RECENT PRODUCT NEWS

Natural product claims in personal care launches are growing, with consumers continuing to be interested in green issues and aspiring to live healthier lifestyles.

SenzaGen’s test Genomic Allergen Rapid Detection (GARD) has been reviewed by all OECD WNT (The Working Group of the National Coordinators of the Test Guidelines Programme (WNT)) task force members and has been included in the Test Guideline Programme.

At NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2016 the plant extraction expert Berkem unveiled its botanical extracts and floral waters range: Botanykem.

Barentz International and Innospec have signed a long-term distribution agreement to market ingredients for Personal & Home Care. The agreement encompasses, among others, the business in Russia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Benelux.

In the world of visual culture today, looking good at all times has become mandatory among consumers. With social media, ‘selfies’ and smartphone features like FaceTime, the digital age has created the obsession to look camera ready for any occasion—at any time. This desire for ‘pixel perfect’ and professional results has required cosmetic products of all kinds to provide exceptional performance.

The high prevalence of allergies, for example skin eczema, in the industrialised world can be explained by an unbalanced immune system because the defence reaction against allergens involves overactivation of the T helper cell Th2 pathway.

Ginseng has a long history of use by humans for its health-giving properties. In fact its Genus name, Panax, means ‘all heal’, and it has a reputation across the world for its ability to induce energy, vitality and boost the immune system. However in the centuries of its use, it has largely been taken as an oral medicine and not topically.

Greensea, Greentech’s sister company, has launched one of the most powerful antioxidant and free radical scavengers, Astaxanthin produced by microalgae.

Along with shininess, imperfections are a main concern faced by people with oily/combination skin. Acne scars, blackheads and enlarged pores can lead to an uneven and unattractive appearance that usually requires the application of makeup.

How to keep an ageless look while staying natural? One of the main beauty secrets is to keep the first shield of our body healthy and young: our epidermis. A young epidermis is dense, thick and its major components are continuously regenerated. This relatively fast process keeps those cells plump and results in youthful and healthy looking skin on the surface.

Australian kakadu plum extract, (Superox-C™ from Lucas Meyer Cosmetics) has been obtained through a proprietary process and shown to be a potent multifunctional active ingredient for global anti-ageing care. This unique ‘superfruit’ is inherently super rich in vitamin C and polyphenols with solid antioxidant activities.

In order to counteract the appearance of signs of ageing, like skin dryness, wrinkles, loss of tissue, sagging, one can use invasive procedures like injections of dermal fillers. Collagen injections used to be very popular during the 2000s but, mainly because of the origin of the collagen used, they have been replaced by hyaluronic acid injectables. They have quickly been gaining in popularity.

Though the conventional hair care market is a mature one, there are still many opportunities to innovate and radicalise this sector. As the needs of consumers are becoming more complex, the corresponding products evolve towards more sophisticated and solution-oriented concepts by default. Just in the first of half of 2014, 72% of global hair care launched had a ‘beauty enhancing’ claim.

Croda launched Cithrol 10GTIS, an advanced surfactant for oil-based facial cleansing, during in-cosmetics 2015 in Barcelona.

The high Alpine plant Saponaria pumila is a survival specialist. It weathered the last ice age growing on ice-free mountain peaks, so-called nunataks exposed to constantly low temperatures and high levels of UV radiation.

The addition of structure to organic oils results in some unique aesthetics in cosmetic formulations. The organic oils that can be structures include triglycerides and esters. The structuring agent can simply increase viscosity and improve flow or provide rigid thixotropic gels. The most interesting cosmetic aesthetics occurs when structuring agents (also called gelling agents) are added to low viscosity esters and triglycerides that are dry on the skin.

Natural waxes are synthesised biochemically by numerous plants and animals. Plants secrete waxes into and on the surface of their cuticles as a way to control evaporation, wettability and hydration. As a result of climatic conditions, many plants in tropical regions also store waxes in membrane layers in the cuticula as an additional protection against evaporation of water.

Mibelle Biochemistry is introducing a biologically active hepta-peptide that stimulates the skin’s own self-defence mechanisms against oxidative stress at the cellular level.

Optim Hyal has been designed by Sederma to stimulate hyaluronic acid neosynthesis and sustain its turnover. It restores the optimal level of hyaluronic acid in the skin to make it smooth, moisturised and supple as young skin.

Croda Europe Ltd launches a new conditioning agent, Crodazoquat MCC (MultiCultural Conditioning), designed to address the expanding market need for multicultural conditioning and damage repair for a diverse range of hair types.