As a non-publically listed company it is not obliged to publish details of its results, but executives did highlight that the business had achieved record first-quarter product sales during its first quarter thanks to the boosted profile of the Biossance brand.
The company launched the brand at Sephora stores in mid-February after signing a strategic partnership that Cosmetics Design reported about at the time.
Biossance sales grow exponentially
The company stated that in 2016 the brand represented just 2% of its yearly sales revenues, but projections for 2017 have already been doubled on the fast growth pace so far this year – growth that is expected to make it one of the fastest-growing personal care businesses in the sector.
"We are excited by the growing contribution Biossance is making to our personal care business and the robust growth we are experiencing in our nutrition business," said John Melo, president and CEO of Amyris.
"We are off to a great start for the year driving growth across our business while pursuing strategic opportunities to improve our financial and competitive position as a leading company in our sector."
It's all about the squalene
The Biossance brand uses biotechnology incorporating yeast fed with sugar cane to produce a nature-identical squalene that is a key ingredient in the environmentally friendly brand line up that includes a face oil, gel moisturizer and a cleaner.
But it is the Peptide Eye Gel that has been the real winner, having recently become the number one selling eye skin care product at Sephora.com – undoubtedly one of the main driving forces behind the spike in sales.
Besides the profile boost the brand is getting at Sephora, Amyris executives say that consumer interest in its brand is also being driven by a number of positive reviews in leading consumer beauty industry publications.
The positive media coverage has included being cited #1 in The 10 Best Moisturizers by W Magazine as well as getting high praise in a writeup in the beauty pages of Allure magazine.