FEATURE ARTICLES

The 9 Faces of the APAC Beauty Industry awards, a collaboration between in-cosmetics Asia and Personal Care magazine, honour the region's beauty innovators, changemakers and unsung heroes who deserve recognition for driving scientific excellence. Hou Juncheng is the founder and chairman of leading Chinese beauty brand Proya Cosmetics.

In contemporary society, the pursuit of youthful, wrinkle-free skin is more prevalent than ever. However, many beauty consumers remain hesitant to embrace dermo-aesthetic treatments due to concerns about their invasiveness. These individuals often prefer to stick to traditional topical beauty products, which they perceive as safer and less intimidating.

The sun care industry is at a critical juncture, facing increasing pressure to develop more sustainable and environmentally friendly formulations while maintaining the high-performance standards that consumers expect.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder. Even after visible inflammation subsides, patients exhibit non-lesional ‘atopic dry skin’ with impaired stratum corneum (SC) barrier and water-retention functions.

The term ‘cosmeceutical’ was coined in 1984 by Dr. Albert Kligman of the University of Pennsylvania describing a hybrid category of products midway on the spectrum of cosmetics and pharmaceutical.1 The most practical definition of this term may be “a cosmetic product that is purported to have beneficial actions capable of affecting the skin positively beyond the time of its application”. In other words, cosmeceuticals are products where cosmetics and dermatology, or beauty and health, meet.

The cosmetic landscape is increasingly shaped by a dual imperative: the persistent consumer demand for high-performance, visibly effective active ingredients and a growing global emphasis on sustainability and naturality.

Scalp health has gained increasing attention in cosmetic science, as research continues to highlight its crucial role in hair growth, follicular function, and overall hair quality. Unlike traditional hair care, which often focuses on the hair shaft, modern scalp treatments aim to target the biological and physiological factors affecting the scalp environment.

The cosmetics industry is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the dual demands of efficacy and sustainability. Consumers are no longer satisfied with products that merely deliver visible results; they seek solutions that align with their values, particularly those that minimize environmental impact.

For several years now, consumers have been redefining their approach to hair care. More mindful, more sensorial, yet also more technical, this evolution is giving rise to new routines inspired by skin care. Among them, the cleaning pre-wash trend is emerging as a true revolution in the world of hair care.

Roelmi HPC demonstrates the efficacy of a high-performance solution for advanced eye contour care by presenting the design and the development of a specific biotechnological active ingredient through precision fermentation of upcycled Vitis vinifera leaf extracts

Innospec describes a hair care ingredient shown to prevent damage to the hair fibre from UV radiation. It does this by reducing the copper content in the hair fibre, removing the ability of copper to participate in the degradation of hydrogen peroxide, which is formed in the hair during the UV exposure of amino acids.

Ahead of the Well-Ageing Conference at in-cosmetics Asia 2025, Yusuke Saito, senior director of Beauty & Care APAC at sponsors DSM-Firmenich, explains why well-ageing is more than a trend - it is a cultural and scientific shift.

Nagase Viita reveals the results of studies into glucosyl hesperidin both by topical application and oral intake and highlights the potential to deliver synergistic benefits inside and outside the body.

In the ever-evolving world of skin care innovation, one of the most promising advances is the use of exosome-based delivery systems for active ingredients. Nanovex Biotechnologies describes a biomimetic avocado-derived exosome encapsulating bakuchiol for anti-ageing skin care.

Oleon explains why enzymatic technology is central to its vision for a future where chemistry is not a source of pollution but a driver of sustainability – with safer, cleaner, and more energy-efficient alternatives to traditional methods.

A preview of the 2025 edition of one of the world’s leading personal care ingredient trade shows, which returns to the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Thailand on 4-6 November. The preview includes highlights from the show floor.

Òscar Expósito is the co-founder, chief executive and chief scientific officer of Spanish plant-based cosmetic active ingredient maker Vytrus Biotech. Here, in conversation with editor Tim Probert, Òscar shares his vision for the Barcelona company and the cosmetic active ingredients of the future

The cosmetics industry is undergoing a significant shift towards a more demanding beauty, driven by the increasing demand for high-performance, science-backed ingredients. Among the most promising advances are extracellular vesicles, and in particular exosomes, which have emerged as powerful mediators of intercellular communication

Ichimaru Pharcos introduces cashmere-derived hydrolysed keratin developed for repairing cuticle cell membrane complex in response to the increasing need for measures against daily damage as well as its repair action

As both a humectant and antimicrobial component, the multifunctional ingredient pentylene glycol plays a key role in the development of safe, stable, and effective cosmetic products while also contributing to a product’s sensory profile, as Cosphatec explains