Gattefossé talks taking home the gold, innovation and a visit from the Chinese President

CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com sat down with the brand's innovation director Paula Lennon to talk about the new sensory ingredient and being one of a few businesses to be visited by the President of the People’s Republic of China for its innovative efforts.

On congratulating Gattefossé on the win, Paula says; “We are naturally delighted to have won this prestigious award”, ​and reveals the emulsifier is based on natural waxes designed to cater to different environmental conditions around the world.

“From light milky lotions to rich butters, our preferences for textures vary considerably and are strongly influenced by skin type, climate and cultural differences,​” she explains.

"The idea with this is that hypothetically, you could put on a cream, jump on a plane and that product will be intelligent enough to adapt to hotter or colder climates on the other side​,​” adds Paula.

Climate room ensures ingredient is developed for the right conditions​

The innovation director goes on to reveal that in order to create an efficient emulsifier to cater to these problems, Gattefossé kitted out a room to replicate some of the climates around the world so that the formulations could be tested in real situations.

"We took a cream and did expert analysis in humid and hot temperatures​ and worked to stabilize it in those conditions to eradicate the likes of greasiness or an unsavory after feel."​

"And we found that with the Emulium Mellifera, whether the formulations were thick or rich, they could be stabilized," ​says Paula.

Innovation efforts being rewarded in more ways than one..​

On March 25th, Gattefossé was also chosen as one of a few local businesses to be visited by Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China for its innovation efforts.

The President began his state visit in France with a two-day stay in Lyon to meet with businesses with strong commercial, cultural and university links to China.

According to Paula, Xi Jinping commended Gattefossé on its contribution to the development of the Chinese pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

China was the first target for the brand's geographical expansion beyond the western world in the early 1980’s and continues to provide ingredients to the country.