Environ Skin Care celebrates 35 years at the forefront of professional skincare innovation

PRESS RELEASE Perth, 25th December 2025

Environ Skin Care is celebrating 35 years at the forefront of professional skincare innovation, a legacy of scientific firsts that has reshaped how the world understands and treats skin. Founded in December 1990, the business began when plastic surgeon Dr Des Fernandes developed a vitamin A cream to support post-operative healing. In doing so, Environ pioneered the use of topical vitamin A in cosmetic skincare, becoming the first brand in the world to incorporate vitamin A into a cosmetic cream – a breakthrough that has since become a global standard. Today, Environ, a South African success story, is trusted by skincare professionals and consumers in more than 70 countries around the world.

At the heart of Environ’s journey is the belief of a brother and sister that they could create skincare that truly supports lifelong skin health, guided by their promise of “A Beautiful Skin for a Lifetime.” When Dr Fernandes first formulated his vitamin A product in his kitchen to aid wound healing and skin recovery, he sent a tube to his sister, Val Carstens. She then began sharing it with friends and family as they noticed the visible transformation in her skin, and that early word-of-mouth enthusiasm became the foundation of what would grow into the international Environ Skin Care business.

“Realising the difference vitamin A was making to Des and my skin, we felt a need, and a responsibility, to share it with people around the world. That’s when we created a team who were truly proud of producing the best skincare in the world,” says Val Carstens, Co-Founder of Environ. “The formulation assisted skin to recover, strengthen and transform, and I felt proud that we were making a difference to the lives of those we introduced to Environ. The change was truly remarkable in many cases. Thirty-five years later, Environ continues to be defined by science, education and results in the hands of professionals.”

“I wasn’t trying to start a skincare brand. I was simply looking for a better way to help my patients’ skin recover,” says Dr Fernandes, Co-Founder and Scientific Director of Environ. “What became very clear to me was that when skin gets the right amount of vitamin A, it starts behaving more like healthy skin again. That realisation has guided everything we’ve done at Environ.”

35 YEARS OF FIRSTS

Since the early 1990s, Environ has consistently advanced professional treatment standards through a pipeline of scientifically grounded breakthroughs, including:

• Pioneering the concept of ‘step-up’ vitamin A and antioxidant skincare, training skin gradually through increasing levels of active ingredients to build long-term tolerance and results. ‘Start low and go slow’ is the Environ motto.
• Introducing supplements, namely Resistavit and Envirocol, to support and protect the immune system.
• Developing an Iontophoresis and Low Frequency Sonophoresis machine for skincare professionals to enhance the penetration of vitamin A into the skin.
• The Cool Peel Technology, another first for a cosmetic skincare range.
• Developing the world’s first cosmetic micro-needling device, which helped shift professional treatments from short-term repair toward regenerative skin function.
• Pairing needling with vitamin A and antioxidants, creating a new standard for improving the appearance of photo-damage and ageing.
• The DF Mobile device for home care.
• Continuing to explore advanced skin science, including antioxidant systems, barrier-support and emerging fields such as neurocosmetic-inspired skincare.

“We’ve seen many trends come and go, but skin biology remains the same,” says Dr Fernandes. “Our role at Environ is to work with that biology, and to translate what we know into formulations and technologies that professionals can rely on.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Three and a half decades after its founding, Environ continues to push skincare forward through ongoing research, product development and a global network of trained, professional partners.

“The more we understand skin biology, the more we realise what can be achieved,” says Dr Fernandes. “The next 35 years will be about working even more intelligently with skin to support its function, stimulate regeneration and help people achieve lasting skin health.”

For more information, follow us on social media or visit www.environskincareaustralia.com.au