The Story of RATIONALE
Founded by Cosmetic Chemist Richard Parker
For more than three decades, Richard Parker has dedicated his career as a skincare researcher and formulator to understanding sun damage – the major cause of skin aging. His focus has been singular: supporting the skin’s natural processes of protection and repair after solar and environmental exposure with research-driven formulations that are as efficacious as they are elegant.
Meet Our Founder, Richard Parker
Richard Parker began his career fascinated by the science of skin and the mechanisms behind aging. A competitive swimmer through high school and university, he experienced significant sun damage by his early twenties from constant outdoor training. Fortunately, his first research project as a chemist involved working with dermatologists studying photoaging and creating topical formulations designed to help address sun damage and restore natural skin health and vitality.
Recognizing that 80% of facial aging is caused by the sun, his insights led to the understanding that daily application of solar protective preparations (every morning) and solar repair (at night) could help visibly improve signs of sun-induced aging.
Since founding RATIONALE, Parker has pioneered formulations recognized globally as the benchmark for protecting and restoring skin’s natural luminosity and resilience. Today, he continues to inspire and guide the talented RATIONALE Research team, distilling decades of clinical and dermatological expertise into each formulation.
The RATIONALE Essential Six
A defining moment in Richard’s career came when he recognized that the skin protects and repairs itself naturally through a series of interconnected processes (or systems) that address solar protection and repair. These include cellular defense mechanisms, antioxidant responses, UV protection, barrier integrity, pH regulation, and DNA repair through enzymatic processes.
These intrinsic protect and repair mechanisms diminish over time and may be impacted by daily environmental exposure, contributing to visible signs of premature aging such as dryness, fine lines, sagging, and pigmentation. For many years, RATIONALE Research has explored how to support these processes through formulations enriched with Skin Identical vitamins, minerals, enzymes, lipids, and botanicals with the goal of augmenting skin hydration, firmness, and clarity.
This understanding led to the development of The Essential Six: a daily ritual comprising three daytime formulations designed to support environmental defense, and three nighttime formulations that enhance skin firmness, hydration, and radiance.
In his role as Director of Research, Richard continues to guide and inspire the RATIONALE Research Team—advancing formulation excellence through decades of dermatological insight and scientific investigation.
“The Essential Six contains everything you need to achieve and maintain luminous skin for life."
Our Research Team continues to redefine skincare science through dermatological and epigenetic investigation, conducting studies with field experts, facilitating research projects, and publishing findings in industry journals. Every formulation is informed by decades of evidence and clinical expertise.
From our world-class research laboratories in Kyneton, Victoria, RATIONALE combines over 30 years of dermatological and solar research with Skin Identical formulation technology to provide unparalleled environmental protection by day and radiant repair by night.
The outcome: Luminous Skin for Life.
“We can’t be young forever, but we can look beautiful at any age.”
The RATIONALE Difference
Every RATIONALE formulation reflects decades of research, scientific precision, and reverence for the skin’s natural processes. Blending dermatological expertise with Skin Identical ingredients and precision delivery systems, we deliver targeted protection and repair—resulting in luminous, resilient, and healthy-looking skin at every stage of life.
“My source of inspiration is always human skin. It is my research library. My guiding light.”