Naturals and organics

Cork extracts improve antioxidant function in cosmetic formulations

28-Mar-2023 By Olivia DeSmit

In an effort to study more sustainable ingredient options to stabilize and improve antioxidant cosmetic formulations, Portuguese researchers examined the 'usefulness of cork extracts in the cosmetic industry' for wider application by manufacturers...

Lemongrass essential oil may serve as skin protectant

28-Mar-2023 By Olivia DeSmit

In a recent study, researchers observed that lemongrass extract improved 'epidermal hydration' and skin 'barrier integrity' with consistent topical application, suggesting its beneficial properties as a cosmetic bioactive ingredient.

Marine-based beauty ingredients: ‘Only a small proportion of their full potential has been explored’

27-Mar-2023 By Kacey Culliney

Marine-based ingredients and bioactive compounds continue to gain ground in beauty, but the full potential of what these can offer formulations has yet to be exploited, finds a review.

Jellyfish could offer a sustainable alternative to synthesised antioxidants, study finds

24-Mar-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A new study has investigated jellyfish peptides, suggesting that they can serve as a promising new source of antioxidants to be utilised in a variety of applications.

Orchid opportunity: Kao discovers unique scents to advance fragrance innovation

21-Mar-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Japanese beauty giant Kao is looking to develop new products based on distinct orchid scents, after discovering hundreds of options that are yet to be harnessed for commercial applications.

Dead Sea water has ‘great potential’ for cosmetics applications, but challenges remain – Review

17-Mar-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Dead Sea water (DSW) has considerable potential in cosmetics application, but compatibility issues in formulations need to be resolved before it can be safely applied, say researchers.

Coty files patent on long-lasting scented lotus antiperspirant

20-Feb-2023 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major Coty has developed an active antiperspirant formula that offers a long-lasting fragrance after application using a blend of lotus flower extracts.

Red ginseng oil offers ‘novel ingredient’ promise in topical cosmetics: Review

06-Feb-2023 By Kacey Culliney

Oil extracted from Korean red ginseng byproduct offers promise in the development of active topicals targeting skin and hair health, alongside wider ingestible formulas, say researchers.

Novi’s Director of Science & Research discusses benefits and drawbacks of natural preservatives in cosmetic products

01-Feb-2023 By Cassandra Stern

As consumer demand for natural ingredients in personal beauty care products continues to rise, cosmetics manufacturers are considering replacing synthetic preservatives with natural alternatives – but at what cost?

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‘Huge potential’ for natural polysaccharides application in beauty products – Review

30-Jan-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

The use of natural polysaccharides in skin care products could provide better functional benefits than synthetic ingredients, but further studies are needed before large-scale commercial application is possible, say researchers.

Research indicates burdock seed oil active arctigenin has potential skin-brightening benefits

18-Jan-2023 By Cassandra Stern

For the first time, researchers have successfully extracted and produced a potent skin-brightening botanical extract from the burdock plant.

Shower times and recycling: Weleda eyes ‘challenging’ Scope 3 emissions

13-Jan-2023 By Kacey Culliney

Swiss natural and organic major Weleda has certified all its products climate neutral and is now focused on improving indirect Scope 3 carbon emissions associated with its portfolio.

Chinese herbal bath therapy shows efficacy against atopic dermatitis in children – new meta-analysis

05-Jan-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Chinese herbs containing anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, itch-relieving and immunoregulating benefits can reduce symptoms and the recurrence of atopic dermatitis, without the side effects associated with conventional treatment methods, say researchers....

Special Edition: Active Beauty – Vitamins, Minerals And Plant Power

Botanicals ‘likely to be the future of sunscreens’ – Review

02-Jan-2023 By Kacey Culliney

Natural plant extracts will continue to garner interest in the sunscreen category because of the multitude of active and functional properties they offer to a formulation, in addition to UV protection, say researchers.

Beauty backtracking: CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s 10 most-read stories of 2022

22-Dec-2022 By Kacey Culliney

There have been huge waves of innovation, collaboration and change in the beauty category this past year. Here, CosmeticsDesign-Europe takes a look back at our most-read stories in 2022.

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NADES: French researchers say ‘future solvents’ may offer multifunctional cosmetics promise

08-Dec-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) or ‘future solvents’ from plants and microalgae could offer multifunctional promise for cosmetics because of their biocompatible nature, according to a research team from the University of Tours in France.

Big Brand Talks – In Conversation with Today’s Beauty Leaders

Weleda R&D chief: ‘We’re trying to switch our way of innovating’

05-Dec-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Swiss natural and organic beauty brand Weleda has formed a small-scale internal startup to speed up product development and market testing, presenting a very new way of working, its R&D head says.

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Kimchi to cosmetics: Korean chili pepper promising for skin radiance, says L’Occitane

01-Dec-2022 By Kacey Culliney

French beauty major L’Occitane says capsaicin-free Korean chili pepper extract shows promise for improving skin radiance, even under pollution stress.

Emerging skin care science: Growing evidence to support formulations containing thyme, ginseng and wheat grass

22-Nov-2022 By Gary Scattergood

New research suggests that herbal formulations containing thyme, wheat grass and ginseng, along with ferulic and gallic acid, are the most promising natural products for new cosmetics with skin anti-ageing properties.

‘New old ingredients’: Natural trend driving beauty to embrace Africa’s traditional oils

09-Nov-2022 By Amanda Lim

The cosmetics industry is seeing a rising appetite for traditional oils that have been used for centuries by Africa’s indigenous people as the demand for new, powerful, and efficacious natural ingredients booms.

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Research team dives into history of personal care for modern plant-based ingredient

31-Oct-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

Humans have been creating personal care products for more than 9,000 years, and one of the first fragrance ingredients may have cosmetic potential today.

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Natural nanotech 101: How nanotechnology and natural ingredients intersect today

27-Oct-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

The cosmetics industry is presently both moving away from synthetic ingredients and toward the chemistry of the future, but those may go hand-in-hand.

Three possible cosmetic applications for medicinal plant family Eupatorium

19-Oct-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

Eupatorium is a plant family with medicinal applications around the globe, and a study suggests it may also be a good source of cosmetics extracts.

EXCLUSIVE IN-DEPTH INSIGHTS

How to win over… protective mothers in a rapidly growing baby personal care market

11-Oct-2022 By Amanda Lim

Here we reveal exclusive insights from established and rising baby care brands Aromababy, Lovekins and P’URE PapayaCare Baby on what it takes to earn the trust of protective parents, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the market, and why Asia Pacific...

Fantastical fungi: Food start-up pushing mushroom mycelium as natural and sustainable ingredient for cosmetics

05-Oct-2022 By Amanda Lim

A Singapore-based food start-up cultivating mushroom mycelium as an alternative protein source believes it can also serve the cosmetics industry as a natural, sustainable, and completely food-safe ingredient.

Blooming potential: Lilies possess properties suitable for wide range of beauty products – Review

19-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The Lilium plant, commonly known as lilies, possesses a slew of properties suitable for use in various cosmetics, including sunscreens, cleansers, masks and conditioners, according to a new review.

‘New audiences’: Puig acquires majority stake in Indian wellness brand Kama Ayurveda

15-Sep-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Spanish luxury beauty and perfume major Puig has announced the acquisition of Kama Ayurveda – a move set to strengthen its Indian footprint and drive presence in the Western wellbeing market, an expert says.

Alternative potential: Wild turmeric extracts could prevent UVB-induced photoageing – Study

01-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Two wild turmeric plants, the Curcuma aromatica and Curcuma comosa, could play a role in products tackling UVB-induced photoageing.

Plant-based body care ‘from top to toe’: Mio Skincare rolls into deo space

31-Aug-2022 By Shane Starling

Mio Skincare has developed its first underarm balm using a blend of natural plant-based ingredients it says tap into rising consumer needs and expectations in the deodorant space.

Bio-based biotin: Biosynthia targets Asian hair care market with sustainably sourced biotin

31-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Ingredient firm Biosynthia has identified South Korea and Japan as two top targets as it seeks to grow in Asia’s hair care market with a ‘natural and sustainably sourced’ biotin.

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Study suggests plant-based colorants could also serve as antioxidant ingredient

15-Aug-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

Many plants both show promise as cosmetic actives and are rather colorful, and a new study suggests cosmetics may be able to harness both qualities.

Taking Ayurvedic beauty global: Why emphasising efficacy of traditional ingredients is key for growth

08-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Ayurvedic brands can make a mark on the global stage providing they emphasise the efficacy of traditional ingredients, the founder of Indian beauty firm Tvachamrit believes.

Pearly great: Seawater pearl hydrolysate a promising sunscreen ingredient as study shows skin protection benefits

20-Jul-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Seawater pearl hydrolysate could be a promising sunscreen ingredients due to its positive impact on UVA-induced photoaging of skin cells, scientists in China have reported.

Review: Plants have 'not been fully harnessed’ in targeting inflammation-led skin ageing

19-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

The potential of naturally derived plant-based cosmetics and nutricosmetics has not yet been fully harnessed when targeting oxidative stress and inflammation-related skin ageing, say researchers.

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Natural evolution: Why the hair care category is ripe for nature and science formulation innovation

18-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

The demand for cosmetic formulations that marry nature and science is creating vast opportunities for APAC’s blossoming hair care category, according to a leading formulation expert.

‘Asian wisdom’: Foot care startup Clapoti wants to bring Korean sauna culture to mass beauty

15-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Indie brand Clapoti has launched a line of Korean-inspired foot care products that aims to breathe life into an old-fashioned category and encourage wider uptake across Europe, its founder says.

Active beauty startup Wild Science Lab eyes ‘shop in shop’ ME and UK expansion

08-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Active hair care and skin care startup Wild Science Lab is expanding its retail footprint into the Middle East, opting for a shop in shop model that enables consumer consultation on its preventative and targeted products.

‘This is our heritage’: Medical cannabis firm launches CBD-hemp skin care brand Fuss Pot

06-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Australian medical cannabis expert Cann Global has forayed into skin care with a natural CBD and hemp skin care brand Fuss Pot, launching in France this month.

Rising promise for ‘anti-allergic’ natural actives in skin care: Review

29-Jun-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Many active components of natural plant extracts can be used to develop topical cosmetics suitable for consumers with sensitive skin, ultimately targeting the anti-allergic space, say researchers.

Bio-based vitamin A to 'radically' transform market, says DSM

28-Jun-2022 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Royal DSM has initiated testing of its bio-based vitamin A ingredient in the cosmetics market, ahead of scaling commercial production for applications including cosmetics and human and animal healthcare.

New study finds sugar beet can balance skin microbiota

21-Jun-2022 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Italian and French researchers have identified that short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) in sugar beet have a positive impact on skin microbiota by restricting the opportunity for pathogen development and encouraging beneficial bacteria growth.

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Less for more: Waterless beauty trend ‘bound’ to become mainstream – Lush Cosmetics

20-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Lush Cosmetics’ Singapore director believes beauty is ready to be ‘100% waterless’ based on rising consumer education and its own innovations.

Unilever and Genomatica enter €114 million initiative to develop plant-based feedstocks

17-Jun-2022 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Global beauty and personal care supplier Unilever and biotechnology developer Genomatica (Geno) have launched a €114 million ($120 mn) venture to scale alternatives to palm oil and fossil fuels and seek sustainable ingredients for personal care product...

Clariant unveils digital tool for natural formulation development

16-Jun-2022 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

The Swiss multinational personal care company releases an online tool that calculates the percentage of natural ingredients and overall naturality of a personal care product.

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