Eco hair and skin moisturiser launched by Rahn

The Switzerland-based company has launched the modified version of the original Aquarich ingredient in response to the growing demand for natural cosmetics.

Based on black oat extract and lecithin from soybean, the ingredient promises to support the skin’s own natural moisturising factor as well as strengthening the lamellar lipid matrix of the epidermis.

When applied to the hair, the company claims it can help repair damage caused by stresses such as bleaching, washing and blow drying.

In order to gain the Ecocert certification, Rahn altered the lecithin in the ingredient as the original processing method was not acceptable to the certification body, explained Rahn’s product manager for cosmetic actives Barbara Obermayer.

Eco and original version offered ​

Although Obermayer maintained that the properties of the two ingredients were the same, she said the company would continue to offer the original Aquarich ingredient.

“We have a lot of satisfied customers with Aquarich and we do not want to force our customers to change versions,”​ she said.

In addition, she explained that offering the two versions was a kind of insurance policy in case of future changes to certification systems.

Rahn has chosen France-based Ecocert as its standard; but, the body is in negotiations with the Soil Association, BDIH and a number of other European bodies to create the Cosmos organic and natural standards.

When the final version of the Cosmos standard hits the market, those certifying to Ecocert will have to change to the new system. Although the differences between the standards are unlikely to be large, they could affect ingredients and processes allowed under them.

“To fit to the new Cosmos standards we might have to change some of the processes in the ingredient so we decided to keep marketing the two versions,”​ she said.

According to the company, in vivo ​studies on Aquarich (eco) illustrate that at 4 per cent the active can increase skin moisture in all layers of the epidermis by up to 16 per cent compared to a placebo over a 24 hour period.