From Medicine to Beauty: How Dr. Tiina Meder Started a Skincare Revolution

Everyone's journey into the beauty industry is different. I took a long route, from athletic pursuits to medicine, cardiology, working with pregnant women and new mothers, finally to skin care and skincare development. This is my story.

Many people assume that skincare founders are born passionate about cosmetics and beauty. My journey was quite different. As a young girl, I was passionate about chemistry and swimming. I dreamed of becoming a professional swimming trainer, but that path ended in my teens. Chemistry intrigued me, even though my own mother, herself a chemist, said I wasn’t cut out for this profession. At 13, I accepted this challenge without fully understanding why.

While working with women who had congenital heart disease and had recently given birth, I was surprised to find that many cared deeply about their skin — sometimes as much as their heart health. This realisation opened my eyes to how vital skin health truly is. After having my own child, I embraced this perspective fully and shifted my career toward dermatology and aesthetic medicine in the mid-1990s, when the field was just emerging.

In those early days, aesthetic medicine was very different — mostly female practitioners, limited technologies, and early skincare solutions based on plant extracts, vitamins, retinol, and hydroxy acids. I spent countless weekends in public libraries (before Google!) learning everything about active ingredients and cosmetic safety because I wanted skincare to be both effective and safe for everyone, including pregnant women — a group often overlooked by the beauty industry.

A turning point came in 2006 when I attended a raw materials conference and discovered peptides and probiotics — ingredients that were both highly effective and safe. I saw their potential to deliver visible anti-wrinkle results without the risks associated with harsher treatments like retinol or injectables.

Excited, I proposed developing peptide- and probiotic-based treatments for pregnant women as a Botox alternative. Despite skepticism from large laboratories, I believed in this innovative approach.

With the support of my husband, I partnered with a Swiss laboratory willing to take on this challenge. After three years of formulation work, we launched a professional treatment set in 2009, combining peptides, probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamin B3 (niacinamide) to enhance skin permeability and efficacy.

The results were impressive — visible improvements within an hour, safe for long-term use, and embraced by skin practitioners worldwide. Today, my brand is present in over 30 countries, used by thousands of professionals.

Looking back, I never imagined I would become a skincare founder. My passion evolved from chemistry and medicine into dedication to skin health as a vital part of human health. The skin is not just the body’s largest organ — it’s a visible reflection of overall wellness.

My journey shows that following your evolving passions, staying curious, and prioritizing safety and innovation can lead to unexpected and rewarding paths. Skincare, for me, is about improving quality of life through science-backed, safe, and effective solutions — not just cosmetics.

If you feel drawn to something, pursue it wholeheartedly — you never know where it might lead.