Givaudan Active Beauty launches Omegablue, a cosmetic ingredient created from upcycled wild bilberries used for advanced skin repair.
A plant that grows in Central and Northern Europe, Givaudan has upcycled the seeds to craft a natural ingredient to revert skin dryness, irritation, and desquamation caused by lipid barrier damage.
As waste reduction is a new sustainable standard today, consumers are reevaluating their daily routines, including their beauty regimes, to contribute to minimising waste overall. Beauty consumers are already acting in that direction as cosmetic products containing recycled or upcycled ingredients are appealing to 69% of them, mostly in Brazil (80%) and China (74%).
Consumers are pushing upcycling beauty products as a top trend without compromising the main needs of their skin protection. Traditionally used by the food industry for their juice and sugar, bilberries are also a source of anthocyanidins extracted from the pulp and fruit skin for the supplement and pharma industries. Furthermore, the tiny seeds of the berries contain up to 20% of linoleic acid (omega-6) and α-linolenic acid (omega-3) in an optimal ratio; these compounds being both known for their capabilities to improve hydration and skin barrier functionality.
Giada Maramaldi, Personal Care Category Manager said: "Crafted by a supercritical CO2 procedure in an upcycled process from the seeds of this unique Vaccinum myrtillus berry, Omegablue was developed as a topical soothing agent for sensitive and damaged skin. It effectively calms skin discomfort in a transient or curative way and contains sebum-like essential fatty acids forming a protective barrier from external agents."
