broadly with far wider geographic and service coverage.
- Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care: Global testing network offering cosmetic efficacy, safety, and sun-protection testing among a very broad portfolio, overlapping HelioScience at far larger scale.
Direct peers
- Spincontrol: France-based cosmetic testing lab offering in vitro/in vivo efficacy and claim testing including sun care, a close domestic competitor.
- proDERM: German contract institute performing clinical SPF, UVA, and dermatological efficacy/safety testing for cosmetics, a direct competitor in sun-protection product evaluation.
- Dermscan Group: French cosmetic contract lab providing efficacy, safety and sun-protection clinical testing for manufacturers, competing in the same territory and category.
- Complife Group: European (Italy-based) cosmetic testing group offering SPF/UVA efficacy, safety, and claim-substantiation services for personal care brands, mirroring HelioScience's B2B model.
- HelioScreen Labs: French laboratory specializing in in vitro and in vivo sun protection (SPF/UVA) testing and PMMA substrate supply, directly overlapping HelioScience's core services and product line.
Regional players
- Kosmoscience: Brazilian clinical testing lab specialized in SPF and sunscreen efficacy testing, comparable in offering but serving primarily the Latin American market.
Others
- Solar Light Company: US maker of SPF measurement instruments, solar simulators, and PMMA plates used in photoprotection testing; an ecosystem supplier adjacent to HelioScience's testing and plate business.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HelioScience social profiles
Digital presenceHelioScience compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
HelioScience financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HelioScience leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HelioScience funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HelioScience 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 HelioScience
What does HelioScience do?
HelioScience is a contract testing laboratory specializing in the evaluation of sun protection and cosmetic products using in vitro and in vivo methods. The company provides SPF, UVA, water resistance, photostability, infrared, blue light, and visible light protection testing, along with aquatic environmental impact assessment (biodegradability and ecotoxicity) and consulting on environmental claims and eco-label certification. It also manufactures and sells proprietary PMMA test plates (Sunplates XT and MD4-5) used as supports for in vitro photoprotection testing.
Is HelioScience a public or private company?
HelioScience is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HelioScience founded?
HelioScience was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HelioScience based?
HelioScience is headquartered in Marseille, France, in the Europe region.
How does HelioScience make money?
One revenue line is on record: laboratory Testing Services (B2B).
Who are HelioScience's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SGS, Intertek and Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care. Direct peers are Spincontrol, proDERM, Dermscan Group, Complife Group and HelioScreen Labs. Kosmoscience is listed as a regional player. Solar Light Company is listed as an others.
Does HelioScience have an API?
No public API is recorded for HelioScience.
What industry is HelioScience in?
HelioScience's product category is Cosmetic Testing Laboratory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAHAB, Sunscreen (Body), with a secondary code of CRABAHAD, Chemical Sun Protection. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.