Interview with Mr. Fernando Lareu Rodríguez,
CEO and General Director of Eberlin Biocosmetics
Maybe it’s not as romantic as France, not as historically rich as Italy, or not so prestigious as many other European countries, but Spain still enchants the hearts of many people. It is home to flamenco, the Alhambra, as well as Goya, Picasso and many big names of art. It is also known as the land of passion. At the same time, the country breeds a variety of excellent skincare brands with natural ingredients, advanced formulas and outstanding effect. eberlin is a representative. In order to know more about the brand, we have interviewed Mr. Fernando Lareu Rodríguez, the CEO of Eberlin Biocosmetics.
Originally a Software Analyst, Fernando has worked and collaborated with many companies from multiple sectors, generating a very broad and detailed vision of what business activity entails. Since 2008, he has been linked to the professional cosmetics sector, assuming management responsibilities in several important companies in the sector in Spain, and from January 2014 with Eberlin Biocosmetics. Since then, he has expanded the company’s turnover by four times and has placed it in the most important markets worldwide, and made it a benchmark company in the sector.
The pursuit for passion, sophistication and beauty defines the Spanish attitudes towards life. Eberlin Biocosmetics is born out of such a culture.
Please share the brand and founder story with SpaChina readers.
Eberlin is a personalised skincare brand created by the Nemesis Laboratories. The laboratory is located in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. The founder has long been fascinated by the study of herbal biology and the skincare application of ancient Egyptian plants. At the library of the University of Leipzig, Germany, he discovered an ancient Egyptian volume dedicated to the effects of plants in the field of medicine and skincare applications, contributed by a German named Ebers, after whom the volume was named. This Ebers was born in Berlin, so the founder combined Ebers and Berlin and named the brand eberlin.
Eberlin was officially established in 1985 at Nemesis Laboratories in Madrid, Spain, and since then its products have been widely used by over 20,000 Spanish skin clinics and Spanish dermatology hospitals. Since 2018, the brand has expanded worldwide and has become an internationally renowned professional line of personalized skincare.
What makes eberlin outstanding and different from others?
Being pure and natural is the relentless pursuit of eberlin. Prior to the creation of the brand, Nemesis Laboratories specialised in developing personalised skin management solutions for local celebrities, nobles and stars in Spain. Later, Nemesis Laboratories decided to create a professional line in order to make its natural and professional therapeutic skin care products available to a wider audience.
The Spanish skincare brands overall have a long history. But they stay low profile. They keep studying and developing the best natural and organic ingredients. And eberlin is one of them. eberlin has been delivering natural therapies with active botanical ingredients for over 35 years, featuring premium plant extracts from the land and the sea. The ingredients are selected for their high effectiveness in hydrating, renewing, nourishing, calming and penetrating the skin, and are developed in the most efficient way.
A large professional research and development team of doctors, pharmacists, chemists, biologists, physiotherapists and naturopaths, with an emphasis on deep skin research, have combined ancient Egyptian botanical skincare concepts with the most advanced scientific methods today, opening up endless possibilities. From skin diagnosis to personalised skincare products, eberlin offers holistic solutions for its customers.
What is the star product series that you recommend to the Spas?
Products that we want to recommend to Chinese SPAs are:
1. Eberlin Lab Line – THE COSMETICS OF THE FUTURE
We present five treatments with very innovative, powerful and effective combinations of active ingredients, suitable for all skin types and ages. They represent an excellent shock treatment combination with any of the Eberlin lines, since they have very high concentrations, offering immediate and visible results in several applications. For the formulation of this line, we worked with experts in active ingredient encapsulation and with a new generation release technology that releases up to 12 times more active ingredient in the target cosmetic structure than if it were incorporated freely into the formula.
2. Pure Oil Line – ESSENTIALLY NATURAL
This is our new line based on 100% natural extracts capable of treating all skin types, according to your needs. From exhaustive research and formulation, this range of highly effective oils was born, with which we achieve a general stimulation of the tissue (oxygenation) and a balance between yin and yang. In each of them, we mix traditional, exotic and other more innovative oils, to achieve personalized treatments and the best results. The Pure Oil line is made up of 3 treatment oils (Regulatory, Firming and Antioxidant), 3 high-purity oils (Marula, Kalahari Melon and Manketti) and a Rosa Damascena balancing toner. In addition, we include classic oriental, such as the Gua Sha (刮痧) and the Lifting Cup (拔罐), to enhance the penetration of the active ingredients into the skin and its reaffirmation and oxygenation. This line is part of a holistic treatment where we work on beauty at all levels, uniting body and mind and motivating relaxation and well-being.
3. Native Collagen Eye Patches – ILLUMINATED LOOK
The Pure Collagen Mask Sheet and Native Collagen Eye Patches, made from 92% collagen, have an innovative composition that rejuvenates delicate skin. It regenerates the natural balance of skin, provides long-term hydraulic reinforcement and calms it. It smoothes wrinkles, hydrates and evens out the tone. The mask sheet is made up of fiber, peptides, and collagen molecules. The activator is made of biomaterial and is composed with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. For this reason, it is ideal as an extra treatment to the facial routine.
The masks are made up of 2 parts: 1. Collagen Mask, which hydrates and mitigates wrinkles and expression lines. In addition, it harmonizes and softens the skin tone. 2. Activating liquid that, in addition to hydrating, fills in wrinkles thanks to its hyaluronic acid composition.
How do you work with your Chinese distributor and what kind of support do you provide to the Spas?
In 2018, at the international fair in Bologna, Cosmoprof, we met Wing and Annie for the first time, as managers of a Chinese company that was looking for a new brand of European facial cosmetics. We understand that usually such potential distributors just collect information from the fair and analyse it on returning to China. But during the four days that we were present at Cosmoprof, both Wing and Annie visited us every day, taking a very detailed interest in the product and the work philosophy of our company.
That was the beginning of a long relationship, which is taking hold despite subsequent difficulties in registering products, due to changes in regulations, despite Covid, which forced us to suspend trips and presence at fairs in China, as well as the specific logistical problems derived from Covid.
Despite all these factors, their strong commitment to us has led them to develop a high presence on Chinese social networks, in addition to developing all the marketing, work protocols, brochures, and all the necessary material to support the professional channel. They have been present in various international fairs in China, with our Eberlin Biocosmetics brand, and in Cosmoprof they were awarded the prize for the best stand at the fair. Also, on the SpaChina Wellness & Spa Awards 2021, one of our products, Premium Le Lift Serum, has been awarded “Best Anti-aging Product of the Year”. From all this, as manufacturers, we are very proud to have such an active and efficient distributor.
For us, it is considered the best distributor worldwide, not only for the present but also for the future. For this reason, we are always ready to provide them with all the necessary support, such as training of their trainers, presence at international fairs, as well as maintaining a relationship with each salon in the country. In fact, thanks to their suggestions, we have developed and created several products initially focused on the Chinese market and later extended to other countries.
How do you see the potential of the China Spa market? What kind of development plan do you have for the next 5 years?
All economic forecasts focus on the year 2025. Let’s hope it will be a year when the world economy begins a long period of growth again. This sets us a clear short-term goal. It is about locating ourselves in the national and international market and having all the manufacturing elements for exponential growth from 2025.
For this reason, Nemesis Laboratories is investing in a new 8,000 m2 facility that will be available in 2023. In addition, we are increasing our national positioning and in parallel in the next 3 years, we want to be present in the most important countries in the European aesthetic sector. At the same time, we are initiating efforts to position ourselves in the South American market, where the potential is enormous. The Chinese market is fundamental for us, due to its potential and the excellent professionalism and commitment of our distributor.
In 2014 Nemesis Laboratories initiated a total change of strategy, which, 8 years later and with growth has seen turnover multiply by 4 times, giving us total security and a clear understanding on how to meet the new challenges.
