In such an evolving landscape, it takes more than just a ‘skin care range’ to stand out amongst the cosmeceutical industry.

"Our uniqueness (in addition to having great products that work really well) is in providing a wealth of support to our clinics that stock our brand. It's the whole package that really ticks the boxes."

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Donna Lee Marçal, Co-Founder and the Co-Brains behind the incredible Dermatonics® Skincare brand.

Donna, originally from Canada, is a specialist doctor in human Biochemistry from The University of Ottawa. Dr Donna Marçal is specialised in inflammation and how the body reacts to foreign materials. Her work has been published in numerous highly respected biomedical industry journals around the world. She has been awarded several international research fellowships for her work including The Prime Minister's Science Award from Australia, which facilitated her to continue the award-winning research program here in Australia.

Upon her Sydney research visit, she investigated the human biochemistry pathways involved in inflammation and biomaterial responses using advanced proteomics techniques in collaboration with the Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility at The University of NSW (UNSW). Her work on specific human proteins and their functions in human inflammation awarded her an Endeavour Research Fellowship from the Australian Government.

She has also worked with The Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (Brisbane, QLD) on high profile projects. Dr Marçal then switched her focus to continue her work on macrophage-mediated inflammation in the area of Atherosclerosis with the Macrophage Biology Group at UNSW in Sydney. She continued her work in inflammation, cholesterol transport and cell signalling in macrophages before launching and becoming the driving force behind Dermatonics®. Her knowledge of human inflammation is central to the formulations behind each Dermatonics® products in combination with her business partner and husband, Dr Helder Marçal.

1. What makes Dermatonics® stand out as the go-to clinic brand in today’s B2B marketplace?

Dermatonics® is an Australian skincare range that meets a lot of the needs of clients and clinics today. Our products are free from harsh chemicals, packed with ultra-pure natural actives that are results oriented, they are specifically formulated to help tackle difficult skin concerns and sensitive skin and our range helps repair the skin barrier.

A key point for our clinic partners is that Dermatonics® is a clinic brand that is exclusive to our clinics. What makes us stand out in this space is that we closely work with our clinic partners and help support small businesses and sole operators. We partner with home-based clinic owners that are appropriately qualified and passionate about their clients.

Clinics are looking for amazing Australian skincare products that will foremost help their clients skin concerns and also be really beneficial for their business and business growth. We don’t implement minimum orders. This allows businesses (especially sole operators) to begin implementing our range, introducing it to their clients and then build.

Skin therapists put an incredible amount of time and effort into their client care and treatment, they need a tool that they can confidently use and prescribe to their clients appropriately. With all that time and effort they put into their clients, they want those clients purchasing from them, not online, in discount chemists or large department stores. We are ticking a lot of the boxes for the clinics and their clients.

2. Why botanical ingredients?

As we are well aware, there are many harsh chemicals that are still being used in the industry that are not beneficial to the skin, can harm the skin or even trigger skin conditions.

We have taken those steps to ensure Dermatonics® products do not contain chemicals that are harsh to the skin. Not all synthetic chemicals are bad, however, nature and nature-similar ingredients have so much to offer in terms of active ingredients and phytomedicine. Our ancestors from all over the world have been using traditional, botanically-derived ingredients for hundreds of years. There is a reason for that, as many of them work really well without the side effects and irritation of some synthetic actives.

Consumer demands are also very much trending towards natural and botanical sources. At Dermatonics® we strive to use the best active ingredients that nature (with a specific focus on Australian Natives) has to offer for the skin. Not all botanical ingredients are good for topical or internal use, so we do extensive research to ensure we are applying the most effective and safe botanical ingredients that will deliver results to your skin, without harsh or damaging effects.

3. Why do you do what you do?

As founders of Dermatonics®, my husband (Dr Helder Marçal) and I are very passionate about carefully creating high quality skincare products that are packed with ingredients and deliver results that help improve skin conditions and long-term skin health.

We do this as we are dedicated to improving the health of those who truly need it, including those seeking improved skin health. Ongoing, chronic skin conditions can take a toll on a persons’ confidence and mental health in some cases. We are committed to helping improve difficult skin conditions, not as a quick fix, but as a long- term improvement of their health and wellbeing. When we hear about and see the feedback of how our products are improving skin, it makes everything we do worthwhile and drives us even more with what we do.

4. Where are your products developed and sourced?

All of our products are manufactured here in Sydney. We, as the founders and formulators of Dermatonics® (Dr Donna Marçal and Dr Helder Marçal), personally develop each of the products that we bring to market. We both have a medical research background with over 30 years combined of research experience in Biochemistry / Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration / Wound Healing respectively.

Some of our products have taken years to research, develop and perfect before we manufacture them on a larger scale. We needed to ensure the ingredients play well together, the formula is stable and also very effective.

Many of the natural actives that we use are purified by supercritical fluid extraction, so if we cannot effectively purify this ingredient ourselves with our facilities, we work with companies that can source and purify these ingredients to the high specifications we demand for our products.

Most of our ingredients are sourced from here in Australia and we only manufacture our products here in Western Sydney. Some of our ingredients are sourced from overseas, particularly from Europe. However we only work with companies that provide ingredients of exceptional quality and can ensure and certify the source and purity of the ingredients.

Become a Dermatonics® Clinic Partner – Find out more and get your information and trial products for your clinic www.dermatonics.com.au/clinic-partners/become-a-clinic-partner/

Find out more about the Dermatonics® difference www.dermatonics.com.au