RECENT NEWS

The Asian beauty market continues to experience huge expansion with an annual growth rate of not less than 20%, and Singapore's cosmetic sector hub status continues to advance.

Cosmetochem has announced the finalisation of an agreement for marketing and sales cooperation with the Swiss DKSH group, at this stage covering The Philippines, Vietnam and the east and north regions of China.

Advanced microbiological services for a wide variety of application fields are being offered by Clariant in a business operation called AMicroS.

Dow Corning Corporation, a leader in silicon-based technology, and Lipo Chemicals Inc., a leader in organic-based chemistry and specialised delivery systems, have recently announced how they are moving forward, through a marketing and technical alliance, to provide micro-encapsulation delivery system technologies to personal care and household care formulators.

The Munich-based Wacker Group has received a European Innovation Award for Cosmetics and Chemical Raw Materials at the 53rd SEPAWA Conference in Wnrzburg, Germany.

Consumers of different ages increasingly expect cosmetic products to prevent and reduce the signs of ageing, and to keep their skin firm, supple and elastic, states Laboratoires STrobiologiques (LS).

In line with its ongoing development drive in the field of catalysis, Arkema has launched Oxynitrox S100, a new organic oxidisation catalyst produced industrially by a patented process.

Brazilian company Beraca Ingredients has just received the Ecocert organic certification for its products. The seal assures customers that the company's products are not chemically contaminated, and have been sourced responsibly.

To revive cellular metabolism and overcome deficiencies of the skin, Silab has introduced Longevicell, a genuinely effective cell regenerator.

B&T is promoting Eurol BT which creates an innovative, ultra-penetrating hydro gel serum - it has a dynamic effect on water retention as well as on stratum corneum.

DSM Nutritional Products has introduced "ALL-Q plus", a cosmetic ingredient that offers all the benefits that Coenzyme Q10 is known for - it is an antioxidant, an energiser, a wrinkle reducer and a preventer of premature skin ageing.

The Philippine Society for Cosmetic Science (PSCS) is staging its 27th anniversary seminar, titled "Global competitiveness", on Wednesday 22 November at the Heritage Hotel, Roxas Boulevard corner EDSA, Pasay City.

Thai Ethoxylate Company Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between Cognis Thailand Limited and PTT Chemical Public Company Limited, has inaugurated a new facility in Rayong, Thailand, that will produce fatty alcohol ethoxylates mainly for customers in the home and personal care industries. This new plant will strengthen the company's position as the leading producer of fatty alcohol ethoxylates and help it meet increasing global demand.

Personal Care Ingredients Asia, being staged in Guangzhou, China, (13-15 March 2007) will offer - through its international exhibition, conference sessions, technical presentations and workshops - insights into many of the latest developments in the personal care sector.

PCHi, India's first major international ingredients event was held on the 14 and 15 November 2006 at the Grand Hyatt Exhibition Land in Mumbai.

The Asian Societies of Cosmetics Scientists (ASCS) Conference 2007 is being hosted by the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Singapore (SCSS) and will be held at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore (7-9 March).

At the first PCHi show in Mumbai, India, Cognis Care Chemicals and its active ingredients business Laboratoires Sérobiologiques exhibited a range of new products and concepts.

A range of Alpaflor active ingredients have been granted the certification: "Raw material for Natural and Organic Cosmetics certified by Ecocert SAS FR32600".