Our Approach & Story
Jean-Noël Thorel, founder of NAOS, disrupted the establishment’s understanding of the beauty industry with his vision. He has always seen the skin as a living ecosystem that constantly interacts with its environment and that changes over time.
This dynamic vision gave birth to NAOS scientific approach: Ecobiology, the contraction of “ecosystem” & “biology”. It is the art of preserving the skin’s ecosystem by strengthening it's natural mechanisms.
Radically different from traditional cosmetics, Ecobiology is based on respect for the skin and knowledge of it's biology.
Rather than over-treating the skin, it must be taught how to function properly…
NAOS is a cohesive system of companies and brands, life-inspired & heart-driven. NAOS stands out in Skincare, with the aim of extending its scope to Human care (Health, Beauty, Well-being).
Jean Noel Thorel began his career in a pharmacy located in the Gare de l’Est train station in Paris, working in close contact with clients. This experience was the basis of his determination to better understand the needs of all and to address them differently.
In 1973, he worked alongside Jean-Henri Belin the Managing Director of the PHARMEX pharmaceutical laboratory, which belonged to MERCK and RICKER. He then became the Director of GOUPIL laboratories alongside its founder, Jean-Jacques Goupil. He left due to an ethical disagreement over the formulation of his sun care products.
Jean-Noël Thorel’s pioneering vision naturally led him to entrepreneurship. In 1977, Jean-Noël Thorel founded CEREDAP (Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche en Esthétique et Dermatologie Appliquée) the research center, where he created the first Bioderma and Institut Esthederm products.
With the creation of new modes of action inspired by the skin and passing trough the skin barrier, he contributed to regulatory changes and changed the paradigm of traditional cosmetics in the Skincare field.
100% MADE IN FRANCE
Since 1988, all Bioderma, Institut Esthederm and Etat Pur products have been created and manufactured in France, in Aix-en-Provence, at the NAOS Les Laboratoires site. More than 90 million units were produced in 2017, thanks to the inauguration of a new high-speed specialized production unit for the manufacturing of Bioderma micellar water.
We believe in ecobiology to better preserve the skin's ecosystem and strengthen its natural mechanisms.
This unique scientific approach is rooted in biology.
Born from and rooted in this ecobiological approach, Bioderma, Institut Esthederm and Etat Pur are 3 brands inspired by NAOS philosophy and all share the same scientific and human requirements.