Raw ingredients are the foundation of every cosmetic product, and the role of ingredient manufacturers is crucial in creating high-quality natural cosmetics. The Innovative Natural Raw Ingredient of the Year award was introduced in 2025 to celebrate the remarkable innovations happening today in the natural ingredients sector.
All nominated ingredients must be certified by one of Europe’s leading natural standards, Biovidasana, NATRUE, or COSMOS, to ensure they meet the highest quality and sustainability criteria.
Get to know the six shortlisted ingredients better here:
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A-Leen Aroma 3 by Minasolve, Belgium
Born from the vision of the Minafin Group, Minasolve has been leading the way in green chemistry since 2007, crafting nature-derived ingredients that combine innovation, performance, and sustainability.
With A-Leen Aroma 3, the first bio-based Phenylpropanol made from cinnamon by-products, Minasolve offers brands a gentle, fragrant, and fully natural alternative to Phenoxyethanol, proving that science and nature can truly work hand in hand.
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Innova Bio Tech Resurrection by Innova BM, Bulgaria
Founded in 2017, Innova BM combines pioneering plant biotechnology with scientific expertise to create sustainable, high-performance ingredients for cosmetics.
Their shortlisted active, InnovaBioTech Resurrection, is derived from the rare, protected Haberlea rhodopensis — a “resurrection plant” renowned for surviving extreme conditions — and delivers powerful, well-ageing benefits, naturally boosting collagen, hydration, and skin vitality, all produced through fully traceable, eco-friendly, waste-free biotechnology.
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Carbopol® BioSense polymer by LUBRIZOL, United States
Carbopol® BioSense polymer is a natural, plant-based ingredient made from cellulose, developed with Suzano, the world’s largest cellulose producer. It gives cosmetics a smooth, soft, and luxurious feel without stickiness or peeling, solving common issues with natural gums. On top, it is biodegradable, comes from sustainably managed forests, and is made using eco-friendly green chemistry methods that reduce environmental impact.
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OCEANTHIX™ LV by Origin by Ocean, Finland
Founded in 2019 by chemist and ocean activist Mari Granström, Origin by Ocean transforms invasive Sargassum algae, an out-of-control environmental problem in the Caribbean, into high-value, sustainable ingredients that regenerate marine ecosystems and support coastal communities.
Origin by Ocean’s shortlisted ingredient, OCEANTHIX™ LV, is the first commercial-scale, upcycled alginate that boosts viscosity, smooths skin, and eliminates stickiness, offering brands a 100% bio-based, biodegradable alternative to synthetic thickeners with full traceability and a powerful ocean-positive impact.
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Phytosqualan Olive by Sophim, France
Founded in 1996 by Jacques Margnat, Sophim is a family-owned company dedicated to providing the cosmetic industry with sustainable, ethical, and high-performance ingredients.
Their shortlisted ingredient, Phytosqualan Olive, is a 100% plant-based squalane derived from upcycled olive by-products, offering a silky, fast-absorbing, and versatile alternative to animal- or synthetic-derived squalane, with full traceability and a zero-waste, eco-designed production process.
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Upsalite® by Disruptive Materials, Sweden
Discovered at Uppsala University in Sweden by Professor Maria Strømme’s team and brought to market by Disruptive Materials, Upsalite® is a breakthrough mineral ingredient made from magnesium carbonate through a clean, water-based process, forming a uniquely porous structure that delivers superior oil absorption, long-lasting mattifying, and a blurring soft-focus finish.
It also improves adhesion to the skin for longer wear while maintaining a lightweight, natural feel, making it a versatile hero ingredient for colour cosmetics and personal care — from shine-free foundations and primers to powders, sunscreens, dry shampoos, and deodorants — offering a natural, vegan, and COSMOS-approved alternative to synthetics with full traceability.
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