New Frizz Index, Cosmeceutical Options, and More Beauty Ingredient News and Launches for Early December 2013

Symrise’s multifunctional stabilizer SymSave H was awarded the SEPAWA association's Innovation Award 2013 during the group's recent event, held in Fulda, Germany. The multifunctional ingredient SymSave H drew industry interest for its antioxidant and skin-soothing effects. It also boosts the effectiveness of preservatives in cosmetic formulas and end products. The ingredient is a nature-identical raw material to that which occurs naturally in the cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus).

Dow Corning’s beauty care experts developed a new Frizz Index testing method that aims to offer a verifiable method of quantifying hair’s frizziness independently from its volume. Dow Corning is introducing its new Frizz Index at the 2013 Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) Annual Scientific Meeting and Technology Showcase in New York. The new index represents a breakthrough that will give hair care manufacturers a tool to describe hair tress shape and appearance in a more accurate way, allowing them to develop new products that will effectively tame frizzy, flyaway hair.

Silab opened a fifth branch in Singapore to support its international growth strategy and be closer to more international beauty companies' research centers. Silab Southeast Asia, an extension of Silab SA, will open in January 2014 to promote the company’s actives and manage distributors in Southeast Asia.

Clariant announced the second expansion of its ethoxylation site at Clear Lake in Pasadena, Texas. Products manufactured include high molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEGs), alcohol ethoxylates, sodium isethionates and ethoxylated specialties, and the products from Clear Lake are mainly used in home and personal care, textile, construction and other industrial applications.

Solvay agreed to acquire the specialty chemical assets of ERCA Química, Ltda. in Brazil. This will allow Solvay to more than double its production capacity in surfactants in Brazil and serve customers in the agrochemicals, home and personal care, coatings, mining and oil and gas markets.

Also, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay, welcomed French President François Hollande and the French Minister of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue Michel Sapin to the company’s research laboratory in Aubervilliers, France. The President and the Minister were present to sponsor the first agreement that Solvay signed in France with the CFDT and CFE-CGC trade unions on the generation contract. Under the terms of this generation contract, Solvay has committed itself to, from 2013 to 2015, increase the number of young hires on permanent contracts: one out of two new employees will be younger than 26 years; significantly raise the number of work-study contracts (+25%); hire one young person in five at the end of their work-study contracts; retain seniors: at least 13% of the workforce will be 57 years and older; limit the use of temporary staff to 1% of employees; and accept all skill assessment requests from employees older than 45 in line with an employee's individual training entitlement.

BioCell Technology announced the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted US Patent 8,563,045 pertaining to the dietary ingredient BioCell Collagen to BioCell Technology. This patent on BioCell Collagen has key claims regarding molecular composition, molecular weight and manufacturing method. It also covers the use of BioCell Collagen in various ingestible and topical applications, including but not limited to, methods of replenishing hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, restoring skin viscoelasticity, retaining skin moisture, and inducing cartilage formation.

Eastman Chemical Company selected Essential Ingredients to distribute and sell Eastman GEM technology for the beauty, cosmetic and personal care industries for U.S. customers east of the Rocky Mountains, with the exception of Texas.

Gelest named Gautavik International, Mumbai, as the exclusive Indian distributor for its complete line of silane, metal-organic and silicone products.

Wacker expanded its range of services it provides at its Singapore Technical Center. The company’s service and R&D center in the Southeast Asian sales hub now provides technical support for customers in the consumer and personal care industry, as well as in the paper coating and plastics processing industry.

On Friday, November 15th, 2013, the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health held a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight hearing with Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation, testifying on behalf of the FDA. Congressmen Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and John Dingell (D-MI) took the opportunity to press Dr. Woodcock about the status of pending sunscreen applications. During this hearing, Reps. Whitfield and Dingell pointed to the fact that eight sunscreen applications have been waiting for FDA approval, some over 10 years, and asked Dr. Woodcock what FDA's timeframe for action was. Rep. Whitfield also publicly acknowledged bipartisan, bicameral legislation being drafted by himself, Rep. Dingell and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) will be forthcoming to reform the FDA's approval process for sunscreens and clear the current application backlog. The video of the exchange between Reps. Whitfield, Dingell and Dr. Woodcock can be accessed here.

People News

Charkit Chemical announced Angie Inouye has been named sales account executive to represent Charkit on the West Coast.

TRI-K Industries announced the appointment of Emile Henein to the position of business manager–actives, responsible for TRI-K’s key product lines on a global basis.

Alban Muller, president of Alban Muller International, was unanimously elected president of the Botanical Alliance.

New Launches

A new bioactive molecule from the Centella asiatica plant has been discovered by researchers at Sederma’s Instituto di Ricerche Biotecnologiche (IRB). According to IRB, the molecule, 4-malonil-3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (known as irbic acid), has always existed in Centella but at levels so low that its presence was indiscernible among the many other low level compounds existing in the plant. Through a proprietary method that stimulates plant cells to produce high levels of phytoactives, up to 1,000 times greater than traditional means, IRB has uncovered irbic acid, a plant compound with reportedly high collagen-protecting activity and greater antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits than other well-known plant molecules. IRB worked in conjunction with the University of Bologna in Italy, which defined irbic acid’s chemical structure. IRB now holds a patent for this technology, and Sederma has ongoing studies further elucidating additional activities and cosmetic benefits. This discovery illuminates just one of the many benefits that strategic use of plant cell culture allows an industry seeking more advanced solutions from nature.

Sabinsa launched D'Cosmix, a new line rolling out in global markets over the coming months. The company explains, “D'Cosmix, a range of dermaceutical composites, is an intelligent integration of science and performance that positively influences the ease of formulating.” The result of over two decades of dedicated research by the Sami/Sabinsa team to develop novel cosmeceuticals derived from natural sources, D'Cosmix provides innovative solutions to create unique products formulations differentiated from others on the market. D’Cosmix caters to the broad palette of applications in the cosmeceutical and personal care range that includes anti-aging, anti-acne, calming, hydration, skin brightening and hair nourishment and support, and more. It is designed for use in various dosage forms that include creams, lotions, serums, gels, cleansers and toners.

Pilot Chemical announced the release of its new sulfate-free blend, CalBlend SF. The new product is the latest addition to the company’s line of eco-friendly, DEA-free blends supporting beauty and personal care applications, which also includes CalBlend DF and CalBlend Mild. CalBlend SF offers excellent viscosity-building performance through the economical application of salt additives, great foaming characteristics, and is dioxane- and solvent-free. Formulated to enhance shampoo, body wash, and liquid hand soap, this biodegradable blend of surfactants produces a mild formulation with a deep cleansing lather and soft after feel.

Provital, which has its products distributed exclusively in North America by Centerchem, introduced Baicapil a combination of three botanical active ingredients that fights hair loss. Baicapil uses a new unisex mechanism of action to encourage hair growth stimulation, with an increase of hair density and reduction of hair loss. It helps hair care products offer a recovery of younger, healthier hair.

AMSilk has developed an industrial manufacturing process for Spidersilk, a protein similar to natural spider silk. The biocompatible material is used as building block for super strong fibers, innovative medical devices, and dermatology products, and also has now become available as a cosmetic ingredient. Spidersilk adds smoothness and moisture management to the skin, leaving a silky feeling. Formulations using Spidersilk microbeads can help make the skin appear softer, and it is available as a powder, microbeads and hydrogel.

Elevance Renewable Sciences introduced Renewicals, a bcategory of novel products, building blocks and ingredients made possible by renewable feedstocks and sustainable advanced manufacturing processes, leaving a smaller environmental footprint than traditional petrochemicals and bio-based chemicals.