at Sephora that features squalene as its main ingredient. Amyris has replaced shark-derived squalene with their precision fermentation product that now accounts for 60% of the global market for the chemical. Another example of biotech entering skincare is a company called, started by an MIT scientist in 2015. Their product line contains a combination of smart ingredients and probiotics designed to work together to balance the microbiome of the skin, with science to back it.
"Biotechnology enables us to expand the ingredient palette of the beauty industry to molecules in all parts of the tree of life, ethically and sustainably," said Jasmina."At Arcaea, we see how these can be applied in powerful ways in beauty to create new categories of ingredients and product functionality."
Indeed, biotechnology innovation can go beyond replacing existing ingredients and help introduce new products that are better than what is currently on our shelves. A relatively new biotech company calledis going after these specialty ingredients. Their first commercial target is bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative that does not cause the UV sensitivity and irritation that retinol can.
Interesting