In today’s beauty landscape, few skincare brands are born out of pure necessity – and even fewer out of personal frustration. For Hélène Guttmann Chammas, the turning point came when years of living in big cities left her once-healthy skin red, reactive, and depleted. That experience sparked a search for answers and ultimately led to the creation of «Moussse»: Swiss-made, science-driven skincare formulas designed to protect the skin barrier from the realities of urban life.
I know those struggles all too well. Having sensitive skin myself, I usually approach new products with caution. But after testing the Moisture Rush Cream and Purifying Cleanser, I found my complexion calm, balanced, and free from the irritations I often experienced with new launches. Intrigued, I sat down with Hélène to talk about the products and the story behind them.
From city stress to launching a Swiss skincare brand – how did your personal skin crisis turn into a company that protects urban skin?
Hélène: I grew up in Geneva and always had healthy, clear skin there. But after moving to Berlin and then later to New York and London, my skin suddenly started reacting with redness, dryness, and irritation. When I met my husband in New York, now the co-founder of Moussse, our search for a solution began. He had been a beauty buyer at Net-a-Porter and later CEO of Dr. Barbara Sturm, so he had extensive industry knowledge and made me try countless products. Nothing worked. However, I noticed that every time I came back to Switzerland, my skin improved. After deep research and conversations with dermatologists and biochemists, it became clear that urban environmental factors like air and water quality, UV exposure, stress, and lack of sleep were the main triggers. That’s how Moussse was born – a brand created to protect the skin barrier specifically for life in the city.
What’s the story behind the name «Moussse»?
In French, mousse means foam. For me, it evokes many everyday images: bath foam, the foam on Lake Geneva, and chocolate mousse at a restaurant. The texture felt familiar, and we loved the sound of the word. We added an extra «s» because adding the letter made it feel more personal and because you can’t trademark a texture.
Why did you choose to develop your products in Switzerland?
Firstly, my skin has always been at its best here. Secondly, Switzerland is a leader in research, biotechnology, and dermatology, and we have a strong network. Here we work with top experts who follow the highest scientific standards.
Biotechnology in beauty sounds innovative – what does it mean in practice?
It’s a bit like lab-grown diamonds, but for skincare. We recreate natural ingredients in the lab. This is more sustainable, as it takes less from nature, and it allows us to design ingredients that are precisely tailored to skin needs.
Which products are currently available?
We started with just one product, the «Moisture Rush Cream», believing that a great hydrating cream is essential for everyone. As a new brand, we wanted to understand people’s needs before launching three or four products at once. It’s also part of our philosophy to focus on the essentials I personally use every day – not dozens of products. I believe in less is more: skin needs a few effective products, not a 15-step routine that overwhelms it.
The development of the cream began four years ago, and we launched it a year ago. It’s a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer featuring our «MoussseShield™», a barrier-boosting complex of prebiotics, antioxidants, and soothing ingredients. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, microbiome-friendly, fragrance-free, and pH-neutral. Two months ago, we added the «Purifying Cleanser»: a gel-to-milk formula with glycerin, allantoin, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E that thoroughly cleanses without stripping the skin.
What’s coming next?
This September, we’re launching the «Hydration Dream Peptide Serum», a deeply hydrating, anti-ageing serum packed with glycerin, hyaluronic acid and peptides. The texture is thicker than most serums, which makes it feel cocooning and comforting. I love it and can’t wait for it to launch! In January 2026, we’ll introduce the «Miracle Drops Overnight Exfoliant», a gentle AHA + PHA peel that refines skin texture.
Have you discovered any personal favourite ingredients along the way?
Several! Niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5. They’re excellent for hydration and radiance. Vitamin B5 is also one of the key ingredients in our Moisture Rush cream.
Who’s behind the scientific side of «Moussse»?
Switzerland has incredible talent in this field. We briefed several labs and chose one that truly understood our vision. We wanted to work with biotech ingredients and develop our formulas from scratch – which is challenging, as many brands simply use existing base formulas. Alongside our lab team, we have a science board: Swiss dermatologist Dr. Florence Masson and US cosmetic chemist Katherine Bauer. They oversee the entire development process, test every formula, and ensure everything is up to date with the latest science. For example, it took 12 versions before our cream was finalised.
Your products are formulated for sensitive skin – can other skin types use them?
Absolutely! Although they were developed with sensitive skin in mind, they work for all skin types. Our clinical trials included participants aged 18 to 60 with different skin types and tones. The products are non-comedogenic, so they’re great for oily skin too. Even friends who occasionally experience breakouts have found them helpful since they’re so gentle and calming.
There’s a lot of talk about the «skin barrier» right now – is it just a trend?
Both. It’s definitely a buzzword at the moment, but the skin barrier is the outer protective layer of your skin. Caring for it will always be important. The term might stop being trendy, but the concept will remain essential.
Sustainability is important to you – how do you approach it?
We use infinitely recyclable aluminium tubes and FSC-certified paper boxes. Our custom square cap is currently made from plastic, but we’re actively looking for a more sustainable alternative.
If you had to sum up your vision for «Moussse» in one sentence?
We aim to be the go-to skincare brand for city dwellers with high-performance, science-backed products that strengthen the skin barrier and keep skin healthy, balanced, and radiant despite the stress of urban life.
18. August 2025
