Category: Personal Care

Home / Insights / Answering Your Questions From the Skincare Ingredient Webinar

Answering Your Questions From the Skincare Ingredient Webinar

Thanks for all the great questions you sent during our recent webinar with Tom Vierhile of Innova Market Insights called How to Choose the Best Ingredient for Your Sustainable Skin Care Formulation. There were so many that we did not have time to answer them live. Here, we’ve gathered them all and appreciate the chance to provide recommendations for some of your formulation challenges.

Trends with Innova Market Insights

The good news is that consumers are keeping an open mind when it comes to new skincare ingredients. According to Innova’s Beauty, Household, and Personal Care 2023 survey, just over 40% of American consumers believe that new technologies and ingredients can make personal care products more effective. This leaves the door open to innovative new ingredients and new ingredients with a story behind them, especially one that references hot button topics like sustainability, may have an inside track here. 

Globally, consumers in Brazil and China are most enthusiastic. Over 70% of Brazilian consumers believe that new technologies and ingredients can make personal care products more effective.

One trend that is a “sleeper” and could evolve into something serious is around the skin microbiome. Few, if any products, were talking about the skin microbiome just a few years ago. As recently as 2018, the claims were non-existent. But today, we’re starting to see companies talking about the skin microbiome and how this has an impact on whole body health. This is also tied in with the use of prebiotic and probiotic ingredients. 

Regarding the skin microbiome alone, Innova reports that 2% of facial skin care products mentioned the skin microbiome in 2022. Ingredients that can either improve the health of the skin microbiome or at least not negatively impact it could be in a sweet spot, going forward.

This is a tough question. Consumers consider a variety of factors when they are shopping for products and sustainability is one of many attributes that may be considered. Price and performance are likely to rank as higher concerns for consumers, but the good news is that 4 in 10 American consumers say they are willing to pay more for personal care products that are sustainable. 

The big question is probably how much more, and that is something I do not have an answer to. What we are seeing in the food and beverage space here at Innova is that the halo around environmental claims is expanding to the point where sustainability is becoming a more important facet of the “clean label” trend, one that has the potential to move the sales needle, moving forward. 

KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber

Single step and direct extraction from peels helps to retain pectin, which boosts KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber’s effectiveness as an emulsion stabilizer. Other citrus fibers are produced once the pectin has been extracted.

Replacing Emulsifiers & Synthetics

All three are effective at stabilizing emulsions in personal care product development. We like to call KELCO-CARE® Diutan Gum a “super xanthan gum” that stabilizes and thickens with a silky feel and no tack. UniqSens™ SFE System is a xanthan-based blend optimized to provide stability and flexibility in process as well a more desirable sensory compared to single ingredients. KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber is the newest stabilizer in our portfolio. It delivers a remarkably refreshing and light feel while being upcycled from food waste.

Xanthan gum is not a traditional emulsifier, but it can be used to help stabilize emulsions by providing high viscosity to the water phase, which slows the movement/agglomeration of droplets.

KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber and UniqSens™ SFE System are two great, nature-based ingredient offerings for developing emulsifier-free systems. But you could say that all of our ingredients can contribute to stable emulsions by providing viscosity to the water phase. Some are more efficient thickeners than others, some work in limited pH range or require heat, and each contributes a unique feel or texture. These factors all play a role in deciding which ingredient to incorporate in your formulation, and we are always happy to advise on product recommendations for specific needs.

This really depends on your specific system and the rest of your formulation. For instance, if you are trying to replace waxy emulsifiers (such as PEG-100 Stearate), you may find the need to include a waxy component in your oil phase to maintain the same feel. Also, the stabilization mechanism is completely different so every formulation needs to be assessed.

We might recommend KELTROL® Xanthan Gum since it is an efficient thickener that works in robust conditions. It has a wide working pH range and is compatible with many surfactant types/levels. It can be easily incorporated and is cold-processable with transparent grades available.

If you also are working with a sulphate-free formula, GENUVISCO® CG-129 Carrageenan could technically be a good option in this case. Here is a prototype for you to try.

Our portfolio of nature-based and bio-based ingredients provides a broad range of sensorial benefits when utilized alone or in combination with one another. From upcycled KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber to GENU® Carrageenan and beyond, each product is developed on purpose, with a good sustainability story to back it up.

We can provide you with a life cycle assessment so you can see for yourself. And, we can help you achieve your product goals – everything from silky thin serums to gels to luxe creams. We would be happy to help if you are looking for a specific sensory profile. We also have options to support vegan, ECOCERT® and COSMOS® certification claims.

Nature-Based Innovation

We are texture experts; however, you can expect from us more understanding coming soon on the functional performance of our ingredients beyond rheology. For example, the area of skin health.

According to some of the interactions that our customers have experienced, consumers tend to believe that natural means “healthy” or “good for you” and “good for the planet”. Whether it is an active ingredient or a supporting ingredient, we’ve noticed that consumers generally believe the manufacturer has found a better alternative; one that leaves the world in a better place as well.

Generally speaking, if an ingredient is friendly to our skin’s microbiome, then it means that it is much less likely to irritate skin or disrupt the microbial balance. Some natural/more sustainable ingredients can have a positive impact on the microbiome by helping to maintain the diverse skin ecosystem.

Yes, CP Kelco produces a full range of nature-based and bio-based ingredients with grades that can be used across a variety of applications. We started approximately 90 years ago making pectin for food applications such as jams and jellies. Our products are now utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, oral and personal care, household, and oil and gas industries. We have grades available to address the needs of our customers and can help them meet organic, halal, kosher, non-GMO and other clean label-friendly goals.

Texture Challenges

We recommend adding xanthan gum early in the process (before surfactants, after chelator), but this is more to ensure full hydration, which can affect transparency. You could also make a slurry or pre-blend with other powders (if any) to prevent lumps and assure proper dispersion.

Somewhere around 0.05% should still allow for sprayable texture while providing stabilization benefits when using KELCOGEL® CG-LA Gellan Gum.

We have paired both forms of KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum together in sprayable formulas for high stability depending on what the pH/processing conditions allow. In your system, you may find that you only need one. Our best recommendation would be to reach out to our CP Kelco team of technical experts for personalized advice.

Sun Care

Here are some bio-based ingredient options for you:

  • UniqSens™ SFE System is a great sunscreen stabilizer. It is highly compatible with multiple UV filters, as well as various processes and equipment. It is a ready-to-use solution for a seasonal final product.

  • KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum and its fluid gel technology enable suspension in thin, sprayable liquids, providing an ideal wider spray pattern compared to other nature-based solutions, as well as heat resistance that can help the emulsion stay stable over summer’s high temperatures. Try this free sunscreen prototype to see for yourself: Let’s Get Physical Sunscreen Recipe Card.

Yes, KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber can be an effective stabilizer in sun care and deliver a slight cooling effect that can be refreshing on the skin. It should be used at 1-2% and a pH between 3.0 and 6.0. It is best when used with a supporting emulsifier or stabilizer.

It will provide great emulsion stability. However, it will generate less viscosity per gram used. We don’t have a direct comparison, but we expect large differences in expected usage levels:

  • Synthetic stabilizers expected usage level: 0.1%-0.5%
  • KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber expected usage level: 1.0%-2.0%
  •  

SPF does not affect KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber However, the pH of the overall formula will affect its performance. Different UV filters may require different pH levels to function properly.

  • Most chemical, organic and non-mineral UV filters can be used at pH 5-6 with no problem.
    • PBSA is an organic UV filter that requires pH > 6.8 to avoid crystallization and thus will not work with KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber.

  • Mineral sunscreens using zinc oxide are normally formulated at pH 6.5-7.5 which is outside of the acceptable pH range for KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber.
    • Zinc oxide requires pH > 6.5 to avoid dissolving and destabilizing the formula.
  • Mineral sunscreens using titanium dioxide without zinc oxide can be made at pH 5-6 and should work just fine with KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber.

Please note that without having the exact product formulation, we can only provide general guidance and cannot guarantee results. Feel free to reach out to our team of technical experts for more personal assistance. 

CONTACT US
Home / Insights / Answering Your Questions From the Skincare Ingredient Webinar

Answering Your Questions From the Skincare Ingredient Webinar

Thanks for all the great questions you sent during our recent webinar with Tom Vierhile of Innova Market Insights called How to Choose the Best Ingredient for Your Sustainable Skin Care Formulation. There were so many that we did not have time to answer them live. Here, we’ve gathered them all and appreciate the chance to provide recommendations for some of your formulation challenges.

Trends with Innova Market Insights

The good news is that consumers are keeping an open mind when it comes to new skincare ingredients. According to Innova’s Beauty, Household, and Personal Care 2023 survey, just over 40% of American consumers believe that new technologies and ingredients can make personal care products more effective. This leaves the door open to innovative new ingredients and new ingredients with a story behind them, especially one that references hot button topics like sustainability, may have an inside track here. 

Globally, consumers in Brazil and China are most enthusiastic. Over 70% of Brazilian consumers believe that new technologies and ingredients can make personal care products more effective.

One trend that is a “sleeper” and could evolve into something serious is around the skin microbiome. Few, if any products, were talking about the skin microbiome just a few years ago. As recently as 2018, the claims were non-existent. But today, we’re starting to see companies talking about the skin microbiome and how this has an impact on whole body health. This is also tied in with the use of prebiotic and probiotic ingredients. 

Regarding the skin microbiome alone, Innova reports that 2% of facial skin care products mentioned the skin microbiome in 2022. Ingredients that can either improve the health of the skin microbiome or at least not negatively impact it could be in a sweet spot, going forward.

This is a tough question. Consumers consider a variety of factors when they are shopping for products and sustainability is one of many attributes that may be considered. Price and performance are likely to rank as higher concerns for consumers, but the good news is that 4 in 10 American consumers say they are willing to pay more for personal care products that are sustainable. 

The big question is probably how much more, and that is something I do not have an answer to. What we are seeing in the food and beverage space here at Innova is that the halo around environmental claims is expanding to the point where sustainability is becoming a more important facet of the “clean label” trend, one that has the potential to move the sales needle, moving forward. 

KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber

Single step and direct extraction from peels helps to retain pectin, which boosts KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber’s effectiveness as an emulsion stabilizer. Other citrus fibers are produced once the pectin has been extracted.

Replacing Emulsifiers & Synthetics

All three are effective at stabilizing emulsions in personal care product development. We like to call KELCO-CARE® Diutan Gum a “super xanthan gum” that stabilizes and thickens with a silky feel and no tack. UniqSens™ SFE System is a xanthan-based blend optimized to provide stability and flexibility in process as well a more desirable sensory compared to single ingredients. KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber is the newest stabilizer in our portfolio. It delivers a remarkably refreshing and light feel while being upcycled from food waste.

Xanthan gum is not a traditional emulsifier, but it can be used to help stabilize emulsions by providing high viscosity to the water phase, which slows the movement/agglomeration of droplets.

KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber and UniqSens™ SFE System are two great, nature-based ingredient offerings for developing emulsifier-free systems. But you could say that all of our ingredients can contribute to stable emulsions by providing viscosity to the water phase. Some are more efficient thickeners than others, some work in limited pH range or require heat, and each contributes a unique feel or texture. These factors all play a role in deciding which ingredient to incorporate in your formulation, and we are always happy to advise on product recommendations for specific needs.

This really depends on your specific system and the rest of your formulation. For instance, if you are trying to replace waxy emulsifiers (such as PEG-100 Stearate), you may find the need to include a waxy component in your oil phase to maintain the same feel. Also, the stabilization mechanism is completely different so every formulation needs to be assessed.

We might recommend KELTROL® Xanthan Gum since it is an efficient thickener that works in robust conditions. It has a wide working pH range and is compatible with many surfactant types/levels. It can be easily incorporated and is cold-processable with transparent grades available.

If you also are working with a sulphate-free formula, GENUVISCO® CG-129 Carrageenan could technically be a good option in this case. Here is a prototype for you to try.

Our portfolio of nature-based and bio-based ingredients provides a broad range of sensorial benefits when utilized alone or in combination with one another. From upcycled KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber to GENU® Carrageenan and beyond, each product is developed on purpose, with a good sustainability story to back it up.

We can provide you with a life cycle assessment so you can see for yourself. And, we can help you achieve your product goals – everything from silky thin serums to gels to luxe creams. We would be happy to help if you are looking for a specific sensory profile. We also have options to support vegan, ECOCERT® and COSMOS® certification claims.

Nature-Based Innovation

We are texture experts; however, you can expect from us more understanding coming soon on the functional performance of our ingredients beyond rheology. For example, the area of skin health.

According to some of the interactions that our customers have experienced, consumers tend to believe that natural means “healthy” or “good for you” and “good for the planet”. Whether it is an active ingredient or a supporting ingredient, we’ve noticed that consumers generally believe the manufacturer has found a better alternative; one that leaves the world in a better place as well.

Generally speaking, if an ingredient is friendly to our skin’s microbiome, then it means that it is much less likely to irritate skin or disrupt the microbial balance. Some natural/more sustainable ingredients can have a positive impact on the microbiome by helping to maintain the diverse skin ecosystem.

Yes, CP Kelco produces a full range of nature-based and bio-based ingredients with grades that can be used across a variety of applications. We started approximately 90 years ago making pectin for food applications such as jams and jellies. Our products are now utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, oral and personal care, household, and oil and gas industries. We have grades available to address the needs of our customers and can help them meet organic, halal, kosher, non-GMO and other clean label-friendly goals.

Texture Challenges

We recommend adding xanthan gum early in the process (before surfactants, after chelator), but this is more to ensure full hydration, which can affect transparency. You could also make a slurry or pre-blend with other powders (if any) to prevent lumps and assure proper dispersion.

Somewhere around 0.05% should still allow for sprayable texture while providing stabilization benefits when using KELCOGEL® CG-LA Gellan Gum.

We have paired both forms of KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum together in sprayable formulas for high stability depending on what the pH/processing conditions allow. In your system, you may find that you only need one. Our best recommendation would be to reach out to our CP Kelco team of technical experts for personalized advice.

Sun Care

Here are some bio-based ingredient options for you:

  • UniqSens™ SFE System is a great sunscreen stabilizer. It is highly compatible with multiple UV filters, as well as various processes and equipment. It is a ready-to-use solution for a seasonal final product.

  • KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum and its fluid gel technology enable suspension in thin, sprayable liquids, providing an ideal wider spray pattern compared to other nature-based solutions, as well as heat resistance that can help the emulsion stay stable over summer’s high temperatures. Try this free sunscreen prototype to see for yourself: Let’s Get Physical Sunscreen Recipe Card.

Yes, KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber can be an effective stabilizer in sun care and deliver a slight cooling effect that can be refreshing on the skin. It should be used at 1-2% and a pH between 3.0 and 6.0. It is best when used with a supporting emulsifier or stabilizer.

It will provide great emulsion stability. However, it will generate less viscosity per gram used. We don’t have a direct comparison, but we expect large differences in expected usage levels:

  • Synthetic stabilizers expected usage level: 0.1%-0.5%
  • KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber expected usage level: 1.0%-2.0%
  •  

SPF does not affect KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber However, the pH of the overall formula will affect its performance. Different UV filters may require different pH levels to function properly.

  • Most chemical, organic and non-mineral UV filters can be used at pH 5-6 with no problem.
    • PBSA is an organic UV filter that requires pH > 6.8 to avoid crystallization and thus will not work with KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber.

  • Mineral sunscreens using zinc oxide are normally formulated at pH 6.5-7.5 which is outside of the acceptable pH range for KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber.
    • Zinc oxide requires pH > 6.5 to avoid dissolving and destabilizing the formula.
  • Mineral sunscreens using titanium dioxide without zinc oxide can be made at pH 5-6 and should work just fine with KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber.

Please note that without having the exact product formulation, we can only provide general guidance and cannot guarantee results. Feel free to reach out to our team of technical experts for more personal assistance. 

CONTACT US
Home / Insights / How to Choose the Best Ingredient for Your Sustainable Skin Care Formulation

How to Choose the Best Ingredient for Your Sustainable Skin Care Formulation

Consumers today expect their skin care products to have a cleaner label, with more “natural” and sustainably sourced ingredients. According to Innova Market Insights, 46% of global consumers always take sustainability into account when buying personal care products. Vegan claims also grew to 23% of launches in 2022. However, consumers also expect their skin care products to offer high performance and an innovative, sensory experience. In this webinar, we discuss how to reformulate serums, lotions and creams to meet new consumer demands and address the following topics: 

  • The Latest Skin Care Trends from Innova Market Insights
  • New Ingredient Options
  • How New Packaging Can Also Mean Reformulating
  • How to Achieve Emulsion Stability
  • Meet “Free From” Claims
  • And More!

Want more on sustainable skin care formulations?

During the webinar, we received many questions from attendees on topics such as replacing emulsifiers and synthetics, innovation, texture challenges and more. Click the button below to see top questions and answers from our team of experts at CP Kelco innovation centers around the world.

ACCESS THE Q&A
Home / Insights / “The Little Book of Natural Ingredients” is HERE!

“The Little Book of Natural Ingredients” is HERE!

What happens when you combine KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber with GENU® Pectin? You get a face serum with twice the a-peel – as well as the most SENSational texture, creaminess, gloss and stability. This great recipe plus five more of our favorite new prototypes are now available in the 2023 “Little Book of Natural Ingredients” from Personal Care Magazine.

Click the image above or button below to
access our newest prototypes.

GET THE RECIPES

KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber is our brand new ingredient upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry near our plant in Brazil. Its formulating features as well as its sustainability story and side stream benefits make it a perfect fit for personal care formulations.

Want a sample? Have questions? Contact us today.

Home / Insights / The Community that Carrageenan Built

The Community that Carrageenan Built

It’s a mild and sunny day on the island state of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania. A group of women are gathered in front of ZANEA (Zanzibar East Africa) Seaweed Company to say hello, pick up supplies and start work at the seaweed farms that dot the shores. Known in Swahili as mwani, seaweed cultivation involves tying seedlings onto ropes that are submerged in the water enough for it to be covered at low tide. Some of the crops are ready to be harvested and laid on screens to dry in the sun before being packed in sacks and exported to CP Kelco’s plant in Skensved, Denmark. The red seaweed tended by these women will soon become GENU® Carrageenan.

ZANEA Seaweed Company

For centuries, coastal communities have relied on the sea to support their way of life. Aquaculture or aquatic farming is only decades old. Seaweed farming began in Zanzibar in 1989 – 1990 and has played an important role in improving the standard of living here – especially for women, who make up around 70 percent of the workforce and obtain a meaningful cash income for their skills. 

The success of this viable economic activity can be seen in the increase in bank accounts in the area, improved homes and infrastructure, and, most importantly, the number of children receiving an education. This year, a new hospital will open on land donated by ZANEA Seaweed Company. Through grants from its nonprofit Huber Helps program, CP Kelco recently purchased a solar water pump for one of the villages, providing clean water for over 2,000 people. 

For centuries, coastal communities have relied on the sea to support their way of life. Aquaculture or aquatic farming is only decades old. Seaweed farming began in Zanzibar in 1989 – 1990 and has played an important role in improving the standard of living here – especially for women, who make up around 70 percent of the workforce and obtain a meaningful cash income for their skills. 

The success of this viable economic activity can be seen in the increase in bank accounts in the area, improved homes and infrastructure, and, most importantly, the number of children receiving an education. This year, a new hospital will open on land donated by ZANEA Seaweed Company. Through grants from its nonprofit Huber Helps program, CP Kelco recently purchased a solar water pump for one of the villages, providing clean water for over 2,000 people. 

In addition to training in sustainable farming methods, all material, including ropes and seed stocks, are provided free by CP Kelco and ZANEA Seaweed Company. On a yearly basis, the two companies supply and distribute materials valued at over $150,000 US. So far in 2023, over 300 new boats as well as planting structures, drying facilities and new shelters for the workers, have been donated. 

CP Kelco is securing a sustainable seaweed aquaculture in Zanzibar so it can remain a source of livelihood for generations to come.

The seaweed itself acts as a bioremediator and filter. A fast-growing plant, seaweed is one of nature’s most effective ways to fight carbon emissions, absorbing nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It utilizes energy from sunlight and takes up excess nutrients from the water to assist the ocean’s ability to fight harmful algae blooms that lead to fish kill.

In addition to training in sustainable farming methods, all material, including ropes and seed stocks, are provided free by CP Kelco and ZANEA Seaweed Company. On a yearly basis, the two companies supply and distribute materials valued at over $150,000 US. So far in 2023, over 300 new boats as well as planting structures, drying facilities and new shelters for the workers, have been donated. 

CP Kelco is securing a sustainable seaweed aquaculture in Zanzibar so it can remain a source of livelihood for generations to come.

The seaweed itself acts as a bioremediator and filter. A fast-growing plant, seaweed is one of nature’s most effective ways to fight carbon emissions, absorbing nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It utilizes energy from sunlight and takes up excess nutrients from the water to assist the ocean’s ability to fight harmful algae blooms that lead to fish kill.

To help the entire community take advantage of the economic opportunities provided by seaweed farming, CP Kelco works to prevent negative impact to the ecosystem, such as deforestation. Protection of the mangroves is essential to maintain the natural flow of the water and provide feeding grounds for native species. 

Along with the ZANEA Seaweed Company, CP Kelco plants a minimum of 20,000 trees per year: One-third are used to preserve mangrove forest lands, one third supports the construction of homes and one-third is used to replenish the stakes, fish fences and other supplies needed in seaweed farming.

Prioritizing resources to improve education in Zanzibar has also been a big part of CP Kelco’s commitment to the community. In the early ‘90s, only 62 percent of school-age children in Zanzibar were enrolled in primary schools according to documents from the Zanzibar Ministry of Education. 

Through its nonprofit Huber Helps program, CP Kelco has built classrooms, provided yearly donations of school supplies to the farmers’ children, sponsored equipment and tools, and renovated school buildings for more conducive learning environments. 

The transformation over the years has been significant. 2019 statistics show that more than 86 percent of children are now enrolled in primary school.

To help the entire community take advantage of the economic opportunities provided by seaweed farming, CP Kelco works to prevent negative impact to the ecosystem, such as deforestation. Protection of the mangroves is essential to maintain the natural flow of the water and provide feeding grounds for native species. 

Along with the ZANEA Seaweed Company, CP Kelco plants a minimum of 20,000 trees per year: One-third are used to preserve mangrove forest lands, one third supports the construction of homes and one-third is used to replenish the stakes, fish fences and other supplies needed in seaweed farming.

Prioritizing resources to improve education in Zanzibar has also been a big part of CP Kelco’s commitment to the community. In the early ‘90s, only 62 percent of school-age children in Zanzibar were enrolled in primary schools according to documents from the Zanzibar Ministry of Education. Through its nonprofit Huber Helps program, CP Kelco has built classrooms, provided yearly donations of school supplies to the farmers’ children, sponsored equipment and tools, and renovated school buildings for more conducive learning environments. The transformation over the years has been significant. 2019 statistics show that more than 86 percent of children are now enrolled in primary school. 

A product you can feel good about

Extracted from this warm water red seaweed, GENU® Carrageenan forms flexible but strong gels. It is renowned for its thickening and stabilizing properties as well as its clarity. In the food and beverage industry, its main applications are in dairy, meat products and confectionery. It can also be used as a vegan alternative to gelatin. 

In personal care and home care products, GENU® Carrageenan is a vegan-friendly, nature-based alternative to synthetic texturizers. With its water-binding ability, it locks in moisture to keep skin hydrated. It acts as an emulsifier to prevent oil-in-water systems from separating. It also gives a smooth and creamy texture to shampoos, lotions and other surfactant-based systems.

Extracted from this warm water red seaweed, GENU® Carrageenan forms flexible but strong gels. It is renowned for its thickening and stabilizing properties as well as its clarity. In the food and beverage industry, its main applications are in dairy, meat products and confectionery. It can also be used as a vegan alternative to gelatin. 

In personal care and home care products, GENU® Carrageenan is a vegan-friendly, nature-based alternative to synthetic texturizers. With its water-binding ability, it locks in moisture to keep skin hydrated. It acts as an emulsifier to prevent oil-in-water systems from separating. It also gives a smooth and creamy texture to shampoos, lotions and other surfactant-based systems.

Find out how Carrageenan can become part of your story too.

CONTACT US
Home / Insights / Pectin is Part of Who We Are

Pectin is Part of Who We Are

Did you know that the “CP” in CP Kelco stands for Copenhagen Pectin, the location of our first pectin plant? It was the nature-based ingredient that started it all for us almost 75 years ago. Today, as the world’s leading producer of pectin, we have expanded to three plants to serve our customers. With increasing demands for easy-to-understand, label-friendly ingredients, pectin is even more popular now for food, beverage and personal care applications. 

Our sustainability story

1. Start with citrus peel byproducts

2. Byproduct is distilled into FERPEC™ fertilizer for nearby citrus orchards

3. Biomass boilers use steam from eucalyptus, a non-fossil fuel resource

4. Water byproduct is recycled as fertigation (fertilized irrigation) for eucalyptus & citrus crops

5. Leftover citrus peel is turned into Braspolpa™ animal feed

Start with citrus peel byproducts

Byproduct is distilled into FERPEC™ fertilizer for nearby citrus orchards

Biomass boilers use steam from eucalyptus, a non-fossil fuel resource

Water byproduct is recycled as fertigation (fertilized irrigation) for eucalyptus & citrus crops

Leftover
citrus peel is
turned into Braspolpa™ animal feed

From fruit tree to fertilizer, click the image above or button below to watch our short video to see how GENU® Pectin is sustainably sourced and upcycled. 

WATCH VIDEO

Amazing functionality

From thickening and gelling to stabilizing emulsions and foams, the special properties of pectin can be beneficial to solve a variety of personal care formulation challenges. For example, pectin is a preferred hydrocolloid for skin patches because of its ability to absorb moisture and provide wet adhesion. Pectin can enable formulation of non-wax sticks for color cosmetics containing water-soluble, active ingredients. It can also be used to prepare water-in-silicone emulsions. 

Instead of dissolving when added to water, some pectin grades swell to form soft particles with a high moisture content that can provide an extra emollient texture to skin creams. The viscosity of pectin solutions can also be utilized to help evenly distribute and provide spreadability of hair conditioners and hair styling products with a smooth and silky appearance. By protecting against water loss, pectin is a great humectant in creams and lotions, and keeps skin pleasantly moisturized.

Applications

  • Skin creams and lotions

  • Masks and skin patches

  • Color cosmetics and mascara

  • Shampoos and conditioners

  • Hair color and hair styling products

  • Sun care

Pectin protects skin's acid mantle

Cleansers and soaps can increase skin’s pH levels and disturb the acid mantle, a very thin, slightly acidic surface layer that acts as a barricade to bad bacteria and pollutants. However, pectin can help you create skin care products that work with – not against – nature.

GENU® pHresh Pectin can help restore the skin to its natural pH when it is affected by endogenous or exogenous factors. It has a gentle buffering capacity that can be used in formulations to help neutralize the alkalinity and bring the pH back into desirable levels that can help preserve skin’s acid mantle. With its unique pH balancing attributes, GENU® pHresh Pectin helps support anti-irritation and soothing claims in skin care, tissues, scalp/hair care, shaving products and more.

Grades to suit your needs

Ask us about our ingredient grades to meet halal, kosher, COSMOS® Certified, vegan, non-GMO and organic-compliant product claims. Let us show you how formulating with pectin can be the best move for your applications.

Looking for more information on pectin for personal care formulations?

CONTACT US
Home / Insights / Winning in the Emulsifier-Free Segment with an Upcycled Solution

Winning in the Emulsifier-Free Segment with an Upcycled Solution

All rights reserved. Video may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of CP Kelco.

Citrus peels are a plentiful byproduct of the juicing industry – something that would be considered food waste.  With circularity in mind, our goal is an innovative portfolio of readily biodegradable products that come from zerowaste facilities* and we are well on our way!  Extracted from the peels, citrus fiber is already used in many food applications; the newly developed KELCOSENSTM Citrus Fiber PiEL helps stabilize emulsifier-free skin care products delivering SENS-ational textures. This upcycled ingredient helps you meet specific requirements for non-GMO, vegan, kosher & halal products.

We hope you enjoy the webinar!

*zerowaste is defined as >90% waste diversion from landfills

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Our new, upcycled KELCOSENSTM Citrus Fiber, combines with gellan gum for increased emulsion stabilization in this light yet luxurious facial cream with attractive pick-up, a frosted touch at application and a fresh feeling on the skin.

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Home / Insights / Water You Doing About Sustainability in Your Personal Care and Home Care Formulations?

Water You Doing About Sustainability in Your Personal Care and Home Care Formulations?

One of the United Nations’ top sustainability goals is ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water. Around the globe, water availability is becoming less predictable and threatening biodiversity. Predicting a 40% shortfall in freshwater resources by 2030, the UN General Assembly launched the Water Action Decade in 2018 to help transform how we manage water. 

The personal care and home care industries are heavily dependent on this precious natural resource and are taking action. A growing trend involves reformulating with less water and compact formats. How can you switch to a low- or no-water formulation without compromising on consumer experience? See how bio-based ingredients, functionality and efficiency work together to create high-performance yet eco-conscious products consumers love.

Here's how CP Kelco is reducing impact & closing the loop on circularity

Eliminate Waste

Commit to zero waste* to landfill by recycling and upcycling

Manufacturing

Continuously improve energy and water efficiency in manufacturing process

Product Design

Think readily biodegradable, compact, waterless formats

Raw Materials

Prioritize renewable, bio-based ingredients and regenerative agricultural practices

Product Design

Think readily biodegradable, compact, waterless formats

Raw Materials

Prioritize renewable, bio-based ingredients and regenerative agricultural practices

Manufacturing

Continuously improve energy and water efficiency in manufacturing process

Eliminate Waste

Commit to zero waste* to landfill by recycling and upcycling

*Defined as >90% waste diversion from landfill

Bio-based ingredients: What are they and how do they help?

Bio-based ingredients are derived from plants and other renewable materials to help product developers reduce their reliance on petroleum. Bio-based products like our ARBALON® Cellulose Liquid and CELLULON® Cellulose Liquid contribute to a circular economy approach. They are produced from fermentation-derived cellulose with the idea of protecting natural resources and the health of ecosystems, optimizing product efficiency and helping to eliminate waste.

What is Fermentation-Derived Cellulose?

• Forms a unique 3D net to suspend beads, scrubbers and more

• Effective in low or no water formulations

• Biodegradable

• Very low use level needed

• Produced by microbial fermentation of similar bacteria to nata de coco

It’s a unique and ready-to-use liquid solution that stabilizes in a wide range of surfactant-based formulations with minimal impact on final product viscosity. Standing out in a competitive market often requires functional, visual and sensory differentiation, which can be accomplished by the suspension of useful ingredients. FDC enables the suspension of materials such as fragrance beads, pearlescent, botanicals and other functional material – even in clear or translucent, no- and low-water systems.

What is Fermentation-Derived Cellulose?

• Forms a unique 3D net to suspend beads, scrubbers and more

• Effective in low or no water formulations

• Biodegradable

• Very low use level needed

• Produced by microbial fermentation of similar bacteria to nata de coco

It’s a unique and ready-to-use liquid solution that stabilizes in a wide range of surfactant-based formulations with minimal impact on final product viscosity. Standing out in a competitive market often requires functional, visual and sensory differentiation, which can be accomplished by the suspension of useful ingredients. FDC enables the suspension of materials such as fragrance beads, pearlescent, botanicals and other functional material – even in clear or translucent, no- and low-water systems.

Personal and home care applications for fermentation-derived cellulose

Consider bio-based ingredients made from fermentation-derived cellulose like CELLULON® Cellulose Liquid and ARBALON® Cellulose Liquid, proven effective in low-to-no water, compact formulations.

Feel the Difference, with Lotus Enlighten You Shampoo

Our shampoo has a luxurious feel and mimics the rheology of traditional, salt-thickened shampoos. COSMOS® certified
ARBALON® R-50 (EV) Cellulose Liquid suspends the pearlescent mica without altering viscosity or feel.

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Stay Fresh with CELLULON® RC-76 Cellulose Liquid for Fabric Softeners

Discover our bio-based solution,
CELLULON® RC-76 Cellulose Liquid. Developed from fermentation-derived cellulose (FDC), it has a unique fiber structure capable of suspending fragrance encaps that can boost fabric freshness.

LEARN MORE
Liquid Soaps
Body Washes
Liquid Laundry Detergent
Dishwashing Liquid
Fabric Softener

Click the icons above to explore key applications. 

Access the latest research and tips for adopting a

 circular approach to your personal care or home care product.

Access the latest research and tips for adopting a

 circular approach to your personal care or home care product.

Home / Insights / What is Halal Beauty? Are Your Products Ready for the New Laws?

What is Halal Beauty? Are Your Products Ready for the New Laws?

More and more consumers are seeking information about the origin of ingredients used in their products. This includes Muslim consumers, who make up almost one-fourth of the world’s population and rely on halal certification for guidance. Halal is an Arabic word referring to ingredients permissible with Islamic standards. As it turns out, halal certification can benefit everyone.

Think of halal certification as almost synonymous with quality assurance. It verifies that an ingredient is sourced, manufactured, produced and packaged according to the highest standards of ethical values, purity and cleanliness. It covers not only the ingredient itself but all processes right up to distribution.

The entire production chain must be thoroughly inspected – from raw materials and sourcing to processing, handling and packaging – and found to have an optimum level of cleanliness that is free of any contact with impurities. Sanitation procedures are rigorous and well-documented. No alcohol may be used and any machinery in the production and packaging lines must not come in contact with what are deemed impurities.

What does halal certification forbid?

Among other things, products must not contain pork, human ingredients (such as stem cells), genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or alcohol*. Other animal-derived ingredients are permissible only if the extraction or slaughter is conducted in a very specific manner to minimize suffering and complies with certain criteria for cleanliness. Animal testing is also forbidden. 

The term halal is most often applied to consumable foods; however, the same criteria is used to certify ingredients for personal care and beauty products. This is because many consider skin to be the body’s largest and most absorptive organ. So, while these products are applied topically to the skin, it is believed that the body is capable of consuming ingredients indirectly. 

Is halal the same as vegan?

Not necessarily. Vegan products do not contain any animal-derived raw materials, but they might use ethanol alcohol, which would make them unable to qualify for halal certification. Also, some animal-derived products are permissible under halal compliance, including beeswax and honey.

Do any countries require halal certification?

Indonesia has implemented a halal product mandate, an “omnibus
law” that requires cosmetics, foods and beverages, and non-food products imported, distributed and traded to be certified as halal. The mandate went into effect in 2019. Brands have until 2026 to implement it. 

Saudi Arabia recently introduced regulations that will require halal certifications on most ingredients that enter the kingdom. Other countries that have strict halal regulatory requirements include Malaysia, Brunei and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region of Middle Eastern countries. In other predominantly Muslim countries, it just makes good business sense to offer halal-certified products.

What ingredients does CP Kelco produce to halal standards?

All of CP Kelco’s seven manufacturing sites have undergone the rigorous halal certification process conducted by an independent third party. This includes not just our products, but the required testing for porcine DNA, salmonella and alcohol levels in each site.

Along with having a highly functional portfolio of nature-based ingredients, CP Kelco has proactively implemented the process of achieving halal certification to help support the needs of companies so they can succeed without delay or worry in every market. 

*Products must have less than 0.1% alcohol to qualify as halal. At this level, one cannot taste, smell or see the alcohol, a criterion generally applied for impurities. Some certification groups may have different guidelines.

Looking for more on halal-certified ingredients?

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Home / Insights / Looking for SENSational Skincare Solutions?

Looking for SENSational Skincare Solutions?

All rights reserved. Video may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of CP Kelco.

Get to know CP Kelco’s full portfolio of solutions for beauty and personal care applications. With circularity in mind, our goal is an innovative portfolio of readily biodegradable products that come from zero waste facilities* and we are well on our way. Our ingredients are made by precision bio-fermentation, optimized extraction of seaweed, and upcycled from citrus fruits.

And now, discover our newest ingredient, KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber. Upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry, it helps stabilize emulsions and deliver a range of SENSational textures to replace synthetic ingredients.

Want a sample? Have questions? Contact us today.

*Readily biodegradability based on OECD standards; zero waste is defined as >90% waste diversion from landfills.