Why are medical BioTech Cosmetics so important?

The cosmetics industry is increasingly in favour of applying natural substances and bioactive ingredients obtained from biotechnological processes. Not only do they meet consumer expectations for biobased, more sustainable products, they also provide entirely innovative properties and active mechanisms beneficial for human skin. But what exactly is behind the term, medical BioTech Cosmetics, used by Belico®? Or why is it only available at authorised cosmetics institutes demonstrating dermatologically or medically sound know-how, while it cannot be obtained from online shops or via direct sales? See here:

Firstly, naturally vegan raw materials are processed through new technologies applying biological principles – without any genetic manipulation of the basic raw materials – to increase their effect on the dermal structure and to make them friendlier to animals and the environment. This profound effect upon the skin requires that exactly those active ingredients are used that match the ACTUAL skin condition and the desired TARGET skin condition. Performing professional skin analysis and adjustment of the skincare plan is therefore essential. In contrast to purely natural cosmetics, BioTech cosmetics also contain synthetically produced active ingredients. These have two major advantages: Preserving resources and expanding the portfolio of usable, particularly efficient and tolerable non-pharmaceutical source materials.

Tailored cultivation or synthesis processes require significantly less valuable resources such as agricultural land, water and fertilisers. The ecological footprint compared to conventional processes can be reduced that way. One important example in this regard is the cultivation of algae. Instead of questionable algae farms at sea, BioTech- Cosmetics favours enclosed algae bioreactors. It is not only the reduced consumption of water and fertiliser that makes a difference: Waste water can also be processed and reused.

BioTech cosmetics also offer plenty in the field of herbal active ingredients.

Targeted lab-growth of herbal stem-cells helps obtain new active ingredients from rare and even from protected species. With all plants being lab-grown, the environment and the natural plant population are protected. BioTech Cosmetics focus in particular on the use of substances native to the body. A body’s native peptides have proven to be particularly effective in anti-ageing. These peptides cannot be obtained either from herbal sources or from manufacturing methods compliant with the principles of natural cosmetics. Only specialised manufacturing procedures enable the synthesis of these highly pure peptides.

Microorganisms are also performing an important function in the production of active BioTech ingredients. The fact that hyaluronic acid is no longer produced from cockscomb but lab-made by special microorganisms is common knowledge now, as is the squalane raw material that once used to be obtained from either shark liver or olives.

The discovery of new microorganisms, especially in remote or unfavourable areas, expands the availability of new active ingredients. One of the widest known discoveries is certainly the substance called ectoine, about which a lot has already been said. But the range of active ingredients is even broader, extending from simple moisturisers to UV-protective active ingredients.

The possibilities of the targeted use of new active ingredients mean that BioTech cosmetics are greatly improving the beneficial effects on the skin. Yet the concept of BioTech Cosmetics goes even further. Not only active ingredients, but also basic substances such as emulsifiers are obtained from natural raw materials using sophisticated technology. Lecithin obtained from soya is processed to make liposomes or lamellar creams, for example.