THE HOUSE OF MILA
A Swiss legacy shaped by four generations of women
Born in 1938 in the heart of Switzerland,
Mila d’Opiz has been carried from mother to daughter for over eighty-five years.
A house founded on intuition, precision and an unwavering belief in meaningful beauty.
FOUR WOMEN, ONE VISION
eighty-five years of swiss beauty craftsmanship
Emilia Opitz-Altherr
Founder
Silva Studer
2nd Generation
Caroline Studer
3rd Generation
Jennifer Widmer
4th Generation
Emilia Opitz-Altherr
Founder
Silva Studer
2ⁿᵈ Generation
Caroline Studer
3ʳᵈ Generation
Jennifer Widmer
4ᵗʰ Generation
St. Gallen, Switzerland
THE FIRST MILA FORMULA
Founder Emilia (Mila) Opitz-Altherr began creating skincare formulas after finding nothing suitable for her own skin concerns on the market. In close collaboration with dermatologists, she developed an anti-aging hormone cream, marking the beginning of a new era of high-precision skincare that offered a sense of freedom and self-confidence.
MILA ESTABLISHES MILOPA
After several years of working on formulas and building trust with clients, Mila formally founded her company under the name Milopa. The business was entered into the Swiss commercial register and production moved from small, improvised setups into an organised structure. It was the moment her personal project became a long-term family company.
EXPANDING BEYOND SWITZERLAND
The results of Milopa’s products had attracted attention beyond Switzerland. The company began exporting for the first time and took its first steps into international markets. It was a careful but confident expansion that set the tone for Mila d’Opiz as a Swiss brand with a global outlook.
SILVA STUDER JOINS THE COMPANY
A CHALLENGING YEAR
A fire severely damaged the office floors and impacted the work of the research laboratory. For several months the team worked with temporary setups and limited resources to keep production running. The incident didn’t define the company, but it showed how committed the people behind it were to continuing Mila’s work.
BECOMING MILA D`OPIZ
Due to name confusion with another company, Milopa was renamed Mila d’Opiz and the manufacturer became M. Opitz & Co. AG. This change gave the brand a clearer identity and a name that could be carried into the future. It also marked the moment when the founder’s first name, Mila, became the heart of the brand.
A NEW LABORATORY CHAPTER
The company moved into new premises at Haggenstrasse 40 in St. Gallen. Modern laboratories and updated infrastructure made it possible to work with greater precision in microbiology and analytical testing. This upgrade laid the technical groundwork for many of the innovations that would follow in later decades.
FIRST ISO CERTIFICATION
We became the first Swiss cosmetics company to achieve ISO 9001 certification. For a privately owned family business, this was an important step that formalised what had already been part of the company culture: consistent quality, traceable processes and clear standards. It reinforced the brand’s reputation as a reliable Swiss manufacturer.
CAROLINE STUDER JOINS THE COMPANY
Third generation Opitz family member Caroline Studer joins the company in marketing and sales, eventually moving on to become the current CEO and owner of the company.
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS
For the 75th anniversary of Mila d’Opiz, the research and development team created The Skin Whisperer™, a formula that quickly became one of the brand’s most recognised products. It symbolised how far the company had come: from the first cream in 1938 to advanced anti-aging skincare. The anniversary was less about looking back and more about showing what the brand was capable of.
RECOGNISED FOR INNOVATION
From 2014 onward, several Mila d’Opiz products received international awards, which were honoured at the BSB European Innovation Awards and other industry events. These recognitions confirmed the company’s position as a Swiss brand that combines in-house research with visible results.
JENNIFER WIDMER JOINS THE COMPANY
FIRST PATENTED ACTIVE INGREDIENT
In 2024, Mila d’Opiz introduced Royal Retin®, the company’s first patented active ingredient. Developed in-house through a fusion of Gelée Royale and NovoRetin™, it marks an important scientific step for the brand and strengthens its position as a Swiss manufacturer with its own cosmetic innovations.
LAUNCH OF HYALURONIC⁷
In September 2025, Mila d’Opiz introduced Hyaluronic⁷, the world’s first seven-fold hyaluronic formulation. Built on seven structures of different molecular sizes, it represents a new generation of hydration science and continues the brand’s long tradition of advancing Swiss skincare through in-house research.
What the future holds
strengthening what defines us, evolving what inspires us
Caroline Studer, Owner & CEO, alongside Jennifer Widmer, Member of the Executive Management and Head of Marketing & Sales.
Under the leadership of Caroline Studer and Jennifer Widmer, the house unites its deeply rooted family values with a clear focus on innovation, science and a contemporary brand identity. It is not a shift, but a natural continuation of what has always defined Mila d’Opiz, carried forward by the women who have shaped this house since 1938.
At the same time, the understanding of beauty is evolving into a holistic concept.The idea of longevity is becoming a guiding principle, and the consideration of expanding the portfolio with carefully aligned nutritional supplements opens new possibilities. A future step that could strengthen the skin not only from the outside, but also from within.
In parallel, the house looks further out into the world. From the more than forty countries in which Mila d’Opiz is currently present, the aim is to grow into an even broader international network.
A thoughtful but confident expansion of the brand, carrying the essence of Mila d’Opiz – Swiss made, science-driven and family led – into new markets.
«Every generation moves us forward with steady hands,
shared values and a commitment to meaningful beauty.»
Caroline Studer
3rd generation