At the Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients (PCHI) 2026 exhibition, Clariant and Lucas Meyer Cosmetics presented an integrated portfolio of emulsifiers, sun care technologies and natural actives tailored to the evolving demands of the Asian beauty and personal care market.
The showcase reflected growing market interest in multifunctional ingredients that combine performance, sensory appeal and skin wellness benefits.
Plantasens Emulsifier HP 49 Targets Premium Skin Feel
Among the key highlights was Plantasens Emulsifier HP 49, an innovative oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier composed of four stearic acid-derived ingredients.
Designed to deliver enhanced formulation stability and superior sensory performance, the emulsifier forms stable liquid crystal structures capable of emulsifying oil phases of up to 30%. According to the company, the ingredient also offers differentiated skin benefits by enriching the skin surface with moisturising lipids.
As stearic acid naturally occurs in skin lipids responsible for maintaining barrier function, the emulsifier supports improved hydration, elasticity and skin barrier reinforcement. Its rapid emulsion breakdown upon application creates a soft, supple sensory profile aimed at meeting consumer demand for immediate moisturisation combined with a luxurious skin feel.
Aristoflex SUN Enhances SPF Performance
Clariant also highlighted Aristoflex SUN, a rheology modifier developed to elevate sun care formulations with improved UV protection and premium aesthetics.
The company stated that in vivo testing demonstrated that formulations containing just 0.5% Aristoflex SUN achieved a 75% SPF enhancement, increasing protection levels from SPF 30 to SPF 52.5.
The cold-processable ingredient enables lightweight, skincare-inspired textures with elegant skin feel characteristics, addressing increasing consumer preference for daily sunscreen products that combine efficacy with sensory comfort.
AlgaSurge Introduced for Skin Longevity Applications
Lucas Meyer Cosmetics introduced AlgaSurge, a new natural active derived from microalgae using advanced blue biotechnology.
Positioned as a next-generation ingredient for skin longevity formulations, AlgaSurge is a highly purified sulphated polysaccharide hydrogel designed to biomimic the benefits traditionally associated with hyaluronic acid (HA) and polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRNs), while overcoming some of their formulation limitations.
The company described the active as a botanical alternative offering clinically demonstrated efficacy superior to combinations of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. It also positions the ingredient as a vegan alternative to PDRNs.
According to Clariant, AlgaSurge supports moisture retention and cellular renewal, contributing to a plumper and more radiant skin appearance while delivering both rapid and sustained performance benefits.
Lysofix Liquid Targets Sensitive Skin and Hair Care
Another ingredient featured at the exhibition was Lysofix Liquid, a gentle cold-process emulsifier developed for sensitive skin applications.
In addition to skincare benefits, the ingredient also demonstrated functionality in hair care formulations by helping reinforce hair integrity and improving dry combing performance.
Through its latest launches, Clariant underscored its focus on multifunctional, sensorially driven and biotechnology-enabled ingredients aligned with emerging beauty trends across Asia’s fast-evolving skincare and sun care markets.