BASF to Present Skin-Regeneration and Biopolymer Research at IFSCC 2026
BASF to Present Skin-Regeneration and Biopolymer Research at IFSCC 2026
BASF researchers will share new findings on sustainable extraction, collagen-targeted skin regeneration and high-performance biopolymer systems at the 36th International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) Congress in Perth, Australia, running from 28 September to 1 October 2026. The congress theme, “Solving the Sustainable Beauty Equation,” frames a programme in which BASF is contributing one podium presentation and two poster sessions. The work spans a versatile natural solvent for more efficient extraction, collagen hybridizing peptides designed to recognise and support repair of damaged collagen, and bio-based polysaccharides that form functional, non-occlusive films on skin. Together the presentations underline how Care Chemicals research is linking sustainability, efficacy and formulation practicality for modern skin-care products.
Congress Setting and BASF’s Programme
The IFSCC Congress is one of the principal global forums for cosmetic science. Hosting the 36th edition in Perth places the event in a region with growing relevance for natural and sustainable beauty ingredients. BASF’s contribution sits in the Formulation & Bio-Sourcing session on the podium and in poster tracks covering delivery systems and fragrance & formulation. The selection of topics—extraction efficiency, collagen repair biology and biopolymer film science—aligns directly with industry demand for ingredients that deliver measurable performance while improving environmental and supply-chain credentials.
Sustainable Extraction: A New Natural Solvent
In a podium presentation scheduled for 30 September, BASF scientist Nicole Lv will discuss a new versatile natural and safe solvent developed to enhance extraction efficiency. Solvent choice remains a critical lever in the production of botanical and other natural actives: it affects yield, selectivity, residual solvent profiles and overall process sustainability. A solvent system that improves extraction performance while meeting safety and regulatory expectations can reduce resource intensity and support cleaner-label claims. The presentation is positioned to give formulators and procurement teams a clearer view of how upstream process innovation translates into more reliable natural-ingredient supply.
Collagen Hybridizing Peptides for Skin Regeneration
A second research stream focuses on collagen hybridizing peptides (CHPs), a class of bioactive peptides inspired by biomedical work. These peptides are designed to recognise and bind to damaged collagen structures and to enhance fibroblast–matrix interactions that are important for skin regeneration. Ageing, UV exposure and environmental stress degrade the dermal collagen network; ingredients that selectively target damaged collagen rather than simply adding bulk protein or generic peptides represent a more precise approach. BASF’s poster on the advanced design of bioactive CHPs aims to show how such peptides can be engineered for cosmetic use, supporting claims around repair and regeneration with a mechanistic rationale that goes beyond traditional moisturisation or anti-wrinkle narratives.
Biopolymers and Non-Occlusive Film Formation
A joint project between Stanford University and BASF examines how bio-based polysaccharides form functional films on the skin and influence hydration, barrier properties and overall formulation behaviour. The work explores “entangling biopolymers” as sustainable additives that create non-occlusive films—films that improve moisture retention and sensory performance without the heavy, occlusive feel sometimes associated with conventional film-formers. For formulators, the practical value lies in achieving long-lasting hydration and barrier support with ingredients that also improve the sustainability profile of the finished product. The collaboration with Stanford adds academic depth to the mechanistic understanding of how these polymers interact with the stratum corneum and with other formula components.
Why These Themes Matter for the Market
Personal-care brands face simultaneous pressure for higher efficacy, cleaner labels, lower carbon footprints and supply-chain transparency. Research that connects sustainable process technology (extraction solvents), targeted biological mechanisms (collagen repair) and high-performance bio-based materials (polysaccharide films) addresses all three. Ingredients that can be positioned with both clinical or in-vitro evidence and a credible sustainability story tend to command stronger interest from global and regional brands reforming their portfolios.
Implications for Formulators and Buyers
For R&D and procurement teams, the IFSCC presentations offer early visibility into technologies that may enter BASF’s commercial pipeline or strengthen existing platforms. Collagen hybridizing peptides could expand the toolbox for anti-ageing and repair claims; biopolymer film systems could support next-generation moisturisers and barrier products; and improved extraction solvents could raise the quality and consistency of natural actives. Early engagement with such science helps formulators plan claim strategies and raw-material roadmaps ahead of full commercial launch.
Outlook
BASF’s presence at IFSCC 2026 with work on skin-regeneration peptides, biopolymer films and sustainable extraction reinforces its positioning at the intersection of performance and sustainability in cosmetic ingredients. The Perth congress provides a concentrated audience of formulators, brand scientists and suppliers; successful communication of the underlying science will determine how quickly these concepts move from poster and podium into development briefs and, eventually, finished products. For the broader personal-care chemicals market, the presentations are a reminder that differentiation increasingly rests on mechanistic insight and sustainable process design, not only on marketing narratives.
Sources
Ammonium Bicarbonate (E503(ii))
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