CCUK's Representation at In Cosmetics: A Showcase of Innovation and Collaboration

May 12, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Highlights from the Event

CCUK was well represented at In Cosmetics this year. Gill, Katerina, Rachael, and Alastair all attended. Alastair presided over the DBT’s UK pavilion, where ten companies shared the stand. Among them were CCUK members Biomara and Melbec Microbiology. Other notable companies included Oceanium, Bridge Farm Bioscience, ISCA Cosmetic Testing, Gravel AI, Biopolax, Naturbeads, Revive Eco, and Citrefine International.

The CCUK team made an effort to visit all our exhibiting members. We also met several UK companies to introduce them to CCUK. This initiative aims to foster collaboration and innovation across the supply chain, helping members grow and solve challenges.

Gill delivered a talk in the Marketing Trends Hall. This session was very well attended and generated significant interest in CCUK, as well as in the hair follicle! You can search for all the show talks using this link: In Cosmetics Show Programme.

Key Trends and Insights

Some highlights from the show included:

Longevity in Beauty: Relevant to the CCUK R&I Pillar, the concept of 'longevity' emerged as a key trend. Terms like 'well-ageing' and 'healthspan' were used in communications. These emphasize the mind-body connection, linking ingredients to mind, sleep, and emotional benefits. Presentations also covered the relationship between skin, brain, and gut health, along with neuroimmunology and neuroscience.
Upcoming Events: CCUK will host an in-person event on September 10th in Liverpool. This event is part of our series exploring psychodermatology interactions in the beauty industry. To register, visit: Bringing Psychodermatology into Personal Care | Cosmetics Cluster UK.
Simplification of Formulations: A popular trend among brands is the simplification of formulations. This approach allows one product or ingredient to serve multiple purposes. CCUK’s project ‘Totally made in the UK’ also explores the feasibility of sourcing all raw materials from a single country.
The Blue Economy: This new category focuses on seaweed ingredients, which possess antioxidant and anti-irritant properties. For example, Fucoidan from Biomara was highlighted. This area is expected to grow as farmed seaweeds and microalgae are recognized for their sustainability.
Microbiome-Friendly Products: The Microbiome remains a strong topic. More companies are now offering microbiome-friendly testing for products, including our member, Melbec Microbiology. Research continues to focus on the correlations between microbial composition and skin health.
Biotechnology Innovations: Biotechnology is increasingly prominent in ingredient manufacture. This includes producing biosimilars or replacing fossil fuel-derived ingredients, such as biosurfactants from our member, Holiferm. There are also safer and greener methods for extracting plant-derived actives using Green Chemistry. The Green Chem Finder was soft-launched by new CCUK member, Barbara Olioso, the Green Chemist.
Artificial Intelligence in Cosmetics: AI's role in the cosmetics industry is expanding. Companies like Covalo and Gravel AI are assisting brands in navigating the complex ingredients landscape. Gill and Alastair explored opportunities with Yann Chilvers of Covalo to highlight UK companies through their platform.
Testing Zone Engagement: The testing zone was well attended, as usual. The SkinObs testing platform proved to be a valuable resource. CCUK member Labskin exhibited their excellent skin models and even gave away unique fibroblast key rings! Anne Charpentier of SkinObs moderated an insightful panel session on safety and efficacy testing, featuring CCUK member Sequential Bio.

In-Cosmetics Global will return to Paris next year from April 14-16.

CCUK Members' News and Innovations

BioMara Unveils Revyntra: A Premium Fucoidan Active

Seaweed biotech startup BioMara announced the official launch of its flagship cosmetic ingredient – Revyntra – at In-Cosmetics Global in Amsterdam.

Revyntra is a premium, high-purity fucoidan extracted from regeneratively farmed seaweed, designed for skincare and haircare applications. Research-backed and traceable, Revyntra delivers targeted cosmetic benefits at low inclusion rates:

Hydration: Reinforces the skin’s natural moisture barrier for long-lasting radiance.
Antioxidant: Fights free radicals to defend against signs of premature aging.
Protection: Defends against environmental stressors.

Developed for use in serums, creams, masks, and hair formulations, Revyntra is undergoing independent in vitro testing for anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antioxidant, collagen-boosting, and “kind-to-skin” claims.

“Revyntra is the result of years of R&D optimizing extraction to unlock the potential of seaweed extracts for health,” said Jay Dignan, CEO of BioMara. “There is surging demand across the cosmetics industry for natural, research-backed active ingredients. Revyntra answers that call, combining efficacy and sustainability in one hero ingredient.”

Fucoidan is a complex sulphated polysaccharide naturally found in brown seaweeds abundant in UK waters. BioMara’s proprietary extraction process preserves the integrity and bioactivity of its fucoidan, resulting in a high-performance ingredient. The process is also zero-waste, enabling the co-extraction of other seaweed-derived ingredients.

BioMara’s seaweed is sourced from regional regenerative seaweed farms, ensuring a traceable supply chain that supports coastal communities and enhances ocean health. Seaweed cultivation requires no freshwater, no arable land, and no chemical inputs, actively improving marine ecosystems.

With the launch of Revyntra, BioMara aims to be a trusted supplier of marine actives for the global cosmetics market.

For more information, click here or contact Jay at jay_dignan@biomara.tech.

Introducing Pumpkin TONIQ™ – A Sustainable Hair Care Active

We launched Pumpkin TONIQ™ – a fully upcycled hair care active targeting shine, frizz, and fly-aways.

Pumpkin TONIQ™

INCI: Hydrolyzed Pumpkin Seedcake & Sodium Benzoate
Made from upcycled pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin TONIQ™ is a zero-waste haircare active that significantly enhances shine. It also delivers conditioning, smoothing, and frizz-taming benefits for sleek, healthy-looking hair.

This active is COSMOS approved, Natrue Certified, and pending Upcycled Certified™ by the Upcycled Food Association. This demonstrates transparency within the supply chain and meets stringent criteria to help tackle climate change and greenhouse emissions. For further information, please click here.

We also highlighted two different hair care actives in demonstration formulations: our new Pumpkin TONIQ™ in a shine syrup and Faba TONIQ™ in a curl custard. Faba TONIQ™ is our fully upcycled and plant-based active for curl hold, definition, and styling.