No7 expands Future Renew range as it "supercharges" skincare innovation

One year on from its biggest-ever beauty launch, No7 has expanded its Future Renew range with a new SPF and extended its partnership with the University of Manchester Centre for Dermatology Research for continued innovation.

With the sun being responsible for up to 80% of visible skin damage, the beauty brand said it is vital that protection against sun damage is part of people’s everyday skincare regime.

As a result, No7 has introduced a new Damage Protection Defence Shield SPF50 under its Future Renew range, so as well as reversing the visible signs of sun damage with its existing products, users can protect themselves against everyday sun damage too.

Described as a lightweight, hydrating fluid specifically designed for everyday use all year round, the new SPF promises to protect skin from cumulative daily UV exposure, which can cause both invisible damage and visible signs of damage.

Clare O’Connor, No7 Senior Research Scientist, said: "While age and time are factors in skin ageing, exposure to UV light is the single biggest cause of the accelerated appearance of skin damage.

"No7 Future Renew is proven to reverse visible signs of sun damage but, of course, it is critical to protect against sun damage too. In the UK, we tend to think about sunscreen when we are going overseas or intentionally spending all day outside, and we are less inclined to consider it warranted for shorter exposures.

"That’s why we have added a lightweight, hydrating SPF50 to the No7 Future Renew range, ensuring we have a high-protection product with a light texture that sits easily under makeup and is ideal for all-year round, everyday usage."

The product launch comes as No7 Beauty Company and Boots announce the renewal of their 20-year, multi-million-pound partnership with the University of Manchester Centre for Dermatology Research for a further five years.

The renewed commitment will encourage further innovation in helping people care for their skin throughout their lives, whether it is maintaining skin health, helping to combat skin ageing, or supporting people through significant skin changes.

It comes one year after the launch of the partnership’s biggest scientific breakthrough to date, the No7 Future Renew skincare range, which was developed following 15 years of research and development between scientists at both organisations, resulting in the discovery of a "world-first" super peptide blend that is clinically proven to reverse visible signs of skin damage.

The innovation took the industry by storm when it launched in April 2023, with over 500,000 transactions in the first four weeks.

Since then, one product has continued to sell every seven seconds and the collection holds the record for the highest repeat purchase rate of any facial skincare at Boots too.

Mark Winter, Managing Director of No7 Beauty Company, said: "We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with the UoM and excited for the next phase of our collaboration.

"Scientific innovation is part of our DNA and by working with world-leading partners like the UoM we are committed to using our unrivalled research expertise to be at the forefront of skincare and cosmetic innovation, developing ground-breaking, clinically proven, affordable products that work for everyone."

The partnership was first established twenty years ago by a small team of No7 and University of Manchester scientists.

The ambition was to come together to create "cutting edge skincare solutions that could be taken from the laboratory straight to the high street". One of the first innovations was No7's Protect & Perfect serum, which now sits alongside a wider range.

The renewal of the partnership will introduce a "ground-breaking" five-year research programme to explore peptides, clinical testing, skin immunology, and the skin microbiome.

This includes a project to investigate skin across the pigmentary spectrum, aiming to develop more inclusive and effective technologies suitable for all skin tones.

For almost 90 years, since No7 launched in 1935, the brand's ambition has been to "support and empower people across the world through premium but affordable beauty products".

It forms part of No7 Beauty Company, which launched under the Walgreens Boots Alliance in April 2021, alongside Liz Earle Beauty, Soap & Glory, Botanics, and Sleek MakeUP.