The Love Story of Musicians Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger and Mike Einziger was Fortified in a Lab
A Scientific Discovery
After meeting through a mutual colleague in 2010, the Santa Monica-based couple’s courtship began the following year, as they were collaborating with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer on a series of film scores. Einziger is best known as the founding guitarist of California-based rock band Incubus. His wife is a renowned composer and violinist for artists including Jethro Tull, Ringo Starr, Dave Matthews Band, and Stevie Nicks.
The Discovery
The couple had been seeing one another for only about a year when together they stumbled upon a medical mystery. It resulted in a thrilling scientific discovery, the founding of a biotech beauty company called Mother Science—and their own unique happily-ever-after.
"It was an unexpected journey," said Simpson-Einziger.
"We were simply trying to answer a series of unanswered scientific questions," her husband added.
The Journey Begins
It all began in 2012 when Simpson-Einziger developed a fungal infection while traveling abroad. A classically trained violinist by trade, she was performing with composer A.R. Rahman in India when she noticed lightened patches of skin on her back and under her bra line. They resembled "loosely drawn flower blooms, with rounded edges," she said.
After consulting her dermatologist, Simpson-Einziger was diagnosed with a temporary fungal infection called Tinea versicolor, which can lighten or darken skin pigmentation as a result of humidity.
The Scientific Pursuit
Armed with an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Virginia, the former physics and chemistry teacher pored through science journals like Pigment International and Chembiochem to find articles that better explained the science behind her skin condition. She then began to wonder if whatever had caused it could also be used as a skincare aid that reduced dark spots.
She enlisted the help of her then-fiancé, Einziger, who also happened to have a background in science. He had recently completed the two-year Special Student program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, where he studied cosmology and evolutionary biology. He still had access to the university’s considerable research databases, which meant he could help her look up articles on Tinea versicolor.
The Breakthrough
After countless studies, they discovered that a naturally occurring molecule that had co-evolved with the human microbiome, Malassezin (pronounced mal-uh-say-zin), could be beneficial for sun spots. While the molecule was identified and named in 2001, the Einzigers were the first to recognize that Malassezin could be valuable in the context of skincare.
The Patent and the Product
The couple filed an application to patent the discovery in 2016. (It was officially granted in 2018.) They then worked with a team of scientists to develop Malassezin into a topical serum after previously manufacturing it through a separate process called chemical synthesis.
They began testing to see if it could benefit melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin, the dark pigment in question. The couple used their personal savings to fund the initial research.
The Launch
Once the Einzigers confirmed that the data supported their initial hypothesis in a human clinical study, they moved forward with a business plan for what eventually became Mother Science. (It joins the couple’s two other co-founded businesses, including Mixhalo, a networking technology company for live events.)
Mother Science was born as a result of raising an initial round of approximately $3.2 million in seed funding from a small group of venture capitalists and angel investors. After more than six years of research, Malassezin became the DNA of Mother Science, which officially launched in 2023 with its first product, Molecular Hero Serum ($89). The product is meant to reduce hyperpigmentation and brighten skin.
Conclusion
The love story of musicians Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger and Mike Einziger was fortified in a lab. Their scientific discovery, the founding of a biotech beauty company called Mother Science—and their own unique happily-ever-after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Malassezin?
A: Malassezin is a naturally occurring molecule that has co-evolved with the human microbiome.
Q: What is Mother Science?
A: Mother Science is a biotech beauty company founded by Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger and Mike Einziger.
Q: What is the Molecular Hero Serum?
A: The Molecular Hero Serum is a topical serum developed by Mother Science that is meant to reduce hyperpigmentation and brighten skin.
Q: What is the Retinol Synergist?
A: The Retinol Synergist is a product released by Mother Science that features Malassezin.
Q: What is the Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer?
A: The Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer is a product released by Mother Science that features Malassezin and is meant to repair the skin’s moisture barrier.
Q: How did the couple fund their research?
A: The couple used their personal savings to fund the initial research.
