Knowledge Treasures
40 Years of TEAM DR JOSEPH. 40 Years of Skin Health.
One brand. One philosophy. Four decades.
In 2026, we celebrate our 40th anniversary. What began in 1986 with the vision of our founder Erb. Dipl. Dr. Joseph Franz has grown into an internationally appreciated brand for skin health and effective, responsibly developed skincare. Four decades of pioneering work: from early quality standards in natural cosmetics to precisely formulated skincare concepts and B Corp certification.
Through it all, our belief has never wavered: skin health doesn’t come from over-treating your skin or chasing fleeting trends, but from mindful care that gives the skin the time it needs to regenerate and maintain its natural balance. Today, the second generation of the Franz family leads the company with that same conviction — and an even sharper eye toward the future. Because after 40 years, we know: true innovation takes time, commitment, and the courage to forge your own path.
How a Vision Became a Brand
The story of TEAM DR JOSEPH starts with a personal experience that changed everything. After a sports injury in the 1980s, our founder Dr. Joseph Franz pursued the study of herbal medicine at the Pharmaceutical University of Urbino — and in 1986, founded our company. Rooted in a deep belief in nature’s intelligence, a brand was born that still unites tradition and innovation to this day.
The Dolomites — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to TEAM DR JOSEPH — are far more than just a geographic origin. The extraordinary biodiversity of this region and the purity of its nature have shaped our perspective on ingredients from the very beginning. Founder Dr. Joseph Franz firmly believed that no laboratory in the world is smarter than nature itself. That belief remains the compass guiding our product development today.
As early as 1995, long before clean beauty or vegan skincare were trends, we were setting the standard in certified natural cosmetics. As one of the first natural cosmetics manufacturers in the world, we established rigorous quality standards — years before international guidelines even existed. This wasn’t a reaction to market trends; it was our core conviction from day one: to combine natural ingredients with cutting-edge research and develop cosmetics that support skin health in a truly holistic way.
Modern Skincare: Where Plant Knowledge Meets Research
Our formulations combine traditional plant knowledge with modern cosmetic research. Carefully selected plant-based and biotechnologically derived ingredients are used to care for the skin in a targeted way and support visible results.
The result is skincare that does not overwhelm the skin, but accompanies it with precisely balanced formulas — sensorial, visible, and designed with a long-term perspective.
A Professional Standard from the Start
TEAM DR JOSEPH has always been more than a skincare brand for at-home use. Our products were developed for professional use in leading spas, hotels, and institutes, and are used today in premium partner hotels and spas around the world. This connection to real-world practice continues to shape our development: every formulation grows out of real needs, every innovation from the dialogue between research, application, and hands-on experience. Our professional origins aren’t just a reference point — they’re part of our DNA, and they guarantee the highest efficacy and tolerability, even for sensitive and reactive skin.
Milestones of a Success Story
From a South Tyrolean manufactory to an international brand. For 40 years, we’ve proven that real values never go out of style.
1980s • The Roots of a Vision
Following a sports injury in the 1980s, Dr. Joseph Franz began studying herbal medicine at the Pharmaceutical University of Urbino. Around the same time, a pivotal collaboration developed with quantum medicine physician Dr. med. Senekowitsch.
1986 • The Beginning of a Mission
TEAM DR JOSEPH (formerly known as Vitalis Dr. Joseph) was founded on a deep belief in the intelligence of nature. What started as a personal experience became a life’s calling: to build a brand that unites tradition and innovation, science and plant medicine.
1995 • Pioneers of Natural Cosmetics
Long before “clean beauty” became a buzzword, we joined other pioneers of natural skincare in establishing rigorous quality standards — years before international guidelines existed.
1997 • Innovation Meets Tradition
The patenting of our multifunctional overheating bath marks the beginning of a unique product philosophy: Hightech Natural Cosmetics®, combining scientific expertise with the wisdom of herbal medicine.
2000 • Responsibility Built in Wood
Building our first company headquarters in timber construction was more than an architectural statement. It was a tangible expression of the values that define us to this day: respect for nature and the environment, deeply rooted in our South Tyrolean home.
2014 • A New Name for a Growing Vision
VITALIS Dr. Joseph becomes TEAM DR JOSEPH. The rebranding marks the beginning of a new era and lays the foundation for the brand’s international growth in the years to come – without losing sight of its roots.
2019 • Engagement Against Plastic Waste
Through our collaboration with Plastic Bank, we took a clear step toward documented engagement in the collection of plastic waste.
2020 • Expansion and Innovation
A landmark year on multiple fronts: the opening of our German branch, the launch of the first Zero-Waste Solid Hotel Cosmetics with no packaging, and the breakthrough success of the Age Repair Miracle Drops — a product that became a bestseller and a symbol of highly effective skincare. We also continued to develop our packaging solutions step by step.
2023 • B Corp and International Expansion
We receive the coveted B Corp certification — an international certification for companies that include social and environmental impact, responsible governance, and transparency in their business practices.
2024 • Excellence Meets Exclusivity
The exclusive launch of the Rejuvenating Line at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental on Lake Como underscores our international premium positioning and marks another milestone in our story.
2026 • 40 Years, Shaping the Future
Four decades of pioneering work, two generations of family ownership, countless innovations — and our vision is more alive than ever. Re-certifying as B Corp in our anniversary year isn’t a finish line; it’s the start of the next chapter.
40 Years of Living Responsibility
A conscious use of resources is not a marketing term for us, nor is it a response to external expectations — it has always been part of our company philosophy. Long before it became an industry standard, we were already focused on regionality, careful processes, more responsible supply chains, and products designed with longevity in mind. We believe in substance over short-term trends and in traceable development over unsupported promises.
Carefully Formulated Skincare From Day One
Our formulas are based on carefully selected plant-based and biotechnologically derived ingredients. 87% of our retail products are certified as natural cosmetics according to ICEA/COSMOS. These standards support our commitment to quality, transparency, and responsible product development.
Responsibility Without Compromise
Our engagement goes beyond product formulation. For our retail products, we predominantly use glass jars as well as outer cartons made from FSC-certified paper. In addition, together with Plastic Bank, we support the collection of plastic waste, with collected amounts documented by Plastic Bank. The B Corp certification we have held since 2023 is, for us, the expression of a continuous process that considers social and environmental aspects in our business decisions.
Explore our natural skincare
Rethinking Skin Health
For us, skin health means far more than the absence of problems or the correction of perceived flaws. It’s the state in which the skin can perform its natural functions without interference: protection, regeneration, regulation, and communication with the entire body. It’s the result of mindful, holistic care that respects the skin’s natural intelligence and strengthens its self-regulating abilities rather than suppressing them. For us, efficacy isn’t about more — it’s about precision. Every formulation is guided by the principle of using exactly what the skin truly needs — nothing more, nothing less. This philosophy of essence over excess runs throughout our entire range and is central to who we are: every ingredient has a clear purpose and belongs exactly where the skin needs it.
Over-Treated Skin: Why Less Is More
Over-treated skin occurs when the skin loses its ability to self-regulate — overwhelmed by too many products, too many changes, or formulas that are simply too aggressive. The result is increasingly sensitive, reactive, and unstable skin that has forgotten how to take care of itself.
This is one of the greatest challenges in modern skincare, and it’s been a central theme in our product philosophy from the very beginning. That’s why we develop formulations that don’t overwhelm the skin, but support it in maintaining its natural balance: targeted actives, carefully dosed, clinically tested. Because skin that’s in balance needs less.
Skin Longevity: Regeneration Over Perfection
Skin Longevity is the approach of not optimizing the skin for quick fixes, but nurturing its long-term health, vitality, and resilience. It means accompanying the natural aging process in a healthy way — not fighting it — with formulations that strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, respect the skin microbiome, and support cellular regeneration. Because the goal isn’t to stop time; it’s to help your skin handle time better.
Skin Longevity isn’t a trend — it’s the natural outcome of a holistic understanding of skin, and it has been at the center of our product development since we were founded in 1986. The goal: healthy skin that ages more slowly, more evenly, and more radiantly, because it’s in balance — supported, not perfected.
The Family Behind TEAM DR JOSEPH
Today our family business is led by siblings Viktor, Fabian, and Lena Franz — the second generation. Raised in South Tyrol, all three studied abroad before returning to grow the brand together. Their different perspectives aren’t coincidental; they’re intentional. They reflect the holistic approach at the heart of our skincare — at the intersection of science, nature, aesthetics, and responsibility.
Research, product development, and quality control remain deliberately in-house. This independence allows us to think and act for the long term, without bending to the pressure of short-lived trends. It’s the freedom that makes genuine innovation possible.
“For us, innovation doesn’t mean speed — it means responsibility. We develop products that are meant to last — for your skin, for people, and for generations to come.”
Fabian Franz, Managing Partner at TEAM DR JOSEPH
The Future of Skincare
As we mark our 40th anniversary, we’re not just looking back — we’re looking ahead. With new research initiatives, deeper international partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to quality, our goal remains clear: to help shape the future of skincare — intelligently, mindfully, and effectively.
Our vision goes beyond product development. We want to spark a shift in mindset: away from the obsession with quick results and perfectionist ideals, toward a more mindful approach to skincare that puts natural beauty and skin health front and center. Skincare that gives your skin the time it needs to regenerate, that preserves its balance rather than disrupting it, and that promotes Skin Longevity instead of chasing short-term effects.
Forty years of TEAM DR JOSEPH stand for a quiet pioneering spirit, a consistent set of values, and one clear conviction: true innovation happens where knowledge, nature, and responsibility converge. We invite you to be part of this story — today, tomorrow, and for the next 40 years.
Celebrating 40 years of TEAM DR JOSEPH
In the exclusive atmosphere of Schloss Freudenstein – surrounded by vineyards in the heart of South Tyrol – our anniversary event became a day filled with inspiring moments and ideas that will stay. Alongside in-depth workshops and thrilling insights, it was the personal connections that made the day so special.
This day made one thing clear: There’s real strength in our shared journey – step by step, with the commitment to become a little better every day.
