Well-BeingPlant-Based Skincare Research Powered by Microscopy — Supported by Nikon’s microscopes —

Medical/HealthcareLife3 : Good Health and Well-being

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ボタニーの活動:すべての研究成果を人々のスキンケアへ
Yunnan Botanee Bio-Technology
Group Co., Ltd.
Vice President
Feifei Wang
  • *Position and affiliation mentioned are as of the time of the interview.

Have you ever struggled with skin dryness, irritation, or sudden sensitivity?

In China, an increasing number of people are facing skin issues like these, often influenced by environmental stress, changing lifestyles, or even climate shifts. And as Botanee Vice President Feifei Wang says, “Skin problems affect more than just appearance — they can also impact our confidence and emotional well-being.”

To help people feel more comfortable in their own skin, Botanee, a leading skincare company in China, is working to understand what truly lies behind these everyday concerns. And its research is powered in part by Nikon’s advanced microscope technologies.

Skincare Powered by Nature and Science

Yunnan Botanee Bio-Technology
Group Co., Ltd.
R&D Manager
Chao Zhang
  • *Position and affiliation mentioned are as of the time of the interview.

Botanee researches plants found in Yunnan Province — a region rich in natural diversity. Many of these plants have survived harsh environments for centuries, developing compounds that protect and repair themselves. “These ingredients may help reinforce the skin barrier, reduce aging signs, brighten the complexion, and support recovery from irritation,” explains R&D Manager Chao Zhang.

In other words:
Plants that have evolved to withstand stress in natural environments may help our skin to withstand daily stress, too.

But to understand how these ingredients work on human skin, researchers must look deep into the biological processes happening beneath the surface — something impossible to see with the naked eye.

Image of Yunnan province
A selection of Botanee’s products
Botanee office entrance
Cosmetics ingredients on display

Making the Invisible Visible

Yunnan Botanee Bio-Technology
Group Co., Ltd.
Associate Researcher
Bo Wang
  • *Position and affiliation mentioned are as of the time of the interview.

Botanee’s researchers deal with samples that range from skin cells to 3D skin models, and even the zebrafish models used to study biological reactions. To observe changes happening on an extremely small scale, researchers rely on a Nikon confocal microscope system — the AX R with NSPARC.

This technology lets them see:

  • ●Nerve networks inside the skin in 3D
  • ●How cells grow or react to ingredients in real time
  • ●Minute changes that could not be captured before

“A single sample can generate hundreds of gigabytes of super-resolution data,” says Associate Researcher Bo Wang. “This helps us understand skin mechanisms more accurately and much faster.”

Nikon helps researchers look deeper, so skincare can work smarter.

Working in a clean room

From R&D to the People of the World

The scientific insights uncovered through this research directly support the development of Botanee’s products. Its Winona brand — a dermatology-grade skincare brand in China to pass clinical trials — has already helped many people with sensitive skin.

WINONA brand skin care product
Researchers discussing microscopic images

This approach closes the gap between the laboratory and everyday life:
What scientists uncover under the microscope becomes the products people use each morning.

Vice President Wang says the company will continue researching not only sensitive skin, but the underlying mechanisms behind various skin conditions. Their goal is to help people reduce skin concerns and live more confidently.
Healthy skin is more than appearance — it contributes to comfort, confidence, and emotional well-being.
And behind these everyday moments, Nikon’s microscopes quietly serve as the “eyes” that make deeper understanding possible.

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