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Biofilms: the hidden threat to personal care manufacturing

A surface that looks clean may still harbour biofilms: communities of microorganismsenclosed in a protective matrix. Found in water systems, manufacturing equipment andwet processing areas, they can resist conventional cleaning and sanitisation, creatingan ongoing source of contamination. For personal care manufacturers, the consequences can include inconsistent productquality, reduced shelf life, production downtime and increased water … Read more

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Elevating retinol for multidimensional radiance 

Retilance™ is a next-gen active that elevates retinol science for multidimensional radiance. Built on the 3S-Retinol concept (Selective well-aging, Safer option, natural Source), it outshines retinol with a significant 10% greater skin radiance.

The Age of Proof

By Christopher Sanderson

In beauty and wellness, promising more is no longer enough. Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in what products can demonstrably deliver, from proven efficacy and measurable results to functional design and transparent communication. As evidence increasingly shapes perceptions of value and trust, the industry is moving from aspiration towards substantiation. This article looks at the forces behind this shift and how they are influencing product development, packaging and the consumer experience.

Interview: Bio-Based Hair care

By Elise Buggenhout

Biosurfactants are gaining ground as formulators seek milder, biodegradable alternatives for modern hair care. Advances in production and formulation are helping address key challenges such as foam performance, compatibility, stability, and cost.

Packaging in Transition

By Riya Jain

The personal care packaging industry has entered a new phase of innovation where sustainability alone is no longer sufficient to differentiate products. While reducing plastic consumption and improving recyclability remain important objectives, packaging is increasingly expected to perform multiple functions throughout a product’s lifecycle. Beyond protecting cosmetic formulations, modern packaging must preserve ingredient stability, enable circularity, improve dispensing precision, strengthen consumer engagement and comply with an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Ceramides and Hair Intelligence

By Eduard Albrecht

Next-generation hair care increasingly treats scalp and fiber as one connected system. Ceramides provide a useful example: they are endogenous lipids 
asso­ciated with barrier organization in skin and the lipid architecture of hair, while 
biotechnology and delivery systems are opening new ways to formulate them for scalp and fiber care.

Life Cycle
Assessment

By Matthias Kunze

How can the sustainability of a product be measured? One of the most common methods to date has been to calculate a product’s carbon footprint. This approach focuses exclusively on 
greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change and global warming. It includes CO2 emissions from a company’s own production and from purchased energy, as well as the 
carbon footprint of the raw materials used and emissions caused by logistics.

Formulations: Anti-Aging for Skin and Hair

Anti-aging care is expanding beyond the face. As 
consumers take a more holistic approach to healthy-
looking skin, formulas targeting signs of aging across the body are gaining momentum worldwide. Discover a 
selection of formulations and ingredients reflecting the latest developments in anti-aging care.

Contaminants in Cosmetics

By Anton Szcepaniak

We use a wide variety of different cosmetic products every day. These may inadvertently contain or be contaminated with substances in various ways, but not every substance compromises the safety and tolerability of cosme-tic products. As part of the safety assessment of a cosmetic product, consideration is given to the toxicological relevance of a substance and whether it may have a harmful effect on the consumer.

Smart Packaging
Made in
Europe

By Cédric Marmonier

Beauty packaging in Europe stands at a decisive turning point: brands must simultaneously accelerate their time-to-market, comply with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and maintain the functional precision and aesthetic standards that define their identity on shelf. 

Nilotica Shea Butter

By Ladé Araba

Formulating leave-on skin care requires balancing sensory performance, stability, efficacy at low use levels, and demand for traceable natural ingredients. Conventional shea butter is a well-
established emollient, but its lipid profile can require additional formulation adjustments. East 
African shea butter offers a different lipid composition that may provide an alternative starting point for specific formulation needs.

Strategies for Thinning Hair

By Alena Weissenbaeck

Hair and scalp products are increasingly presented through the number and novelty of their 
active ingredients. For formulators, however, the more relevant question is whether those 
materials perform distinct and compatible functions in a product that can be used consistently. The evidence must then support the finished formula and the specific claims made for it.

Formulations: Body Care

Body care is essential for consumers to feel comfortable in their skin and has become an integral part of daily beauty and self-care routines. Today, body care formulations increasingly feature active ingredients traditionally associated with facial skincare. These formulations reflect current trends in the body care market..

China’s Beauty Market

By Rongmei Hui-Drobnik

The Chinese cosmetic market in 2025 was characterized by a profound structural transformation, moving from mass-market expansion to high-quality, brand-driven competition. The market is defined by the ascendance of domestic brands, increasingly rational and sophisticated 
consumer habits, and a dynamic but challenging competitive landscape.

Interview: More Than Makeup

By Cornelia Riepl

Hybrid cosmetics combine high-performance makeup with proven skincare benefits, meeting growing demand for effective, convenient and multifunctional beauty solutions. Hydration, skin longevity and barrier support are shaping the next generation of color cosmetics.

A Promising Material

By Victoria Maertens

In recent years, the packaging sector has come under increasing scrutiny, as brands seek to reconcile aesthetic expectations, 
technical properties, regulatory constraints, and environmental responsibility. This growing ­focus has accelerated the exploration of alternative materials and production methods.

Eco Packaging The Post-Plastic Era

By Michela Petrillo

Innovation in cosmetic packaging is no longer driven solely by design or functionality, but increasingly 
involves the choice of materials. Growing attention toward reducing the use of fossil resources has 
accelerated the research into bio-based solutions. However, the real challenge for the industry does not simply lie in replacing conventional plastic with a material derived from renewable sources. A new material must meet the same requirements demanded by the market: processability, consistency, aesthetic quality, compatibility with production lines, and stable mechanical performance.

From Greenwashing to Greentrusting

By Monica Otten

As European rules on green claims tighten, the challenge for cosmetic brands is no longer to find something green to say, but to say only what can be proven – and to build communication that holds up under scrutiny. Green claims carry the most weight when they are not, in the marketing sense, claims at all, but the natural output of how a business operates.

Competitive Advantage

By Lars Sandberg

Over the past several years, we have noticed a significant shift in how companies approach ­sustainable packaging. What was once primarily driven by environmental responsibility 
and brand positioning is increasingly becoming a question of competitiveness, resilience, 
and long-term economics.

Microbiome 3.0

By Christina Vegge

For decades, the beauty and personal care industry viewed bacteria as something to eliminate, emphasizing deep cleansing and odor removal. Today, microbiome science has fundamentally reshaped that perspective. The skin microbiome is now understood as a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that interact closely with immune and barrier functions, and healthy skin 
depends not on sterility, but on the balance and functionality of this microbial community.

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