At Evonik, we use biotechnology to create high-performance biosolutions for the beauty and personal care industry. Industrial biotechnology uses biological systems - such as microorganisms and enzymes – to create more sustainable alternatives to conventional processes. By leveraging renewable, bio-based feedstocks and advanced biotechnological processes, we replace fossil-derived ingredients with more sustainable alternatives. This approach not only drives growth and innovation but also enables the creation of more sustainable cosmetic ingredients that deliver unique sensory experiences and meet the evolving expectations of conscious consumers.
Learn more about how we harness fermentation, enzymatic esterification and the skin microbiome to create innovative cosmetic ingredients.
Bioprocess Development – For Sustainable Beauty From Lab to Commercial Scale
Fermentation is at the heart of our biotechnology expertise. Our capabilities span the entire value chain – from strain development and process optimization to large-scale manufacturing at facilities. This enables us to drive the development of biotech-derived cosmetic ingredients.
How Fermentation is Used in Personal Care
- Ceramides Technologies
With 30 years’ experience developing sustainability-driven and dermatologically proven cosmetic ingredients, we first cracked the code for skin identical ceramides using biotechnology in 1994. The process is based on the fermentation of an unconventional yeast from the tonka bean. The ceramides obtained therefore have the same stereochemical conformation as the body’s own ceramides – making them truly skin and hair-identical. Glycolipid Biosurfactants - Rhamnolipids & Sophorolipids
Produced from renewable raw materials, these gentle, biodegradable surfactants deliver high foam and effective cleansing for shampoos, facial cleansers, and micellar waters—without compromising skin health.
Vecollage® Fortify L & GP - Vegan Collagen
Recombinant collagen polypeptides created through fermentation offer cruelty-free, skin-identical performance for anti-aging and hydration in creams and serums.
BeautiFerm® Actives
A portfolio of fermented beauty actives derived from mushrooms, yeast, and multi-strain fermentations. These bioactives support the skin microbiome, strengthen the skin barrier, and promote regeneration for healthy, youthful-looking skin.
Enzymatic Esterification – For Sustainable Emollients
Evonik is transforming how emollients are made with a process that uses enzymes as biocatalysts. Instead of relying on traditional chemical methods - which often require high temperatures and solvents- we create emollient esters from renewable, plant-derived fatty acids and alcohols under mild, energy-efficient conditions.
Emollients typically account for 10–25 percent of a cosmetic formulation, yet they contribute up to 80 percent of its climate footprint. By switching to enzymatically produced emollients, formulators can significantly reduce environmental impact without compromising on sensory performance or stability.
Our portfolio of EcoCare enzymatic emollients supports a wide range of applications, including skin care, sun care, hair care, color cosmetics and antiperspirant/deodorant.
Sustainable Enzymatic Emollients
Maximum Care, Minimum Footprint
The urgent need for climate action and the trend towards more sustainable skin care products is transforming the way cosmetic ingredients are being manufactured. Enzymatic catalysis as a biotechnological process offers a path to improve the ecological profile for a specific formulation.
Microbiome – Science For Healthy Skin
The skin microbiome - a diverse community of microorganisms - plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health and resilience. As interest in microbiome-friendly cosmetics grows, Evonik is helping brands turn this science into meaningful beauty benefits.
Building on decades of expertise in microbiome research, we’ve developed advanced testing models and ingredient concepts that enable formulators to design products supporting a balanced skin ecosystem. Our SkinMicrobesTM model simulates real microbial interactions, allowing us to classify ingredients as microbiome-friendly and substantiate claims with confidence.
With these insights, we create solutions that respect and nurture the skin microbiome, including:
Gentle biosurfactants for cleansers that clean without disrupting balance
Microbiome-promoting actives for serums and creams
Multifunctional boosters combine efficacy with microbiome compatibility
Evonik also supports prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic concepts, giving formulators the tools to meet consumer expectations for products that care for both skin and its living ecosystem.
Ready to create the next generation of sustainable beauty?
Partner with Evonik and bring biotechnology-driven innovation to your formulations.
