Beyond Beauty – unlock new opportunities with BASF biopolymers

Consumers have come to realise that there is much more to beauty than just looks. In a new campaign, BASF Personal Care goes Beyond Beauty to take an active role in enabling solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Getty Images-1312074499

Getty Images-1312074499

Beauty of tomorrow is set to be an expression of a holistic, even more responsible and transparent approach to consumption and life, underlining authenticity while caring for the planet. To make informed choices, consumers desire detailed knowledge about the origins and sourcing of raw materials. They are also interested in understanding a product’s effect on climate issues. As sustainability reaches this new level of importance, manufacturers depend on ingredients that are biodegradable, bio-based, and responsibly sourced. However, these sustainable alternatives must still deliver the high performance and attractive sensory properties of traditional ingredients.

Formulating the future with biopolymers

BASF’s mission is to take an active role and work hand in hand with partners and customers throughout the value chain to create sustainable, high-performing products, which meet the evolving requirements of the industry as well as consumers’ changing values and priorities.

The company’s Personal Care business has been developing ingredients based on natural and renewable feedstocks for decades. Most recently, the development team has focused its efforts on building a holistic portfolio of high-performance biopolymers. In this range, trademarked Verdessence®, BASF’s has so far launched five different ingredients for applications ranging from colour cosmetics to hair care:

  1. Verdessence® Glucomannan, a natural rheology modifier, is derived from the tuber of the Konjac plant. It is suitable for aqueous systems like gels, fluids and serums as well as novel formats such as patches, jellies and peel-off formulations.
  2. The plant-based sensory powder Verdessence® RiceTouch has a small particle size that lends a powdery light and smooth sensation to the skin, making it perfect for matte-type cosmetics.
  3. Based on algae, Verdessence® Alginate is a versatile rheology modifier, sensory enhancer and setting biopolymer.
  4. Verdessence® Xanthan efficiently thickens and stabilizes emulsions and surfactant-based formulations for face, hair, body and oral care as well as cleansing products, and is even suitable for crystal clear solutions.
  5. Verdessence® Tara, a 100% plant-based rheology modifier that creates smooth and shapely textures.

All draw on nature’s bounty, using renewable feedstocks. Accordingly, they are approved by COSMOS and Natrue, are readily biodegradable (OECD) and have good eco-toxicological profiles. In addition, the ingredients are non-GMO and contain no preservatives, which makes them highly suitable for products that speak to the growing demand for natural and organic cosmetics.

Natural biopolymers stand out as promising rheology modifiers for a variety of applications

Getty Images Igor Ustynskyy

Getty Images Igor Ustynskyy

Beyond ingredients

Given their sustainability profile, natural biopolymers stand out as promising rheology modifiers for a variety of applications to satisfy consumer needs. At the same time, however, they present a unique challenge for cosmetic formulators. Despite all efforts and scientific progress, to date there is no one-to-one replacement for conventional synthetic polymers – which calls for a customised approach. As a leading ingredients supplier in the personal care industry, BASF is committed to deliver beyond ‘just’ ingredients.

While individual biopolymers cannot always provide effective thickening and desirable textures simultaneously, combining different biopolymers can help create formulations that meet high-performance standards and deliver the desired product characteristics. With a new concept, BASF helps formulators tackle this challenge. The company has enhanced its biopolymer range with scientific guidance and practical tips to make the formulation process easier and more effective for its customers.

In a comprehensive test set-up, BASF has studied various binary and ternary combinations of its biopolymer portfolio in aqueous systems and emulsions. Thickening performance, viscosity, texture, rheology behaviour, and sensory were put to the test. For each application, the most appropriate biopolymer combination has been identified, including a recommended usage ratio. Most of the suggested formulations comply with the COSMOS standard for natural cosmetics.

Time to take the next step

With innovations like these, BASF invites its customers on a journey Beyond Beauty. Combining cutting-edge technologies, scientific evidence, and a comprehensive market understanding, the company is driving the transition to greater transparency and more sustainable and ecologically conscious solutions. Backed by digital services, BASF empowers its customers more efficiently than ever before to unlock new opportunities in personal care that align with consumer values.

Beyond Beauty demonstrates how BASF’s Care Chemicals division is addressing future challenges in sustainability, digitalisation, and new approaches to working together across the personal care industry: Care 360° – Solutions for Sustainable Life.

Getty Images Eva Katalin

Getty Images Eva Katalin

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