KLAPP Cosmetics, commonly branded as KLAPP Skin Care Science, is a German professional skincare and cosmetics brand founded in 1980 by Gerhard Klapp. The company positions itself around scientifically oriented skincare, professional aesthetic treatments, active ingredients, and the “Made in Germany” quality concept.

As of 2026, KLAPP states that its products and professional treatments are used by more than 35,000 skincare professionals, institutes, and hotels across more than 60 countries. The brand has evolved from a predominantly professional aesthetic and cosmetology business into a broader skincare brand serving both professionals and consumers. 1

Basic Information

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1980: Foundation

KLAPP Cosmetics was established in 1980 by Gerhard Klapp, who became the central figure behind the company’s philosophy and product development. The company originally developed as a professional institute brand, aimed heavily at beauty professionals and aesthetic treatments. 3

1984: A CLASSIC and Vitamin A

One of KLAPP’s most important historical milestones came in 1984, when it introduced A CLASSIC, a skincare line centered on vitamin A/retinol. KLAPP describes the product as a pioneer in the cosmetic use of retinol. This became one of the brand’s signature areas and helped establish its reputation for introducing high-activity ingredients into professional cosmetics.

1990: ASA PEEL

In 1990, KLAPP launched ASA PEEL, a fruit-acid-based professional treatment. The product became another of the brand’s recognizable innovations and contributed to its professional-treatment positioning.

2000s–2010s

KLAPP continued expanding its professional skincare portfolio, developing lines addressing areas such as:

• Anti-aging
• Hydration
• Sensitive/problem skin
• Vitamin C
• Collagen
• Peptides and other active ingredients
• Body care
• Professional peeling and treatment systems

The company also developed an education and professional-partner ecosystem around its products rather than positioning itself purely as a retail skincare brand.

2022: KAP Technology

KLAPP introduced KAP TECHNOLOGY in 2022. KAP refers to Keep, Activate, Prevent and is presented by the company as a technology intended to protect skin substances and preserve active ingredients. KLAPP states that its KAP+ Complex products are 100% vegan and positioned within its clean-beauty concept.

2023: Retinol and Munich R&D

In 2023, KLAPP launched RESIST AGING Retinol, featuring what the company calls a triple-retinol-action formulation. It also established an R&D laboratory and bulk-production facility in Munich, Germany. 4

2024: CELL PRO and Professional Focus

KLAPP introduced CELL PRO in 2024 as an exclusive professional line. The company also reports receiving IFS HPC certification for all production sites and winning a BEAUTY FORUM STARS Award for professional skincare.

2025: 45th Anniversary

2025 marked 45 years of KLAPP. The company released anniversary editions based around several of its established product families, including Retinol A Classic, Hyaluronic, CELL PRO Lifting, and C Pure. KLAPP also says it was named among Germany’s TOP 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in 2025. 5

Gerhard Klapp is the founder and the principal personality associated with the KLAPP brand. KLAPP describes him as a beauty and wellness specialist, holistic therapist, author, and entrepreneur whose philosophy has been to combine professional cosmetic treatment with research into active ingredients.

His approach has strongly influenced KLAPP’s identity: rather than treating skincare primarily as a lifestyle or fashion product, the brand emphasizes ingredients, treatment protocols, professional education, and measurable cosmetic results. The company’s history associates Gerhard Klapp with early adoption of ingredients and technologies such as vitamin A/retinol, vitamin C, oxygen therapy, and fruit-acid treatments.

KLAPP’s philosophy can essentially be summarized as:

Professional skincare + active ingredients + scientific development + German manufacturing

The company’s overarching concept is called KLAPP Skin Care Science. It says its objective is to support the skin’s natural regenerative processes through combinations of active ingredients and professionally developed skincare routines.

The brand places particular emphasis on:

• Scientific expertise
• Active ingredients
• Professional treatment
• Individual skin needs
• German quality
• Continuous product development
• Professional education
• Innovation

KLAPP’s current mission is described as unlocking the skin’s “natural potential” through high-performance cosmetic solutions based on scientific expertise, German quality standards, and professional know-how.

KLAPP now has a fairly broad portfolio. Its current product architecture includes several major categories.

PURIFY

Cleansing and preparation products designed to remove impurities and prepare the skin for subsequent skincare.

BALANCE

Products aimed at maintaining or restoring skin balance. This category includes several hyaluronic-acid-focused products as well as PSC Problem Skin Care and SkinConCellular.

RESIST AGING

One of KLAPP’s most important categories, focused on visible signs of skin aging. It includes the modern Retinol range as well as the historic A CLASSIC line.

CALM

Designed for sensitive or stressed skin, with ranges including Skin Natural, Beta Glucan, and Immun.

RECHARGE

Focused on revitalization and active skincare, including:

• Niacinamide
• C Pure
• Vitamin C
• Stri-Pexan
• ASA Peel
• Men
• EyeTech

PROTECT

Primarily sun-protection products, including UVA/UVB protection.

SKIN BOOST

Highly concentrated active-ingredient products designed to provide targeted skincare effects.

LUXURY

KLAPP’s more premium-oriented skincare segment, featuring high-value formulations and active ingredients.

Some products and technologies have particular importance in KLAPP’s brand history:

• A CLASSIC — the brand’s historic vitamin-A/retinol line.
• ASA PEEL — professional fruit-acid peeling system.
• C PURE — vitamin-C-focused skincare.
• Hyaluronic — hydration-focused products.
• Beta Glucan — soothing/barrier-oriented skincare.
• CAVIAR POWER — premium skincare range.
• REPAGEN NOIR — anti-aging/premium skincare.
• CELL PRO — professional-only line introduced in 2024.
• RESIST AGING Retinol — newer retinol-focused anti-aging range.
• KAP+ Complex — products incorporating the brand’s KAP technology.

An important distinction between KLAPP and many mainstream skincare brands is its professional heritage. KLAPP does not simply sell creams and serums. Its business has historically revolved around a broader professional ecosystem consisting of:

Products → professional treatments → education → beauty institutes/spas/hotels → home-care routines

The brand says its products are used by more than 35,000 experts worldwide, while its professional network spans more than 60 countries. 1

This means KLAPP is particularly relevant to:

• Beauty salons
• Aesthetic institutes
• Spas
• Hotels
• Professional cosmetologists
• Skincare schools
• Consumers looking for professional-style home care

The company explicitly offers professional-partner programs for institutes, hotels & spas, cosmetology schools, and people entering the profession.

Made in Germany is one of KLAPP’s strongest brand propositions. The company presents German development and manufacturing as a quality promise, rather than merely an origin statement. Its brand communications repeatedly connect German production with formulation quality, research, and manufacturing standards.

This is important to KLAPP’s positioning because the brand is generally situated in the professional/premium skincare segment rather than competing primarily as a mass-market cosmetics brand.

Innovation is central to KLAPP’s identity. Historically, the company has emphasized the introduction of active ingredients and treatment concepts into professional cosmetics. More recently, its innovation narrative has shifted toward proprietary technologies, advanced retinol formulations, concentrated active ingredients, and professional treatment systems.

A useful way to understand the evolution is:

1980s: active ingredients and professional cosmetics
↓
1990s: professional peeling/treatment concepts
↓
2000s–2010s: expansion of anti-aging and specialized skincare
↓
2020s: technology-driven formulations, retinol, clean beauty, vegan products, and professional treatment systems

In the skincare market, KLAPP occupies an interesting middle ground:

The brand is therefore best understood as a German professional skincare specialist, rather than simply another luxury face-cream company.

KLAPP currently promotes a number of products under its clean-beauty concept. In particular, the company states that products belonging to its KAP+ Complex are 100% vegan.

Its consumer-facing site also highlights attributes including:

• Made in Germany
• No animal testing
• Natural active ingredients
• Vegan products in relevant ranges

These claims should be understood as brand/product-positioning claims, rather than assuming that every historical KLAPP product necessarily has identical formulation or certification characteristics.

KLAPP has developed an international professional distribution network. Its current corporate material states that the brand is present in more than 60 countries and trusted by more than 35,000 skincare experts. 1

Some regional KLAPP organizations describe a broader footprint, with the Korean operation, for example, describing KLAPP as being exported to more than 100 countries and used by more than 10,000 aesthetic institutes and hotels. 4 The difference likely reflects different definitions or reporting periods for the international network, so the most conservative current figure is KLAPP’s corporate claim of more than 60 countries.

KLAPP has accumulated recognition within the professional beauty industry. Its current company history highlights the 2024 BEAUTY FORUM STARS Award and its 2025 TOP 100 innovation ranking. 5

Its Korean organization also lists various historical Beauty Forum and other industry awards, including recognition for professional cosmetics, innovation, and anti-aging products. 4

The easiest way to understand KLAPP’s differentiation is through five pillars:

1. Professional heritage — KLAPP was built around beauty institutes and professional treatments rather than starting as a mass retail skincare label.
2. Active-ingredient focus — Retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, fruit acids, and other actives are central to its portfolio.
3. German manufacturing — “Made in Germany” is an explicit quality proposition.
4. Treatment + home care — The brand connects professional treatments with products intended for continued home use.
5. Long history of innovation — The company traces its innovation story back to 1980 and particularly highlights its early retinol and peeling developments.

As of 2026, KLAPP is a roughly 46-year-old German professional skincare brand that has expanded beyond its original professional-institute niche into a more comprehensive skincare ecosystem.

Its current identity can be summarized as:

KLAPP = German professional skincare combining active-ingredient science, aesthetic treatments, and premium home care.

The company is simultaneously maintaining its professional roots while expanding consumer-facing e-commerce and newer concepts such as KAP Technology, advanced retinol, vegan/clean-beauty products, and specialized professional lines.

1. Behind the Scenes – Klapp Cosmetics
2. KLAPP | Professional Skincare Made in Germany
3. Official KLAPP website
4. 클랍 KLAPP
5. About Us – Professional Cosmetics – Klapp Cosmetics Moldova