Dr. Spiller Biocosmetics

- from humble beginnings to leading skin care brand.

In 1959, Dr. Horst Spiller decided to enter the field of skin care. His first steps were to meet with lecturers and students of beauty therapy at a Munich college to gain an understanding of their challenges, their needs and their preferred outcomes. At the time, skin care products were quite basic. Ingredients were kept secret. Dr. Spiller was determined to take a different approach. He believed that thorough study of the skin and its natural functions would guide him to produce creams that would elicit an optimal response from the skin. He also believed that we should be gentle with our skin – creams and treatments should not interfere with the skin’s natural functions. And in particular he was determined to minimize the use of damaging synthetic ingredients such as emulsifiers, preservatives and other aggressive substances.

These values still hold today. Initially, Dr. Spiller produced ‘water-based’ creams like everyone else. His attempts to minimize preservation levels resulted in significant loss of product due to spoilage. Even his decision to freight distilled water from Munich at great expense to his production facility in Siegsdorf didn’t fix the problem.

Dr. Spiller was aware that the original ‘cold creams’, being oil-based creams, required significantly lower levels of preservation. Using traditional production methods, this type of cream usually has a 50% oil content; it is heavy and greasy. After years of research and many failed attempts Dr. Spiller experienced a remarkable break-through: he succeeded in reducing the oil content of this type of cream to 19%. This discovery was so revolutionary that he was nicknamed ‘emulsion pope’ by other cosmetic chemists. His Hydratain™ creams are as light as the traditional water-based creams yet they are much more compatible with the skin, offer much longer lasting hydration and have been found to significantly improve delivery of active ingredients into the skin.

Dr. Spiller Biocosmetics research, develop and formulate new products in their own laboratory. Their high-tech in-house production facility ensures that exacting standards are maintained. Micro-biological and dermatological testing of products is outsourced to guarantee the integrity of the process. Dr. Spiller has always been at the leading edge of developments in skin care. During a vacation in 1970 he discovered the healing properties of Aloe vera and invested in a farm in Columbia to ensure a supply of high quality raw material. In 1971 he developed a first day cream with sun protection factor. He was criticized because this was considered to be suspicious.

In 1973 he fulfilled his promise to beauty therapy students by developing and distributing the ‘Kosmetikus’ to beauty schools – a box filled with 19kg of raw materials used in the production of his creams. In 1979 he introduced natural colouring to his creams – azulene from German chamomile for blue, carotene for yellow, Green Tea for green.  In 2007, aged 87 years, Dr. Horst Spiller retired from daily participation in his business.

The reigns have been taken over by his son Manuel, with competent help from some partners and key employees. This change resulted in a renewal of the image of the brand, with updated packaging and promotional material.