Beauty 4.0 at in-cosmetics Asia: Climate-focused beauty in the spotlight at DSM-Firmenich, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Sensient, IMCD

At this year’s edition of in-cosmetics Asia, the Beauty 4.0 Podcast ​explored how the cosmetics industry can tackle challenges of climate change with products designed to protect our skin, hair, and overall wellness from environmental stressors.

The ingredients trade show, held from November 5 to 7 in Bangkok, featured companies working to help consumers handle the stresses of environmental exposure with innovative solutions.

At DSM-Firmenich, there was a major focus on thermal ageing with the Bi-Phase Thermal Ageing AGELESS Mist, which won a bronze Spotlight On award at the in-cosmetics Asia awards.

The formulation contained four key ingredients, including Eterwell Youth, SYN-COLL CB, SYN-UP, and Pentavitin.

“It's important to tackle all different causes of impairment of the skin barrier. We believe that the AGELESS Mist could be a very nice inspiration for our customers to develop a product and focusing on this emerging trend, which is thermal ageing,” said Nicolas Lasbistes, regional director of marketing, DSM-Firmenich.

In addition to active ingredients, the sensory aspect is just as important and Lucas Meyer Cosmetics developed the CompasSense concept which highlight textures fitting different climates from tropical to polar.

“This is something that consumers are also increasingly looking out for. And you also see brands out there are also formulating for this kind of concept, in the sense that traditionally, they are looking at formulations that are suitable for different types of skin, but now you would be looking more towards formulating for different weather conditions instead,” said Maybelline Tan, regional marketing manager, APAC, Lucas Meyer Cosmetic by Clariant.

At Sensient Beauty, the spotlight was on Natpure Xco Sapphire GB606, a natural blue colour with antioxidant benefits to help combat environmental stressors.

Betty New, application technologist, cosmestics, Asia, told Beauty 4.0 ​that blue “evokes a calming sensation”.

“With the change in the weather these days and the weather becoming hotter, consumers are looking for cooling products. So whenever we talk about cooling products, brands tend to pair it with blue colour to evoke this kind of sensation as well as emotions,” she said.

Ingredient distributor IMCD also showcased Spotlight On concepts focusing on solutions that could heal and soothe compromised skin.

This included the Serenity Serum Stick and ProRestore Serum Gel Pad which claimed to provide “sensorial experiences while rejuvenating skin from environmental aggressors”.

Speaking on the podcast, IMCD’s Jim Yumang, marketing specialist, APAC beauty and personal care, said the concepts focus on a two-pronged approach to protection.

“As we move along the trends, we notice that protection is just one facet of this routine. So we would be seeing more of a multiple-pronged approach. This could include protection with repairing characteristics, protection with healing characteristics, and your typical skin treatment coupled with protection.”

For more in-depth insight from our experts into climate-focused cosmetics, check out the full Beauty 4.0 Podcast ​above.