BASF Personal Care's new cosmetic ingredient Symbiocell® has been successfully registered in China

BASF's new cosmetic ingredient Symbiocell from the Personal Care business has been successfully registered in China. With BASF's authorization, the product can be commercialized as a cosmetic ingredient in China.

Symbiocell is a unique active ingredient whose main ingredients are water, butylene glycol, tuberose leaf extract, xanthan gum, 1,3-propylene glycol and caprylyl glycol. In vitro tests have shown that it can support healthy levels of basal expression of CD86 in skin dendritic cells and can effectively soothe sensitive skin and potential excessive skin reactions.

The tuberose leaf extract in Symbiocell is well known in tropical regions for its therapeutic benefits and has been used to treat a variety of skin problems.

Inspired by these properties, BASF conducted clinical tests on a facial care formula containing 2% Symbiocell and demonstrated that it can reduce reactivity and discomfort in sensitive skin. The ingredient was developed in response to the growing consumer trend that cosmetics can address common sensitive skin problems, with Asia Pacific being a key focus.

A double-blind clinical study was conducted on 31 women to compare the efficacy of Symbiocell 2% in a facial care formula with a commercially available soothing and anti-redness skin care product over a 3-week period. Results showed a significant 62% reduction in skin discomfort previously observed in the stinging test on the side of the face treated with Symbiocell 2%, compared to an average 58% reduction on the side of the face treated with the benchmark product.

In addition, the average score in the stinging test on the side of the face treated with 2% Symbiocell daily decreased significantly by 20%. The other side of the face treated with the benchmark product showed only a 14% decrease. At the same time, 97% of the volunteers said that the side of the face treated with Symbiocell felt more comfortable and soothed.

90% of the panelists said that their skin was less sensitive and 87% felt that their skin was more resistant to external aggressions. 71% of the volunteers also felt that their skin was more radiant.

The development of Symbiocell and its recent successful registration as a new cosmetic ingredient in China highlight BASF’s efforts to meet the market demand for solutions for sensitive skin, especially in the Asia Pacific region.