Avon and VML Break Media Boundaries with World’s First Print ad Run on Lab-Grown Menopausal Skin

May. 21, 2026

Avon, in partnership with VML Brazil, has pushed the boundaries of media by using human skin produced in a laboratory as the surface for a printed ad.

Perimenopause and menopause are life stages that half the world’s population will experience, yet they are still surrounded by taboos and under‑representation in health research and communication. Millions of women report changes in their skin during this period, but clinical data, imagery and tailored product development often lag behind their real needs.

With the line “Your skin is not a test. Ours is,” the initiative shines a light on the needs of women in perimenopause and menopause and reaffirms Avon’s commitment to using science so that women themselves are not treated as experiments.

At the heart of the idea is a technological breakthrough developed in Brazil: the world’s first 3D bioprinted menopausal skin. Created using cells from Brazilian women, this innovation maps thousands of skin mechanisms during perimenopause and menopause, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of actives and formulas without the use of animals. This breakthrough reinforces Avon’s new positioning as a femtech brand, combining its 140‑year legacy alongside women with cutting‑edge technology that addresses the holistic needs of the feminine.

For Tatiana Ponce, CMO and Vice President of Innovation at Avon, the project places menopause at the center of the global conversation about health and well‑being.

She said:

“By combining our legacy of more than 140 years with the agility of a femtech, we are delivering something unprecedented for the global industry. Creating this menopausal 3D skin allows us to achieve an extensive level of precision in our formulas. This ‘on the skin’ ad is the symbol of the new Avon: technological, bold and, above all, the greatest ally of women’s journeys.”

 

From the creative side, the project also breaks new ground for Brazil’s advertising industry, turning a scientific advance into a new kind of media.

Eduardo Marques, CCO of VML Brazil said:

“The partnership between VML and Avon has always been driven by bold ideas, and this project is no exception. By using bioprinted menopausal skin as our media, we’ve turned a scientific breakthrough into a powerful statement for women’s health, making this milestone in their lives visible to the naked eye.”

 

In addition to the installation, the project unfolds into interactive OOH experiences and digital content, designed to extend the reach and conversation around menopause, skin health and femtech innovation.

This campaign is part of a broader push for scientific advancement in Brazil around perimenopause. Natura, Avon’s parent company, is a pioneer in Latin America in the use of 3D bioprinted human skin technology for cosmetic testing. It also has a partnership with Science Valley to conduct research following more than 1,500 women across Brazil’s 27 states.

The study will map the biological, social and emotional impacts of this phase of life, considering factors such as population diversity, socioeconomic context and regional differences. Together with the “on the skin” campaign, this forms part of a long‑term commitment by the company to reshape how the world understands and treats women’s health during perimenopause and menopause.