Award-winning beauty revealed at the in-cosmetics Korea Awards

02 July 2025 – Seoul, South Korea – The organisers of in-cosmetics Korea, the only exhibition dedicated exclusively to personal care ingredients in South Korea, have today revealed the winners of the 2025 in-cosmetics Korea Awards.

Celebrating the very best in Korean beauty innovation, the prestigious awards spotlight scientific breakthroughs and outstanding contributions to cosmetic science. A panel of expert judges from across the personal care sector selected this year’s winners in the categories: Best Ingredient, Functional Ingredients, and the K-Beauty Standout Award, which recognises pioneering skincare and makeup ingredients aligned with K-beauty values.

The show is proudly supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea, which plays a leading role in promoting K-health on the global stage. The winners and highly commended entries from each category are listed below.

Best Ingredient Award

Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant was awarded Gold in the Active Ingredients category for its innovative Melicica™, a honey-based skin repair solution. Drawing on nature’s restorative power, it offers a broad range of potential applications across post-procedure recovery, acne-prone skin, tone and texture refinement, baby care and sensitive skin. Supporting the regeneration of damaged skin with impressive efficacy, Melicica represents a significant enhancement in restorative skincare.

Silver went to PROVITAL for Pureblome™, a unique biotech ingredient driven by its proprietary Triplobiome™ Technology. This regenerative active improves skin texture, balances oil production, reduces inflammation, and delays signs of ageing, delivering triple action in a single solution.

Bronze was awarded to ALGAKTIV for ALGAKTIV® Exometics G, a vegan biomimetic exosome technology derived from microalgae. Designed to boost skin renewal, elasticity and anti-ageing effects, this ingredient showcases the power of algae-based innovation in high-performance skincare.

Functional ingredients category

KCC SILICONE Corporation took home Gold in the Functional Ingredients category with Harmonie™ NatuVel gel. This 100% naturally derived elastomer offers a unique soft touch feel and blurring effect. With excellent compatibility, particularly with UV filters, it opens new possibilities in formulation development.

Silver was awarded to Solabia Group for OleoShine® Green, a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers that delivers radiant glow in colour cosmetics without sacrificing performance. It aligns with growing demand for eco-conscious, high-impact beauty formulations.

Bronze went to IOI Oleo GmbH for SOFTISAN® 650, a multifunctional film-former that is both natural and vegan. It provides lasting moisturisation, water resistance, and effective barrier protection, making it ideal for skincare and suncare applications.

K-Beauty Standout Award Ingredients

Givaudan Active Beauty was named the overall winner of the K-Beauty Standout Ingredient Award for PrimalHyal™ UltraReverse. This intracellular hyaluronic acid stands out for its ability to penetrate the skin and act at the DNA level, addressing key biological hallmarks of ageing. With sustainability at its core, it redefines the possibilities of hyaluronic acid for long-term skin health.

Runner-up honours went to TriBeaute Inc. for AzePore™, an innovative blend of synthetic fatty acids that acts as a moisturiser, anti-ageing, and anti-acne agent. Designed to melt blackheads and tighten pores, it also works to prevent bacterial proliferation, tackling skin issues both on the surface and within.

“This year’s award entries showcase the industry’s unrelenting commitment to advancing cosmetic science,” said Sarah Gibson, Exhibition Director of in-cosmetics Korea. “We’re proud to shine a light on the innovators behind these breakthrough ingredients and to celebrate the ingenuity, sustainability, and scientific rigour driving the next generation of K-beauty. Our expert judges were truly impressed by the volume and quality of submissions across every category.”