The personal care industry is experiencing a significant shift to cleaner and eco-friendly formulas, driven by the increasing consumer demand for natural, effective, and sustainable beauty products. As sustainability continues to take center stage, cosmetic ingredients manufacturer Seppic is adapting to meet this demand.
The company is focusing on high-performance, eco-designed ingredients that answer to the needs of today’s conscious consumers and contribute to a more sustainable future for the personal care industry.
Personal Care Insights speaks with Andréa Nigon, Beauty Care Markets and digital manager at Seppic, who highlights the ingredients and trends driving performance in the beauty arena.
What ingredients are trending in sustainable skin care?
Nigon: Among the main trending ingredients in sustainable skin care are high-performance ingredients, whether natural or synthetic, that demonstrate multifunctional benefits and sustainable claims regardless of origin. For example, we see this portrayed in the eco-designed process of obtention, cold-process usage, eco-designed ingredients, biodegradable ingredients, and sustainable sourcing.
For instance, our Montanov L ingredient is an eco-friendly, versatile oil-in-water emulsifier, derived from 100% renewable vegetable sources and readily biodegradable (OECD 301). It was developed and manufactured in accordance with the 12 principles of Green Chemistry. The residual biomass from the production process is recycled through methanization. It is recommended for all types of applications and textures, from sprayable to thick creams, with a soft and light skin feel. It is a promoter of liquid crystals and lamellar networks, helping stabilize the emulsion while providing moisturizing and active-boosting properties.
We also see a rise in sustainable, eco-designed processes, such as biotechnologies, allowing us to limit biodiversity impacts, access rare biomass, and develop innovative, high-performing ingredients.
At Seppic, the biotechnologies we use for our branded ingredients, Celtosome and Celebrity, use minimal plant and algae resources to create potent, eco-designed ingredients. These technologies deliver multifunctional, high-performance solutions.
For example, Celtosome biotechnology enables the production of large quantities of bioactive ingredients with minimal environmental impact. As the original plant can be obtained from a seed grown directly in the solid medium, Celtosome is an asset for limiting the effect on biodiversity. Moreover, the specificity of dedifferentiated cells lies in their lack of specialized characters. It is therefore possible to direct their metabolism toward the production of specific metabolites under different culture conditions. The composition of the active ingredients generated may differ from that of the original plant and may exhibit novel biological activities.
How is the skin care industry adapting to current regulations, such as the EUDR and the ban on plastic microbeads?
Nigon: The industry is currently focused on the European restriction on Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPM). To avoid constraints and obligations linked to this regulation and allow formulators to formulate with ease of mind, they can look to natural rheology modifiers such as Seppic’s Solagum range, powerful biodegradable natural-origin polymers for all applications. They are multifunctional and exhibit synergistic effects when combined.
The conscious beauty trend, particularly in Europe, is driving increased consumer demand for products that bridge the gap between sustainability and efficacy.Meanwhile, soluble synthetic solid polymers can improve ease of use and formula stability while delivering high performance. Seppic’s non-microplastic pre-neutralized solid rheology modifiers are ready to use and time-saving compared to polymers that require neutralization. The rheology modifiers can be added to the water or oily phase, or during emulsification, to enable the development of cold-processed emulsions without an emulsifier. Moreover, when stabilizing high-oil-content emulsions, they exhibit better performance than other synthetic polymers, thanks to their excellent oil-stabilizing properties.
What are the main challenges in producing both rinse-off and leave-on skin care?
Nigon: The main current challenge is meeting the different timelines for the microplastics ban while maintaining sensory properties. The ban on rinse-off products containing microplastics starts in October 2027. The challenge here is replacing opacifiers or scrubs that fall under the European Chemicals Agency definition of microplastics.
For leave-on products, the ban applies from October 2029, but labeling requirements start in October 2031 for certain categories, and reporting obligations will begin in 2027. The difficulty lies in replacing microplastic solid polymers, essential in leave-on skin care products. Formulators need performant alternatives.
What are some key trending formats you’re seeing in sustainable skin care?
Nigon: We are seeing a trend toward minimalist and smart textures that reduce environmental impact during production, such as cold-process emulsions or cream gels. Formulators are seeking versatile ingredients that perform across these varied formats.
To illustrate this, Fluidifeel Easy is a prime example of a smart solution. It is a 100% natural-origin glycolipidic emulsifier specifically designed to be processable at room temperature, allowing significant time and energy savings during manufacturing. Beyond its sustainable profile, it is incredibly versatile. It stabilizes low-viscosity, sprayable formulations but can also create thick, sensorial creams for many applications while being tolerant to electrolytes and compatible with a lot of active ingredients at a high level of usage, such as hero ingredients. It provides a soft, naked-skin sensation, meeting the dual demand for textures that are both environmentally responsible and pleasurable to use.
Have you noticed a shift in skin care routines amid the growing demand for clean, sustainable beauty products?
Nigon: The conscious beauty trend, particularly in Europe, is driving increased consumer demand for products that bridge the gap between sustainability and high-performance efficacy. These products must meet criteria for safety and eco-friendliness while demonstrating benefits.
A prime example of this synergy is Celtosome Eryngium Maritimum, an innovative biotechnological solution derived from a protected plant species. By utilizing plant cell culture, it ensures a controlled, renewable resource that minimizes environmental impact — avoiding wild harvesting and soil degradation. The ingredient demonstrates skin anti-aging benefits by filling wrinkles from the inside for smoother skin, thanks to the stimulation of glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid synthesis, associated with an increase in dermal molecule synthesis (collagen and elastin).
What do you expect to see in the sustainable skin care industry this year?
Nigon: In 2026, we expect the sustainable skin care industry to move toward greater data transparency and a holistic approach to life-cycle assessment. We are already prepared, with an internal eco-design approach of our developments that assesses the impacts of our ingredients throughout the entire life cycle, with a particular focus on traceability and good sourcing practices.
