Up until recently there was only a ‘Best Ingredient’ award, but having split the category in two, Givaudan took home the top prize in the Actives category, while Agrimer won through in the Functional category.
Givaudan’s Neurophroline product, developed through the acquired Soliance and Induchem businesses, is developed from wild indigo seeds and is able to block the production of cortisol; and also claims to promote the release of endorphins.
Lucas Meyer’s pore minimiser, Miniporyl, took home the Silver award, whilst Solabia’s Redyless molecule targeting skin flushing and rosacea won the Bronze.
In the Functional ingredient category, Agrimer’s Seaweed Caviar, made from marine polysaccharides, won the Gold for its exfoliating properties as the beads melt on the skin without the need to remove any residue.
The Silver award went to: Sigmund Lindner for its biodegradable glitter, Siliglam Nature, while Ashland completed the top three for its Polyelectrolyte Complex Three.
Green and Sensory
Sensory was also a key focus for the event this year, with a dedicated Sensory Bar on the show floor for visitors to test out some of the latest innovations in this field.
When it came to the awards in the Sensory category, launched for this year’s event, Capsum won the Gold, Nikkol was awarded Silver, and Technature took home the Bronze.
Always a favourite, the Green Award, in association with Organic Monitor, returned once again with many entries; and it was Seppic who took home the top prize for its macroalgae developed product Ephemer.
Second place went to Sederma for Majestem, which is an active ingredient obtained by the elicited plant cell culture of Edelweiss combatting skin sagging, and the Bronze award went to IBR for its aqueous plant extract, IBR-Pristinizer, which targets anti-pollution.
Lifetime Achievement
And last but my no means least, the Lifetime Achievement award was handed out, as ever in Paris. The prize is only awarded every three years to an individual to recognise their outstanding contribution to the cosmetics industry.
Previous winners include Dr Alain Khaiat and Dr Karl Lintner, in 2010 and 2013 respectively, and this year’s accolade was awarded to Kevin Gallagher.
Kevin is the retired president of personal care and actives for Croda, joining the company as an applications chemist in 1978 before holding positions in R&D, sales, QA and marketing, and moving to general management in 1989. After 37 years at Croda, he retired in 2015.
On collecting his award he thanked the company and the event organisers, and paid special homage to his wife, stating “behind every successful man, is a better woman.”