in-cosmetics Global 2026: Award-Winning Natural Actives

The in-cosmetics Global 2026 exhibition (Paris, April 14-16, Porte de Versailles) awarded predominantly natural and sustainable ingredients: adaptogenic plants, neurocosmetics, and honey. A clear signal: the future of beauty lies in naturalness AND science.

Green Ingredient Award: Sustainability Recognized

The gold for the Green Ingredient Award went to dsm-firmenich for Alpaflor Neurosooth, a neurocosmetic active ingredient based on Scutellaria alpina — an adaptogenic plant grown at high altitudes — designed to respond to climate-related stress. Givaudan and Ashland completed the podium, confirming that green chemistry and responsible cultivation are now at the heart of innovation.

Best Active Ingredient: Neurocosmetics in the Lead

As for the most innovative active ingredients, RAHN AG received gold for Calneurin Sense, and Naemos silver for Shisome. Again, the link between skin and the nervous system ("neurocosmetics") is emerging as a major area of research.

Honey in the Spotlight

The "honey" wave is confirmed: Melicica, from Lucas Meyer Cosmetics (Clariant), is an active ingredient already awarded at in-cosmetics that utilizes Australian Jelly Bush honey (Leptospermum polygalifolium, similar to manuka) to support the skin's natural repair process. A fine example of a natural ingredient with documented efficacy.

Each year, the exhibition brings together cosmetic ingredient suppliers and their formulator clients. The 2026 edition highlighted cosmetic active ingredients derived from biotechnology, an area where companies like Givaudan Active Beauty and Solabia have long been established.

The Best Functional Ingredient category rewards functional ingredients — texture, preservation, stability — rather than active ones. This is the invisible part of the formulation work, and often the one that determines whether a product lasts over time.

What these awards say about an ingredient remains limited. An innovative active ingredient awarded in 2026 will take three to five years to appear in commercial products, if it does at all. Industrial development is slower than the enthusiasm of exhibitions.

What it Reveals

Three signals converge: naturalness (plants, honey), sustainability (responsible cultivation, green chemistry), and neurocosmetics (skin-stress link). NOPAL LIFE fully shares this vision with its active ingredients derived from prickly pear — natural, rich in antioxidants, and formulated with high standards. (To read: Natural Skincare Trends 2026.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these active ingredients already in the products I buy?

Award-winning ingredients are intended for brands: they gradually appear in market formulas as new products are launched.

Does natural = necessarily better?

Not automatically. What matters is documented efficacy and tolerance. Well-formulated naturalness is a real asset — not a guarantee in itself.

Sources: RX Global (in-cosmetics Global 2026 Award winners); Premium Beauty News; Global Cosmetics Industry (gcimagazine.com); Clariant / Lucas Meyer Cosmetics (Melicica). Informative article, not medical advice.

Information provided for cosmetic and educational purposes; it does not constitute medical advice.