Solésence, Inc., headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois, and a specialist in non-nano, mineral-based skin care, has named Kevin Cureton president and CEO, while Laura Riffner joins as CFO, bringing over 35 years of financial and strategic planning experience. Cureton succeeds Jess Jankowski, who has been at the CEO since 2009 and who will serve as board adviser until his retirement from the company and its board on November 21, 2025.
These leadership appointments come during a transformative period for Solésence. In early 2025, the company rebranded from Nanophase Technologies to reflect its focus on the Solésence Beauty Science platform, delivering high-performance skin care, sun care and color cosmetics. Following the rebrand, Solésence uplisted to Nasdaq on April 8, 2025.
Driving Skin Health Forward: Patents, Prevention and Global Impact
"We like to lean in on the FranklinCovey approach to begin with the end in mind—so 18 months to two years from now, when we look back, we will see that through exclusive collaborations with our brand partners, we will have enabled access to what we believe is a broader available market for skin health products," Cureton tells Global Cosmetic Industry. "We will achieve this through further leveraging our 90 U.S. and global patents to deliver joy by three avenues: First, by significantly broadening the number of consumers that achieve skin health through the use of UV protection products on a daily basis. Second, by addressing a broader range of skin health issues through the prevention of environmental damage, the reduction of or even reversal of the damage done by reactive oxygen species, and the improvement of cellular turnover. And third, by bringing award-winning, best-in-class product to market that enhances skin health across face, body and scalp. We expect that this will occur not just in the U.S., but on a global basis, particularly in regions where skin cancer is highly prevalent."
Custom and Ready-Made Options: Speed, Innovation and Unique Textures for Every Brand
Regarding customized and ready-made options offered by Solésence, Cureton notes, "Whether a brand chooses any of our three different go-to-market options, white label, white label+ and custom development all have access to our technology innovations, and because we strive to stay ahead of the curve in terms of textures with our white label concepts, brands are also able to offer to their community a wide range of product aesthetics and experience."
He adds, "Because speed to market is often a major driver for success, we generally see white label+ as a preferred option for indie brands all the way through to multinational brands. Generally, we are seeing playful texture innovations as an increasing driver of brands’ product design decisions, though these textures must still deliver regulatory compliance, along with multifunctional skin benefits and an experience that brings a smile to the end consumer’s face when the product is used."
Impact of Tariffs on the Global Cosmetic Industry: Insights from Cureton
Global Cosmetic Industry also checked in with the executive regarding the effects of tariffs.
"Our product development and procurement teams have done a great job creating a global supply chain, so for several of our larger volume items we have been able to minimize tariff impact by buying from the region with the lowest total cost," says Cureton. "However, we are starting to see an impact. Packaging costs in particular are of major concern for both us and our brand partners, so we expect to continue to see a lot of time being spent on managing these costs."
Executives Speak Out on Leadership Transition at Solésence
Riffner’s background includes 20-plus years serving as CFO and chief finance and strategy officer at Nagase America, where she led strategic acquisitions and streamlined operations. Her expertise is expected to strengthen Solésence’s operational and financial strategies as it continues to drive growth in skin care and beauty science.
“I’m eager to join the team at Solésence to continue to shape the future of beauty through innovative products that help improve skin health across the globe,” said Riffner. "I look forward to partnering with Kevin and the executive leadership team to build on the company’s growth momentum and achieve long-term value creation for our shareholders."
Of the news, Cureton said, “It has been a privilege to partner with Jess, whose deep history with the company and forward-thinking leadership has helped Solésence to become the innovative beauty science leader it is today. The company’s evolution is a testament to his relentless commitment to growth through scientific excellence. This next chapter for Solésence holds several pathways for growth and we are excited to continue shaping the future of beauty through industry-leading skin health products that consumers love to use.”
“Looking back over my 30 years working with and leading the talented and inspiring team at Solésence, their accomplishments are a testament to their unwavering commitment to our mission," said Jankowski. "Not only has the company transformed from an advanced materials company into a skin health innovator, but we have also revolutionized mineral-based sun and environmental protection in beauty, expanded the business with new products and markets, and set the stage for long-term profitability. The elevation of Kevin’s role to President and Chief Executive Officer is a direct reflection of the growth and innovation achieved under his leadership. His partnership with Laura, a proven leader with a strong track record of maximizing profitability, marks a new era of growth for Solésence. I look forward to collaborating with Kevin and Laura to manage what I believe will be a smooth transition as we continue fulfilling our mission to help heal and protect the world through best-in-class skin health solutions.”
“On behalf of the Board, I want to express our gratitude to Jess for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to Solésence," said Janet Whitmore, chair of the board of directors for Solésence. "He has been instrumental to the company’s success, navigating us through remarkable growth and challenges with unwavering commitment, and setting the company on its current trajectory for continued growth and future achievements. As Jess transitions to his role as board adviser, we are delighted that Kevin will be our next CEO. During the company’s rebranding and throughout his tenure at Solésence, Kevin’s strategic thinking, creativity and unbounded enthusiasm have made him an unshakeable leader. We are confident that his visionary approach will lead us to new heights.”
