First ever SEPAWA Innovation awards recognise anti-ageing and multifunctional ingredients

The award winners were selected by a jury of seven members, headed by Prof. Klaus-Peter Wittern, which awarded three different prizes based upon the level of innovation and the potential impact they may have on the market. SEPAWA says that it is now planning to make the awards an annual event for the industry calendar.

The awards were headed by a first prize, which went to Symrise for Symsave, a multifunctional antimicrobial ingredient, while two second prizes went to Provital for its whitening ingredient Melavoid and Induchem for its ingredient Neodermyl, which targets collagen and elastin production.

Symrise gets top prize for antimicrobial ingredient, Symsave​

Symsave is a hydroxyacetophenon that targets both the cosmetics and household products industries for its multi-functional anti-microbial properties.

The company developed the ingredient to have a unique anti-microbial effect, particularly formulations with a lower level of preservatives, something that taps into a big consumer trend in the cosmetic and personal care market.

On top of its anti-microbial function, it is also said to have an antioxidant and an anti-irritant effect, which gives it a multifunctional effect that expands the reach of this ingredient into the all-important anti-ageing category.

But the multifunctionality does not end there, as the ingredient is also said to have a stabilizing-emulsion effect, with all of these functions ultimately contributing to Symrise’s claim that the ingredient can also serve to reduce costs.

Second Prize to Provital’s Melavoid​

This ingredient has been developed from the root of the flower Boerhavia Diffusa, which is renowned for its medicinal properties and one that has long been used in traditional Indian medicine.

However, it was relatively recently that the plants skin whitening properties were discovered, which occurs through a biosynthesis of the enzyme tryosinase.

Ultimately this enzyme is said to catalyse the formation of melanin in the skin, in turn helping to reduce age-related pigmentation spots –giving the ingredient particular scope in the Asia Pacific market, as well as worldwide.

Second prize to Induchem for Neodermyl​

This new ingredient is a combination of MG6P (biotech methyl-glucoside-6-phosphate), blended with a copper complex and essential amino acids that are said to act as an ‘energy source’.

According to Induchem, the metaobolic action of the fibroplasts is increased, which then has the effect of increasing production of both collagen and elastin in the skin.

This action ultimately leads to a reduction in the appearance of visible lines and wrinkles, making it a viable option for a cross-section of anti-ageing products.