Formulation & Science

Enhanced beauty tools? Deep tech start-up unveils ceramic alloy that accelerates wound-healing

17-Oct-2022 By Amanda Lim

A Singapore-based deep-tech start-up has developed a unique material that could pique the interest of the beauty sector because of its ability to reduce inflammation and accelerate wound healing.

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Safety first: Why beauty brands should perform product testing even though they may not be mandatory

17-Oct-2022 By Amanda Lim

Cosmetics testing is key to ensuring that safe and effective beauty and personal care products reach consumers, even though they are not mandatory to bring a brand or product to market.

Study

Natural cosmetics purchasing behavior is gender fluid, finds study

13-Oct-2022 By Lynda Searby

Men might be from Mars and women from Venus, but when it comes to natural cosmetics, it could be outdated to suggest that women shop differently than men.

Safety first: Long COVID will spur interest in cosmetics developed with ISO natural origin index– review

12-Oct-2022 By Amanda Lim

The concern over long COVID and its impact on skin health will drive consumer demand for safety, thereby pushing more cosmetic companies to develop products in accordance with the ISO natural origin index, according to a new review.

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.

Dive deeper on Kao joining Genomatica venture to scale palm oil alternatives

03-Oct-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

Biotechnology firm Genomatica announced last week that Japanese giant Kao Corporation is joining a venture to scale alternatives to palm oil.

Cosmetics-associated dermatoses: How China is pioneering online courses to raise awareness and improve skin health

03-Oct-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Free online courses could help reduce the incidence of cosmetics-associated dermatoses and increase skin care knowledge among Chinese consumers, say researchers behind a programme attended by 540,000 people.

Feeling blue: Understanding how blue light affects skin health ‘hampered by research methods’ – J&J study

28-Sep-2022 By Gary Scattergood

The understanding of how blue light affects skin health is being hampered by lack of standardised research methods, including the use of different sources of blue light and measurements of its biological effects, according to a new review funded by Johnson...

Sunscreen and Vitamin D: Aussie researchers to study if 'slip, slap, slop' leads to vit D drop

27-Sep-2022 By Gary Scattergood

A world-first large-scale trial in Australia will assess if wearing high-factor sunscreen prevents healthy vitamin D production.

IFSCC CONGRESS 2022 LONDON, UK

L'Oréal scientist: Live bacteria ‘the dream’ for skin microbiome NPD

23-Sep-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Innovation in cosmetic ingredients targeting the skin microbiome is surging, but the ultimate dream is to be able to incorporate beneficial live bacteria into formulations, says a principal scientist at L’Oréal Research & Innovation.

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.

Mane problem: Evidence of long COVID hair loss could spur demand for effective natural solutions

14-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Gencor Pacific is eyeing huge opportunities in Asia Pacific’s anti-hair loss market, as studies show it is a common effect of long COVID.

Tapping potential: Indian nutra firm Diabliss to develop 10 new herbal water products

13-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Chennai-based nutraceutical and food firm Diabliss Consumer Products is developing another 10 herbal water supplements – on top of its five existing products – to tap the lucrative potential of the general wellness market in the country.

Just one droplet: Allozymes claims proprietary tech increases actives yields, boosts sustainability

08-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Biotechnology start-up Allozymes’s claims its proprietary tech gives the cosmetic industry a way to produce natural active ingredients in an environmentally responsible manner, while also reducing cost, time and resources.

‘Growing steeply’: Silicone-free ‘one of the most important’ hair care trends in Korea

07-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

The pervasiveness of the clean beauty movement and the increasing emphasise of health is driving the demand for silicone-free hair care products in South Korea, with one supplier believing it to be among the most crucial trends in K-beauty.

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.

Q&A

Software plays an important role in tracking, achieving, reporting sustainability goals

29-Aug-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

Between sustainability efforts by suppliers and making sustainability claims on finished products is a lot of data, and an expert says emerging software solutions are the answer.

Consumer-conscious: Malaysians still conservative, prefer natural shades over bright colours

24-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Malaysian consumers remain largely conservative when making cosmetics choices and continue to prefer natural tones over bright ones, according to brand founder.

Study

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.

Similar to corticosteroids: Botanicals, lipids and antioxidants could alleviate symptoms of atopic eczema – Review

12-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Plant-derived active ingredients have considerable potential as a safe and effective treatment in alleviating the symptoms of atopic dermatitis or eczema.

‘Trigger the skin microbiome’: Gardenia extract to promote skin regeneration in New Emma Lewisham mask

10-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

New Zealand circular beauty brand Emma Lewisham is tapping the benefits of gardenia to optimise skin physiology for cellular regeneration overnight.

Natural repellent: Strong demand for novel Taiwanese black root citronella in Singapore as dengue cases surge

09-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A novel Taiwanese black root citronella oil brand Dong Sheng is experiencing sales success in Singapore as dengue cases spike, with at least 21,000 units of 10ml roll-ons being sold out monthly.

Purposeful perfumes: Start-up Scent Journer develops beneficial scents for pragmatic Asian consumers

04-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

A Singapore-based start-up is developing perfumes that solve the Asian consumers’ biggest pain points with fragrances, while also delivering tangible benefits to them.

Scent support: Singapore’s Scent by SIX leverages fragrance tech to tackle the tough issues

03-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Singapore-based Scent by SIX is using fragrance technology to support the mental health of those that have been marginalised by society.

Good as gold: Embedded gold nanomaterial in cosmetics could alleviate dermal toxicity – Study

03-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Gold nanomaterials in cosmetics, such as creams, lotions and deodorants, could be embedded in their bases to alleviate dermal toxicity.

‘Solving a hidden problem’: Laboratoires Expanscience sees opportunities in Asia’s intimate feminine care market

29-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

French firm Laboratoires Expanscience is targeting Japan, South Korea and China with its latest microbiome active that claims to solve intimate, often undisclosed, issues like vaginal itching and pain from sexual intercourse.

Skin science: Top five stories on cosmetics science and formulation

27-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

We dive into our most-read stories on formulation and science, featuring studies on the cosmetic potential of grapeseed extract, coffee by-products, mahogany seeds and more.

Beauty needs ‘complete mindset’ change in formula protection: Symrise

26-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Cosmetic formulators must start thinking more holistically about the wider potential of multifunctional ingredients that can offer product protection and more, says Symrise.

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.

Prebiotics, life-stages and upscale: Unilever scientists brainstorm 'next evolution' of microbiome science

05-Jul-2022 By Katy Askew

Unilever says it is heavily committed to deepening understanding and advancing product development in the fast-moving skin microbiome space, particularly around opportunities in prebiotics and mass accessibility.

From furniture to face: Mahogany seeds have skin whitening, antioxidant properties for skincare – Review

05-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Seeds of the Swietenia macrophylla (S. macrophylla) plant, commonly known as the mahogany tree, could be the up-and-coming ingredient for the global cosmeceutical industry.

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Mask relief: Salmon complex moisturiser eases sensitive skin problems caused by face masks

04-Jul-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Wearing a face mask causes physiological changes in sensitive skin, but applying a salmon complex moisturiser after removing it improved conditions, according to a new study.

Something brewing? Coffee by-products could boost antioxidant properties of cosmetic formulations – Review

29-Jun-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Coffee by-products could be a suitable ingredient for cosmetic and topical formulations due to its hight antioxidant properties, a new study has revealed.

Diversifying sources: Global seafood firm Thai Union on rationale for microalgae omega-3 strategy

23-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Global seafood giant Thai Union says it is placing a significant focus on microalgae omega-3, besides its usual marine sources, as it seeks to diversify its ingredients business.

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.

Overcoming barriers to entry: Brands can tap new Singapore halal alliance to gain trade opportunities, certification

21-Jun-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Food, nutraceuticals and cosmetics brands worldwide can now tap the expertise of a newly-minted halal alliance to enter the lucrative global halal market forecasted to reach USD$2.8 trillion by 2025.

A grape idea: Grapeseed extract in sunscreen could have anti-ageing benefits for Asians – Thai study

16-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

The addition of grapeseed extract in a sunscreen formulation has been found to have anti-ageing effects on Asian skin, improving the overall youthful appearance of skin.

‘No other product like it’: Biologi’s ‘most exciting’ serum launch features wild-harvested extract that protects against pollution

13-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Australian clean cosmeceutical brand Biologi has introduced what it believes is its most exciting launch to date – an anti-pollution serum that features a wild-harvested extract that contains vitamin C, niacinamide, and salicylic acid.

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