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Staying young a family business

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BARCELONA, Spain (CNN) -- Perched on a gleaming Harley-Davidson, Ricardo Fisas looks much younger than his 80 years.

Ricardo took up riding again 20 years ago at the age of 60. His passion is now indulged at every opportunity -- often joining long tours with like-minded friends.

Age is no barrier to him and he does not believe it should be one for women, which explains his other passion: high-end skin care and body products.

His family's brand, Natura Bisse, may not be as well known as others in the beauty industry, but they are some of the best-selling products at the top end of the market.

The achievements of the products have been recognized by beauty writers and royalty, with Natura Bisse receiving the Prince Felipe of Spain's award for excellence in business.

After more than 25 years in business, the Barcelona-based company has an international presence, selling in the U.S., UK, Middle East, Japan, Asia and Mexico.

The firm is a real family affair. Ricardo Snr. is at the helm as chairman and president, son-in-law Jose Borrell chief financial officer and son Ricardo Jnr. is executive vice president of the international division. It is his job to globe trot and keep an eye on emerging markets for the skin care brand.

Meanwhile, mother and daughter Gloria and Patricia Fisas spearhead the company's marketing and research arms.

"I have a very good team. Whatever I have done is because I have a good team. I have been surrounded by people -- my daughter, my son, my son-in-law, everybody -- the people who know more than me," Ricardo Snr told CNN.

Though now successful on an international stage, Natura Bisse had humble beginnings.

In 1979, after being retrenched at the age of 50, Ricardo Snr. used his experience as director of a Barcelona research laboratory, which produced proteins for food and pharmaceuticals, to turn his fortunes around.

He had noticed that the hands of warehouse workers who handled the lab's products were smooth and wrinkle free.

He became interested in breaking down links in protein chains that allow collagen, elastin and keratin to penetrate the skin and so developed a cream that did just that.

"I remember we were hydrolyzing protein from collagen, elastin, carotene and I found out that the hands of the of the workers were very smooth. So I thought there were some cosmetic properties," Ricardo Snr. said.

"We did some tests with more than 500 people. The results were so impressive that the the dermatologist, the team that were behind this test, were saying, 'You should market this a product for the public.'"

Natura Bisse soon progressed from simply supplying beauty salons to selling its products at a retail level all over the globe, but every product in the face and spa-body range is still formulated and made in Spain.

New formulas are at the heart of the business -- it started with five creams and now has about 300.

Ricardo Snr. told CNN that the company's research and development budget was open-ended.

"It means that the technical team and the marketing team are playing together, trying to innovate, to develop, to work out a new formulation. They know that they have, they can expand as much as they need to reach a good result because we think that it is our asset."

Nature Bisse will remain a family business, he says, even though Ricardo Snr. admits he is gearing down somewhat.

CNN's Mallika Kapur contributed to this report

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Though nearly 80 Ricardo Fisas Snr still rides a Harley Davidson.

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