Need to Know
20 : 03 : 18

Hyaluronic acid has been used in moisturising product for years, but at Cosmoprof, brands re-invented the beauty staple with a series of new formulations and cross-category products that bring this moisture-boosting ingredient to the fore.

South Korean brand Olivarrier presented its Dual Moist Hyaluron Essence featuring Triple Hyaluron made from fermented corn, beans and yeast, making this essence three times more effective at combatting dehydrated skin than traditional hyaluronic acid.

Re-inventing itself in haircare, Maxxelle’s Hair Recovery Serum uses a high concentration of hyaluronic acid to nourish the hair. The company formulated a smaller molecule of hyaluronic acid, so that it can ‘be easily absorbed by the hair,’ according to a spokesperson for the brand.

In colour cosmetics, Latvian brand Mádara presented its new Hyaluronic Anti-pollution CC Cream to ensure multiple skincare benefits. The combination of UVA/UVB sunscreen and hyaluronic acid shields the skin from urban pollutants to protect the skin microbiome and prevent clogged pores and inflammation.

Every year the number of brands at the show touting their organic and natural credentials seems to grow. This year, several companies attending were celebrating their locally found ingredients as a unique selling point.

Australian brand Lovekins showed its line of baby skincare that features Kakadu Plum, the fruit of a flowering plant found in Northern Australia. The fruit is known to be a very high source of vitamin C and has been used medicinally by indigenous Australians for thousands of years. The brand also previewed its new Mother Care range, due to be launched in July 2018, which features native ingredients such as Rosella Flower.

South Korean line I’m From by Wishtrend makes local part of its branding. For each product, it lists precisely where in Korea the star ingredient has been sourced. For instance, the Volcanic Mask has ‘I’m from Island Jeju, Korea’ on the front of the pack, while the Ginseng Serum packaging reads ‘I’m from Geum River, Korea’.

While South Korean beauty companies had a larger delegation, the smaller Japanese contingent featured several products with novel innovations for Western consumers.

Anti-ageing skincare brand Warew, which is aiming to enter the European market for the first time, featured its 3-step line that includes an emulsion – a lotion that sits between a moisturiser and a serum and is made of an emulsified blend of sea water and essential oils. The brand also previewed its new line Susuh, containing spirulina, which will be out later this year.

Also new to the European market, Japanese brand Kohakuhada features amber as its key ingredient. Using an extract of the gemstone throughout its product line, the ingredient is said to stimulate hyaluronic acid production in the skin and speed the metabolism rate of our skin cells.

Another innovation by Japanese company Nissha was Shot Mode, a product that takes the popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure microneedling and puts it on a patch. Scientists at Nissha have developed a dissolving ‘microneedle’ made of serum that penetrates the skin overnight through the patch.