Luxe oxygenated skincare brand Element Eight has closed a $6 million funding round and announced a slew of recent appointments, including former Sephora chief executive Martin Brok as a board member. 

The brand raised $2.5 million from existing investors and an extra $3.5 million from latest investors, pushing the entire raised thus far as much as $7.9 million. 

“With 45 percent of the round coming from surgeons, dermatologists, and PhD scientists, we have now a powerful validation of the scientific acumen of the brand. We were more than happy to even have participation from private family offices with experience in beauty investing, who accounted for 34 percent of the round,” said chairman and cofounder Bradley Patt. 

He added that it can proceed onto a latest $6.25 million series A round to proceed to speed up the expansion of the skincare products.

The brand launched last 12 months with three creams, $250 each, focused on different ingredients (peptides, squalane and hyaluronic acid, respectively) which might be formulated with the brand’s proprietary Oxygen Amplified Therapy, which is supposed to mimic the function of hemoglobin. Through the technology, oxygen is delivered topically to the skin with the aim of penetrating on the cellular level, thus promoting radiance and elasticity by accelerating cellular metabolism and turnover. 

Since then, the brand has expanded to seven stock keeping units, including O2 Niacinamide Eight Lively Serum and O2 Caffeine Eye Cream. In addition to its own website, it’s also sold in Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

Along with raising more capital, the brand appointed Jake Galtere as chief marketing officer and Kristi McCluer vp of worldwide sales and education to drive the brand’s global strategy and oversee continued expansion. Galtere most recently served as vp of selling for Ralph Lauren and Azzaro Fragrances, while McCluer has 15 years of experience in luxury sales, including at L’Oréal. 

At the identical time, Brok joined the corporate’s Business Advisory Board and can take part in the series A financing. 

“Element Eight stood out to me as a really different premium offering that’s entering essentially the most dynamic segment of the skincare market: heavy science and luxury leaning with a definite voice that separates itself from the clutter and fills a white space,” said Brok.