Veronika and the Biology of Healthy Skin

What first sparked your interest in skin care and active ingredients?

I’ve always been fascinated by the biology behind healthy skin. With a background in Business Chemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry, I naturally gravitated toward understanding how skin lipids work and how we can support the skin barrier. 

Over the past 15 years in the Personal Care and Active Ingredients industry, that curiosity turned into a real passion. My strongest interest lies in ceramides and sphingolipids, which I now work with every day.

What do you enjoy most about your work as a skin lipid expert?

What I love most is turning complex science into something that genuinely helps people. Ceramides may be tiny molecules, but they make a huge difference for skin health. Working with global customer teams, guiding projects, and seeing our innovations show up in real products is incredibly rewarding. I also enjoy representing our work at international conferences. It's a great way to share knowledge and strengthen our scientific presence.

How have your past experiences shaped the way you work today?

Leading international lab teams and working closely with customers early in my career taught me how important collaboration is. At Evonik, I build on that every day, coordinating global projects, aligning with Sales and Business Development, and bringing different perspectives together. My deep dive into skin biology, combined with project leadership, really shaped how I approach product development: scientifically grounded, customer focused, and always aiming for innovation.