Beauty news: Emma Lewisham recognised by Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

I make no secret of the fact that I’m a longtime, slightly obsessive fan of Emma Lewisham – the woman and the brand. It’s a name that has been in my bathroom cabinet and my travel kit since it first arrived on the scene seven years ago, and so many of its superlative formulations occupy non-negotiable positions in my daily skin regime with very good reason.
With all that in mind, I’m beyond happy to help share the news that in a major milestone for the brand, Emma Lewisham has earned the recognition of Nobel Laureate Dr. Peter Agre, a globally acclaimed American physician and molecular biologist awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003.
Dr. Peter Agre’s discovery of aquaporins revolutionised modern biology by revealing how water moves through living cells, and the professor at Johns Hopkins University and former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science has had a distinguished career spanning medicine, biochemistry, and global health diplomacy. Elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he is one of the most celebrated scientists of his generation, widely respected for both scientific excellence and humanitarian leadership.
He may seem like an unlikely voice in the world of skincare, but his credentials bring an authority that transcends the beauty world. In an industry so often shaped by trends and fleeting fixations, Dr. Agre offers something of real weight and gravitas—an endorsement rooted purely in merit. And across decades of distinguished scientific contribution, Dr. Agre has never lent his name to a beauty brand. That he chose this founder-led company from Aotearoa speaks to the pioneering contributions it’s making to the field, changing the skin health conversation with one highly efficacious formula after another.

Agre’s Most Prominent Discovery
Dr. Agre’s discovery of aquaporin proteins unveiled something so profound that it redefined an entire field of science. These unique proteins are how the body moves water across membranes, forming an intricate system that allows the body to control where and how much water is distributed throughout our tissues. It’s caused many to refer to them as the ‘plumbing system of cells’, for their ability to finely tune hydration and, as such, ensure our bodies operate effectively.
His work is a landmark revelation in cell biology, with aquaporins now central to breakthroughs in neuroscience, kidney and eye health, plant biology, and even sustainable agriculture, influencing our understanding of hydration, resilience, and cellular mechanisms across all living systems. His work revealed a critical principle: the human body operates through intelligent, interconnected systems, not isolated mechanisms, and it’s a similar systems-based thinking that underpins Emma Lewisham’s formulation philosophy.
While much of the beauty industry traditionally focuses on isolating and hero’ing single ingredients, Emma Lewisham approaches skin through the lens of biology itself. Every product contains up to 25 evidence-based active ingredients at proven concentrations, designed to work across the skin’s multiple biological pathways all at once. Not one ingredient doing one job. A system, designed for a system.

Nobel Laureate, Dr. Peter Agre and Emma Lewisham

A game-changing endorsement
“For me, what’s most appealing about Emma Lewisham is their way of thinking, curiosity, and genuine authenticity in their work,” says Agre. “I’ve enjoyed meeting and spending time with Emma, witnessing first-hand her commitment to solving problems while running a business that operates with real ethics and responsibility. Their work is anchored in science, using it as a force for good.”
Dr. Peter Agre’s acknowledgment follows that of Dr. Jane Goodall, who personally endorsed Emma Lewisham in 2021 and said, “I sincerely hope that the beauty industry can follow Emma Lewisham’s lead. I believe they are paving the way for the future.”
And finally some incredibly exciting news for fans of the brand like myself: coming up is a new innovation incorporating Agre’s pioneering work on aquaporins, that I, for one, cannot wait to discover.